As the author, how would you describe your book?
Stay in the Light is the story of Alexa Bristow, a woman who is determined to find a better life for herself after years of being a scientific guinea pig. She has to make some hard choices about what roads to take, and muster the courage to continue her journey. If her own life wasn't complicated and dangerous enough, her path entwines with Cade Rogan, a wanted fugitive with the reputation as a cunning killer. She sees through his hard exterior to find a much different man, and realizes how much they have in common. Together they begin to search for redemption, and find the strength to overcome great odds.

Can you tell us the behind-the-scenes story about how Stay in the Light came into being? What was the germ? How did the characters come to life? Is there a character who still lives inside of you?
I have always wanted to write the story about the things I have been through in my life, but it's still very hard to delve into those memories right now. So, instead, I implemented some of those experiences and emotions into fictional storylines and characters. After all, isn't that what most writers do? I combined my love of sci-fi, anti-heroes, and a strong, yet gentle, female character to create this story.

Can you tell us something about you as a writer, i.e. when you started writing, what's your creative process is like, what inspires you, etc.?
I started writing when I was twelve years old and knew then that I wanted to be a writer when I grew up. My first writing project was a fifteen-minute skit for my sixth grade graduation ceremony. I was always writing a little something all through my teen years. I stopped when I got married and had children, but the writing bug bit again with a vengeance about four years ago! I'm constantly thinking about characters, scenes, dialogue, and when I have some quiet time to myself, it all comes to life on the page. I find inspiration in many things. A lot of it comes from the tragedies, trials, and triumphs of my own life, and the lessons I've learned from them.

How do you keep a balance between family, work, and your writing?
I've been married for sixteen years and have two lovely daughters. Writing times come when the family has been taken care of, which are a few hours of quiet time in the mornings after the girls have left for school, and in the evenings when they are in bed. I also have to contend with daily pain from permanent injuries I suffered from a head on collision nine years ago. So far, I've been able to keep a pretty nice balance between caring for the family, dealing with pain, and writing.

Can you tell us something about you as a person?
I'm pretty shy and quiet, until you get to know me! I'm sentimental, a hopeless romantic, and have a soft spot for those 'bad boys with a gentle heart' characters. I love to travel, watch movies, spend time with my family, and go boating. I'm a summer person and love the outdoors. I can't go over a day or so without chocolate or an ice cold Coca-Cola!

If you had a chance to be mentored by one author (living or dead), who would you choose and why?
There are so many wonderful authors that it's hard to decide on just one. A few of my favorites include C.S. Lewis, Robin McKinley, Michelle O'Leary, Walter Farley, and Stephen King. If I had to choose, I think it would be Stephen King. He has an amazing talent! He has an outstanding way of taking ordinary people and placing them in extraordinary circumstances—creating characters we relate to and storylines that captivate the imagination.

What is your view of epublishing? What opportunities does it provide for you and for other authors? What do you think is the future of epublishing?
Epublishing opens the doors on many levels for writers and readers alike. Computers are now as common as the television set in most people's homes, and the internet offers instant access to things they want. How wonderful it is to have such a wide selection of books to buy and read right at the click of a mouse. I feel that ebooks will become more and more popular.

What projects are you currently working on?
I am currently working on a sequel to Stay in the Light, plus I have ideas for a few more stories running around in my head. I'm interested in different genres and would like to try my hand at a thriller, historical romance, and a fantasy. I'm also hoping to find the time to revise a screenplay I wrote a couple of years ago. The screenplay was even requested to be read by a major studio, but I've learned so much since then, and it definitely needs a revision! But right now my main focus is writing novels.