Story title: "The Secret's in the Sauce."
1. How did you hear about the Blood Is Thicker anthology, and what convinced you to spend days (weeks? months?) crafting a story about the attempted murder of a character by a member of their family on leap day?
I heard about the anthology from my mom, and when I looked into it, I immediately loved the challenge of incorporating those weird and specific requirements. I knew that even if my story wasn’t chosen, it would be a great exercise for me as a writer.
2. What was the writing process like? Did your story come out with a bang, or did you struggle to make something of the premise?
This story flowed easily for me. Sometimes my writing is hard-going, but my dad was passing away from cancer as I wrote this and I found writing about a fictional woman who is watching her loved one suffer became a therapeutic way for me to explore my own feelings about losing my dad to such a cruel disease.
3. How long have you been writing, and what are some of your writing goals and/or successes so far?
I’ve been working on a novel for years that I’m finally querying. This year, I had a personal essay published in The Globe and Mail, so that was very exciting. I’d love to eventually have a novel published.
4. What’s your favourite line or passage in your submission, and why?
I love near the end of my story where the main character, Eva, is stirring spaghetti sauce in a crisp, white blouse. After feeling so helpless and worried, she’s back in control of her world.
5. What’s your writing routine?
For the longest time I would wait until I could free up time to write, but that meant I was only able to write a few times a week. Now, I’m much better and forcing myself to sit down for an hour each day and work on my latest project. Sometimes I have more time, sometimes less, but at least I’m making progress.
6. What do you do for a living (or if you’re retired, what did you do), and what do you do for fun?
I spent several years working for a boutique public relations company in Calgary. Now I divide my time between caring for my two young daughters, wrangling our family dogs, and writing. Let’s be honest, the dogs take up most of my time.
7. If you could have a lunch date with any person living or dead, who would it be and why?
I devour Liane Moriarty’s books. It would be amazing to sit down with her and discuss her writing process and how she grows and nurtures her ideas into such addicting novels.
8. What’s a favourite book that you’ve read in the past five years? Notice we didn’t ask you to name your ultimate favourite. We’re not monsters.
The Good Girl by Mary Kubica really stuck with me. I love novels with an unreliable narrator and I felt the plot was fresh and fast-paced. I also cared about the characters.
9. What else should readers know about you?
I’m a bit of a hobbit by nature — nothing says “party” like a cup of tea, good book or a visit with a friend. But, fortunately, I’m surrounded by fun, adventurous people, so I often find myself being dragged out of my comfort zone to go hiking in the mountains, downhill skiing, or skinny-dipping in the snow. Good times!