Why did you choose to write in your particular field or genre?

I write romance because I love a good happily ever after, and there aren’t enough in real life.

Where did your love of books/storytelling/reading/writing/etc. come from?

My dad is a big reader, so probably from him.

How long have you been writing?

I started writing fiction as soon as I could hold a pencil. I’ve always had characters living in my head. I sold my first story about a talking turtle to my dad for a quarter.

What kind(s) of writing do you do?

I write Contemporary Romance.

What cultural value do you see in writing/reading/storytelling/etc.?

Unity. Love, heartbreak, triumph are parts of all our lives. These are the things that tie us together.

Are there underrepresented groups or ideas featured if your book? If so, discuss them.

To the Fall does have some underrepresented ideas in it, but I can’t give them away. Spoiler-free!

What did you find most useful in learning to write? What was least useful or most destructive?

The most useful thing I’ve found is to listen to your characters. They drive the book. It doesn’t matter what my plan is for a story. It always seems to change in the writing process. Embrace it — don’t fight it.

What do you like to read in your free time?

It changes, but mysteries are my favorite right now.

Do you have any strange writing habits (like standing on your head or writing in the shower)?

My laptop, my dogs, and a quiet place are my usual mode of operation, but ideas can strike me anytime. I’ve been known to frantically scribble on napkins or scraps of paper if an idea hits me. And yes, I’ve been known to rush out of the shower to jot something down!

What book do you wish you could have written?

A cookbook! I’m a so-so cook. I have to have a recipe to make anything beyond the basics. So I really wish I had the ability to come up with new recipes.

If you could cast your characters in the Hollywood adaptation of your book, who would play your characters?

I would have to cast Henry Cavill just so I could stare at him on set all day. That man is too handsome.

How important are names to you in your books? Do you choose the names based on liking the way it sounds or the meaning? Do you have any name choosing resources you recommend?

Names are very important. Their meaning, the mood they invoke, is all very important. In my book, The Reason for Me, the heroine’s name is eight letters long. A couple chapters in, I was sick of typing it, so I clicked “find all” and changed her name to a three letter one. I couldn’t sleep all night long. I had to get up at 3 in the morning and change it back.

If you had a superpower, what would it be?

Hmm, I’m not sure if this is a superpower, but I’d like to be able to heal the sick.

Where is one place you want to visit that you haven’t been before?

It’s hard to narrow it to one. Probably Scotland or France.

If you were an animal in a zoo, what would you be?

My daughter loves polar bears, so I have to pick that.

If you could have any accents from anywhere in the world, what would you choose?

I love a British accent!