Q: Where did your ideas come from for To a Certain Degree?

A news story caught my eye about a brilliant woman scientist was not given credit for her work because of
a bias against females in science. I made my brilliant woman also gorgeous.

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Q: What personal experiences are helpful to you in writing a novel?

A writer draws on everything. Try
any new experience. I promise you’ll use it sooner or later.

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Q: Do you keep a file of ideas?

I’m constantly filing stuff away. Finding it can be dicey.

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Q: How do you name your characters?

Some of them just pop up, some I worry over. All my friends and family appear, but I don’t match them to the character.
I hate to get a name wrong because it’s almost impossible to change when you’ve got that name in your head.

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Q: What’s the best time to write?

Everyone is different. I like about 3 pm ‘til seven, when I have to fix dinner.

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Q: Do you think an outline is necessary?

I don’t use them. Others always do. It’s a preference.

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Q: Are re-writes a chore?

I love to rewrite after the first draft is done. That’s when you can tweak details, broaden your characters.

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Q: How do you develop a character?

As you get into the book, characters begin to assert themselves. After the first draft you know them so well
you can polish them up.

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Q: What was your motivation for writing each of your books?

Little things. In KACHINA, it was a news story about a museum director who had de-acquisitioned works of art on the sly.
CHANCE ENCOUNTERS? There was an election going on at the time and the papers were full of stories. With PIMA ROAD,
I saw a good looking Indian man running along Pima Road. In BLUE TURQUOISE, WHITE SHELL, I wanted to explore more deeply the ramifications of an interracial love story.

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Q: How easy is it to get published today?

It’s very hard. You’ve got to stop crying over every rejection and keep plugging away.

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Q: What do you think of self-publishing?

It’s becoming an acceptable alternative to regular publishing.

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Q: Why did you choose to write in the romance genre?

I think it just chose me. Everything I wrote turned into a love story. I’m just a romantic.

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Q: Are most of your settings in the Southwest?

The central parts of the story always are. The Southwest’s climate and geography are inherently dramatic.
A wild summer thunderstorm is too good to be passed up. It’s a gorgeous state with so many contrasts.

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Q: What are you working on now?

I’ve got several things going. My head is full of ideas and I’ve got to zero in pretty soon. I love them all, so I’m reluctant to put one away. And I really can’t work on more than one after I get into the one that I can’t stop thinking about..