HAVE YOU
WRITTEN IN ANY OTHER GENRES BESIDES YA DYSTOPIAN? WHAT DREW YOU TO THIS
GENRE?
Before I started the daynight series, I wrote a teen romantic comedy trilogy for my
daughters and their friends.
As for the genre, I have always loved dystopian
novels—from the classics like 1984, Brave New World, and A Handmaid’s Tale to
more modern works such as The Hunger Games and Divergent. The reason I decided
to write a dystopian tale, however, was because I had an idea that stuck with
me for months until I started writing. When the ideas start to interfere with
my sleep—I start typing.
I got the idea for daynight as I was hiking in one
of the canyons of San Diego on a particularly hot day and pondered how hot it
would have to get for days and nights to have to be switched. Thera, the main
setting for daynight was born, and from there I contemplated what kind of ruler
would govern the night and The Second Chance Institute was concocted.
DID YOU
CHOOSE TO SELF-PUBLISH OR GO THE TRADITIONAL ROUTE? WHY?
I chose to self-publish. After spending two years
writing and editing daynight, I just wanted to get it out there. And I wanted
the flexibility to write and work on my own timeline. I have five kids and so
self-publishing works well for me.
HOW DO YOU
OVERCOME WRITER'S BLOCK?
All the time. I edit. Editing keeps my head in the
story, allows me continue to make progress, and see things more clearly. When I
just can’t get into either, I’ll read while I am pondering my current scene.
The inspiration eventually comes.
DO YOU EVER FEEL FORCED TO WRITE?
When I started writing, it was a form of
relaxation and a release. Now, it feels more like work. I have professional
editors and proofreaders who keep me on a tight schedule. But, I still take off
time when needed to tend to my family. Keeping some modicum of flexibility
keeps me sane and keeps writing fun.
DO YOU
PREFER EBOOKS, PAPERBACKS OR HARDCOVER?
Ebooks. I read on my phone and can’t bring myself
to read paper books anymore.
WHAT BOOKS
HAVE INFLUENCED YOUR WRITING?
Some of my favorites or books of all time that
have had a big impact on me… Pride & Prejudice, Hunger Games, The
Hobbit/Lord of the Rings, Crime & Punishment, Anna Karenina, 1984, Brave
New World, The Diary of a Young Girl, The Scarlet Letter, Of Mice & Men,
and Lord of the Flies.
WHERE WERE
YOU BORN AND WHERE DO YOU CALL HOME? WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO LIVE?
I was born in Seattle, Washington. We moved to
Delaware on the East Coast when I was six months and returned to Seattle when I
was eleven years old. My family and I live in San Diego and love it. It’s
paradise (excepting the recent wildfires!), and I can’t imagine living anywhere
else right now, although we love to travel and visit places all over the world
for short periods of time.
LAPTOP OR
DESKTOP FOR WRITING?
DO YOU EVER
WRITE IN YOUR PJ’S?
Not pajamas…but definitely sweats and a
sweatshirt.
WHAT ARE
YOUR PET PEEVES?
I have too many to list in full but bad driving,
whining, repetition, and bullying would be right up there.
ANY PETS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO TELL US ABOUT, SHARE A PIC?
Our latest kitten (Bilbo Baggins)--11 weeks:
Our now ten-month old kitten, Cashmere, when she
was a kitten:
COFFEE OR
TEA?
Neither. Diet Coke, typically with coconut creamer
in it (makes a Dirty Diet Coke).
SLEEP IN OR
GET UP EARLY?
I’m a night owl but am forced to get up early and
take my young’uns to school. Sigh.
YOUR FAVORITE GADGET?
My iPhone.
IF YOU COULD BE ANY FAMOUS PERSON FOR A DAY, HOW MANY PAPARAZZI WOULD
YOU KILL?
It would be more fun to make one of the Paparazzi
a famous person for a day and give them a taste of their own medicine.
DO YOU HAVE AN INTOXICANT OF PREFERENCE FOR THOSE TIMES WHEN YOU ARE WRITING?
Hot Tamales. Those things are evil and should be
banned from being produced. I swear they have an addictive substance in them.
Unfortunately, I appear to be keeping the manufacturer in business.
WHY DIDN'T HURLEY LOSE ANY WEIGHT WHILE ON THE ISLAND?
Did you have to remind me that Lost is no longer
on the air? (falls into deep depression and starts debate with husband about
the lack of decent shows on network TV these days) I’m all about complex plots and deep
character development, and Lost is a personal favorite for that. As for why
Hurley didn’t lose weight on the island--well, obviously, because the show was
filmed in Hawaii, and the food there is amazing. Who’d want to diet just to
make it appear they were starving for a TV show?
HOW IMPORTANT ARE NAMES TO YOU IN THIS BOOK? DID YOU CHOOSE THEM BASED ON SOUND OR MEANING?
Meaning. Every name in my books has symbolism
related to the plot.
JUST HOW
FAR IN THE FUTURE IS YOUR TOMORROW?
The world of daynight is set in modern-day
society, not in the future.
DID YOU DO
ANY SPECIFIC OR UNUSUAL RESEARCH FOR THIS BOOK?
I had to do quite a bit of research on weather
patterns and what would happen if temperatures were up to fifty degrees hotter.
QUOTE A
CHARACTER, ANY CHARACTER.
“I love you, Kira.”
I pause. It’s funny how once one person says those
three little words that it’s that the other will reciprocate, and that both of
you will continue to repeat those words. At some point, you stop questioning
whether you meant it in the first place, and the words continue to leave your
mouth.
GIVE US THE
WEATHER FORECAST FOR YOUR TOMORROW.
Scorching hot.
WHO SHOULD
NOT READ YOUR BOOK?
Young teens.
GIVE YOUR BOOK
THE BECHDEL TEST
1)
It has to have at least two (named) women in it
2)
Who talk to each other
3)
About something besides a man
There are many named women (Kira, Bailey, Bri,
Vienna), and they definitely talk about things other than men.
WHAT SORT
OF BODY COUNT ARE WE TALKING HERE?
High.
ON A SCALE
OF 1-5 WHAT WOULD YOUR BOOK GET FOR THESE ACTUAL MPAA RATING DESCRIPTIONS
VIOLENCE [3]
LANGUAGE [2]
DRUG USE [3]
SEXUAL CONTENT [3--thematic, not at all explicit]
NON-STOP NINJA ACTION [2]
MILD PERIL [4]
SALTY LANGUAGE AND INNUENDOS [2]
BRUTAL AND BLOODY VIKING COMBAT [3]
ABUNDANCE OF OUTRAGEOUS GORE [1]
SEXY DANCING [3]
IF YOUR MC
WAS IN A PRESENT-DAY HIGH SCHOOL HE/SHE WOULD BE A:
GEEK
NERD
JOCK (M&F)
GLEE KID
MEAN GIRL
(Bailey)
EMO/GOTH
HIPSTER/COOL
KID + GEEK (Kira)
OUTSIDER (Ethan)
PREPPY
SKATER
(Blake)
IF YOUR
BOOK WERE RATED LIKE A ROMANCE NOVEL, THE HEAT LEVEL WOULD BE
1) NONE
2) SWEET
3) MILD
2) SWEET
3) MILD
***3.5***
4) HOT
5) WILD RIDE
4) HOT
5) WILD RIDE
6) BLOOD THIRSTY
$2.99
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