Q1. Hello, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.
A1. I’m a dark fiction author who lives in the Black Hills of South Dakota. The hills are a great place to draw inspiration. When I’m not writing, I’m either reading, shore fishing, hiking around the hills, walking in the park with my family, or entertaining our family rabbit, Snowball. I’m employed at a non-profit as an evidence-based curriculum educator and trainer, serving youth ages 10-19 who are homeless, living in residential settings, in schools, or in foster care. My work requires travel both in and out of state, taking me all over to meet fun and exciting people. I earned my Bachelor of Science in Sociology and Psychology from Black Hills State University.
Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing your book “Mid-Glow”?
A2. Set in the 1940s, right around the time of Pearl Harbor, I wanted to ensure its authenticity and realism. I wanted to ensure that I got the feel right, including the cars, the clothing, and the speech.
Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
A3. That list is long because many have inspired me over the years. When it comes to books, there are I Am Legend, The Goosebumps Series, The Shining, and Hatchet. Past authors include R.L. Stine and Stephen King. But lately it has been Jennier McMahon, Darcy Coates, and Catrina Ward.
Q4. What’s your favorite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?
A4. Out of state, my favorite place has been San Francisco. I explored Alcatraz Island, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Fort Point. The ocean is always mesmerizing, and I walked along the boardwalk. In state, my favorite place is Lake Pactola, a wonderful spot to get attuned to nature. I’m a spiritual person, and nature is a big part of how I recharge. It is also my favorite fishing hole.
Q5. What inspired you to write the book ‘Mid-Glow’?
A5. I never have a complete picture when I start a project. One idea and scene build on the other. Originally, I wanted to write about the Depression era and my own version of Bonnie and Clyde. But I’m not a plotter, as I said, and eventually the book took on a mind of its own, with one path building on another, and so forth, eventually leading to the finished product.
Q6. How long did it take you to write your book ‘Mid-Glow’?
A6. With all of the drafts and revisions, it took about a year to get it to a point where it could be published.
Q7. On what platforms can readers buy your books?
A7. Readers can buy my books on any online platform. The two I recommend are Amazon and Barnes & Noble. They can also go into any bookstore and order my books. I encourage them to support their local and smaller bookstores and to encourage those stores to carry my books.
Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘Mid-Glow’?
A8. I have a friend who is artistic and has more skills than I do, and I had them produce the cover.
Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself.
A9. For me, writing is free-flowing, and the ideas that are good stick with me and can be built on. Usually, the “what comes next” thought occurs during those in-between writing sessions when I’m busy with my other life responsibilities. If it doesn’t happen, the story wasn’t going anywhere, and it gets tossed.
Q10. What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given about writing?
A10. Do it for joy and be yourself. Don’t worry about comparing yourself to other authors. Comparison is the biggest thief of joy and can take away your desire to create.
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