Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I'm married with two kids, a dog, a cat and various fish. I live in New Jersey. I graduated from Penn State University with a degree in Journalism. When I'm not writing I teach CPR and a babysitting course for a local hospital. I also coordinate the public education department at my local rescue squad of which I've been a member for more than a decade.

Can you describe how you felt when you found out your first book was going to be published?

I screamed. My husband was at the other end of the house and came running. I met him halfway and dragged him to the computer to make sure I wasn't reading it wrong. It was on my birthday and there is no better present than that!

How did you come up with the setting for "The Drinking Game"? Is it an actual place or is it made up?

The setting is a combination of two towns, part of mine and part of the one next to mine. There is one road that is real, but everything else is fictionalized versions of things around here.

What are you currently working on?

I literally started a new manuscript yesterday. I don't normally write in the summer, but this story was screaming to come out and I was forgetting things because it took up too much of my brain. It is another romantic suspense, along the lines of a Silhouette Bombshell. The heroine was a bomb expert for a fictional agency under Homeland Security. I've resisted up until now doing anything related to 9/11, but some of it happened in my backyard so I guess it is bound to be part of my consciousness.

Do you base your characters on people you know?

Not the main characters. Secondary characters can sometimes be someone I know. I have this uncle who is a character and I know I'll put him in a novel sometime.

Do you have a biggest supporter and if so who?

I don't think I can single out one, except for my husband. I think when he finally realized I was serious about writing, about the time I received the contract, he decided to support me. He bought me a laptop so I could work in my favorite room. I have a friend in my MOM's Club who has been amazing. She's buying my book for Christmas presents this year and even her mother is talking up my book. And my sister is a big supporter, too. She reads my manuscripts for me. Then there's the book club I'm in. They bought me lunch to celebrate my contact! Then there is my critique group. So, I'm lucky to have so many people like this around me.

Any advice for aspiring writers?

Keep at it and learn all you can learn.

Is there one thing you wanted to accomplish in your writing career but didn't; and if so can you share with us?

LOL. I want to make enough to pay someone else to clean my house!

Do you have a favorite author and if so who?

Lisa Gardner is my hero. My idol. I met her once and was speechless and that's pretty difficult to do to me. She was so sweet and amazing. She was completely unaffected by her success.

Is there anything you would like to add?

Buy my book?

Thank you for being here today with me Chris. I hope you had a great time.


Interviewed By:
Jill