When did you first know that you wanted to be a writer?
From birth? No, not really. I was not the child who carried around a notebook and pencil and wrote stories at the age of five. In fact, I’ve always been a technical gal. I got an Electrical Engineering degree and designed chips for fifteen years. It was only after my second kid was born that it really occurred to me to give writing a try (which was in 2004).
Can you tell us a little bit about your road to publishing?
Pretty standard. I did the basic things. Wrote a novel. Revised it. Thought it was perfect. Send it off. Received multiple rejections (ouch!). And then I met an editor at a conference who offered to read it and give me feedback. Talk about an eye opener! I couldn’t wait to revise based on her comments, and, when I sent it back to her, she gave me even more to work on. We repeated this pattern a few more times, and then one day she told me it was almost ready to acquire. Three years after starting The Emerald Tablet, I signed a three book deal with that same editor.
Tell us a little bit about either your latest or upcoming release. If you could only tell your readers one thing about the story that had to convince us to buy the book, what would it be?
Benjamin Holt is from another world hidden here on Earth, and he’s not even human.
What, or who, has been the greatest inspiration for your stories?
My inspiration boils down to a lifetime of loving the unknown. From sci-fi and fantasy TV shows to a desire to be an archaeologist, if anything ever has questions surrounding it, my curiosity is peaked. I read sci-fi and fantasy all the time growing up, took Astronomy in high school, got a second degree in History in college. And then I had kids, and the real inspiration began! It’s like this magical gift of being able to relive your life when your biggest worries were whether you wanted chocolate or regular milk.
Let’s hear about your family, who I’m sure are thrilled to have a published author among them!
We have the storybook family here. There’s me (the perfect wife). The husband. Two kids—a boy (7 years-old) and a girl (4 years-old). We have a Yorkie and now two tortoises, King Tort and Nefertorti, who should live to be 180 years-old. The kids will have to leave them to their heirs.
Now for some fun facts. What’s your greatest comfort food?
Popcorn. Breakfast, lunch, or dinner—it’s the perfect treat!
What are the first three things you do when you wake up in the morning?
I’m assuming going potty goes without saying…Make coffee. Take a shower. Make the bed.
If I came to your house and looked in your closet/attic/basement, what’s the one thing that would surprise me the most?
The Oompa Loompas I keep hidden in there? No, not really. My fancy beaded gown collection (and yes, I actually went and looked in my closet to see if there was anything else noteworthy).
Everyone asks the question about “if you could be a tree, which tree would you be?” so I want to know: If you could be a color, which color would it be, and why?
Red, because red isn’t scared of anything. Red speaks her mind. Red stands out in a crowd. Red is primary; she’s not a mix of other colors. And for the record, red can be worn anywhere. Even to weddings.
Who is your favorite cartoon character?
Smurfette.
Which cartoon character is most like you?
Velma (though I’d love to look like Daphne).
If you could beam yourself to anywhere in the world (“Beam me up, Scotty!”), during any time in history, where and when would it be—and why?
Ancient Egypt. But I’d want to live in the palace as part of the royal family, though I’m sure the people shoving blocks together for the pyramids had plenty of fun, also.
So what’s your favorite type of music to listen to? Favorite musical artists? Do you listen to music while you’re writing?
Anything I know the words to, which happens to be most 80s music. Of course, I did go through the whole Dead Head stage, also, so the Doors and Led Zeppelin are among my favorites. Music while writing—no way. If it has words, I sing them. And if I’m singing, I can’t concentrate.
Do you have any favorite T.V. shows? Movies you watch over and over again? What was the last movie you saw at the theater?
I don’t watch TV anymore, but my favorite overall TV show is Star Trek. I’m torn between the original series and The Next Generation. Movies I would want to watch over and over? Monsters Inc., Lost Boys. Journey to the Center of the Earth (the original version). Last movie at the theater? The Mummy 3 – Tomb of the Dragon Emperor.
You have the chance to give one piece of advice to your teen readers. What would it be?
Set goals now. Write them down. Really think about what you want to accomplish, and you’ll be worlds ahead of the world!
One last question. What stories can we look forward to from you in the future?
Of course, The Emerald Tablet is first in a trilogy. Book 2, The Navel of the World, is scheduled for Fall 2009, and Book 3, The Necropolis, is scheduled for Fall 2010.I’m also working on an Egyptian themed MG/YA series, and a mythology-based YA fantasy.
Again, thanks so much for joining us at http://www.teensreadtoo.com/!
Thank you for having me! It was fun!
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