How do your books get published?
I published DUST, my first novel, with iUniverse after I discovered it was too short to interest traditional publishing houses. I’d like to find an agent for my other books, which are considerably longer than DUST.
Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?
I get ideas from everywhere. I’ve explained that I got the idea for DUST from a newspaper article about a dust devil. I also got the idea for my second thriller, Peachwood Lake, from another newspaper story, this one about a jumping fish in Florida. But the inspiration for The Disappearance, the novel I’m currently writing, came directly from my brain. No newspaper article was involved. I’ve always loved reading time-travel stories, so I decided to write one. My next book? A movie remake triggered one possibility for a storyline. I’ll have to see if it develops into a novel.
When did you write your first book and how old were you?
I wrote DUST between 2007 and 2008. I’m a baby boomer, over fifty.
What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
I relax by doing crossword puzzles and playing online Scrabble-type word games. I also enjoy cards (bridge, May I, and poker). I’m a sports fan, following the New York Mets & Jets. In the summer, I try to swim every day. And, of course, I love to read.
What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?
I write differently than I thought I would. I always thought novelists outlined each chapter before writing it, but that’s not what happened with me. I just sit at the computer each morning and write. The words pour out, often without me knowing what’s going to happen. Recently, I read an interview with famed author Elmore Leonard who described his writing process in a similar way, saying he makes it up as he goes along and his characters let him know what comes next. It’s almost as if my characters have their own lives. Often, much to my surprise (and sometimes to my annoyance), the characters say and do things I don’t expect. But not knowing exactly what will happen makes the writing experience much more entertaining!
How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?
I’ve written three books—DUST, which has been published, Peachwood Lake, which I’ve finished, and The Disappearance, which I’m still working on. They’re all mine—like three children—and I love them equally. I have no favorite. My husband, however, says each book is better than the previous one.
