Today I’m joining the blog tour for Passageways. I’m sharing my Q&A with the author with thanks to Rachel Gilbey at Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me on the tour and to Lisa Fox for answering my questions!

Have you always wanted to write?

Yes! Ever since I was a little girl!

What were your previous jobs? Have they helped you with your writing process?

Writing is something I do in my spare time. By day, I’m a pharmaceutical market researcher. My 25+ year career in the space has helped me to be more concise and to the point. I am extremely comfortable with tight deadlines and making executive decisions, which helps during writing contest weekends when there is little time to ideate and time management is crucial.

What was your inspiration for Passageways: Short Speculative Fiction?

Passageways is a collection of short fiction. While I’ve had the honor of publication in a variety of different magazines, I’d always dreamed of having my own “book.” This is the second collection I’ve published (“Core Truths” was published in 2023), and the focus of the stories in Passageways is “the journey”—whether a physical journey from Point A to B, an emotional journey, or a spiritual one. It’s about recognizing the importance of how we get to where we are, who we are.

How do you construct your characters? Do they have traits of people you know?

Sometimes my characters start simply with a voice that needs to be heard. Sometimes they emerge from plots and what if situations that form the basis of my stories. And absolutely, there are characters who remind me of people I know… often, there is a hint of myself in my characters as well.

What does your writing process look like? Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Definitely a plotter. I need to know at least 80% of where the story is going before I start writing, or I suffer from Blank Page Syndrome.

Who are your favourite writers? Are you influenced by them?

I’ve always been a huge fan of Stephen King and Anne Rice. Kazuo Ishiguro produces some amazing work. And of course, the classics (Orwell, Huxley, Bradbury, etc.) When I’m moved and influenced by good writing, it helps to get the creative juices flowing and keeps things exciting. There are so many great books and authors out there—traditionally published as well as Indie. When I love a story it stays with me. 

If you could invite thre people, living or dead, to dinner, who would they be and why?

Four people, actually. My parents and my godparents. One, because I miss them all terribly. Two, because I would love to tell them all about the wonderful things my boys have done over the past several years (my youngest is an amazing singer and actor, my oldest is super-smart and had a fantastic first year of college). And Three, I’d love to talk to them about my writing. There’s so much to catch up on. Joys and successes are bittersweet when the people we’d like to share them with are no longer with us.
 

Who would you least like to be stuck in a lift with and why?

Someone with horrible body odor who won’t shut up. 😊  For obvious reasons.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I like to travel, watch movies with my husband, go out to dinner. Spend time with my kids. I love to read. Snuggle with my dog. Most of my time outside writing is spent working my day-job and serving as a mom-taxi.

What is next for you?

Hoping to write more. Write better. Perhaps muster the courage to try something longer form. I do have two more short story collections in the works – one focused on satire/comedy, the other more literary that focuses on families and friendship.

Favourites:

Book? TOO MANY TO NAME. “Never Let Me Go,” “Brave New World,” “All the Light We Cannot See” all readily come to mind, but there are so many more!

Film? The original Star Wars trilogy. 

TV show? Game of Thrones

Band/Singer? 80s and 90s rock primarily. Depends on my mood!

Colour? Depends on my mood!

Place? Walt Disney World

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Passageways is available from Amazon.

You can follow the rest of the blog tour here: