1. How and why did you choose your book
covers?
For The Maze Series books, the covers chose
me. By the time I finish writing each book, I have a pretty good idea how I
want the cover to look. Then I send pages of descriptions, sample photos and
everything I can find, about every detail that might be helpful to my cover guy
and he pieces it all together. We usually Skype a conversation and numerous
emails and messages go back and forth throughout the process.
For Pawper to Pedigree, Jamie came up with
the cover. I knew I wanted a matted, muddy dog and a well-groomed dog on the
cover. He sent back the initial sketch and I loved it!
2. Are there any books, or authors, you
admire?
Janet Evanovich the Stephanie Plum Series
is my all time favorite. The best audio books for road trips with my mom. We’d
be laughing so hard, we would have to pull over. If I could be half that funny
with my books, I would be a very happy author.
I have Excel spreadsheets full of authors I
like, just to keep track of them. My memory has never been able to keep up with
me and I am the spreadsheet queen.
3. If you could co-write a book with anyone
of your choosing, who would it be and why?
Janet Evanovich, of course! It might take
awhile to finish because I picture us laughing hysterically and getting off
track numerous time. Pour my sense of humor into a blender; add a generous
portion of Janet’s humor, drop in a few ice cubes, a splash of hot sauce and
the book would have people rolling. Serve with cheese doodles on the side,
please.
4. What do you find the most challenging
thing about being an author?
Marketing and promoting; getting my books
into the hands of readers. I’m not a salesperson and to be honest, I’ve never
cared much for pushy salespeople. So this is a scary new adventure for me. How do
I sell books? How can I entice readers without scaring them away? I’m still
trying to figure this out. I have met numerous authors via social networking
and this seems to be the hardest, most frustrating part of the process.
Luckily, those authors are willing to share their ups and downs, successes and
fails. The Author Professional Coop is a fantastic group that is happy to
answer questions from us newbies. I’ve learned so much already, but have a very
long way to go.
5. If money was no object and you could
travel to any place in the world for your dream vacation; where would you go
and what would you do?
I
would love to backpack New Zealand, visit all the places where they filmed The
Hobbit, and scuba dive the Great Barrier Reef. I want to live in the Shire. At
5’ 3”, I think I’m small enough to fit. That’s the nerd in me, coming out.
6. What
have you learned as an author since you published your first book that you wish
you knew when starting out?
Everything!
I made so many mistakes at the beginning because I knew no one who knew
anything about publishing a book. Yepper, I paid a publishing company to
publish my first book, The Keeper. Stupid! Flushed that money down the toilet
and took me 2 years to pay off the debt. However, once I published that first
book, I started running into authors everywhere. They are the most helpful
group of people. Very giving with their time, information, and advice on what
not to do. Of course, I was doing all that wrong stuff. Live and learn, and
don’t look back. Focus on the here and now, and the very near future. Outside
of that, you can’t do anything about.
I
had no idea how many authors there are out there, all over the world. I’m not a
technology person and was avoiding it prior to my first book. That’s when I was
forced into technology. The drawback was that I didn’t know any techno geeks
and shelling out more money I didn’t have was not an option. On my own, I
learned about Facebook, Twitter, and built my own website. This might sound
like a little thing to most people, but for me it was a big step. Before this,
I only used my cell phone to make and receive phone calls. So I had a lot to
learn.
My
advice to other up and coming authors: just jump in. You will make mistakes,
learn and move on. Yes, it is scary; putting yourself out there, but you will
meet so many people just like yourself. We are all trying to get our stories
out there while dreaming of a full-time writing career. If you never try, then
you will never know. Unless you are one of the lucky few, it’s a difficult dream.
You WILL work hard, you WILL have doubts, you WILL loose sleep, you WILL cry,
you WILL be exhausted, you WILL love the creative process, you WILL hate all
that other stuff that takes you away from writing. However, the sense of pride
that shoots through you when a reader tells you how much they loved your book,
makes it worth the journey.
Good
luck, have hope.
Trying
to build a mobile dog grooming business can be difficult when your bus is most
likely stolen, your flamboyant cosmetologist keeps people guessing as to his
sexual orientation, you are dating the cop who arrested your last boyfriend,
and you can hear what dogs are thinking. Luckily, for Marnie, her clientele has
eclectic tastes and she discovers there is a lucrative market for her dog
whisperer gift.
From
country dogs to city dogs, pedigrees to mutts, Marnie and Aaron take on new
clients while helping owners reach a deeper connection with their pets.
Determined
not to spend the rest of his life trudging off to a job he hates, Gabriel
leaves home in search of adventure. Lost in the Maine wilderness and
accompanied by his critical inner voice, he begins hiking on a mountainside
path unaware that he is about to discover his destiny.
After
entering an ancient maze, Gabriel is transported to another world where he is
introduced to Kieran; fellow traveler, best bud and serial killer. Soon,
Gabriel realizes that Kieran is an outcast whose resentment toward him peaks
when on of Kieran’s conquests is offered up to Gabriel as a potential wife.
Having other ideas, Gabriel escapes the arranged marriage just in time to meet
a Druid girl who opens his eyes to the wonders of nature. An ensuing battle
against Jaguar Warriors forces Gabriel to do something he abhors in order to
survive; kill.
In
this adventure/fantasy tale, a young man takes an epic journey of
self-discovery that comes full circle when he realizes that the grey, stone
walls of the maze have been manipulating him all along. Buy it here
In
book 2, Gabriel, Gideon and the maze set Ann up for an adventure with her
friends Jace & Meridia reluctantly following. In the underwater city of
Jeritza, Ann feels as if she’s come home while Jace flounders in the water and
Meridia continuously causes trouble.
While
the city’s leader, Ian, is immersed in territorial negotiations with the
crustaceans, Meridia has a brief affair with the enemy’s interpreter that
endangers the Jeritzian way of life and Ann. When battles ensue, the three
friends fight along side the city’s residents and the multitude of local sea
creatures that have come to drive the Crustaceans, and their human slaves, from
their home.
As love blossoms between Ian and Ann, Jace and
Meridia realize they will soon have to leave their friend and seek out their
own adventures in the maze. Buy it here
Extract from Pawper to Pedigree
“Any
idea how to get skunk stink out of the inside of a dog?”
“He
ate the skunk?” Aaron asked, his face crinkling with distaste.
“Not
the skunk, but the—well—you know.” Marnie pinched her nose. “He just farted and
it is noxious. Any suggestions?”
Aaron took several steps back. “Gas-x? Breath mint? Industrial strength
enema?” he offered.
Extract from The Keeper
Sleep
was soon upon me,
and then the dream began. Alone in a bathroom I did not recognize, I stood over
the sink. In the mirror, a rusted claw foot tub lurked behind me as I stared
into the eyes of my reflection. It was me, yet at the same time, it was not. I
had never seen this look of confidence on my face before.
“What are you looking at?” I scoffed at my reflection.
“Nothing much,” replied the face in the
mirror, though I knew I had not formed the words. I jumped, shuffling back. The
tub clipped me at the knees and sent me tumbling into an abyss. I grabbed for
the shower curtain, but it tore away and engulfed me on my descent.
“I’ll catch up with you later!” the image
in the mirror called out with a laugh.
Extract from Underwater City
“Allow me to introduce you to your dental
hygienists extraordinaire.” Kyla positioned herself as if showing off a new car
on a game show. “Hawk and Spit. Taa, daa!”
The shrimp performed acrobatics in the mini
aquarium before returning to their positions near the surface where they
snapped to attention. All legs on their right sides, saluted Ann.
“Did you say Hock and Spit?” Ann asked her
nose crinkling as she peered in at the swimmers for a second time.
Kyla giggled. “H-A-W-K,” she spelled out.
“See the wings on his back?”
Hawk obliged Ann by turning around and sure
enough, there they were. Thin, white scars etched the shrimp’s exoskeleton in
the shape of wings. “Wow,” Ann exclaimed. “Was he born with those?”
“Nope. When Hawk was a wee bitty thing, he
thought he could fly,” Kyla explained. “One day, he decided to prove it by
climbing to the top of a beached coconut. Unfortunately, his attempt at a
running leap off said coconut resulted in him tripping, slipping and sliding
down the side of it on his back. Though his injuries were not life threatening,
he did walk away with those scars and that is the story of how Hawk earned his
wings.”
Ann shuddered. “Ouch.”
Hawk appeared unfazed. He bobbled in the
tank, flexing his legs as if to say, flesh
wound; feel these muscles.
The girls laughed openly at the shrimp’s
antics.
Meanwhile, Spit had moved out of the way and
perched on the top spire of a miniature replica of Cinderella’s castle that
occupied the center of the aquarium. His front two legs tapped with impatience.
“And Spit?” Ann pressed. “How did he get his
name?”
“My boy Spit is a real spitfire. No patience
and quick-tempered.” Kyla crooked a finger at Spit and he hurried forward. “He
is also a practical joker. You have to watch him every minute.” Kyla bent close
to the aquarium. “Now, you mind your temper with our guest,” she instructed.
Spit nodded.
“And keep your practical jokes to a minimum.
At least until Ann gets adjusted to her new surroundings.”
Spit nodded again. Hawk joined his friend at
the castle, bumping into him in his haste. Spit’s tail flicked out, spinning
Hawk end over end.
“Spit!” Kyla admonished. “This is exactly
what I was talking about.”
Swimming over to
Hawk, Spit hooked a leg around his friend and pulled him toward the surface.
Once there, Spit patted Hawk on the head with one of his antennae and then
spread wide all of his claws and legs as if asking, better?
