FAQ

When did you decide that you wanted to be a writer?

I first decided that I wanted to be a writer when I was in junior high (middle school in some states) and discovered how much I enjoyed writing. I wrote my first story when I was young, but didn’t get anything published until I wrote The Frog Princess. My earlier stories were science fiction for young children which I may rewrite someday and once again submit for publication.
What inspired you to write The Frog Princess?

I wrote The Frog Princess because I decided that I wanted to try writing fantasy and wanted my main character to be a strong princess who could take care of herself and not have to rely on a prince to solve her problems. Remembering the old story of the frog prince, I thought that it would be fun to write about how a princess could solve the problem if she were a frog as well.
Have you based any of your characters on friends or family members?

Have you based any of your characters on friends or family members?
Do you have a routine when you write?

When I am going to start a new chapter, I like to outline it first, right down to the dialogue, which makes the actual writing much easier. I write at my computer during the day, then print out whatever I have written that day to look at/edit before I go to sleep. I don’t tend to get writer’s block because I give myself mini-breaks and play freecell or solitaire on my computer when I feel as if my brain is beginning to get fried.
If Disney has changed the characters and the settings, how can the movie The Princess and the Frog be based on The Frog Princess?

Shortly after The Frog Princess was published, Disney opened negotiations to option the book for an animated musical. (Optioning a book means that they are the only ones who can make a movie based on a book within a certain period of time. By the end of that period, they can either: (A) make the movie, (B) renew the option or (C) let the option lapse – thereby losing the right to make the movie.) Disney renewed the option three times, and last summer told me that they were making the movie. Yes, it has different characters and a different setting; Disney has the right to use as much or as little of my story as they choose. Unfortunately, we won’t know how much of my story has made it into theirs until we see the movie.
How many more tales of the Frog Princess are you going to write?

Originally the plan was to end the series with 8 books. In 2017 the Frog Princess series celebrated its 15 year anniversary and a new addition to the series was put into the works. The Frog Princess Returns made its debut in June 2017 and I hope you will enjoy revisiting Emma, Eadric and a few old friends for a new adventure which takes place between the stories of Once Upon A Curse and No Place For Magic.
Are you going to write a sequel to Wings?

I have always seen Wings (Fairy Wings) as the first book in a trilogy. I hope to at some point in the future write the third and final book in the series.
I haven't seen any new books from you in a while, have you retired from writing?

I am absolutely still writing. I have been working on several new projects and hope to have news to share with my readers soon. The book that I am currently working on has been an ongoing project which began back in 2020. It is very different from my previous books and I am very excited about how it's coming together.