Thanks, Krista for having me! Read the full interview at her site, A Passion for Romance!

Welcome and great to have you here with us today!
What did you want to be when you were growing up or did you always want to be a writer?

I always wanted to be a writer. I had no interest in anything else, and no idea how little I would get paid!

When did you first start writing?
I first started writing before I learned the alphabet. My mother transcribed things that I dictated to her. I composed my first book at 6 years old, and it just grew from there. Writing is probably the one skill and interest that has persisted and grown throughout my life.

What is a typical writing day like for you?
I don’t have a typical writing day. I write all kinds of things professionally, different genres, but some days it comes more easily. Some days there’s a lot of staring into blank space. Some days there’s the furious accumulation of thousands of words in a brief period of time. It all seems to even out, but there’s definitely nothing typical about any of it.

Do you have any specific routine you follow or specific items you need with you when you write?
No, which is odd, because in other areas of life I’m a fetishist. I do require certain comforts and allies. For writing, I’m plug-n-play. It never turns off, I just have to devote time to sitting down and purging the words from my brain.

What is your favorite part of writing? Is there anything you don’t like about being a writer?
Writing is a very capricious thing, sort of a barometer for other life areas. I find that I have states of being and moods that determine what I can write at any given time, and how easily it comes out. I generally cycle with a couple of weeks of blissful, poetic composition, which seems to coincide with getting along well with others, butterflies wanting to be near me, my general life outlook being good. Then I’ll have a couple of weeks where I’m best at editing, crafting, layering, drawing bits together. These eras always coincide with being generally anti-social, grumpy, and additional coffee. It works, though. I call it Writing Brain vs Editing Brain. I’ve learned that forcing one during the era of the other is pointless. The synapses just aren’t there, and it’s only taken me 30+ years to figure that out…

What is your favorite length of book to write? (Short story, novella, full length novel) Why?
I don’t gauge the length of things as I’m writing them. I just write until I get there, then I’m done. Looking in the rearview, though, it would seem I’m most comfortable with novella-length projects, though I’ve written full-length novels, as well.

How does your family feel about your writing and you being an author?
They like it as long as it doesn’t interfere with the household, relationships, chores getting done, face-time, mood, sleep, other obligations, social availability, quality time…

Is there a to-be-read waiting on your bedside table?
There isn’t, actually. I’m quite caught up on my literature. The last thing I read was Killer in Sight, by Sandra Carrington-Smith, a murder/mystery thriller. I really enjoyed it.

For fun, I have a few personal questions:
Favorite 5

Favorite Holiday ~ Samhain, though Beltane is a close second. And the Solstices…

 

Favorite Drink ~ Good, black coffee

 

Favorite Author ~ Several: Neil Gaiman, Storm Constantine, Dale Peck

 

Favorite Book ~ Several: Neverwhere, Wraeththu, To Kill A Mockingbird

 

Favorite Animal ~ I love cats. I don’t exactly have a favorite animal, but I get along with them best and seem to understand them best.

And for a bonus: What is a typical mood for you? And is your mood different when you’re writing?
I’m a pretty laid back person, very soothing and calm. If I’m able to write without interruption, I can maintain that demeanor. If I’m constantly getting interrupted, just stay back. It drives me nuts when I need to get in the groove and can’t because everything around me is chaotic.