Thanks so much for taking the time to be here today! What would you
like readers to know about you as an introduction?
Tell us about Xenofreak Nation. What was your inspiration/motivation behind this book?
The
story alternates between the two central characters, Bryn Vega, the daughter of
the head of the Pure Human Society, and Scott Harding, an Xbestia gang member
who is really an undercover agent for the XIA. At its heart, Xenofreak Nation
is both a love story and an exploration of ethics set in the near future in a
world mired in a deep economic depression where government decision-making has
ground to a halt. Authorities have failed to regulate the medical practice of bioengineering
animals to be compatible with humans for organ transplantation. Rogue
xenosurgeons are responsible for the development of an underground sub-culture derogatorily
referred to as Xenofreaks, who have replaced tattoos with grafts of
bioengineered animal skin, teeth, horns and even tails and wings. When Bryn is
kidnapped as retaliation for her father’s anti-xeno activities, she’s thrust
into this frightening world. Scott is torn between his duty and his developing
feelings for innocent Bryn.
What have you learned through writing this book?
What have you learned through writing this book?
I don’t know that I learned anything exactly...but
certainly the story opened up a way for me to communicate a concept we are all
familiar with: that there are two sides to every story. Given the state of the
world, it can’t hurt to emphasize cultural tolerance!
How did you
get started writing?
My family was
poor, so the library was a big source of entertainment. And since I was shy,
writing was one way for me to express myself. I wrote a silly poem in the
fourth grade that my teacher submitted to a contest in the local paper. When I
won, it was the first time I felt as if my writing had merit. I admire teachers
in general, but good teachers, the ones who take that extra step to encourage
children to flourish, they are my heroes.
What is your writing process like?
What is your writing process like?
I’m kind of embarrassed to admit I find it hard to write
unless the house is clean and all chores attended to. But I have this great
set-up in the living room -- I sit in a La-Z-Boy with my PC discreetly hidden in
a cabinet next to it. My monitor is mounted on a swing arm so I don’t have to
turn my head, I set my wireless keyboard in my lap, and my wireless mouse rests
on the arm of the chair. Very comfy!
I do like to see my characters not just in my mind's eye, so I use DAZ Studio to
create them. Then I can put them in my book trailers, too, like the one I made
for XN, here.
How do you get
ideas for what you write?
My young son, with his
limitless imagination, is constantly beginning his sentences with, “What if..?”
The other day, I realized that’s how my ideas start, too. A little spark of
curiosity about something -- almost anything -- will set my mind on that “What
if..?” path, and the next thing I know, I’m actively plotting.
What are some
of your favorite books?
I’ve made an effort
to give new authors a chance this year and have discovered some great new voices:
Rebecca Lochlann’s Child of the Erinyes series and J.S. Colley’s debut novel,
The Halo Revelations, to name just a few.
What is your biggest advice for young people reaching for their dreams?
First of all, I wouldn’t restrict my advice to young
people! Whatever your age, it’s good to have dreams. Learn your craft, set
goals, and follow through. Try not to let criticism slow you down too much. Filter
the useful from the not-so-much. My personal mantra is: “You can’t please
everyone.”
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