I rarely post on Fridays but I caved when fellow novelist Sydney Avey challenged me to a BLOG HOP, so here goes! What is a blog hop? It’s a game of tag bloggers play in hopes of widening their circle of friends.  Here’s how it works: I get tagged and given four questions to answer in a post; I tag another blogger  who agrees to post answers the same four questions a week later; We try to entertain you and engage you in our process.

1. What are you working on right now? 

I loved Sydney’s answer, but I’ll be creative and say I’m revising a novel. The interesting bit about this story, A Symphony of Motion, is that it may not (OK it’s probably not) going to sell in the Christian market. Wait, did I just jinx myself? Anyway, I’m also refining a book concept for based on Miss Crankypants, in which her darn cat, Cranky Cat, seems bent on a total takeover. Instead of CRANKYTUDE, the book is now calling itself Cranky Cat’s Survival Guide: Embrace Your Inner Feline. Upstaged by a cat of all things! Oh, the shame.

2. How does your work differ from others of its genre? 

I was going to say my work is totally superior to others but Cranky Cat begged to differ. Instead, I’ll say that I’m well-known as that writer who skates so close to the edge that she frequently goes over the falls. Yes, folks, EDGY is what I’m known for, whether it be fiction that’s too Literary (the L word) or just for biting sarcasm. Cranky Cat made me write that last bit.

3.Why do you write what you do? 

There aren’t that many openings for humorists who write about their cats, but I am a glutton for punishment. Plus, I can’t seem to stop myself. I love stories with just a hint of the magical to them. Talking cats, ten-year-olds with musical genius, Lakota Indian women with grit and guts: all these fascinate me. I think writers usually have certain themes they revisit time after time. Since I was adopted, it’s all about finding where I belong. And American Indian are big in my stuff–I’m part Choctaw/Cherokee.

4. How does your writing process work?

 Usually a character comes walking up in my daydream and then it’s on. I am an inveterate daydreamer, weed picker and general time waster. I love following this character, who usually tells me a name and little more. Then we set off down the rabbit hole of a story. Can you tell I’m not an outliner?  I usually have a LOT of rewriting to do after my draft is finished. Trust me, it makes more sense to outline. But I get more done by daydreaming. All the writing that’s no good I blame on Cranky Cat.

OK, people. These be my four wonderful answers. Now all I need is another writer to tag. Oh look! here comes someone now!