What originally made you want to become an author?
I love to express myself in words. My first form of written expression was in the diaries I kept as a child. I majored in English literature in university because I loved to read. Being a newspaper journalist allowed me to work with words every day, and being an author allowed me to do a deep dive into issues.
In your opinion, what makes a great story?
Great writing. Period. You can have an excellent plot, good characters, and an interesting backdrop, but if the writing isn’t strong, it will fail. To Kill a Mockingbird has all of the above, hence its lasting success. Great writing and strong, good character development tucked into a compelling story about the civil rights movement.
Describe a typical workday in your life as an author–illustrator? Do you have any unusual habits?
I like to write in the morning and sit in front of my laptop for anywhere from 2 hours to 6 hours. I love to write on my porch with my dogs nearby. More and more, I like to find a quiet space at the local library or a café. The one unusual thing is I listen to music on Spotify called “pet therapy” as it’s super relaxing. Highly recommend it.
What messages or themes do you hope readers take away from your book?
I hope people will look at homeless people differently after reading my books. I hope they will see them as human beings who aren’t there by choice but rather by tragic circumstances. I hope the message they take away is that they need to act in order for change to happen.
What advice do you have for kids who are interested in writing or illustration?
Read. Read books, comics, the newspaper, and more books. It’s helpful to try out different genres as it can help you find your niche. It’s also helpful to carry a small notebook around with you and write down your observations, even dialogue you overhear. Something will click and you will realize you have the beginnings of a book.