1) What do you find yourself rambling about?
Pick a topic, any topic, and I’ll bet you that I can start rambling on about it. I think that’s one of the reasons why I love writing so much. It gives me an outlet for the copious convoluted thoughts that occupy my busy brain. If I must narrow it down, I suppose some of the topics you are most likely to hear me yarning on about include cheese (because who doesn’t love cheese), any of the many books I’ve recently read, and the conundrum of cardboard taking over in the world in the form of packaging for people’s online purchases.
2) If you could put your book into one person’s hands to read, who would that be and why?
Since I have to pick just one person, and I cannot choose between my grandparents, all four of whom passed away long before I finished writing Trouble the Water, then I am going with Reese Witherspoon. She is a smart and inspiring woman who is talented in so many different ways, and I would be supremely honored to have her read my book. I have enjoyed watching her over the years as she transformed from an adorable teen-aged actress to a dynamic woman who succeeds at everything she undertakes. She possesses so many traits I admire, from rigorous intellectual curiosity, compassion for others, and a charitable nature, to a great sense of humor and a profound interest in books. As a strong and independent woman, I believe she would find my protagonist, Abigail, a kindred spirit, and I think she would enjoy the book.
3) What part of the writing process do you love the most?
I love the days when I disappear so completely into the writing that I am able to learn new and exciting tidbits about my characters. Whether it’s a trait I hadn’t realized the character possessed, or an unexpected plot twist that a character’s behavior engenders, at some point I begin to see my characters as real people, and they do things that surprise me. When that happens, all I can do is follow them down whatever path they are pulling me towards. Those are the days where I really feel like I’m doing something right.
4) Is there a piece of you at all in this book?
There are pieces of me scattered all over this book. On the surface, I would say that you can see me most easily in Abigail, the heroine who insists on asserting herself even when it might cost her. When she learns that her benefactor, Douglas, is engaged in abolition, she wants to push herself into his work, regardless of the risks to herself. She also suffers from a noisy internal dialogue, which is something to which I can relate. I also see myself in Abigail’s best friend, Gracie, who is always attempting to be the ultimate people pleaser. As I go down the list of characters, I can find bits of myself in almost all of them, and I think many readers would be able to do so, as well.
5) What types of books do you like to read? What has been the most recent favorite read of yours?
I am a voracious reader. The types of books I read can loosely be categorized as “Women’s Fiction.” I do not discriminate between high and low art within the genre. I am just as likely to read a lyrical experimental novel as I am to read a more formulaic romance. If a story is well-told, I am all in. I read a little bit of non-fiction, as well, but only when it is required as research for a project that I am working on. Most recently, I loved Kristin Hannah’s The Great Alone and Loretta Nyhan’s Digging In.
6) What is next on your plate?
I am putting the finishing touches on my next novel. It’s contemporary fiction, and like Trouble the Water, the story also features a strong female lead.
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I love your questions.
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