Q: Could you share a little about yourself and what first sparked your love of storytelling?

A: I have always enjoyed writing! In my teens, I wrote songs and poetry. In college, I studied journalism and wrote for my college newspaper. When I was a stay-at-home mom, I volunteered as a reporter for a community newspaper.

Q: Can you tell us a little about what you’re currently working on?

A: My second book in the “Mack the Duck” series is almost complete. We are hoping to publish it next month.

Q: Do you prefer plotting everything out in advance, or do you let your characters surprise you as you write?

A: I usually have a story idea and think about it for a long time, trying to decide where I want the story to go before I start writing. Once I begin putting words on paper, I often discover surprising twists in the direction the story takes.

Q: What’s a recent book you’ve read that inspired you, and why?

A: When I travel in Europe, I often think about “Pillars of the Earth” by Ken Follett. The idea of people devoting their lives to building a Gothic cathedral, knowing full well they will never see the project to completion, really sticks with me.

Q: If readers take one thing away from your writing, what would you hope it is?

A: I hope the overarching message is that everything we do, the choices we make, matter and have a ripple effect in the world around us. Knowing that, we should try to impact the world for good.