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I was born in a log cabin in the--wait, that's not my story. I
was born in a hospital, same as nearly everyone else on my continent, in a dusty old town in rural Idaho. All my life, writing
has been food for my soul--since I could spell the word "cat" I have been writing stories. The earliest were just favorite
children's books with a personal twist (i.e. Sarah Natalia Lee and friends in D.W. the Picky Eater), then, when I was seven, they morphed into silly originals. I didn't actually start writing uber-lengthy
stuff until about third or fourth grade, and it wasn't until sixth grade that my stories began to take on real form--that is, clarity, in the sense the paragraphs/situations actually made
some sense, although, even now, much of what I write is
still too wild to "work" (at least I don't have nineteenth-century Native Americans having birthday parties and digging tunnels
with modern-day shovels to escape enemy tribes anymore). For a while, in middle school, I thought I'd end up publishing a
fairy story I was writing (even that seems "wild" to me now), but then I saw Dracula with my best friend and Saving Amy was born.
I love all kinds of things. Food, for example, although I absolutely abhor cooking (but am willing to do it if I am promised a delicious soup or coffee
cake). Cats, too, although I am unfortunately highly allergic and cannot have them in my home. I have a dog, a black-and-white
English setter named Cheyenne, who was born in 2003. I am pretty girly and like shopping (although it wears me out fast) , jewelry, flowers and butterflies, and nice clothing (though not makeup--I
cannot stand makeup).
About my novels. First of all, I've found my stories
tend to grow with me, that is, each new one I write will be aimed at or around my own age group. I guess that's only natural,
but hopefully when I'm thirty I can still write a lot of books for young adults. Frankly, I am tired of every young adult
book out there being either really depressing or really shallow. I am also mortified by the lack of GLBT books out there for
teenagers, who, because discovering one's sexuality can be painful and heartbreaking, probably need them the most. So I took
to the pen to address these issues. My books can be dark, and yes, in some parts even disturbing, but the difference is that
mine will always always ALWAYS have an uplifting ending. Always. I do not believe in sad endings (think A Farewell to Arms--good
book, very discouraging). While sadness is a reality of life, sometimes people seem to forget one thing that I try to portray
in all my stories--things will get better, as long as you try hard enough and wait long enough.
Sometimes, no matter how many people tell me I do, it's
hard for me to believe I'd ever actually have the skill to take my writing where I want it to go. Sometimes I look at my work
and simply cringe, and worry desperately that I will look back on something I was once proud of and wonder how it ever made
it to my Epson. But I've found that no matter how discouraged you get, the only thing that really holds you back is your fear
of not being good enough. And, for me, writing is always worth it, no matter how it comes out.
So that's me. Enjoy my site! Or the cookies Mom made
for you. Seriously, I understand if you'd rather eat the cookies. I would.
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