1)  How long did it take you to write Forget-Her-Nots?

Forever.  Okay, it just felt like that.  I worked on the novel on and off for about 8 years.  I was writing lots of other stuff, too — articles, a follow-up novel, and a completely unrelated novel.  I find that you need to let your writing rest and breathe and then go back to it fresh to revise well.

2)  Where did you get the idea for magic flowers?

I found a beautiful coffee table book about tussie mussies at a great independent bookstore (Books & Co.) in my hometown of Dayton, Ohio.  Using it as a loose guide, I made a tussie mussie for a friend who had ovarian cancer.  I planted and played in my own gardens and grew gradually more and more entranced with blooms.  I’ve found that flowers and fragrance – like songs you know – can awaken precious bits of memory and sway your mood.  It was a pretty easy leap of imagination to magic flowers from there.

3)  How did you get the courage to start writing?

Good question.  It does take courage.  And faith.  I just had to try it.  I knew I could write well, but good non-fiction writing skills don’t necessarily translate into good fiction skills.  It took me awhile to get it right, but I never felt like quitting.  (My husband told me once he would have quit long ago, but he was otherwise very supportive.)

4)  What should I do if I want to write a novel?

Read.  Tons.  Get to know what’s out there and define what you like.  I once attended a talk given by Toni Morrison. She said, “Write the book that only you can write.”  I had to think about that one for awhile.  I think she means write from your own unique experience of the world and write about your personal loves.  I wanted to write for the teenage girl and book lover I once was.  And I love the allure and mystery of flowers.