Could you tell us a little bit about yourself?

 I consider myself a person in love with life, a mother (even though my children are grown), and a nice human being. Career wise I've taught writing at the university, corporate, and high school levels and been a technical writer on corporate and government projects. During all those years, I wrote fiction and poetry that I put away in a drawer. At the age of sixty-two, I sent in the first manuscript. I now have two books in print and the third to be released in August, 2011.

Describe your book ‘Once Upon a Tooth... a Fairy's Tale’ in 30 words or less.

Eeling, a fairy, ventures near a human village and grows to love and feel responsible for a human child. Through their friendship, Eeling learns about the magic of love.

What was the hardest part of writing your book?

 The hardest part was the 27 or so edits and cuts, trying to make the story work just right for children. The editing took longer than the original writing! 

What books have had the greatest influence on you?

Oh, goodness! Every thing I read before the age of five, from The Little Engine That Could to Grimm's Fairy Tales, influenced the rest of my life. On personal self-help, the books I've got the most help from are anything by Wayne Dyer. For influence on my writing, I want to grow up and be Stephen R. Donaldson. But, if I just had to name just one book, it would probably have to be John Milton's Paradise Lost. 

Briefly share with us what you do to market your book?

When it comes to marketing, I'm a newbie, so I've tried about everything anyone's suggested. I think I've had my best success at book signings, but I'm really starting to some other things like FaceBook and Twitter and blogging on my own website! 

How do you spend your time when you are not writing?

Uh.....there's something else? Just joking! Well, there's that marketing stuff, but I like to go down the the local coffee shop for good coffee and conversations with neighborhood people, and go to GOOD movies (usually only about 6 a year), and I love doing things with my grown kids and sisters (not shopping, though).  

What are you working on next?

Well, my first novel of a sci-fi trilogy will be out August 31, 2011, so I'm currently working on the second book in the trilogy. I'm also trying to finish up a short story that will be part of a collaboration book with six other authors, and I'm editing a non-fiction book that I've just finished in rough draft.