At this point, I don’t have much of a set schedule, I just try to write whenever I can fit it in around work and other responsibilities (someone has to take care of the husband critters). I do make sure I write everyday (except for Sundays, when I don’t write, no matter how hard that is), and I try to get in at least 1,000 words each day. My writing usually happens in the evening, but I occasionally take my lunch break to pound out some words.

Both. I have written entire novels without any outlining/plotting in advance and I have written novels where I extensively outlined before writing (seriously, like to the point where the outline probably could have been considered a rough draft). I am most comfortable starting with a basic, loose outline. I try to chronicle all the major plot points and then I fill it in from there, adding more and more detail until I have a pretty extensive outline. Then I write! I still get a rush out of just sitting down and seeing where my writing takes me though.

I save all my edits for after I am done with the first draft. I find that if I edit as I am writing, I never finish the book. I just keep tinkering and tinkering with the first few chapters and never actually move on. I work much better if I can get all of the story out and onto the paper before I worry too much about the editing.

Neither. And both. Most of the time, I can write just fine with or without music. There are times, however, when that is not the case. Sometimes, I need that little bit of distraction to be able to focus on my work. Other times I just want to sing along and I end up typing the lyrics to the song rather than writing a book.

No. Not that you would know it by looking at my Writing page, but I do have stories with no paranormal elements. For now the paranormal stories just seem stronger to me, so that is what I focus on. I guess I just like leaving reality far behind.

Why not? I don’t have a real reason for this other than: because writing YA is fun fun fun! I love being able to explore and experiment, and YA is the perfect genre for that. Plus, young adults are awesomesauce–why wouldn’t I want to write for them?

Shoot, adults can read my YA books! Let’s face it: the coolest adults are the ones who know how great young adult literature is. In all seriousness though, I might. I have story ideas that will work better as adult than YA; someday I will get around to writing them, but today is not that day. For now I am having way too much fun with YA.

As opposed to all those fake ones I have been writing? Hmmm…I will have to get back to you on that one. (I hate this question and suggest that anyone who has even thought about asking a YA author this does two things: 1. Stop being ignorant. 2. Actually read some young adult literature.)

My all time favorites are Fyodor Dostoevsky and John Steinbeck. Let’s just leave it at that–every time I try to list more than those two, my list just grows and grows and grows to where I might as well just list every author.

In no particular order:

• Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
• East of Eden by John Steinbeck
• The Thief of Always by Clive Barker
• Oddkins by Dean Koontz
• Bastard Out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison
• The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
• The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak
• Thunderhead by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
• Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flag

Actually, there are some YA titles up there, but the majority are not. I didn’t read much YA growing up. In fact, I didn’t really discover the joy of YA until I was almost 24. So, while YA is awesome and I love it, it has a lot of history to contend with here!

Incubus is actually the first in a planned series, but I have not set to writing any sequels yet. Some others have sequel potential, but none planned.

This section is bound to expand as more people read my books.

Really, really. Well, kind of really. Let’s just go with really.

Well, he used to be married to my dad’s sister. Now he is married to my mom. So, technically he is not my uncle anymore. But he is. And his kids are still my cousins. And my siblings.

Good question. I either have 1, 3, 5, or 7, depending on which question you are actually asking.

Well, I have one full sister. My mom and dad only had the two of us. Then, on my dad’s side, I have two other siblings (both step…that makes 3 counting the one full sister). On my mom’s side there are four more (3 step, 1 adopted…and the full sister makes 5). So all together, I have seven siblings.

One would think. But I have found out that when I just say “seven” people ask where they all belong anyway. So I have to tell them, and then they say, “oh, so you only have one real sibling,” because apparently they think all the others must be fake or imaginary or something. So I just start with the confusion.

Yes, I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and chances are, if you are now singing the song, so do you.

Um, no.