Ask the Author
Q) What was your family like?
I have two sisters and no brothers. I'm in the middle, I have an older sister and one younger. When I was growing up, our house was always full of friends and relatives. My mom used to work, and so she wasn't always home after school. But we could always bring home friends from school. We'd play in the garage and basement.
Q) How did you get started as a children's book author?
My mom used to read to us all the time, so I guess that's why I grew up reading a lot. She was an elementary school teacher, and so she made her students memorize poems. Every Christmas Eve, she would read the poem "Twas the Night Before Christmas" to us.
Q) How did you get to be funny?
I don't know. I really don't think of myself as funny. It's my way of thinking. I just say honest things about difficult topics, and somehow, people see it as funny.
Q) Where do you get your ideas?
I carry around a notebook everywhere I go. Ideas come from everywhere. I love to people watch in public places.
Q) What were you like as a kid?
I was kind of goofy. I was always trying to make people laugh at me. In pictures of me as a kid, I'm the one sticking out my tongue and putting my fingers in my ears saying "Nah, nah, nah, nah" to the camera. I was called Smiley Face by some of my classmates.
Q) Do you have any pets?
No, not now, but I grew up with a toy poodle dog named Brandy.
Q) Are you married and do you have kids?
Yes, my husband is the total opposite of me. He's a very practical guy. I have one daughter, and she's 12 years old.
Q) Do you have a special place where you write?
No, I have no particular place, but I write my best in the mornings when I first wake up.
Q) What's the hardest part about writing?
When I have to re-write a poem over and over to improve it. I want to be finished with it, but if I want to improve it, I have to re-write like a zillion times.
Q) How long did it take you to write No Perfect People, Please!?
It took me about three months. All the re-writing and editing took longer, of course, about a year in total.
Q) Is it fun to be a writer?
Yes, I really enjoy creating. I write and I lose track of time. But it's hard because I have to motivate myself to write. Someone won't tell me what to do next like a more traditional office job.
Q) What is your favorite children's book?
I have so many favorites, but I absolutely love Louise Fitzhugh's book called "Harriet the Spy." The main character is an 11-year-old girl named Harriet. She's so spunky and honest about her feelings, but she can't say everything she thinks so she writes them all down in her notebook.
Q) What's your favorite color?
I like blue the best.
Q) Were you a good student?
I think so, I really liked school. My favorite subject was spelling.
Q) Are you going to write more books?
I hope so! I'm working on a fiction novel right now, and I have another children's poetry book in the works.
Q) What are your top ten favorite children's books?
My top ten favorite children's books are:
