Do you have an agent?
I am represented by Michael Bourret of Dystel, Goderich, & Bourret. He is very smart, very calming, very savvy, and very patient. Also, he lives in Los Angeles, which is very ooh-la-la.
Have you always wanted to be a writer?
Honestly, no. I was always an eager reader, but a reluctant writer. But there are a few things I have always wanted:
1) Not a traditional desk job.
2) A job that rewards a bizarre imagination and making things up.
3) A lifestyle that encourages reading.
4) A career that celebrates imaginary friends.
5) A job that would allow me to keep my nose ring in.
I didn't really, truly start writing until my 20s. I was a book editor first and swore I wasn't one of those editors who was secretly slaving away as an editorial assistant to get my big break as an author. But as soon as I left my job as an editor, I missed it. I missed working with authors to shape their characters, I missed futzing with plot to find and develop a hidden scene, I missed the fun that comes with making a book out of...well, nothing at all, other than your own inner crazy. So that's when I started writing my own stories, and I've been hooked ever since.
So, is this your real job?
For many years, I worked for Nickelodeon doing retail marketing and business development (schmoozing about kids' brands - awesome, right?). My schedule was: work all day, hang out with my kids all evening, and start to write sometime around 8 pm almost every night. I am so lucky that now I'm able to get my kids up in the morning and write while they're at school.
Where do you get your ideas?
Everywhere. I get inspiration for book concepts from National Public Radio, the news, eavesdropping at the library. I steal character traits and names from my friends, people I see out and about, and the guy in line in front of me at the coffee shop. I borrow plot and dialogue from the doctor's office, overheard cell phone calls (come on, when you chat in public, you know everyone is listening, right?), and my own twisted imagination. As a writer, I'm always on always listening for something that might inspire an idea or a scene.
I'm a writer. What advice do you have for me?
Question: Do you just want to write because you love writing, or do you want to publish your work? If you just want to write because you love writing, then do that. Find the time, and write every day. If that's impossible, schedule time in for writing a few times a week, the way you would a favorite TV show or a movie with a friend. The hardest part is getting into the habit, and I know it is very easy to find so many excuses for why you don't have time or why you're scared or whatever. If you want to be a published writer, then there are some other things to think about. Of course, you still need to write. It's easy to dream of fame and fortune and your name on the cover of a book - and never write a word. I've been there. But you do actually need to write, and you need to write a whole book. Then you need to revise the whole book. And sometimes, you need to give up on that book and write a different book. If you don't like that concept, then writing is not for you. You also need to be aware of the market for the genre you write in. I think the best advice I can give someone is to spend time every week in bookstores or the book section at a big retailer, just browsing. Perusing the shelves will help you stay up on what's selling, what trends are hot, what just works in a book. Then the tricky thing is to find your own take on that - figure out what makes these books successful, what makes them unique, and then find your own thing. You can steal insight and knowledge about the market from stores, just don't steal ideas. But you'll be way ahead of the game if you're able to recognize what kinds of books get published before you start submitting your manuscript to agents or editors.
Does it bother you when editors "mess with" your work?
I have actually been asked this question, which is why I've included it here. I, perhaps more than any other writer in the history of writing, LOVE EDITORS. Seriously, love them. Perhaps it's because I was one, but I admire, respect, and desperately need the editorial process. If you want to be a published writer, you need to be prepared for someone criticizing your work, picking at your work, and - I promise - fixing your work to make it so much better than it could have been without an editorial partner. Tinker away, editors. I love you.
I wrote something great. Will you read it?
Congratulations on finishing your story! While I love to read and wish I could help everyone, I am afraid I must say no. I need to use my limited work time to write books!
Where can I buy your books?
Here's a good place to start. My books are available at most chain bookstores and some local independent bookstores. If you don't see them, just ask. Any bookstore should be able to order them at no extra charge. You can also find them online at Bookshop.org, Indiebound.org, Amazon.com, BN.com, Target.com, Chapters.Indigo.ca ... you get the idea.
Where can I get a signed book?
If you want a signed book, my friends at Red Balloon in St. Paul, MN, can probably hook you up. Give them a call and order one - if they don't have a signed copy in stock, tell them I sent you and I'll drive right over to sign and personalize one that they can send out for you!
