Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why did you write The Junction of Sunshine and Lucky?
When I graduated from college, I started writing full-time. In order to make some money, I also started teaching music lessons—piano and guitar—out of my house in the afternoons. Being with kids made me want to write books for them!
When I graduated from college, I started writing full-time. In order to make some money, I also started teaching music lessons—piano and guitar—out of my house in the afternoons. Being with kids made me want to write books for them!
2. Where do you write?
I do write every single day. I have an office in my house, but my favorite place to write is on my back porch. We have such pretty skies here in Missouri—clouds that offer the perfect backdrop for playing make-believe.
I do write every single day. I have an office in my house, but my favorite place to write is on my back porch. We have such pretty skies here in Missouri—clouds that offer the perfect backdrop for playing make-believe.
3. What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not writing?
I’m a big music lover. It’s hard for me to write and listen at the same time, so I usually have to save music until I’m finished for the day. I also play some piano and guitar and wish I had more time to devote to my fiddle and banjo.
4. What is one thing you wish you could do better?
So many things—I can’t narrow it down to just one! I wish I could cook better, I wish I were a better athlete, I wish I could sew better…There are so many fun, wonderful things in the world. I wish the days were longer to enjoy them all.
I’m a big music lover. It’s hard for me to write and listen at the same time, so I usually have to save music until I’m finished for the day. I also play some piano and guitar and wish I had more time to devote to my fiddle and banjo.
4. What is one thing you wish you could do better?
So many things—I can’t narrow it down to just one! I wish I could cook better, I wish I were a better athlete, I wish I could sew better…There are so many fun, wonderful things in the world. I wish the days were longer to enjoy them all.
5. Do you have any pets?
I’ve had pets my entire life—cats, dogs, goldfish…For 16 years, I had this lovely guy—his name was Jake, and I was really very sad to lose him when he got old. He was always with me on the back porch while I wrote.
After Jake passed away, we got this guy. His name is Gus. He's a Pekingese just like Jake was—in fact, his full name is Augustus Jacob, in honor of Jake! He's not a puppy anymore, but I still really love this picture.
6. When were you first recognized as being a good writer?
I won a LAD award when I was in the third grade for a poem I wrote. It was a complete surprise, and I remember being really proud of my red ribbon. I also entered a writing contest in The Kansas City Star when I was eleven. The contest was for adults, and I didn’t win, but when the winning stories were published, the Star included an article describing the judging of the contest. The article said the youngest entry came from an eleven-year-old, and called my story “surprisingly good.” That stayed with me a long time…
7. Do you have any siblings?
I have a younger brother…He’s been to every single one of my author events, and has become my official photographer. You never know when you’ll want your brother or sister’s help—so you should either learn to be nice now…either that, or learn how to master that headlock!
I won a LAD award when I was in the third grade for a poem I wrote. It was a complete surprise, and I remember being really proud of my red ribbon. I also entered a writing contest in The Kansas City Star when I was eleven. The contest was for adults, and I didn’t win, but when the winning stories were published, the Star included an article describing the judging of the contest. The article said the youngest entry came from an eleven-year-old, and called my story “surprisingly good.” That stayed with me a long time…
7. Do you have any siblings?
I have a younger brother…He’s been to every single one of my author events, and has become my official photographer. You never know when you’ll want your brother or sister’s help—so you should either learn to be nice now…either that, or learn how to master that headlock!
My brother wearing his ugliest hat, just so he could mess up the picture of me in my beautiful dress! Now, he takes all my pictures...
8. What was the first thing you ever published?
Before The Junction of Sunshine and Lucky, I published two YA novels (books for teens). But the very, very first thing I ever got published was a poem in a small journal when I was sixteen.
9. Was it easy to get published?
No. It wasn’t. I had some luck early on—that poem when I was sixteen, for example. And I published some short stories and poems and scholarly work when I was in college. So I thought that getting a book published would be a snap for me! But it took seven and a half years of full-time work to get my first book accepted by a publisher. It just goes to show you can never give up!
10. What are ten little-known facts about you?
1. I have never pierced my ears.
2. In the hopes that I could guilt my mom into buying me contacts, I once bought the ugliest pair of glasses I could find (this was in the ‘80s, mind you, at the height of ugly glasses). Didn’t work—as my horrific seventh grade picture reveals…and will continue to reveal, for all eternity.
3. I change my hairdos like I change my socks.
4. I “work” on manuscripts while taking walks.
5. My mom is my first reader, sounding board, and official book titler.
6. I have double-jointed elbows.
7. My handwriting is so bad, my family often calls from the store to ask me to translate my entries on the grocery list.
8. I like people who treat their pets like royalty.
9. I love the smell of hyacinths.
10. I believe laughing is the most important activity of every day.
Before The Junction of Sunshine and Lucky, I published two YA novels (books for teens). But the very, very first thing I ever got published was a poem in a small journal when I was sixteen.
9. Was it easy to get published?
No. It wasn’t. I had some luck early on—that poem when I was sixteen, for example. And I published some short stories and poems and scholarly work when I was in college. So I thought that getting a book published would be a snap for me! But it took seven and a half years of full-time work to get my first book accepted by a publisher. It just goes to show you can never give up!
10. What are ten little-known facts about you?
1. I have never pierced my ears.
2. In the hopes that I could guilt my mom into buying me contacts, I once bought the ugliest pair of glasses I could find (this was in the ‘80s, mind you, at the height of ugly glasses). Didn’t work—as my horrific seventh grade picture reveals…and will continue to reveal, for all eternity.
3. I change my hairdos like I change my socks.
4. I “work” on manuscripts while taking walks.
5. My mom is my first reader, sounding board, and official book titler.
6. I have double-jointed elbows.
7. My handwriting is so bad, my family often calls from the store to ask me to translate my entries on the grocery list.
8. I like people who treat their pets like royalty.
9. I love the smell of hyacinths.
10. I believe laughing is the most important activity of every day.
