I guess I always knew I was going to be a teacher, but I had no idea that I'd become a writer as well. Sometimes you choose your path; sometimes the path is chosen for you. Of course I couldn't know any of that when I was an infant, but the paths were being drawn for me even before I was born. 

What's the most fun thing about being a writer?? Absolutely everything! I love the solitude, the concentration, the magic feeling that overtakes me when the words come tumbling out, sometimes faster than I can type them. I love watching the manuscript grow from one page to five chapters to twenty chapters to a whole book…

Do you still teach school? I teach wherever I go, but I no longer teach in one school every day. Whenever I visit a school and talk to young people, I get the opportunity to do informal teaching. I even teach through my web site! But I am now a full time writer.

What were your dreams for your future? I was probably born to be a teacher. As a child, I taught my dolls, my dogs, and the kids next door. I never wavered in my desires and determination to become not just a teacher, but a really good teacher who made a difference in the lives of children.

How do I know if I'm a writer? If your gut tells you that you have to write, if you are compelled to write or scribble or draw, if you make up stories in your head-then you are a writer. Enjoy it!

Beach, city, or country? Beach...definitely the beach. I like to watch the waves.