I was born and raised in Saginaw, Michigan. After high school I went to Michigan State University and have since lived in various places in Metro Detroit.

I’ve pretty much always wanted to be a writer. I can’t remember not wanting to be. Professionally, I’ve written everything from marketing plans and press releases to health care benefit schedules. But creative writing has always been my first love.

In high school I was lucky enough attend an arts and sciences academy where I studied writing and literature for half of every school day. It was, by far, the best creative writing experience I’ve had. The craft I learned in the program as well as the interaction I had with other writers has never been matched.

Much of the credit for this was due to a remarkable teacher (RIH) who had the ability to find each student’s strengths and celebrate and cultivate them. Her confidence in my writing stayed with me for years after.

Zora Neal Hurston, Alice Walker, Toni Morrison and Gwendolyn Brooks were my favorites growing up. They inspired me to always be proud of and celebrate my voice as a writer. Now, I’m inspired by more authors than I can name.

I got the first two through querying, (I promise. It works.) and my current one through a referral from my second. Even though I was referred I still had to write a book the agent loved, and in all honesty, I hadn’t at first. But she told me she loved my writing, and the door was always open. I came back with something different, and she loved it.

It varies. I will jot notes for a while and maybe even sketch a chapter or two before I get super committed to an idea. Then I’ll outline. I started out as a panster. I love the feeling of that creative adrenaline, but it means infinite revising and rebuilding. To cut infinity in half, I outline. I don’t go as in depth as some writers. It’s just a few paragraphs per chapter. Just enough for plot and character issues to reveal themselves.

I do not. Characters come to me wholly developed with backstory and all. I like to imagine they exist somewhere in the universe, but not in my life.

Do what feels good and works for you. There is a lot of advice out there, and it’s easy to feel like if you’re not following it you won’t achieve your goals. But it’s not true. Everyone has their own path. Most importantly, don’t give up.