Tell us about yourself.:
I minored in Writing in college and The Third Estate Secrets of the Manor has been swimming in my head for years. Now that Mom’s Taxi is officially closed and my presence is no longer needed in the stands on the soccer or football fields, I have the time to devote to realizing my dream. Since the first day I started to outline the story, the words have flooded the pages like a tsunami, and haven’t stopped. This book is the first in a series.
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?:
Born in Fall River, Massachusetts (home to Lizzy Borden, Emerald Lagasse, and the USS Massachusetts), I attended BMC Durfee High School where I was the Salutatorian. I attended MIT, majoring in biology with a minor in writing, and played varsity volleyball.
Fast forward to graduating from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, NY, joining the Army, being stationed at Fitzsimmons Army Medical Center (Intern of the year), three years as a General Medical Officer at Ft. Jackson in Columbia, SC, completing my residency in General Surgery at the Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, (not related to the medical school) and moving to Orange Park, FL, where I’ve lived for 20 years. Drafted as the unofficial photographer of my children’s sports teams, I’ve been affectionally dubbed the “Mamarazzi.”
I received a mug from my family for Christmas: "Be Careful or you'll end up in my book." I laughed. That's not how I do it. I pay attention to current events, interesting people I observe in my travels, and past experiences to craft interesting scenes and characters that jump off the page.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I'm a plotter. I write the entire novel in 2 hours. It's 5 pages long, but the story is intact. The story is divided into sign posts, where I write from one to the next.
What authors have influenced you?
Born in Fall River, Massachusetts (home to Lizzy Borden, Emerald Lagasse, and the USS Massachusetts), I attended BMC Durfee High School where I was the Salutatorian. I attended MIT, majoring in biology with a minor in writing, and played varsity volleyball.
Fast forward to graduating from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, NY, joining the Army, being stationed at Fitzsimmons Army Medical Center (Intern of the year), three years as a General Medical Officer at Ft. Jackson in Columbia, SC, completing my residency in General Surgery at the Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, (not related to the medical school) and moving to Orange Park, FL, where I’ve lived for 20 years. Drafted as the unofficial photographer of my children’s sports teams, I’ve been affectionally dubbed the “Mamarazzi.”
I received a mug from my family for Christmas: "Be Careful or you'll end up in my book." I laughed. That's not how I do it. I pay attention to current events, interesting people I observe in my travels, and past experiences to craft interesting scenes and characters that jump off the page.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
A friend of mine at work recently stopped me in the hallway and said, "Thank you." I said for what? She said she was following me on Facebook and watching my journey from afar. She thought, "I can do that too." She also wrote a book and told me I gave her the motivation to not only finish it, but self publish. If I could do it, she could too.
If you think you can or you think you can't, your right. Think you can, and anything is possible.
My advice? The only person you have control over is you. Set a goal, reach for the stars, and enjoy the journey along the way.
What is the best advice you have ever been given?
Write because you want to, not because you have to
What are you reading now?
I'm rereading all my Agatha Christie novels.
What’s your biggest weakness?
I'm a detailed oriented person. My writing has been described as descriptive, so I actively have to hold back on the description to keep the pace and suspense moving forward.
What is your favorite book of all time?
And then there were none
When you’re not writing, how do you like to spend your time?
I love photography. Drafted as the unofficial photographer of my children’s sports teams, I’ve been affectionally dubbed the “Mamarazzi.”
Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
I honestly can't.
What has inspired you and your writing style?
I love the Great Courses. When I decided to start writing my novel, I down loaded some writing courses to get back in the zone.
My favorite was "How to Write Best-Selling Fiction" by author James Bell. He talks about writing from sign post to sign post. I adopted that method and it's worked great for me.
What are you working on now?
I'm working on the next novel. A continuation of Lovac and Sophie's stories.
What is your favorite method for promoting your work?
I love Facebook, but I recently got hacked!! I'm currently trying to solve the problem, so no Facebook for me.
Once I figure out the solution, I'll start again.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I'm working on my second novel.
How well do you work under pressure?
I'm a General Surgeon, so pretty well.
How do you decide what tone to use with a particular piece of writing?
I let the characters and their actions decide the tone.
If you could share one thing with your fans, what would that be?
I'm grateful to the family friends who inspire me, the professionals who guide me, and the readers who join me on this journey.
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