Tell us a little about yourself.
Fiction has fascinated me since I learned to read. I grew up in Davenport, Iowa. The largest of the Quad-Cities settled along the bend in the Mississippi River, where the river runs east to west. A relentlessly Irish grandmother who taught me to read fortunes with playing cards, telling a good story, and brewing a perfect pot of tea inspired me.
My filmmaker husband John and I relocated from my hometown in Iowa to his country-of-choice Canada, and are home with our Husky fur babies Rosie and Ellis, in rural Nova Scotia. Our move here made it possible for me to be what I always knew I was – a full-time fiction author.
Why Do you write?
I have to write. It’s my creative outlet for the stories and characters in my head accumulated over a lifetime of observing people, visiting places, and being inspired by reading the stories told by other authors.
What genre do you write, and why did you pick this genre?
I write in three genres–romance, romantic suspense, and most recently, political thriller. My first contemporary romance novel was intended to be my ‘one-and-done, bucket list cross-off accomplishment. But when I wrote ‘The End, I knew the story wasn’t over. The McKenna family saga transitioned from “Reservations” in New York City to small-town Iowa in “Heartland” and on to the Scottish Highlands as the backdrop for “Belonging,” the last novel in the romance trilogy. I switched genres to romantic suspense to challenge myself as a writer. “The UnMatchables Case #1: Danger Noted” started as a cozy mystery. Later, it turned toward suspense with the added element of the #metoo movement and abuse of vulnerable women by an international celebrity. I’m currently writing the next novel in The UnMatchables series around the exploitation and suffering of human trafficking. Politics has been prominent news and pervasive in our lives on both sides of the North American border. “Capital Strings” calls out the differences between the U.S. and Canadian governments and cultures while also pointing out distressing similarities.
Tell us about your book.
The story idea began with the covid-19 pandemic. I set the scene three years in the future, 2023 an election year, and allowed the fictional characters to tell their very personal sides. Some of the elements revolved around the comparison between Prime Minister Trudeau’s Liberal government compared to the Trump administration and the two contrasting sides of the same coin. The toll the crisis was taking on people. The economy and government leaders are trying to cope and communicate the constantly changing facts from experts which married the plot in “Capital Strings” to introspective character development and intimate relationships. The mass shooting close to home in Nova Scotia last April, and the ban on assault-style weapons in May, along with the July 2020 attempt on the prime minister’s life, shaped the storyline. How would the pandemic change our lives?
How much time do you dedicate to your author career?
While I offer consulting, coaching, and writing services to authors and business clients, writing fiction is my full-time job.
How long on average does it take you to write your books?
From sketchy concept and character development to the first draft, edit and initial rewrite typically takes about three to four months.
What is the best money you have ever spent on your author career?
After writing and publishing three romance novels, a novella, and four short stories, I hired a developmental editor. With help and guidance from the editor, the plot and character development in the novel’s second rewrite were more robust and defined. I was proud to publish a much-improved book with an eye-catching cover designed by another paid professional. I couldn’t have gotten there on my own.
What is the most challenging part of being an author?
Second-guessing! Everyone has an opinion on how the book should be written, first or third person, word count, etc. Whether to self or traditionally publish; what genres sell; how to reach readers; what marketing campaigns work, etc. The flood of advice can overwhelm and confuse. Publishing, reviews, and low sales can take the joy out of writing.
What is the best piece of advice you have for other authors?
It takes a village to birth a good book. Reach out beyond family and supportive friends to find beta readers and influencers who will give you an honest, constructive critique. Hire a professional developmental editor to tear that manuscript apart and help you rebuild it. Critiques may not be pleasant. But objective advice improves the product and the author writing it.
What is your favorite book?
The favorite book that I author is always the one I’m writing now. I’m simultaneously writing second novels for my latest challenge in both the romantic suspense series and the political thriller series, with a main character crossover between the storylines. Many books by other authors have inspired me to read and write on. “The Outsiders” by S.E. Hinton is my most recommended ‘go-to’ book for all ages because of the timeless theme of family, belonging, and the irrational destructive forces of socio-economic class and culture clash.
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