A Woman Defined

I started writing because I had to write for myself, and I try to stick with that, but I do think of my readers when I write. I want them to enjoy my work too now that I know many of them.

When I am working on a first draft, I try to write 2,000 words at least 5 days a week, but, during that time, I often write seven days a week and up to 5,000 words. The first drafts usually come very quickly. But, at this point, I’m not writing and then editing continuously. Right now, with the Lies and Other Acts of Love launch only two months away, I am working on publicity solely and probably will be until the end of May. My April and May tour schedule is very rigorous, and I’ll be gone for several weeks, and working on the edits for my third book at the same time, so there’s not much left for my work-in-progress. But I’m beginning to get used to the schedule now and find a new sort of balance in it, which is good.

Joyful! Writing is my happy time, when I feel most myself. I love to watch the characters take shape on the page. It makes me very happy.

Usually, it’s if something doesn’t ring true to me. Honestly, this happens to me most often when I’m trying to fictionalize something true. The truth really is stranger than fiction so much of the time! I’ve learned that a good story in life doesn’t necessarily make a good story on the page.

Certainly. I’m open to suggestions and understand that different books appeal to different people. But I think the anonymity of the Internet gives people license to say things that are so cruel and not constructive at all. Fortunately, these have been few and far between, and I am getting a much, much thicker skin.

Do you feel you and the characters in your books have always been well understood by your readers?
I was surprised by the people (again, not that many, but a few) who told me that Khaki in Dear Carolina had too perfect a life. She was a widow with a very strained relationship with her mother who couldn’t have a child. She had a nice life in terms of money, career and husband, but she certainly did not have a “perfect” life. I think she was a bit misunderstood.

I do lose myself in the writing. I have to set an alarm to make sure I pick my son up from preschool on time! I generally don’t feel lonely, and i wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that I am an only child. I enjoy the silence and solitude of writing, and I am fortunate to have found a wonderful community of writers in my book travels who I am able to talk to about the more difficult aspects of publishing.

I try to keep it as pared down as possible, with just what I am currently reading. I am in the middle of an advance copy of Can I See You Again? by Allison Morgan, which I am enjoying greatly. And my son and I are reading Wayside School is Falling Down, so that’s on there too!

The Paris Wife, All the Light We Cannot See, Anna Karenina… There’s quite a list actually. I got my Master’s in English because I felt like I hadn’t read enough great books in college and high school, but I think there will always be wonderful things on my to be read list. Maybe that’s a part of the fun!