Q. How did you find an agent?

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A: I met my agent at the BEA writer's conference. You can read all about how I embarrassed myself (and still got the agent) here!

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Q. How did you come up with the title for THE BODY FINDER?

A: THE BODY FINDER was actually just a placeholder title so that I could find the file on my computer. It was more a description of what the main character could do than an actual title, but when I finished the book I still didn't have anything better so I submitted it as is. By the time the offer came in, I sort of thought that the publisher would change it anyway, so I made a list of alternate ideas. But they never did. Apparently, the title made it through the editorial and sales departments and they kept it. So, THE BODY FINDER it is.

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Q. Is there a sequel to THE BODY FINDER?

A: There is! As a matter of fact, I'm happy to say that there are now four books in the BODY FINDER series! The second book, DESIRES OF THE DEAD, the third book, THE LAST ECHO, and the fourth book, DEAD SILENCE are all available.

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Q. How do you pronounce Rafe from DESIRES OF THE DEAD?

A: I get this more than I expected. In my head, I say it like "rake" with an "f" but I'm not gonna judge you if you have some other way you want to say it. If you want to know more about Rafe, there's a short story about him, titled SKIN CONTACT you can download from Amazon. All I'll say about that, is that some of his secrets will be revealed!

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Q. What's the order of the books in THE PLEDGE series?

A: I'm so glad you asked! There are currently three books, making it a true trilogy, meaning you definitely want to read them in order, starting with THE PLEDGE, then THE ESSENCE, and rounding it out with THE OFFERING.

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Q. What about THE TAKING trilogy?

A: Again, reading them in order is the key--THE TAKING, THE REPLACED, and finally THE COUNTDOWN.

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Q. What was it like "getting the call"?

A: Freakin' Awesome! 'Nuff said, but you can read more about it here.

 

Q. Are the characters in your books similar to anyone you know?

A: All of them. If you know me, you should totally try to figure out which one is you. (Kidding!)

 

Q. Do you have plans to take over the world?

A: Absolutely.

 

Q. I am a book reviewer, how can I get a copy of your books for review?

A: At this point, the most direct way to request an ARC (an Advance Reviewer Copy) is to contact the publicists at either HarperCollins or McElderry (Simon & Schuster). I don't actually have ARCs for reviewers. If you email me, I will forward your information on to my publishers and hope that when they do have ARCs available that they have enough for everyone who has requested them. Unfortunately, I have no control over that. I wish I did, I would love for everyone to have one!

Saundra Mitchell (author of Shadowed Summer) did a great post on how publicists decide who to send ARCs to if you're interested in finding out more.

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Q. What are some things readers wouldn't know about you?

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• I don't like to have my face touched. Ever. Even during a massage I ask the masseuse to skip my face completely. And facials, eww!

• I love bubblegum. Not all gum, just bubblegum...big, sticky, sweet wads of it. When I was little I used to save the chewed hunks by my bed at night and resume chewing in the morning. I know...gross.

• I have a weird mascara fetish. I have tried probably hundreds of brands (from the super spendy to the ones on the cheap), and hate almost all of them. My old one was discontinued so I stocked up on eBay until those bottles (even though they were unopened) were just...too old. (I'm always open to suggestions for really great mascaras!)

• I can't bend over and touch my toes. Not even close.

• I love it when people fall. Or run into things. I'm not sure why this is, I'm probably some kind of simpleton... or I was a Keystone Cop in a past life.

• I'm like a farmer...up at the crack of dawn, eating dinner by 6 PM, and usually in bed before 10 PM. Anyone who's ever been to my house after, say, 7 PM has seen me in my bathrobe. Seriously. Ask them.

• When I first met my agent I was so nervous I confused the words "urban" and "rural", and yet somehow, I still managed to get myself signed!

• I love anything dark and twisted, from horror to humor. One of my current favorite TV shows is Preacher on AMC (if you haven't seen it, you're missing a whole lotta sick fun).

• I don't eat chocolate. Except that sometimes I do. So that sort of makes me a liar.

• I get paid to lie. I have the best job ever!

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Q. Where do you write?

A: I have this really nice office upstairs, with a beautiful desk and shelves and a comfy chair...it even has a door that locks. And yet every day I get up and start writing downstairs in the kitchen, with the kids and the noise and the chaos. I seem to be addicted to pandemonium.

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Q. What television shows do you watch?

A: I'm embarrassed to even answer this question, because the honest answer is: too many. I love TV. I'm not one of those people who could live without the television and be satisfied. Even when I'm not actually watching it, I like the background noise. Again, that addiction to chaos!

 

Q. Did you always know you wanted to write?

A: I've been writing forever (meaning since junior high), and even had an agent in my early twenties, so it's funny that when I went to college that I didn't major in anything "authorly". I was a Biology major. And I was really good at it, taking classes like Cellular Biology, Calculus, Physical Chemistry, and Anatomy & Physiology. At one point, I really wanted to be a doctor. So, obviously, I became a writer instead.

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Q. Have you written any other books?

A: I have. I wrote my first novel (now stuffed away in a file somewhere) when I was only twenty. Believe it or not, I actually had an agent for it, but it never reached publication. Thank god! That book made really, really good practice.

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Q. What is the hardest part about being a writer?

A: WAAAAAAITING... and then more waiting. I'm constantly jonesing for information, yet there are these long (and I mean LONG!) periods of time where I'll hear absolutely no news from my agent or editor. Someday, I may actually die from impatience. (That is a medical fact from a former almost-pre-med student!)

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Q. What is the best part of being a writer?

A: It's really cool when you get one of those unexpected calls or emails that something new has happened with your book and you have one of those "ohmygosh" moments when you can't believe that this is your life. But, honestly, the best part is finding out that someone else has read my book (my book!) and liked it. Enough to say so in public. And in writing! That is by far the best part of this entire journey. Seriously, I can't believe this is my life!

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