Describe yourself in five words or less.

I can do this in just one little word: sparkly!

Can you tell us a little about your book?

The Saved by the Blog series is about a small town on the Chesapeake Bay called Bayside. As small towns tend to do, Bayside is prone to gossip and rumors. They have a gossip blogger called the Bayside Blogger who writes for the local paper and reports every detail on every person in town.

Falling for the Right Brother is the first book in the three-part series. It’s a combination of Sabrina and Gossip Girl, with a little Saved by the Bell thrown in for fun. This is the story of Elle Owens, who was desperately in love with Jasper Dumont when she was growing up in Bayside, Virginia. After an embarrassing incident of professing her love for Jasper was caught on video, Elle hightailed it to Italy. When she returns to Bayside ten years later, it’s Jasper’s older brother Cam who catches Elle’s eye. Unfortunately, all of this happens under the watchful eye of the ubiquitous Bayside Blogger.

Name three things on your desk right now.

Not just right now, but pretty much at all times, I have my phone. I love listening to music while I work, so I either pull up a playlist I made, an album or listen to the radio through an app. I always have water because I’m a water-holic. And I typically have Post-it notes or some kind of paper because I’m constantly making lists (for my real life) and scribbling notes (for my writing life).

If you could have dinner with any three authors (alive or dead), who would you choose and why?

Jill Shalvis, because I’m a total fan girl. I love, love, love her books. Plus, based on her social media and newsletter, I think she’d be really fun to hang with.

Jane Austen, because I adore her books. I also consider her to be the first great chick lit writer and I want to ask her about some of the remakes/homages to her books like Clueless and Bridget Jones’s Diary. I think she would love them.

JK Rowling, because I’m a huge fan of Harry Potter and her world-building ability. Also, whenever I’m having a bad writing time, I re-watch the interview she did with Oprah for the millionth time. Her description of depression is so spot-on that it actually helped me deal with my own issues.

Where did the inspiration for this book come from?

I was walking my dog, Harry, one afternoon and the idea for Falling for the Right Brother popped into my head. I could see the town of Bayside, Elle and Cam, everything, so clearly. I remember very distinctly having the thought: This is like Sabrina and Gossip Girl. It was strange because I hadn’t seen either in years. I thought about the story the entire time I was walking Harry and as soon as I got home, I started writing it.

Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?

Join a writer’s group and hang out with like-minded people. Learn the craft, take classes, talk to writers who are in a position you’d like to emulate.
Get friends who are not writers, will never be writers and have nothing to do with the writing world. They will keep you grounded.
Invest in a crock-pot. Trust me on this one. The time you save in the kitchen can translate to many words written.
Exercise!
Learn how to say this incredibly difficult, yet incredibly small word: NO.
Learn how to say YES. Yes, I will finish this book. Yes, I will submit it to publishers and/or agents. Yes, I will enter this contest.
Never. Give. Up.

Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers and fans?

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!