Gearing up Get to know me!

-Where do you write?

During the summer I either write in a really comfy old chair in the corner of my living room or outside under a tree in my front yard.  I have a little pink notebook computer that is super easy to take everywhere to write.
During the school year I will sometimes (don't tell) write during the kids silent reading and my lunch.  :)


-Quick. Go to your writing space, sit down and look to your left. What is the first thing you see?

To the left in my living room is our couch with my sixteen year old watching Storage Wars.  Outside it would be my puppy Dasy sleeping in the grass.

-Favorite time to write?

 

I write whenever I get the chance.  I carry a notebook around to jot down ideas when I don't have time to actually crack open the computer.  That said I would say I usually write at night after dinner has been made and cleaned up.  Now that my oldest in away at college I will have a bit more time. 

-Drink of choice while writing?

Usually Diet Pepsi with a lot of ice, occasionally I will drink Crystal Light, raspberry lemonade if I have already had my pop for the day.  Sadly I go to the gym in the morning, stop at a mini mart for a LARGE soda and come home to write.  Not very healthy, I know.

-When writing , do you listen to music or do you need complete silence?

Usually I write with the television on.  Although I prefer quiet, it is my way of writing and still being somewhat in the view of my kids and husband.  However I can not write with sports on and will head off to a quiet place if they are watching Monday night football.

-What was your inspiration for your latest manuscript and where did you find it?

My inspiration for my latest manuscript is an ongoing repsect for the military and recently reading Marcus Luttrell's book Survivor.  I have spent the last year doing research on the war in Afghanistan for the book and am embarrassed by how much I did not know about what was going on.

-What's your most valuable writing tip?

My most valuable writing tip came this summer.  I gathered together some new beta readers and I let one of them drive my story in a direction I did not want it to go.  They never could get past the first three chapters and although I think I learned a lot from the experience, remember the story is YOUR story and don't lose the focus of what it is you're trying to say.
It reminded me of what happened the first time Stephanie Meyer got a screen play written for Twilight.  All of a sudden there were aliens and FBI agents in the story.