She covered crime and court stories for years as a television journalist for the NBC affiliate in Eastern Idaho. Her books (seven and counting) are typically mysteries, and often YA, but also incorporate historical fiction, cozy romance, the paranormal.
Do you have a writing routine? Where and when do you write?
I write almost every day. First, coffee, then my second cup follows me to my office. I have an office in my home and have two dogs that are at my feet while I write. I’m habitual, and this has been my routine for a very long time.
Do you have any patterns or rituals associated with your writing time?
I almost always have a cup of coffee or tea. If it gets cold, that means I am in the groove.
What do you do when you hit a wall with your writing?
Get outside. I go for a walk, wander in my garden, or sit and watch my chickens. I have to clear my head and get back on track. I usually hit a wall because I’ve gone down a rabbit hole and need to climb back out.
Do you plan your book in advance (plotting and outlining) or are you a “discovery writer” (AKA “writing into the dark”)? Or are you somewhere in between?
Because my books all have twists and surprise endings, I always plot them out. I usually start with the ending and then tie it back to the prologue. From there the story usually flows.
What’s the last book you read that made you go “wow!”?
James by Percival Everett. I love the idea of the classic story of Tom Sawyer being told from Jim’s point of view.
What book or author do you find yourself recommending and why?
It depends on who I’m speaking to. What age group are they in? Are they already avid readers or looking for something that will keep them interested? I want to know what they enjoy reading before I suggest something.
I like Jodi Picoult’s books because they resonate with what people are going through or hearing about in real life. They are easy to relate to.
What’s on your To Be Read pile?
There are too many to list. I’m currently reading Fox by Joyce Carol Oates. I believe my next read will be Friends by Frederick Bachman.
What advice do you have for readers?
Talk to people about books and ask them what they enjoy and why.
Most of the books I’ve loved have been from suggestions of friends or family that I’ve found have similar tastes in literature.
What author, past or present, would you wish to have a long conversation with? Why?
Truman Capote. I was a journalist for decades and I would love to discuss how he was able to write both non-fiction and fiction, and what made him decide to write In Cold Blood.
Do you have early memories of reading or writing you’d like to share?
I lived for a short time in a very rural and isolated area in Eastern Utah. I found solace at the small library there and that is where my love of reading began.
The books were my escape and inspired me to begin writing my own stories. My first novel is set in that very area.
What books and/or authors have most influenced you as an author?
Truman Capote for his true crime and narrative voice.
Joyce Carol Oates for her ability to write about sensitive subjects and make you care about issues through fiction.
What do you most enjoy about being a writer? What do least enjoy about being a writer?
There is no greater joy than having someone tell me they loved my novels. I write to give people the escape and enjoyment that I get from reading.
My least favorite part of being a writer is getting to a point in my story where I am struggling to have things connect. I hate to delete scenes when I’ve spent so much time on them, but that is what I’ve had to do.
What would you tell a new writer?
Write.
Unless you have words on the paper (or screen), you have nothing to learn from, and everyone’s first draft is usually terrible. But you can’t have a second draft, or begin to edit, unless you have something to work with. Go for it. Sit your butt in the chair and start writing.
