"MY READING ADDICTION" INTERVIEW

RABT Book Tours

Is There a Message in Your Novel That You Want Readers to Grasp?

One of my goals as an author writing fiction is to tell stories that entice readers to think about “big questions.” In Vitro includes a fair amount of detail about the advanced technologies used to treat infertility. I’d like readers to understand the huge costs of this treatment—emotional, physical, and financial. I also hope they begin to think about the ethical questions inherent in these types of advanced technologies. 

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

As a first-time novel writer, the middle of the story was the most challenging to write. The first chapter came easily because I knew the main characters and the plot line. I also knew how I wanted the story to end, so when I finally got there, I had a lot of fun writing the last few chapters. The “messy” middle was a challenge because I didn’t plot the whole story out in advance. I just wrote a chapter at a time and asked my critique group for feedback. They were very helpful and told me when my characters weren’t acting consistently, when there was a plot hole, or when the pacing was off. But that also meant once I wrote the ending, I had to do some heavy editing in the middle.

How many books have you written and which is your favorite?

Technically, I’ve written two books. I wrote the first “book” in the 6^th grade. It was called The Skating Party. My friend did drawings for each of the chapter headings, and my mom typed all five chapters and put them into a cardboard “cover” stapled at the spine.

In Vitro is my first full length novel, so of course it is my favorite. But I’ll always have a special place in my heart for The Skating Party.  

If You had the chance to cast your main character from Hollywood today, who would you pick and why?

Emma Watson (best known for the Harry Potter series), Kristen Bell (The Good Place, Frozen) or Rose McIver (iZombi, A Christmas Prince movies) would all be fabulous as Joyce. They are relatively short in stature (my protagonist Joyce makes a joke about her height, 5 feet 2 inches), and they project strong and principled characters who have great chemistry with their on-screen partners.

And you haven’t asked, but I’d really like Matt Bomer (White Collar) to play Dominique DuPage. I’m sure he’d be able to do an amazing French accent!

When did you begin writing?

As mentioned previously, I began writing in the 6^th grade. I took a Creative Writing class in high school, and we wrote some short stories. I was a pre-med major in college, so not much time for writing. Ditto for medical school and residency. Over the years, I did a fair amount of technical writing, and I was always amazed at how time just flew when I was involved in a writing project.

When I thought about retirement, writing a book was on my bucket list. I took a class at our local community college where I met some great students and one wonderful instructor. We formed a critique group, and with their help, In Vitro was “born.” 

How long did it take to complete your first book?

Four years to write, and then another year to get the manuscript ready for publication.

Did you have an author who inspired you to become a writer?

Oh my, there are so many. As a kid, I loved Dr. Seuss and the poems of A.A. Milne. In grade school, I fell in love with Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys mysteries. They’re very formulaic, and after a while, I’d think up plots for those characters. As I got older, I enjoyed Jane Austen, the Bronte’s, and Louisa May Alcott.

In my adult years, I’ve gravitated toward action thrillers and romance novels. I love to be entertained and escape into new fictional worlds. But I credit my teacher and friend, author Kathryn Mattingly, with helping me have the confidence to write In Vitro.

What is your favorite part of the writing process?

I love creating characters. It is fun to pick out names, think about how they look, and create their backstories. And then it’s amazing to watch them grow and adapt to the various situations. And sometimes new characters just show up!

Describe your latest book in 4 words.

Compelling, provocative, intimate, and human. This is a great question that really made me think.

Can you share a little bit about your current work or what is in the future for your writing?

My next book is set 20 plus years after the first book. It is about some of the young adults whose parents were patients at the McArthur IVF clinic featured in the first book. I’ve written the first three chapters. Right now, there are four families whose lives are intertwined. I’ve become emotionally invested in these characters, so I’ll have to continue writing to find out what happens. A working title is “The Sins of Their Father.”