Look and Listen

Biography

I began my career writing fantasy romances of powerful wizards and wicked witches. Since then, I've branched out into contemporary romance and romantic suspense and have had books published with Ellora’s Cave, Samhain Publishing, Red Sage Publishing, and more. Currently, a freelance editor/writer residing in historical Charleston, South Carolina, I've written non-fiction articles for Absolute Write, The Writer’s Journal, Writing for Dollars, Writer’s Magazine, and Writer’s Weekly. Because I like to stay busy, I've has also taught classes for Suite 101, Absolute Write, and most recently for LARWA. I've also been a speaker for the past three years and have attended various writers' conferences and author groups. When not writing, I love to read romantic suspense (Lisa Gardner and Roxanne St. Claire are two of my favorites), rework old furniture, cross-stitch, cook, and drink lots of coffee. I'm addicted to singing competitions, The Voice being my favorite, crime show dramas including Criminal Minds, Bones, and Castle, and cooking competitions like The Next Food Network Star, Top Chef, Worst Cooks in America, and Chopped.

Inspiration

I'm inspired by life itself. That's what keeps me writing. I can hear a line in a song, see two people talking on the street, and an idea for a story can take root. Most of my ideas come at the most inconvenient times, too! My friends, who are my stalwarts, constantly inspire me by facing the their trials head-on, by smiling through the pain, and laughing even when they feel like crying. They inspire me to keep writing through the rejections and even when I just don't feel like writing. Writing isn't a choice for me. It's a necessity. I write because the words and ideas won't stop coming, because I need to form those same words and ideas into a workable story. I don't hear voices in my head, and my characters don't talk to me, but with a constant overflow of plots whirling around in my brain, I either use them or let them go to waste. Since I was sixteen, I've chosen to use them.