• Where are you from? Peoria, Illinois

• Why do you write? It puts me in another world. One that I create with my own people.

• What do you write about? Murder mysteries, usually with women as the main characters.

• Do you have a specific writing style? I was writing in first person, but then finally started branching out into the third person narration. I use more dialogue than description.

• What are obstacles that come in the way of writing? If the story is set at a particular time, make sure that whatever is mentioned was invented by then (Computer games, a certain song or movie, types of automobiles). Watch basing characters off of real people, since some may be offended. Don’t repeat plots or characters (I have caught myself doing this by accident).

• Whats the most memorable thing asked/said by a reader about your work? My first review from Suzanne Parrott of Seattle mentioned that she would definitely read more from me and that Sudden Moves was the best YA mystery she’d read in a long time. That made my day!

• How long have you been writing? Thirty years.

• When did you first realize you wanted to become a writer? When I was a teenager and loved starting out with a blank page and pen, just doing it for fun.

• What is your work schedule like when you are writing? I write after work (3:00 pm to 5:00 pm) and on my two days off. I use all morning to write, from 7:00 am on to the afternoon.

• How long does it take to write a book? (if you’ve written one -published or non) For me, it’s normally about two months.

• Do you have suggestions on how to become a better writer? Read the genre you write in, watch how other authors’ flow and description work. Try to find a local writers group and do writing exercises. Prompts are great for practice.

• What challenges do you come across when writing/creating your story? When the characters and plot come to a stop. Sometimes I get hung up and cannot think of what to do next. I also have to introduce new characters into the story to help motivate my main character or give that person obstacles.

• What do you think makes a good story? I like to combine two ideas with one. It also helps to keep it fast paced with action or dialogue, so the story doesn’t lag in spots.

• What does your family think of your writing? My family never talk about it, if they like my work or not. I think it’s one area they don’t want to discuss for fear of hurting my feelings or bragging too much on their child, wife or sibling.

• Do you see writing as a career? It would be my dream career if I could live on it.

• Do you have anything specific you’d like to tell the readers? Please don’t take offense to an antagonist whom I describe as a “popular” high school cheerleader or a “jock”. These are the terms that’s used in my books and there are good and bad in every type of student. I feel that some who read my books are popular students themselves, and will hold my descriptions against me. I write through my main characters eyes, not my own. So if my character insults another person, it is not how I view someone of that stature.

• When did you first consider yourself a writer? When I had my first short story published by a local Peoria magazine and got paid $50! It was my story entitled Pizza Night that featured a prank that went too far.