writer's block
Q: What do you do when you get stuck? Part I

Writer’s block. For me there are two types: the first is the “WIP (Work in Progress)” block. This happens...

index cards
Q: What made you start writing?

This question has been asked by more than a few (concerned) people…at several points in my life. See, there...

Q: What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever written?

This is such a nuanced, multi-faceted question. I realize you, kind reader, want to know what aspect of fiction...

Q: How do you come up with your ideas?

I generate ideas based on what’s left out of a story. For example, when I’m reading an historical document,...

Q: What’s the connection between Shakespeare and Virginia?

In 1609, the disappearance of the Sea Venture (the largest ship in the largest fleet, the Third Supply) was...

Q: How long did this take to write?

Writing the actual story—a young woman traveling to Virginia with her parents—only took a few weeks. The idea had...

Q: Where did you hear about the Sea Venture?

On a sign! My father’s family lived at a place called Bermuda Hundred. I always thought it odd that...

Q: What inspired the story in your book The Isle of Devils?

Simple: To answer the basic question of why someone—anyone—would come to the settlement at Jamestown when it was common...