When did you start writing?

I’ve always been a storyteller, but I didn’t take a legitimate interest in writing until I was in college. I had a very supportive professor who kind of took me under his wing. I still have the first “review” he wrote for me. It was around then that I fell in love with fiction writing.

How long did it take you to sell?

Oh wow. A pretty long time. Maybe eight years. But honestly, I started querying before my book was ready.  I was still learning my craft, so, looking back, I deserved all those form rejections. But it still really sucked.

I think we’ve all experienced that suckage. There’s a steep learning curve when it comes to the craft of writing. Once you had your manuscript polished up, how did you sell?

Through the wonderful world of Twitter, I heard that Heather Howland at Entangled Publishing was accepting unagented submissions. I sent her my query letter and the first five pages of ABBY ROAD. A few weeks later, I got an email from her saying she loved the voice of the story but wondered if I’d ever consider writing it in 1^st person past instead of 1^st person present (which was how it was). Funnily enough, I’d originally written it in past but had recently changed it. I told Heather this and also said I’d convert the first chapter to past tense if she wanted to see it. She did, and she also said there was another editor at Entangled who was interested in reading the manuscript. Needless to say, I didn’t move from my computer until I’d made the changes and sent the pages on. The next day, that “other” agent, the fabulous Stacy Abrams, sent me an email saying that she’d read the first chapter and was dying to read the rest of the manuscript as is. I sent it on to her, and a week later, she emailed and said she wanted to talk on the phone about publishing together. After so many years of rejection, it was quite a whirlwind to go from submission to contracted in about one month. I found those original emails a while ago, and it was so fun to re-read all of that early excitement!

Are you a full time author?

Not yet! I do have a day job, but I think everyone is hoping for the day when I can “retire” and write full-time. I know I am.

Dare to dream. Do you have a book coming out? 

I do! It’s called DEFINITELY, MAYBE IN LOVE. It’s in the new adult genre. My characters are in college and I had great fun writing about that age. So much happens during that time of life. I’m extremely thrilled because it’s also launching Entangled Publishing’s new adult imprint, Embrace, on October 14^th. I already can’t sleep at night—I’m so excited! Oh, and PS, it’s a contemporary retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice. My “Mr. Darcy” is an argyle-wearing prelaw student at Stanford…and he’s a total babe!

Random Fact: Are you a cat or dog person?

Dogs, for sure. Growing up, we always had a dog. Some were foster dogs, some we had for only short times (*sniff*) and some were with us for years. I get puppy fever a few times a year and have to talk myself down from running to the nearest shelter. My condo is pretty small and Texas is so dang hot. It makes me sad to think of keeping a precious pup cooped up while I’m at work ten hours a day. Plus, there’s the fact that I’m pretty irresponsible and can’t even keep my house plants alive. I’ll get a dog one day. Just not today.