Please tell us about your latest book.
What’s Left Untold, released by Red Adept Publishing on May 19, 2020, tells
the story of a woman who reunites with her estranged best friend and uncovers a
devastating secret that threatens to destroy the life she’s built with her
husband and daughters.
What can we expect from you in the future?
The first draft of my second book is almost complete—which means it
still has a long way to go, lol! Currently titled either Sauce or The
Executive Club, this book tells the story of a woman who quits her job
to start her own business and finds herself in dire financial straits. When a
former client dangles the prospect of discreet, lucrative work she finds the
temptation hard to resist, though venturing into this risqué business threatens
the relationships that are most important to her and forces her to question the
strength of her integrity and moral compass.
How do we find out about you and your books?
How much of your personality and life experiences are in
your writing?
Almost every author has probably heard the advice to “write what you
know.” I also, personally, believe that art imitates life, and so for both of
these reasons, bits of my personal experiences are sprinkled into my book. That
said, What’s Left Untold is
not about me or anyone I know. The characters and events are all composites of
many people, places and experiences I’ve encountered throughout my life. The
book is ultimately a wild ride through my imagination, full of unexpected
twists and surprises and a shocking, controversial ending that has readers
saying, “I didn’t see that coming!” What’s
Left Untold is being deemed and excellent book club book.
When did you first think about writing and what prompted
you to submit your first ms?
I’ve
always loved to write, and teachers as far back as elementary school have
complimented my work and suggested I become a writer. My original career
aspiration was to be a pilot. In college, I majored in aviation and journalism,
intending for journalism to be a secondary or back-up plan. I graduated with an
MEII rating (Multi Engine Instrument Instructor) and interned with an airline. I
also worked as a corporate co-pilot and flight instructor for many years. But,
ultimately, family took priority over flying and I didn’t want to spend days at
a time away from home sleeping in hotels.
I had three children in four years and when my babies were napping, I
began taking on an ever-increasing amount of freelance writing work as a
columnist, a sports writer and a grant writer. It was around this time that I set
my sights on becoming a published author.
Do you have a set schedule for writing or do you just go
with the flow?
With three children and multiple freelance jobs (as a yoga instructor,
newspaper columnist and market research and development associate) no two days
are the same for me—and I tend to like it that way, though I admit it’s not ideal
for being able to write as routinely as I’d like. I plan my schedule each week
based on what’s the highest priority at the moment, but I do aim to carve out
blocks of time each day for writing and exercise.
What about your family, do they know not to bother you
when you are writing - or are there constant interruptions?
Now that my kids are all teenagers, I have more uninterrupted time
during the day to work and write.
What do you do to relax and recharge your batteries?
In this
world of 24/7 social media access and technology, it’s hugely important to me
to maintain a work/life balance. I try to work “regular” weekday hours to
coordinate with my family’s schedule so that I’m available in the evenings, and
I also unplug as much as possible on weekends. I don’t believe it’s healthy to
be “on demand” all the time. I cherish family time, prioritize exercise, and need
down time on the weekends to read and spend time in nature. My husband and I
were both competitive triathletes for ten years and although we’ve scaled way
back in recent years, we still like to stay active. Right now I really enjoy
paddleboarding and trail running as often as I can.
Where do your ideas come from?
I believe
art imitates life, so most of my story ideas are inspired by experiences I’ve
had, stories I’ve heard, or places I’ve been. With those ideas in mind, I
change a few of the variables and ask myself “What if . . . ?” and the story often
takes shape from there.
Do you feel humor is important in books and why?
Humor is an important part of life—and a skill that I am sorely
lacking. I love going to comedy clubs and sharing “punny” jokes online to make
people smile, but I don’t consider myself to be a naturally funny person, and
I’m not easily amused. I wouldn’t rank comedies high on my list of movie to
watch, but I do enjoy reading books that are injected with bits of humor. Bill Bryson
is probably my favorite for humorous reads.
What kind of research do you do?
I’m a stickler for detail and research takes up a decent chunk of my
writing time. I often stop writing mid-sentence to research a small detail,
such as what time the sun would set on a particular date, or what song was
popular in a given year. But I also dedicate time to researching for the bigger
picture as well. In What’s Left
Untold, I researched specific geographic and regional details, as well
as social, legal, ethical and medical details relevant to one of the book’s
more controversial topics.
Please tell us about yourself.
I live in Maryland with my husband, three daughters and two Labrador
Retrievers. I was a competitive triathlete for ten years and I’m a bit of fitness
junkie. I teach yoga and I enjoy spending time outdoors and with family. I also
love to travel, explore new places, experience different cultures and drink
good wine.
What are some of your favorite things to do?
Trail run, paddleboard, hike, travel, read.
Who are some of your other favorite authors to
read?
Stephen King was, well, king when I was a teenager. And while I still
admire him, I now gravitate more toward women’s fiction and historical fiction
books. Jodi Picoult, Jennifer Weiner, Kristin Hannah, Lisa Wingate, Liane
Moriarty, Sarah Pekkanen and Kate Quinn are among my favorite authors. But
there are also a lot of very talent debut authors currently releasing great
books! My kindle is full of books to be read by Lainey Cameron, Barbara Linn
Probst, Kate Milliken, Ava Homa, Rebecca Taylor, Tracey Enerson, Anita
Kushwaha, Kate Lansing, Catherine Adel West, Diane Zinna Pettyjohn, Barbara
Conrey, and so many more! I need more time to read all these amazing books!
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Hopefully my second book will be published, a third book will be on the
way, and fourth book will be in development. All three of my daughters will either
be in college or will have already graduated, so my husband and I will be
moving into a new phase of life as empty nesters and hopefully planning an
amazing trip to celebrate 30 years of marriage.
How many books have you written, how many have
been published?
What’s Left Untold, released by
Red Adept Publishing on May 19, 2020, is my first book. The first draft of my
second book is written and hopefully will be the next to be published.
After you've written your book and it's been published,
do you ever buy it and/or read it?
Yes! I know not all authors do this but I was so excited to have my
first book in the world and I wanted to experience it the same way a reader
would experience it: I ordered a print copy of What’s Left Untold and read it as soon as it arrived. My
journey from inspiration to publication of this book was nearly 11 years in the
making, so it was a surreal experience to finally hold my own book in my hands.
What is the most rewarding thing about
being a writer?
Aside from finally having my book in the hands of readers, the most
rewarding thing has been the other writers and authors I’ve had the privilege
of meeting and getting to know. The writing, reading and blogging communities
have all been incredibly positive and supportive, and it’s really made this
whole experience even better and more fulfilling than I could have imagined
Are there any words of encouragement for
unpublished writers?
Yes!
1) Write the
story you want to write! Publishing is a highly subjective industry and, though
it may take time to connect your book with its audience, I believe that for
every book written there are people who want to read it.
2) Don’t be
afraid to take risks.
3) Practice your
craft regularly, connect with other authors, learn and absorb as much as you
can, and don’t hesitate to reach out to the writing community for support and
advice.
4) Never give
up.
