Tell us about yourself.:
I'm an award-winning author of a debut fiction novel, A Writing Upon the Sand. It won the Artisan Book Reviews Book Excellence Award for Best Christian Historical Romance.

As a Licensed Professional Counselor, I listen to people's stories for a living. As a writer, I listen and jot down what my characters are saying. So Many Words.

Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?:
I grew up in Southern California, but moved to Texas as a young adult, where storms are newsworthy and the state is rich in history. I feel this had the greater influence on my writing.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Though I start with a basic outline, I write as scenes come to me: dialog, action, plot twists. I later go back and flesh out the chapter, adding description and whatever else it needs to flow. However, scenes don't always come to me in chronological order, which I find intriguing and annoying, in equal parts.

What authors have influenced you?
I grew up in Southern California, but moved to Texas as a young adult, where storms are newsworthy and the state is rich in history. I feel this had the greater influence on my writing.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Choose advanced readers who will provide you with honest feedback. Ask them tough questions about your book, like "what excited you, annoyed you, and/or confused you?" I listened and edited my work according to their suggestions. It made my story stronger.

What is the best advice you have ever been given?
Be true to your convictions; those values you hold dear that are non-negotiable. Allow those to dictate what you write.

What are you reading now?
I'm rereading The Words We Lost, by Nicole Deese. You know a book is a great read when you finish the last page and start again at the beginning.

What’s your biggest weakness?
Dark chocolate. There's a reason why sweets are at the top of the food pyramid. It's the Best Tasting Ever.

What is your favorite book of all time?
The inspired Word, the Bible. It feeds my soul.

When you’re not writing, how do you like to spend your time?
The introvert in me finds the time each day to read. Pair that with lying down, and it's golden.

Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
The Secret of the Old Clock, a Nancy Drew Mystery. It was the first time I remember turning the pages for fun, just to see what happened next.

What has inspired you and your writing style?
I'm inspired by people who go through horrific events and go on to lead meaningful lives that impact others for good.

What are you working on now?
I'm researching my next historical fiction. This genre requires a lot more research in order to make another era come alive to the reader.

What is your favorite method for promoting your work?
I'm a big fan of E-book free giveaways. Not only do I take pleasure in giving my book away for free, but I've discovered it brings in more reviews, which promotes my novel.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I plan on writing another Texas historical fiction about an event that took place across the bay from Galveston in 1947, the year of the Texas City Disaster.

How well do you work under pressure?
Not. At. All. Hence, being an indie author suits my personality and lifestyle perfectly.

How do you decide what tone to use with a particular piece of writing?
Because I wrote about the deadliest natural disaster in US history, that fact alone set the tone for my novel. Though there are uplifting chapters, almost half the book centered around the Storm and its aftermath. More than 5,000 people died, many more went missing. I stayed true to history as I explored the devastation and grief that followed in its wake.

If you could share one thing with your fans, what would that be?
My debut novel took more than 20 years to research and write. I wove in true events and real historical people who left their mark on Galveston, like Clara Barton and R.C. Buckner. They were true heroes.

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