Q: WHERE AND WHEN DO YOU WRITE?

A: Anywhere, and at all hours.  Seriously. BUT, I do like to go to a coffee shop, sit down with my iced coffee and write.  I like the background noise. Plus I listen to conversations.  Sometimes I get ideas.

Q: IS WRITING EASY?

A: No!  Writing is hard. I have to go through draft after draft to get to the final version. Or at least what I think is a final version. Each picture book takes about a year until I’m happy with the text.

Q: DO YOU ALSO DRAW?

A: Nope. Can’t draw. Not really. LOVE to doodle. Especially funny faces. But real drawing? No way.  I focus on the words. That’s difficult enough for me.  

Q: ARE YOU AN EXPERT AT WRITING?

A: Fughetaboutit!  I learn everyday. There’s so much to know! But I love to find out what I don’t know. It’s the only way to get better.

Q: WHEN YOU WRITE, DO YOU FOCUS ON ONE STORY, OR MORE?

A: Now, THAT is a great question.  I like to work on a few different picture book stories at the same time. If I get stuck on one, I turn my attention to another. It prevents me from getting too frustrated.  After a while, I might go back to that first story with fresh eyes.  

Q: WHERE DO YOU GET ALL YOUR GREAT IDEAS?

A: Well, thank YOU very much for the kind words!  The answer is, everywhere.  By watching and reading about the news, and listening to people talking to each other. Sometimes it’s a memory of when I was a kid. ALSO, there’s many great stories that have been published for adults, but never put into picture books for kids.  My story, “Waiting for Pumpsie” is one of those.