Meet and Greet!

Happy labor day. The day we all get to labor. No, that's not right. The day off from labor. Because working 364 days a year is tough. For real.

Anyway, today is Meet and Greet for the GUTGAA. Yay! Check out Deanna Barnhart's blog for more info. So for those of you who have geared and met and popped over to say hi, 'how you doin'?'

Short bio first.

I live in Seattle now (mostly because of the movie Singles...wasn't that a great movie?), but was born and raised a California girl. Yep. David Lee Roth loved me. I have a ton of passions, and the list is long, so I will attempt to keep it on the shorter side.

First, I studied marine biology in college and was going to be a marine biologist, until I realized after failing organic chemistry twice, it might not be for me. I spent years volunteering and working in internships for National Marine Fishery Service, Marine Mammal Rehabilitation, Seattle Aquarium, San Pedro Aquarium and was active in a college group called MMRG (Marine Mammal Research Group). So I can tell you more than you probably ever wanted to know about studying sea otter poop and what a bite from a harbor seal can do to your knee. Intibating a seal? Done it. Necropsy on sea lions? Yep. Anyway, loved it and it still is near and dear to my heart. That guy right there? He's cute no? Elephant seal pup. Huge and stinky. Miss these guys.

Second, I love to teach. I teach 8^th graders English. People say I am crazy to work with middle schoolers, and that could well be the truth. But I love it. The kids are great, even though they drive me bonkers and they push me and challenge me to become a better person and teacher. Truly, I am their student just as much as they are mine. I'm glad to say I've made life long connections with many of them, and I am there to watch them graduate. Yeah, teaching is pretty cool. Having summer's off isn't too shabby either.

In addition, I am a freak over the show LOST. I am a LOST junkie. I collect the figurines. I've been a Dharma scientist two years running, and I even planned a family trip to Oahu so I could go and visit the filming locations. It was so COOL! I am a Jack fan, and he can play Doctor with me any day. Although Desmond (see you in another life, brotha) and Sawyer rock it too. And Hurley. And Jin. Okay, they all are amazing! Why, oh why, did that show have to end. There has never and probably will never be anything else like it on tv. It was a show that truly pushed my intellect. I learned a lot about writing from that show as well. Fabulous writers. I kinda have a crush on Damon Lindelof. Not gonna lie. That's my daughter. Yep. She is standing on THE Dharma sub. Right where Juliet stood. Cool.

My family is another passion. I have a wonderful six almost seven year old who amazes me every day. She is my world. I adore her. Actually, she is why I started writing. I wanted there to be books out there for girls like her that are feisty and independent. Strong female characters who don’t only think about love, friends, and other people, but characters who put themselves first. Ones who aren't afraid to go for what they want.

That's me. In a nutshell.

Now for the GUTGAA questions:

-Where do you write?

Usually at my kitchen table. I need an office. What I would give for a private writing space. (I say this as the dishwasher is on, my husband is washing dishes, and my kid is on the couch. Asking for more fruit snacks.

-Quick. Go to your writing space, sit down and look to your left. What is the first thing you see?

My tablecloth. I keep the table clear of clutter. I guess there is a bottle of diet Pepsi too. :)

-Favorite time to write?

At night, when the kiddo is in bed. Yelling down. "Mom, can I have some more ice water?" "Go to bed!"

-Drink of choice while writing?

Ummm. Diet Pepsi. And cabernet. Not together. And not in that order.

-When writing , do you listen to music or do you need complete silence?

SILENCIO, por favor! Anything around me drives me bonkers. Although some scenes I have written with low background music. Pandora…the Death Cab for Cutie Station. Or maybe Coldplay.

-What was your inspiration for your latest manuscript and where did you find it?

Wow. I knew I wanted to do a modern retell of a fairy tale. Snow White had been DTD, same with Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast. So, I thought Ariel needs some new life. I thought of the title first. Speechless. Then the rest kind of evolved. I'm really liking the way it's shaping up. And I love my MC, Lorelei.

-What's your most valuable writing tip?

Get critique partners. A few good ones are worth gold. I have some now that are fabulous and catch things no one else, including me, have caught. I'd be lost without them.

So, there it is. Me. On a page. Wow. I look a lot different than I imagined.

Nice to meet you. Comment on me and I will for sure visit your page. Love to give the love back, you know what I mean?

Ciao!