Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

 

Q&A:

 

Q1: What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?

 

A1: My latest book is Mount Shasta: The City of Telos, which was inspired by a set of chakra crystals that I bought in Nashua, New Hampshire ten years ago. I was at a yoga event at Banyan Tree Yoga and I had never bought crystals before. For some reason I bought this chakra set and when I got home, the idea of a book series that focused on each chakra came to mind. I started writing immediately but knew something was off in the story. I was also raising three kids, which was my main priority at the time. I wrote on and off for 9 years until I heard about Earth Chakras. That was when the books and ideas all fell into place. Each book takes place at an Earth Chakra location. The first book takes place in Mount Shasta, California and is focused on the first chakra energies. The second book takes place in Peru which is focused on the second chakra energies.

 

Q2: What are Chakras? 

 

A2: Chakras are energy centers in the body. They are represented by the colors of the rainbow and start at the base of your spine and work their way up to the crown of your head. Each color represents something different. The first chakra is focused on safety, security, and having your basic needs met. It is located at the base of the spine and its color is red. My books explore details of each chakra as the main character figures out challenges based on these ideas. It’s all fiction and adventure.

 

Q3: What is special about the locations of your book?

 

A3:

The main story takes place in Mount Shasta, CA which is the location of the first Earth Chakra. There are many myths and legends about Lemurians, lenticular clouds that hide UFO’s, and The City of Telos being twelve miles under that mountain. These myths all helped with ideas to write a fictional story about teenagers coming together to help combat energies trying to destroy this land.

 

The second book in the series is being edited now. The main part of book two takes place in Machu Picchu, Peru and Lake Titicaca which is the second Earth Chakra location. Mount Shasta, Ca is mentioned several times in this book as well.

 

 

Q4: What theme or symbol often emerges in your work? Why? Do you have any new images or themes that are surfacing as you write? Comment on this in any way you would like.

 

A4: My main theme in my non-fiction book, Express Yourself! Joyful Journaling for Kids! and my fictional series, Mount Shasta: The City of Telos is self-empowerment. I love to see my characters grow in confidence and inner strength. I like lacing yoga and meditation throughout the fiction because I find these tools so empowering and needed. So many teens are feeling lost. There are so many overwhelming factors that happen to our kids and teens that the world throws at them. Often that message gets put in their heads that they are not good enough, and I want my readers to know that they are good enough to fulfill their own dreams.

 

Q5: What age group is this book for?

 

A5: This book is age appropriate for 14-Years-Olds and up.

 

Q6:  Do you have any rituals you perform before you get started writing–tics, habits, even special ceremonies?  How important is it to you to have a sense of sameness about your writing routine?

 

 

A6: On my most creative writing days, I get up around 5:30, do yoga and meditation, grab a coffee and start writing. I find this to be my most special time to write and my ideas flow. When I stick to this routine, I get my best writing done.

 

One of my writing-tics that I have is that I have to write in a different space than where I edit. The two are so different to me. When I’m being creative, I like to sit in a different spot in my office or write in my bed. When I edit, I’m all business, and need my desk.

 

Q7:  Has your writing routine or habits changed in any way since Covid-19? If they have, can you comment on this? 

 

A7: Covid-19 focused me on what I really wanted to do with my writing. I wanted to get, Mount Shasta: A Journey to Telos published. I had worked on it on and off for nine years. I was done, playing around with the manuscript and wanted to take it seriously. I was ready to either keep going with it and get it published or throw it in the trash.

 

 

Q8: When you’re writing an emotional or difficult scene, how do you set the mood?

 

A8: I try to set the mood with descriptions of the characters faces and how their bodies feel. Since the book is written from the main character’s point of view, she will notice expressions, tones, and characteristics of the other characters to show that things are getting intense. 

 

Q9: What authors, or books have influenced you?

 

A9: There are so many authors who have influenced me, but the first that come to mind are: Maya Angelou, Sydney Sheldon, Sarah Ban Breathnach, Mitch Albom, J.K Rowling, Bella Forrest, and Louise Fitzhugh. I truly admire anyone who writes. It takes a lot of work, dedication, and imagination to write and get your books out to the world.

 

Q10: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

 

A10: I knew I wanted to be a writer when I was a little girl when I lived in Indiana. My friend and I decided we were going to write a book together and I was beyond thrilled. Hints of this work came up again and again: winning a sixth grade writing contest at Main Dunstable Elementary School, a SNHU professor in my freshman year of college encouraged me to be a writer, but I let the practicality of being a writer get in the way and waited until my forties to publish my first book, Express Yourself! Joyful Journaling for Kids, which is a guided gratitude journal for kids, and now my second which is a fictional series. It takes courage to put your work out. 

 

Q11: What is your favorite writing advice?

 

A11: My favorite writing advice was from listening to Maya Angelou talk about her writing process. She said to sit down and write. If you don’t know what to write, just write, “I don’t know what to write,” over and over again. She said that eventually the muse would come. 

 

 

Q12: What advice would you give to a writer working on their first book?

 

A12: My advice would be to keep writing. Try not to worry about each line and if it is perfect or not. Get your ideas out. Let it be rough. Don’t worry about spelling and grammar. Just let your creativity flow. You will aways have time to go back and edit. If you are worried about each line being perfect, you will never get your ideas out. Afterwards, you can go back and refine and edit and edit and edit. If you need to take a break, take a break, but come back to your work. There were years when I put my ideas away and then came back to them and it got even better. It’s a process, but when you get serious about getting your work published, it will happen. I have faith that there are so many books that still need to be written. The world needs your work. If you need some ideas on how to get published, I have a free download on my website that can help.

 

Q13: What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

 

A13: The amount of editing! Wow! There is the developmental editing and the grammatical editing. It is surprising how many people can read and edit your books and mistakes can still be found. I had to learn to let it go. Myself and my editor have worked very hard to make this as perfect as possible, but a mistakes may be found. 

 

Q14: What was an early experience where you learned that language had power?

 

A14: I knew words had power from the day I started reading and connecting with writers and their characters. I felt the emotions: sadness, joy, and anger. I felt empowered by words of inspiration, and I learned to grow and challenge myself. I realized there was a bigger world out there besides my immediate childhood and teenage surroundings. I learned through the written word that I could accomplish my goals. 

 

Q15: What are you working on now?

 

A15: I’m currently polishing and building the world of Telos in book one in my series. This book was previously published, but I recently got my rights back and am making it even better. I had written book two in the series and I realized I wanted to expand my first book. I’m editing book two in the series Machu Picchu & Lake Titicaca: The Birthplace of Creativity, which is focused on the second chakra. I am also outlining ideas for the third book in the series. 

 

Q16: What are you currently reading?

 

A16: I am currently reading Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson

 

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Q17: Please include a small excerpt if you would like me to share it on your post. 

 

A17: 

 

You never know when an ordinary teenager will blossom into something extraordinary.

  

Jaden is a fourteen-year-old girl abandoned by her mother, unwanted by her father, and tormented at school. She fills her alone time exploring the streets of her hometown of Nashua, New Hampshire. She discovers a flea market and is drawn to the table of a mysterious lady selling Tibetan singing bowls and crystals. The impulse purchase of a crystal chakra set reveals a mystical destiny. 

 

Jaden and her only friend, Alister, are transported to Mount Shasta, California, which hides the Lemurian City of Telos. It is here, at the first Earth chakra location, where Jaden and Alister become part of a secret world of teenagers and esoteric beings working to protect the Earth chakra energies from the Keeper of Belial. 

 

The first chakra stone is already under attack and losing its power, which jeopardizes the safety and security of the planet. Jaden must fight to restore balance to the world and find the inner strength to fulfill her role as The Sentinel of the Chakra Stones.

 

 

Q18: When will the release date be announced?

 

I’m working vigorously on this new version. It does take some time though and I will be announcing the release date as soon as possible.