Originally from a speck of a town in the Pacific Northwest, I currently live in Phoenix, Arizona with my significant other and our mischievous motley crew of rescue dogs (aka the “kids”).
When not at my laptop, I’m a hockey fan and lover of all things margarita. There’s also a rumor floating around that I’ve never met a green chile or jalapeño I didn’t like, regardless whether it liked me back.
I’m the author of the Mischievous Malamute Mystery Series and a new six-part series of suspense novellas, called Six Seasons…plus, I’ve got a few more dog treats stashed in my pockets. Stay tuned for more details!
What I’m Up To Right Now
#AmWriting
Now that No Place Like Home, the seventh installment in the Mischievous Malamute Mystery Series is out in the world, I am hard at work on Book 8 in the series. Plus, I have a handful of new projects in the works that I’ll be sharing with you soon!
#AmReading
Quiet Nights (Eternal Rest Bed and Breakfast #7) | Beth Dolgner
Categories: Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Paranormal, Ghosts
#AmListening
A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses #2) | Sarah J. Maas
Categories: Fiction, Fantasy, Epic Fantasy
Note: This page contains affiliate links.
Previously mentioned books…
Podcasts:
The Creative Penn Podcast with Joanna Penn
Focuses on writing, creativity, publishing options, book marketing and creative entrepreneurship.
The 21st Century Creative with Mark McGuinness
Features interviews with outstanding creators, including artists, writers, performers, commercial creatives, directors, producers, entrepreneurs and other creative thought leaders.
The Rebel Author Podcast with Sacha Black
A motivational show for all the creatives out there with an inner rebel. Interviews, industry news, tips, tricks and tools to help you take your creative business to the next level.
The Self-Publishing Show with Mark Dawson & James Blatch
Provides weekly inspiration and education to writers at all stages of their careers and features interviews with million-selling indie authors, breakout stars from traditional publishing, industry insiders and tech geniuses who show you how to put the incredible tools at our disposal to their best use.
FBI Retired Case File Review with Jerri Williams
Features interviews with retired FBI agents discussing their careers and most intriguing high-profiled cases.
The Minimalists with Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus
Netflix stars Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus discuss living a meaningful life with less. With more than 100 million downloads, The Minimalists Podcast is one of the most popular podcasts in the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
What inspires you to write?
From my earliest childhood memories, I think I’ve always gravitated toward creative outlets, whether through art, music, photography, etc. Writing is just another way to express myself creatively, even if I am only jotting down thoughts or ideas for myself.
What’s your writing process?
Oh, my writing process…well, that’s definitely a work in progress. Like my writing, it has evolved with each story. I tend to think of myself as a pantser AND a plotter. My initial ideas—that’s all pantsing. I scribble on anything I can find wherever I am, hoping I can make sense of it later. Once I get those initial ideas down, I have become better about developing an outline and determining where things fit into the overall story structure.
For tools, I use whiteboards, chalkboards, huge rolls of butcher paper, flip charts, index cards…you name it, I use it. As far as software, I use Evernote for collecting research and Scrivener for outlining and drafting.
My characters tend to evolve throughout the drafting process and then I go back and add nuances—making them stronger, more sinister or more vulnerable, etc. In the end, my key—and something that I’m constantly working to improve—is to ensure that their mannerisms, tone and voice remains consistent and they stay true to their individual character.
Do you listen (or talk) to your characters?
What? You mean my characters aren’t real?
Yeah, I talk to them on a daily basis—after all, every writer needs someone to share her secrets with, right? 😉
What advice would you give someone considering a writing career?
Write because you can and never let doubt—whether from within or from others—convince you to do otherwise. Just get those words on the page—they matter.
How do you deal with writer’s block?
Ahh…for me, this is more about “monkey mind” than a block and suddenly, I’m chasing all the shiny objects…lol. 😀
I find it’s best to push away from the laptop, or put down the pen and find something else to do. Sometimes, I take out my camera and shoot a couple of pics or pull out a coloring book, colored pencils and scribble both inside (and outside) the lines. More often than not, however, I tend to head outside for a long walk with my dogs, where we typically end up at the park and act silly for a bit.
Typically, one of the above works like a charm…but if it doesn’t, it’s best to call it a day and start fresh the next.
How about you? How do you maintain productivity or get back into the groove when you’ve hit a mental roadblock or monkey mind gets you off track, no matter the nature of your work? Please share!
