Interview With Aspiring Author Anne Kenny

It's time for another Interview with an Aspiring Author!  Today's is with the wonderful Anne Kenny from Writers Quandary.  She's an awesome mother, writer, wife, and still has time to blog!  She also does some writing about video games, which is very interesting to me because my Hubsies sells them!  Plus she has a story published in the Christmas Fear Anthology!  How awesome is that??

So here's her fun interview, and I especially love her answer to #8.



1.      When did you realize you wanted to be an author?

I always loved creative writing but I knew completing a cohesive book would be a huge undertaking. When I finally decided to put my thoughts on paper a little over a year ago it transformed into much more than a hobby. It became my new way of life.

2.      What genre do you like to write?

I love to write YA fantasy but I've been known to switch things up. My short story in the Christmas Fear anthology is about an old dude who collects junk and then makes a new wife out of it.

 3.      What authors inspire you?

When I was growing up I loved all of Ray Bradbury’s science fiction but now I’m all over the map. Suzanne Collins was able to pull me into a series unlike any other author ever had. And John Green seems like he could be the coolest guy ever.

4.      How often do you write?

I try to write daily but with two young kids it doesn’t always happen.

 5.      Are you a plotter or a pantser?

I was a pantser for my first novel but as I progress I find myself becoming much more organized.

6.      Where do you write best, and do you listen to music while you write?

It always seems like I write my best stuff when I should be hurrying to get ready or running out the door. I’ll start off by simply jotting a few ideas down in a notebook before I forget but it always turns into full blown scenes that I can’t abandon.

I do listen to music when I write. I love sites like Pandora or Playlist.com because I can change it up so easily to accommodate my scenes and/or mood.


7.      What is on your TBR pile?

The last time I was at the library I grabbed MISTWOOD by Leah Cypress from a kiosk devoted to NaNoWriMo. All the books featured were the author’s debuts. (High fives to the MFPL for that one.) I also love to buy bargain books. I am a complete sucker for any book under 1$. So with that said, my TBR pile is actually gargantuan.

8.      If Stephanie Meyer and JK Rowling got in a cat fight, who would win?

Robert Pattinson.


9.      What is your “day” job?

Full time mommy! I am also a Girl Scout leader and I’ve been known to dabble in video game journalism.

10.  What can you not leave home without? (cell phones are off limits- NO ONE can leave home without one of those)

Don’t laugh. Coupons. I am such a coupon maniac.


11.  Mac or PC?

PC. But I’m using the Scrivener beta as my word processor right now. I love being able to swap chapters around and create “style sheets” for my characters all in one clean folder.

12.  Favorite dessert?

I’m going to cheat and say caramel frappachino from Starbucks. It has enough calories to be considered dessert, right?

13.  Favorite desert?

I’ve never been. So I’ll go with Corel Desert. (+10 nerd points to anyone who knows where it’s from.)

14.  Where is your dream vacation?

Someplace warm with little shops to discover during the day, and quaint pubs to relax in at night. Does this place exist? Let me know!


15.  Finally, link us to your website, blog, fb, twitter and anything else you might like to shamelessly plug for yourself J

My blog: http://writersquandary.blogspot.com/

My Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/AnneNKenny

My Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=506725083

Interview with Aspiring Author Jennie Bailey

Hello friends!  It is my great pleasure to bring today's Aspiring Author Interview with Jennie Bailey over at Garden Full of Lily.  She is an animal lover who is allergic to pets but still has a ton of them!  Now that is love and dedication!  Plus she has her own non-profit called the Paws and Learn Humane Education Center. 

Hop on over to her blog, and today she's doing an interview of ME, too! (totally didn't plan it like that- I mentioned to her I was putting this up today, and she was like, OMG- I'm putting yours up too!)  So that worked out perfectly!  Thanks so much for doing the interview Jennie!




1. When did you realize you wanted to be an author?

       I've wanted to be an author as long as I can remember.  I started writing small books when I was in the fourth grade - Ghost Carnival, Indian Princess, The Elephant and the Moon.  In high school, I poured all my teen angst into poetry.  My mom kept everything.  Everything.  I read some of the poems now and I cringe.  Others make me laugh.  In college, I wrote screenplays and television scripts.  My entire life, I've been a writer in some capacity.  I returned to wanting to be an author in 2000.  I was over 300 pages into a fantasy novel (adult) when my computer crashed and I lost everything.  I walked away for a few years because I was so heartbroken.  I still haven't returned to that particular story.

2.      What genre do you like to write?

      Young Adult Fantasy.  But my NaNo idea is dystopian.  We'll see how that goes!


3.      What authors inspire you?

      Laini Taylor.  Patrick Rothfuss.  J.K. Rowling.  Tolkien. 

4.      How often do you write?

     I try to write daily.  If I have a few days where I don't have the time, I start getting antsy.  It feels like I woke up with no coffee in the house, every store and coffee shop are closed and I'm three hours out of bed with NO caffeine.  I can rip heads off verbally.  I need to create!


5.      Are you a plotter or a pantser?

     Plotter.  But for NaNo, I'm pantsing.  I'm stepping outside of my comfort zone.  We'll see how that works!

6.      Where do you write best, and do you listen to music while you write?

      It depends - I've written some great scenes in a crowded teacher's lounge on a break with no music.  I prefer to write on the couch in the living room with music on, balsam fir scented candle burning and the windows open.  Our house is tucked back in on a property behind a front house.  It's like a little hideaway.  You can see the hills from our window and we have a great big Jacaranda tree in our yard.  I love writing with the view from the couch.  I can also do some great writing in the Den with no view and just a soundtrack on the computer.  I love to have music on when I write.  I'm very visual and music drives that.


7.      What is on your TBR pile?

      CassaStar by Alex J. Cavanaugh.
The Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan (Book Twelve in Wheel of Time Series)
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
The Lost Dogs by Jim Gorant
and I need to finish On Writing by Stephen King

8.      If Stephanie Meyer and JK Rowling got in a cat fight, who would win?

      My money is on Rowling.  It wouldn't even be close.


9.      What is your “day” job?

      I have a non-profit.  We go into the schools and teach Humane Education.  I'm in the schools at least three days a week teaching a variety of topics from Safety Around Dogs, City Wildlife, Kindness to Animals, Pet Needs, Pet Overpopulation, The Truth About Pit Bulls...We also do adult education so on the weekends, I'm frequently at community fairs or adoption events.  Our website is also a very comprehensive resource so I'm constantly updating it, writing articles for it, etc. so that I can refer people to it when I'm out and about.  I'm big on educating.  I love it!

10.  What can you not leave home without? (cell phones are off limits- NO ONE can leave home without one of those)

      My purse.  Or is that cheating?  You should see how much I have crammed into it - obviously, the essentials.  Also, healthy snacks, favorite pens (for when inspiration strikes!), a notepad, sugar free cough drops (an addiction), lip gloss, money for a Venti Shaken Iced Green with two Splenda, San Diego Chargers 2010 schedule, my inhaler, my epipen. 


11.  Mac or PC?

     PC but not by choice.  The Hubster is too cheap to fork over for a Mac.  So we replace our PCs every two years when they crash.  (Insert eye roll at hubby here)

12.  Favorite dessert?

     Weight Watchers Chocolate Cookies and Cream Ice Cream Bars.  YUM!

13.  Favorite desert?

     None.  I'm not a fan of hot and sandy.  When you throw in rattlesnakes, a poisonous lizard and the fact that you can dehydrate and die in short matter of time, I'm totally out!

14.  Where is your dream vacation?

     New Zealand.  We're going for our five year anniversary.  I can hardly wait!

15.  Finally, link us to your website, blog, fb, twitter and anything else you might like to shamelessly plug for yourself
 http://gardenfulloflily.blogspot.com
  http://pawsandlearn.org  (I'll shamelessly plug the non-profit as well because I'm just as proud of that!)

Thanks so much Abby!  That was fun!!

Awards!

Thought I'd acknowledge the wonderful awards I got recently.  You guys are so awesome and I really am truly thankful we've become friends through our blogs!

Erica and Christy gave me two awards:

Thanks Girls- hope on over to their blog, they are two funny moms who teach, and you get two bloggers for the price of one!

Colene from The Journey gave me the Irresistible Blog Award!  Thank you to a great Crit Partner!

I also got the beautiful Magical Blog Award from Alexia Chamberlynn over at The Life and Literary Persuits of Alexia Chamberlynn  Thank you so much Alexia- and it's a gorgey award.

And then I just got two Honest Scrap awards- one from Kelly Dexter over at Nerdville Rhapsody, and the other from Lisa Galek over at Read.Write.Repeat.  Thanks so much girls- go check our their blogs.  Kelly recently started back up again from a hiatus (we missed you!) and Lisa is brilliant and is a Religious Studies major like me!



So I think I'm supposed to say some facts about myself for some of these, but I answered this a while back when I got the awards earlier, so I'll link you to that post: 7 facts about Me.

I'll go ahead and do 3 more to get to 10:

1. I am obsessed with all things Buffy the Vampire Slayer- my computer is named Buffy

2. My husband has an identical twin

3. I have a minor in communication, but have terrible social anxiety- go figure.

So now I'd like to pass these on to these wonderful bloggers:  You can choose any of the awards or all 4 of them!

Andy Thompson over at Writing Myself Crazy

Colene Murphy over at The Journey

Melissa Wideen over at Throught The Lookingglass

Lisa Galek over at Read.Write.Repeat

Jennie Bailey over at Garden Full of Lily

Donea Lee over at Queen of Procrastination

Anne Kenny over at Writers Quandary

Jen Daiker at Unedited

Maggie at The Juniper Breeze is Blowing In

Sam at One Sparkling Star

Angela Darling over at Chasing Fairydust

*edited- OMG I am so sorry to Sam and Maggie- I mixed up their blogs!  *facepalm*  See, this is what I get when I try to rush and do a million things at once!  Love you both!

You all rock, and seriously- I love all of you that read my drivel blog.  If you're not on the list (honestly because I got tired of doing all the links), go ahead and take any of these awards for yourself because I love you too!

Come back Monday because I've got an awesome Aspiring Author interview with our bloggy friend Jennie Bailey!

Interview With Aspiring Author Angela Darling

Hello bloggity bloggers! 

It's been a while since I've done an Aspring Author Interview, so without further ado, here is the awesome Angela Darling from Chasing Fairydust.  Angela is so awesome, she has TWO blogs.  The other is all about yummy cocktail concoctions and 20-something dreams.

1.      When did you realize you wanted to be an author?

I have always loved writing. When I was in elementary school and finished my work early, I would always write stories. I just never believed in my writing enough to think about publishing it. Finally, when I met my bf (he's an illustrator), he looked at me one day and said, "Why don't you try to do this for real?" So, I just thought, what do I have to lose? I could spend a lifetime wondering what it would be like to do it, or I could actually give it a whirl. So, here I am, trying to make my childhood dreams come true.

2.      What genre do you like to write?
 
Most of my novels are a cross-breed of realistic fiction and fantasy. My characters usually deal with situations that we all have gone through as children and teens, but their thoughts tend to bleed into the world of fantasy.

 3.      What authors inspire you?

Without a doubt, Jerry Spinelli is my favorite author. Every single time I finish one of his books, I'm left with that warm and fuzzy feeling that I want to do something to make the world a better place. I also love Sarah Dessen.

4.      How often do you write?

I tend to write in spurts.  I'll go a week writing every single blessed day. Then I'll go another 2 weeks without writing a word. I write when I feel inspired to do so. If I don't feel much of anything, I pop in a movie and plop down with a big ole bag of chips and french onion dip. After a good movie, I can get back to thinking creatively.

 5.      Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Both -  I usually start out with an emotion, that develops into a scene. Then, sometimes I want to know exactly where I'm going with it and other times I just go with the flow.

6.      Where do you write best, and do you listen to music while you write?

I seem to do my best work in the middle of the night (I'm a bit of an insomniac.) When I'm all tucked in under my covers with my laptop and a movie playing in the background, that's when I seem to write something that I won't throw into the trash two seconds later. If I write during the day (which is rare) I listen to some creation of Danny Elfman. His compositions get the writing juices going.

 7.      What is on your TBR pile?
 
 WAY. TOO. MUCH!! At every store I make the mistake of going down the book aisle - such a dangerous move for my bank account. Just like the last aspiring author you interviewed, I have an addiction to buying books. Sitting on my nightstand right now you'd find Oh My Gods, The Summoning, The Secrets of Peaches, Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer, Beach Blondes, and Molly Moon's Incredible Book of Hypnotism. I swear my nightstand's going to crumble under the weight of all the books one of these days. That's not including a pile of books on the floor.

8.      If Stephanie Meyer and JK Rowling got in a cat fight, who would win?

Hmm... I think Meyer would try to clench her teeth into JK. But, my girl JK would wave a wand at her and cast a spell on Meyer that would give her writers block. With the fate of teens no longer knowing whether to drool over vampires and werewolves, the school of Hogwarts prevails. JK continues to write her fantastic stories and Daniel Radcliffe eventually becomes way too old to be playing a teenie bopper. JK ends up the richest woman that will ever live. 

9.      What is your “day” job?

By day, I'm a sub elementary teacher and sub school librarian, and by night and weekend (get your head out of the gutter) I am a server. I hope that changes to full-time school librarian ASAP, because I'm going to freak if one more person complains about a "mysterious curly red hair in the food". Funny, dear customer, you have curly red hair. Hmmm.... perhaps, and I'm just going out on a limb here, perhaps that hair is yours! Oh, yeah, it's definitely time to hang up the ole apron.

10.  What can you not leave home without? (cell phones are off limits- NO ONE can leave home without one of those)

Chapstick is a must. I cannot live without it. I should own stock. I also carry about a zillion hair ties in my purse. I'm a sporty girl and never know when I'll need to whip up that hair. I'm always up for a pick-up game (except for basketball.. just leave me on the sidelines... unless the goal really ISN'T to get any points. I'm really good at that! haha)

 11.  Mac or PC?

I love MAC's. I've had fewer problems with them. Plus, the majority of schools I work in use them.

12.  Favorite dessert?

Try not to die of shock, I don't really care for sweets. I'm a salty girl. The only dessert I usually request is jello poke cake. YUM!

13.  Favorite desert?

One that has magical unicorns that fly you to water and food.. yeah, I know, that was a really random thought.

14.  Where is your dream vacation?

I'd like to spend a few months in Greece. Any place with that much history and romance is bound to conjure up some serious creativity.

15.  Finally, link us to your website, blog, fb, twitter and anything else you might like to shamelessly plug for yourself J

     If you'd like to drop by and say hello, you can find me at http://chasingfairydust.blogspot.com/

Thanks so much Abby for taking the time to interview me. This was fun! Hugs n' Squishes :)

Interview With Aspiring Author Maggie Osborn

Today's interview is with Maggie Osborn over at The Juniper Breeze is Blowing In.  She is a passionate Junior in high school whose blog has wonderful things like author interviews, music recommendations, and all around cool stuff about books and anything to do with writing and of course...books.

Thanks for doing this interview Maggie!






When did you realize you wanted to be an author?
You know, my answer is super lame, but I don't really know. I started reading back a couple years ago--sometime just before my freshmen year--and it was soon after that that I started writing. I first did fanfiction, and then, after my friend showed me her first serious story, I realized that teens do write. And not just silly stories using others' characters, but a whole story, thought up all on my own. Like, whoa, Pivotal Moment!


What genre do you like to write?
Victorian romance, of course! Er, no. Definitely YA. And I write both paranormal and contemporary. I can basically think up anything though, if you allow me to add a cute boy into the story.


What authors inspire you?
Jandy Nelson, Maggie Stiefvater, Suzanne Collins, Cassandra Clare, Holly Black, JK Rowling, Lucy Christopher, Kristin Cashore, Heidi Kling, Melissa Marr, Carrie Ryan, Melina Marchetta... I think the better question is, what authors don't inspire me! I think they're all crazy wonderful.


How often do you write?
Oh man. I'm lucky enough (hah!) to be a junior this year, and it's proved to be my hardest yet. Basically whenever I'm not studying or doing homework (HAH!) or trying to catch up on my TBR pile, I'm writing. Which is, really, not very often lately. During the weekends though, I'm all over it like Nutella on bread! (yum)


Are you a plotter or a pantser?
Pantserrrrr. I tried plotting once and ahem it didn't turn out too hot. I cannot function under an outline without going crazy. Even if I just spent hours working on the outline, by the time I'm finished I'll be so sick of my ideas that I have to writing something from the seatz of me pantz, or else I just sit there and cry. And I'm a dramatic crier. You don't want me to cry.


Where do you write best, and do you listen to music while you write?
Music is a hugely important thing in my life; I honestly cannot focus without it. Anytime I write I've always got something playing, whether it be a song that fits the mood, or one that pulls me out of my I-can't-think-of-anything-I-suck-at-writing-GAH depression. :P Or, you know, I just like the song.

As for where I work, I really only ever write sitting at the end of my bed. One, because I tend to write at night; insomnia is good for one thing, at least. Two, my charger is plugged in near there and I spend so much time staring at the computer, feeling frustrated, that if I didn't have it charging, it world die before I got two words down. Yes, I am that good. *headdesk*



What is on your TBR pile?
So. Insanely. Much. I'm a Gateway Reader Selector, so I've been working my way through the 26 books on the list and rating them. I also have this problem where I have to enter a bookstore, and then buy a minimum of two books. I've got quite a few that I've bought but haven't read yet. That's prob why I have no money... dang.


If Stephanie Meyer and JK Rowling got in a cat fight, who would win?
I'm sorry Meyer fans, but I think JK Rowling, hands down. She's one classy lady, but I think if she had to, she could make one mega-brawl go down. Also, I'd just like to add that if you were to arrange such an event, I'd totally pay for front row seats.


What is your “day” job?
Ugh, highschool. (Blarghskdjf!) Does that count? I'm still looking for a job-job, but right now I also babysit.


What can you not leave home without? (cell phones are off limits- NO ONE can leave home without one of those)
Keys. Walking is good for the environment and all, but I hate getting out of bed, let alone moving. So I can't leave without my car keys, yo. Haha, I also have to have my iPod.


Mac or PC?
I've never had a Mac, but when I was in Journalism, the Mac computers kind of confused me. So PC FTW!


Favorite dessert?
Strawberry ice-cream. OhmygoodnessDELISH. Any kind of ice-cream, really. I just really, extremely love it.


Favorite desert?
Yeah, I didn't do very well when I studied geography. Um, what about the Sahara Desert? It is quite ginormous.


Where is your dream vacation?
Ooh, I'm not picky! I'll go anywhere. Unless they have huge, man-eating, furry, fang loaded, green-eyed spiders. Those scare me. However, I'd love to backpack through Europe. Europe's cool.


Finally, link us to your website, blog, fb, twitter and anything else you might like to shamelessly plug for yourself
Shameless plugs? Those are my favorite!
Twitter: @maggiesmoment
Blog: juniper-breeze.blogspot.com

Thanks so much for interviewing me, Abby! I had a ton of fun. <33

Interview with Aspiring Author Colene Murphy

Hey guys!  Here is another installment of my aspiring author interviews!  Today, it's with Colene Murphy, my new crititque partner! (I now have 2 crit partners- how awesome is that??)



  I just printed off the first 100 pages of her novel, and I'm so excited to read it!

So, without further ado, here are her questions!


When did you realize you wanted to be an author? 

 It was when I started to really read YA. I was a little hesitant about it at first because at the time, I felt  like buying in the YA section made me look juvenile and immature. It was a mindset that in my 20's I should be more grown up - reading autobiographies and political novels and stuff. But when I started I just couldn't stop reading them. Devouring them. They took my breath away, made me cry hysterically, made me laugh like a loon, and I knew I wanted to affect people that way.

What genre do you like to write?  

Westerns! No, YA


What authors inspire you?    

Different ones for different things to write are inspirational. J.K. Rowling is my go to when I need to see how she created emotion with characters.  James Dashner is great at nail-biting suspense. Laura Whitcomb weaves words like magic. Every sentence is beauty with her, no matter what she's writing about. And of course, Suzanne Collins, Kim Harrison, Garth Nix, Jenny B. Jones, Neal Shusterman, and C.S.Lewis. Tons more, but I bet you want to move on and all.

How often do you write? 

 I try to get something, anything, down every day of the week. I like thousands-of-words days but if I can write a decent paragraph it isn't a waste. Weekends are harder. I'm trying to find more discipline for weekend writing. I bet I could get 10x more done if I did.


Are you a plotter or a pantser?    

Oh, pantser definitely! The first and last novel I plotted out, scene by scene, I screwed up beyond repair! It was awful. I had these set things I demanded of my novel but my characters I created just didn't want to do that. I ended up with a weird, unfinished ending that you could tell was rushed. It was like me and my characters dueled for the ending and no one won. Now I just write. I have an idea of my main character and maybe a second one. I give myself a beginning and a vague idea of how I want the MC to grow and then just sit down and type. They take me where I need to go. It always works out and I am much more satisfied and proud of the end result. One idea's rough draft actually finished thousands of words sooner than I intended, just because that was where it needed to.

Where do you write best, and do you listen to music while you write? 

 I love music. Most writers say that, but its the truth. And the kind depends on the scene and how I need to feel. Pandora Radio is the best website created for that. I write a lot at work and on my designated love seat. I tried to write at my desk before but can't focus when I'm there. Just doesn't feel right. I need to be comfortable or in a familiar atmosphere and the home office is most definitely not either.


What is on your TBR pile? 

Oh, gosh. What isn't? A Matter of Magic, Personal Demons, Once a Witch, Divergent, Z, Neverwhere, Lament, Across the Universe, The Cinderella Society, Firelight, Paranormalcy, Angel Fire, Scorch Trials, Nightshade, The Adoration of Jenna Fox, Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters, Bleeding Violet, Winter Garden, Matched, The Replacement, Nevermore, Halo, Seers of Light, Poison Study...oh I could go on and on! I have a disorder...YABookaholic much?

If Stephanie Meyer and JK Rowling got in a cat fight, who would win?

J.K.Rowling looks like she could throw some good punches if need be. I'd bet on her any day. Her characters would own Meyer's characters easily too. It's just facts, I only repeat them.


What is your “day” job?

Bounty Hunting unicyclist. Oh wait, you meant the boring one. Receptionist.  Someone seriously called the other day to ask me what time we closed at noon. But it pays the bills and I have some awesome bosses so no complaints here.

What can you not leave home without?

(cell phones are off limits- NO ONE can leave home without one of those) Lint roller. 5 cats makes you constantly furry.


Mac or PC?

PC! I know how to trouble-shoot and replace parts in PC's thanks to a computer techy dad. Mac's are as good as Mar's to me. Wouldn't know where to start.

Favorite dessert?  

Anything strawberry. Icecream, shortcake, cupcakes, pie, cheesecake. You get the picture.

Favorite desert?   

Rangipo Desert. It's in New Zealand near 3 active peaks. That sounded like I knew what I was talking about, right? Totally just wikipedia-d that junk. But it does look cool and isn't as scary as the Sahara either.

Where is your dream vacation?  

I would love to hop around Europe seeing all the famous sights and museums. One day, you know I will.

Finally, link us to your website, blog, fb, twitter and anything else you might like to shamelessly plug for yourself.          

Sweet! Thanks! http://cejourney.blogspot.com/
Thanks so much, Abby. Been a great pleasure and I love your blog!

Interview with Aspiring Author Andy Thompson

I'm going to be occasionally posting interviews with aspiring authors on my blog.  I will throw in some published authors here and there as well.

UPDATE: I totally forgot to add...if you are an aspiring author shoot me an email or leave me a comment!  I'd love to interview you!! 

The first interview is with my Critique Partner, Andy Thompson.  He's got all these great ideas for this awesome fantasy world.  He's writing an epic adult novel, and will also write a YA novel set in that world.  I love reading his material, and can't wait for him to finish!

When did you realize you wanted to be an author?
I don't want to be an author, being an author is way too much work.  I just want to be a storyteller who gets paid to tell stories in book form. Even though I have never really wanted to be an author, I started building a fantasy world and a story in high school and I have been working on it ever since.  It was only after my wife's encouragement in the last couple years that I thought seriously about turning it into a book to be published, and only after that did I think that perhaps I could turn it into a career.

What genre do you like to write?
I write what I read, and that is epic sword and sorcery fantasy.  My primary project is an adult series, but I also have a young adult trilogy in the works that is set in the same world.  Eventually I would like to have a children's series set in my world too.

How often do you write?
Not often enough.  Writing is a very difficult labor intensive process for me and so I don't do it as much as I should.  My wife and I bought our first house in April and that took a lot of my time up until about a month ago.  But regardless of the excuse, the fact is that I am out of the habit of writing. My goal has always been to work on my books for a minimum of an hour a day, but I would say that recently (meaning since April) I probably write around 3 hours a week.  I am really trying to get back in the saddle now that summer is over though.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?
Both, I have worked very hard to build vibrant world and I know the whole story already in my head. But as far as the actual pen to paper is concerned, I allow myself to go where the writing takes me.  Although I will make an outline every once in a while if I am having trouble getting the story to where I need to go.

Where do you write best, and do you listen to music while you write?
I go back and forth between my recliner and my desk.  Currently my desk is covered with paperwork so right now I am writing in my recliner. I always listen to music when I write. I want to give out a mix CD of the songs that inspired me when I give out copies of my book if I get published. I can tell you that the song that most inspires my adult fantasy series is Kiss From A Rose by Seal.  That would definitely be the theme song if my books would someday be made into a movie.

What is on your TBR pile?
Well I am rereading Harry Potter before the movie in November so I am currently in Goblet of Fire.  I am reading the ARC of the first book in Brandon Sanderson's new series, entitled The Way of Kings. I am also starting The Seven Realms Series by Cinda Williams Chima, starting with The Demon King.

If Stephanie Meyer and JK Rowling got in a cat fight, who would win?
It would never happen because JK is too classy, but in a fight between their fans, Rowling fans would win.  Hands down.

What is your “day” job?
I work as a Computer Technician for the Springfield Greene County Library

What can you not leave home without? (cell phones are off limits- NO ONE can leave home without one of those)
I am pretty low maintenance.  I carry keys, phone, wallet, wedding ring, and Chap Stick.

Mac or PC?
Depends on what I am doing.  If I want something reliable then Mac, but if I do not want to pay a premium and I like having versatility I would go PC.  For devices I would definitely go Mac.

Favorite dessert?
Éclair Cake

Favorite desert?
The Pillars of Creation (Gold Star for you if you get this reference )

Where is your dream vacation?
Touring the USA, going to every NFL stadium

Finally, link us to your website, blog, fb, twitter and anything else you might like to shamelessly plug for yourself
You can catch me on twitter: @crazywriterblog
At my daily sports blog: http://thecognitivecacophony.blogspot.com/
And at my writing blog: http://writingmyselfcrazy.blogspot.com/

Thanks for the great questions!


Thanks for letting me interview you, Andy!