Which of your characters has been the most challenging to write? For me, it’s Tony—a chronic gambler who means well. I don’t know why he’s been tough to create #writingq #WritingCommunity

If you could meet a famous author, living or dead, who would it be? I would love to meet Ray Bradbury #readingcommunity #WritingCommunity

What has been the best book you’ve read this year? I’m torn between White Horse and Crowmouth #ReadingCommunity #WritingCommunity

Has your writing routine changed over the years? I used to write really late at night, but now because of a day job, it’s the opposite. How I go about planning a story hasn’t changed, though #WritingCommunity #Writingq

What authors or artists most influence your writing? #writingq #WritingCommunity

What’s something your MC can’t do? Ginger can’t forgive #writingq #WritingCommunity

If your MC could have anything, what would it be? Ginger wishes that her dad was alive again and, maybe, just maybe, that wish will come true 😎 #writingq #WritingCommunity

Does food play a role in your stories? My current WIP uses Sicilian dishes to represent family and community. I’ve never focused on food in previous novels #writingq #WritingCommunity

Do you enjoy reading book reviews before or after a book? I’m thinking about doing some book and series reviews on my website’s blog that’s currently empty #writingq #WritingCommunity

What do you hope readers feel after reading one of your stories? I write horror so I always hope I scare readers or, at least, kept them in suspense #writingq #WritingCommunity

Do you think it’s important to get your MC’s occupation right? To me, their occupation is a part of who they are, so yes, it’s important to figure out #writingq #WritingCommunity

If you could ask your favorite author one question, what would it be? #writingq #WritingCommunity #reading

What is a book that reminds you of childhood? It’s The Velveteen Rabbit for me #ReadingCommunity #WritingCommunity

What is a book you’ve read or a movie you’ve seen that has stayed with you long after you finished it? I keep thinking about the series Cassandra. #WritingCommunity #movies #ReadingCommunity

What are some dealbreakers for you when reading? #writingq #WritingCommunity #reading

How did you learn how to write query letters? I based them on cover letters for academic jobs. They have a lot of similarities #writingq #WritingCommunity

I saw a guy spraying for mosquitoes or something and I thought, what if…? What has been a random piece of inspiration for one of your stories? #writingq #WritingCommunity

Do you still write in the same genre as when you first started writing? Sort of. My first story was a horror western. Now I just leave out the cowboys, but keep the horror #writingq #WritingCommunity

What’s something from your family that you’ve included in a story? I looked up old Sicilian dishes that my dad’s family used to make. After all, there’s always a space to talk about food 😂 #writingq #WritingCommunity

Do you write every day? If I don’t do something with my story (editing, writing, etc), I start forgetting things, which just increases the editing workload later #writingq #WritingCommunity

What does your MC hate doing? Ginger hates being forced to socialize with pretentious people #writingq #WritingCommunity

Do you study other writers’ works as you read them? I have been trying to focus on this more often. Reading Ray Bradbury again has reminded me how useful description works #writingq #WritingCommunity

What is your MC’s hobby? Ginger loves to read and study people #writingq #WritingCommunity

When you tell people you’re a writer, what follow-up question do you dislike being asked? Some guy once asked me—so are you going to write the Da Vinci Code? Why would I…? #writingq #WritingCommunity

What does writing do for you that nothing else can? It gives me an outlet for trauma and disappointment. It’s also an escape #writingq #WritingCommunity

What is the most difficult part of your artistic process? The editing…🤢 #writingq #WritingCommunity

What’s the most difficult part about writing different genders? When I have male characters, I have to work really hard to get the voices right #writingq #WritingCommunity

What advice would you give your younger writing self? Don’t give up; there’s a place for what you do #writingq #WritingCommunity

Can you read an author’s work if you despise his/her personality? If they’re a jerk, probably. If they’re a misogynist, etc, no thanks #writingq #WritingCommunity

Does writing energize or exhaust you? Writing gives me energy, but editing is exhausting #writingq #WritingCommunity

Do you have to imagine a potential story before writing it, or do you jump right in? I have to imagine it—not necessarily outline—but work through some details first #writingq #WritingCommunity

I started translating this book today. Now I get why no one has done it before. Gauchesque narratives written with poetic flair take so much patience. What are you writing today? #writingq #WritingCommunity

Do you think the publishing industry is prepared to handle the ethical and creative issues posed by AI? I honestly don’t think most industries are #writingq #WritingCommunity

What are some of your random writing thoughts? I was thinking today about trying to pull off a talking pet in a horror story 😂 #writingq #WritingCommunity

Has a writing project ever changed you? Each project changes me in some way #writingq #WritingCommunity

Is there a particular scene that you’re proud of in your story? I finally got a fight scene right on the first try 😎 #writingq #WritingCommunity

Does your story’s ending ever change from what you initially planned for it? That’s the one thing that doesn’t change in my stories. How to get there does, though #writingq #WritingCommunity

Who has been the most fun character for you to write? I love Tony, a gambler who likes to tell tales. Making up his next story to tell has been so much fun #writingq #WritingCommunity

If your story takes place in a real-world location, do you stay true to its details, do you rely on embellishment, or a mixture of both? I always use fact and embellishment #writingq #WritingCommunity

I keep seeing comments about the em dash being a clear example of AI use. I use the em dash all the time and I promise you my work isn’t generated by AI. In fact, I have so many story ideas. Just not enough time to write them. There really isn’t one way to determine AI use IMO. #WritingCommunity

Do dreams or personal experiences often slip into your stories? All the time, for me. #writingq #WritingCommunity

Which writers helped shape your writing voice the most? A lot of 19th-century writers for me which is why I have to work on wordiness 😂 #writingq #WritingCommunity

Do you set weekly writing goals? I try, but every time I do this, I feel guilty if I don’t meet them #writingq #WritingCommunity

What’s your favorite technique for creating tension in your stories? #writingq #WritingCommunity

Do you create myths or folklore in your stories? I have yet to do this, though I explore different cultures in my nonfiction #writingq #WritingCommunity

What are the positives of being a pantser? #writingq #WritingCommunity

How do you balance worldbuilding with pacing? #writingq #WritingCommunity

Which of your characters do you relate to most? I think my present MC. I’ve used a lot of my experiences with loss in her creation #writingq #WritingCommunity

What book that you’ve read—not written—has taught you the most about character development? Anything by Cormac McCarthy for me #writingq #WritingCommunity

What part of writing comes naturally to you? Dialogue has always been my strength #writingq #WritingCommunity