Can you tell us about your books?
Sure--I've written 14 (I think) books, including 9 YA novels, 5 of which I co-wrote with friends. I guess I'd characterize most of them as contemporary.
What are you currently writing?
I'm currently working on the second in my my middle-grade adventure series. The first one, which is currently being shopped around, is CASSIOPEIA JONES AND THE DEADLY DIRIGIBLE. The sequel is CASSIOPEIA JONES AND THE AWFUL AUTOMATONS. It's going slowly, though--lots of rejections on the first one, so my motivation to continue the series is not as high as I'd like.
I've also got the beginning of another YA novel, but that's still in the "mulling it over and letting the characters and ideas percolate" stage.
How long have you been a published author?
My first book, a memoir, was published in 2002. So, yeah-- 14 years, I guess!
If you could give any piece of advice to unpublished writers what would it be?
My big advice is not to listen to anyone's advice. The internet is full of people who have "made it" giving you instructions on what you "have" to do to be successful: write every day.Do NaNoWriMo. Don't do NaNoWriMo. Have dedicated writing time. Write when you find the time. Never show anybody your work in progress. Show everybody your work in progress. If it feels right to you, then do it. I hate to think of people not writing because they can't do it the way some know-it-all says is the "right" way to do it. Also: every single writer who has been successful has been lucky. Which is not something you can make happen. You can improve your odds, of course, but nobody's step-by-step formula is going to give you the secret to being lucky, because nobody knows it.
Who are your favorite authors?
Stephen King, Charlie Huston, Connie Willis, Lois McMaster Bujold, Scott Lynch, China Mieville: these are people whose books I'll pick up just because their names are on the cover. And I'm always looking for more!
What are some of your favorite books to read again and again?
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