Tagged Again & Loving It!

Mary L. Walling asked me these awesome questions:

1. When did you first realize you wanted to write books and what genre?

 I never imagined myself as a book writer until a few years ago. I recognized my love of writing and had written several articles, short stories, poems, etc., but the idea of actually writing a novel alluded me. I esteemed novelists on such a high pedestal that becoming one seemed a bit lofty to me. As far as the genre goes, my first book was realistic fiction with a slight touch of fantasy. It remains hidden in the bottom of my filing cabinet. My second book, co-authored with my dear friend, Kari Pike, is a self-help book which hides with my first book. My third book, Sons of Elderberry is total fantasy. It was buried for five years until recently and is my current "rescued" WIP. My fourth book, No Angel is my first book published. It is in a category called speculative fiction, but I've also heard it referred to as spiritual fantasy. Its prequel, From Heaven to Earth is due to go to press this month! I've already written an additional two books in my angel series and have at least three more in mind before that series is finished. I write in the mystery/suspense genre too and have a novel called Escape completed. It's the second in a two-book series and cannot be published until I  finish writing book one ~ after I complete Sons of Elderberry.

2. Who is your favorite book character and why? What is your favorite book?

My favorite book character is the wise Galadriel from the Lord of the Rings - I love her good choices. I also love Jane Eyre too - for the same reasons. My favorite book (next to religious books) is Tolkien's Lord of the Rings.

3. Life can be a little challenging sometimes. What do you do that helps you get through life's challenges?

I pray, then I ponder, then I thank.

4. I know that some of you do something special when you write. I like to drink iced lemon water and eat peppermint patties (sugar free) or yum, dark chocolate. What special something do you do when you write?

I drink lots of water. I've learned that soda pop is not my friend, but an addiction - as much as I LOVE it, I now try to avoid it. I really love to snack on blueberries and grapes...

5. My parents were my inspiration growing up. Who inspired you the most in your life? Why?

My mother was a great inspiration to me. She could make-do with nothing. She was kind and pleasant to be around. She was hard working and loved her family fiercely. She instilled a love of reading in me from reading to us regularly out of the back of an old set of Encyclopedia Britannica ~ Hans Christian Anderson, as well as the Bible.

6. I have traveled a lot in my lifetime. My favorite place to live was Colorado where there were four seasons and the beautiful mountains. Have you traveled and if so, what was your favorite place and why?

Though I currently live in the lovely state of Arizona, USA, my heart and soul are in my birthplace of Maine. I've lived all over the USA and have loved each state ~ AZ, OH, PA, UT, CA, NH, and ME. I traveled to Romania when in high school. Our band/chorus was chosen by Leonard Bernstein to be "ambassadors for friendship", and we toured the beautiful country of Romania, which is really neat, as my 19 yr. old son is serving a mission there right now!

7. I am going to borrow a form of question from someone else. Have you ever used a family member as a character in one of your books?

Oh yes! I have used family and friend's names in my books many times, but never their personalities, because that can actually limit you in character development. Usually, the only thing I use is their names. 

8. What have been the inspiration for the title of your novels? A person, place or thing?

I've written whole novels just from the title, although I've already had characters created. No Angel is about a guardian angel with an attitude - that's why I gave it the title No Angel, because he did not want to be a guardian angel. I was thrilled when my editor chose to keep that title, because that doesn't usually happen. The inspiration for writing No Angel came from wanting to write a fun story that had the workings of the spirit world as a backdrop. Though No Angel is fiction, there's a lot in it that I imagine to be true.

9. What great thing would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail? 

I would love to be involved in government, but in order to do so, I'd have to have a complete, unbiased understanding of how government works and how to best serve my country. So, if this was a "wish" thing ~ if I could truly attempt something with the guarantee of success ~ then, I would love to be a successful politician who could protect the rights and liberties of its citizens.

10. Are you a pushover for everyone who wants you to do stuff for them? Why?

I wouldn't want to be known as a "pushover", because that has a negative connotation of someone who is weak. I am not weak and the things that I am able to do to help others come from my heart and a sincere desire to help others.

11. How much impact does your childhood have on your writing?

My childhood experiences have developed me into the person that I am. My love for fantasy came from my mother reading to me. My fascination with Dr. Seuss books helped to develop the ability to look at things from wildly different perspectives. My passion for science kept me searching for the  "why and how" of things and a drive to believe that a greater intellect existed than that of man. My belief in angels came from incredible religious experiences as a child ~ so, I'd have to say that without doubt, my childhood experiences weigh heavily on my writing.

If you want to join in on the fun, here are your questions from me! Don't forget to link your blog back to my blog!

1. You're on a deserted island for six months with one person ~ who would it be and why?

2. You were caught in a meteor shower which left you with strange abilities. Now every time you eat chocolate, you can ... what?

3. A friend takes you to an abandoned castle that has been hidden for centuries. She heard a rumor that great treasure was hidden in the sixth tower. Would you venture inside or turn it over to the authorities to investigate? What would you find?

4. You can only drink one type of beverage for the next year - what would it be and why?

5. Have you ever had to face a fear of yours? What was it and how did you overcome it, if you did?

6. Have you enjoyed certain ages in your life more than others? What is your ideal age and why?

7. Has anyone totally amazed you in life? Who and why?

8. Have you ever written in a character in a story patterned after a real person ~ out of spite, because that person ticked you off?

9. Do any of your characters make you totally crazy because they have a mind of their own and take you places you hadn't planned on?

10. What is your most favorite phrase/paragraph that you have written? Can you share it?

11. If you could sit down and talk shop with any writer from any time period - who would it be and why?

I've Been Tagged!

I've been tagged by Melissa Sugar-Gold!


1.     Name one thing you consider your biggest regret in your life so far.

I guess if I had to pick one, I'd still marry my husband exactly when I did, but I'd insist that we live in my home state instead of his. My mother passed away a little over a year after we married and we lived out-of-state. My father has since then passed away too.

2.     If you could go back in time and do things differently, what is something you would change?

Oh, that’s easy—I would’ve continued to get my degree earlier than I did and substitute taught in my children’s schools while they were growing up. I waited until my youngest was in first grade before I taught school.

3.     If you could travel to another time period, but you must agree to remain there for a full six months would you go? If yes what time period & where would you time-travel to the future or past?

Oh yes! I would definitely do that! I would time travel to when my mother was a teenager and hang with her just to get to know her.

4.     Would you rather be on the best seller list once (only once) or win the single ticket mega multi- state lotto?

I’d actually opt out of both, but if I had to choose between the two, I’d choose the bestseller list only once, even though I’d be sad to be just a one-hit wonder, I’d rather have earned it through my efforts than won it in a lottery.

5.     When you write in the privacy of your own home, what do you wear?

I wear just regular clothing—jeans t-shirt, sometimes my jammies.

6.     What was the happiest day or time of your life?

The happiest day of my life was the spiritual moment when I realized who I was, where I came from, and where I am going—no kidding, I spent most of my youth searching for that answer.

7.     Would you rather have loved deeply and been hurt deeply or have never felt true love before or the hurt that can go with it?

Interesting question—I have true love right now, and he’s never hurt me, nor will he. If his love held deep hurt from wrong doing, I’d choose never to experience it, but if the deep hurt were of a different kind, say the kind that would come from watching him suffer from illness or even premature death—I’d so take his love and the hurt too, and I’d continue to have hope for a future together past this life.

8.     If you current novel is made into a Major Motion Film; who would play your protagonist?

My current novel is called No Angel and it’s about an angel with an attitude. I patterned the main character after Sheldon Cooper on the Big Bang Theory so I’d have to say the actor that plays him—Jim Parsons. 

My current WIP is a wizard/fairy fantasy and the protagonist is a 15 yr. old boy, so any unknown, really cute actor would be perfect.

9.     If a movie was made about your life, who would you want to play you?

That’s too funny! I would definitely want someone who closely matched my personality, more than my looks—and someone completely unknown.

10.  Name one thing about you that you seldom share with others ~ or something that we in the blogosphere do not know about you.

Hmmm, let me think back in time—how about this—I don’t think that even my bff knows this! I had lots of friends in high school, but my best friends eventually became two boys my age—David and Bruce. We hung out all the time. They were a blast to be with because they were so smart and actually got my jokes! 

11.  You are a character and are being interviewed: What is your greatest strength? 

Worst flaw?

As a character my greatest strength is loyalty—no matter what my friend or family member had down, I’d stick by them. My worst flaw would be that it’d take me a while to remember my greatest strength—I’d struggle to “act” what I “believe,” but eventually, I’d be on it. 

Thanks Melissa!

And here the eleven campaigners I tagged and their questions! 
1. Lena Corazon
2. J
3. Scott Bury
4. Alexander Shostak
5. Nick Hight
6. Shan Jeniah Burton
7. Lara Schiffbauer
8. The Capillary
9. Jamie McHenry
10. Sarah F.
11. Bess Weatherby

1. You're on a deserted island for six months with one person ~ who would it be and why?

2. You were caught in a meteor shower which left you with strange abilities. Now every time you eat chocolate, you can ... what?

3. A friend takes you to an abandoned castle that has been hidden for centuries. She heard a rumor that great treasure was hidden in the sixth tower. Would you venture inside or turn it over to the authorities to investigate? What would you find?

4. You can only drink one type of beverage for the next year - what would it be and why?

5. Have you ever had to face a fear of yours? What was it and how did you overcome it, if you did?

6. Have you enjoyed certain ages in your life more than others? What is your ideal age and why?

7. Has anyone totally amazed you in life? Who and why?

8. Have you ever written in a character in a story patterned after a real person ~ out of spite, because that person ticked you off?

9. Do any of your characters make you totally crazy because they have a mind of their own and take you places you hadn't planned on?

10. What is your most favorite phrase/paragraph that you have written? Can you share it?

11. If you could sit down and talk shop with any writer from any time period - who would it be and why?

Tag! You're It!

Okay, I've been tagged by http://betsyloveldsauthor.blogspot.com/ So here are my answers to her questions:

1. What is your first memory of writing or reading?
My mother read to all of us out of the back of an old set of Britannica Encyclopedias ~ I remember being quite young on her knee while she read from Hans Christian Anderson ~ probably why I love fantasy!

2. If you could be a character in a book, which one and why?
Oh, so many to choose from! - I really like Galadriel from The Lord of the Rings ~ so much power and yet, she chooses the better way instead of ruling the world.

3. An unexpected package has just arrived for you. What do you hope is inside?
Something magical ~ like a do-it-yourself portal kit, either that, or a box of fresh apples shipped from Maine during apple season.

4. Which would you rather lose your hearing or your vision? Why?
I've already lost a lot of my hearing, probably from playing in a band years ago and its not so bad, in fact, now if my son decides to make a racket in the kitchen cooking something at midnight, it doesn't bother me (well, except for the mess in the morning.)

5. If you could travel to anywhere in the world where would you go? What would you do?
I'd visit the land(s) of my ancestors ~ direct links to Ireland, Scotland and England. I'd track down where my family lived and see if I can find living relations then I'd sample the local cuisine and visit the historical landmarks and castles. That's what I'd do the first few days, after that, I'd relax in a hammock in an old oak tree and use the rich scenery surrounding me as inspiration for writing.

6. If you could be a bug, which one would you choose?
Ick. Not much of a bug person ~ I guess if I had to be a bug, I'd be a bee - a queen bee.

7. When you're in your writing "zone" do you like to snack? If so what's your favorite?
I really like eating grapes - no guilt, good for you ~ but right now? I'm staring at a huge Reese's peanut-butter bar (YES! It comes in a bar now!)

8. Where is your favorite place to write?
I prefer to be outside surrounded by trees and flowers, but alas ~ I have to settle for my mostly quiet bedroom.

9. What is one thing you would change about yesterday.
I'd never have left my family in Maine, USA after I graduated ... I would've stayed right there and become a part of that community. I guess after you reach the age of adulthood, you want to get out on your own, right? I moved clear across the nation and attended college. Okay, so maybe I have a few regrets from that, but given the incredible experiences I've had in the many places that I have lived - I guess I wouldn't want to give those up either.

10. You've been given a million dollars. What is the first thing you would do with it? (You can't put it in the bank)
Well okay, I was thinking, "I'd pay my debts" and while that is VERY true, I doubt it'd be the first thing that I'd do. I think the first thing that I'd do would be to visit my grandson in Florida and take my other three grandchildren with me so they could meet him too. Then I'd buy a small condominium there so that we could have a place to stay and visit him frequently.


11. If you were give three wishes what you wish for? (No wishing for more wishes. One other warning, be careful what you wish for. It didn't turn out so well for the fisherman's wife.)
Real true wishes? ~sigh~ I'd wish for complete knowledge ~ to understand everything that exists down to the minutest detail. I'd wish for complete wisdom ~ to know the spiritual aspects associated with that knowledge. And I'd wish for the ability to speak and understand all languages ~ what a great thing that would be to freely speak with anyone and understand them in their own tongue.

Gosh! Now I have to come up with eleven questions and tag some new friends? Okay ANYONE reading this? TAG you're it! Answer these questions on your blog and link it back to mine!

1. You're on a deserted island for six months with one person ~ who would it be and why?
2. You were caught in a meteor shower which left you with strange abilities. Now every time you eat chocolate, you can ... what?
3. A friend takes you to an abandoned castle that has been hidden for centuries. She heard a rumor that great treasure was hidden in the sixth tower. Would you venture inside or turn it over to the authorities to investigate? What would you find?
4. You can only drink one type of beverage for the next year - what would it be and why?
5. Have you ever had to face a fear of yours? What was it and how did you overcome it, if you did?
6. Have you enjoyed certain ages in your life more than others? What is your ideal age and why?
7. Has anyone totally amazed you in life? Who and why?
8. Have you ever written in a character in a story patterned after a real person ~ out of spite, because that person ticked you off?
9. Do any of your characters make you totally crazy because they have a mind of their own and take you places you hadn't planned on?
10. What is your most favorite phrase/paragraph that you have written? Can you share it?
11. If you could sit down and talk shop with any writer from any time period - who would it be and why?