F.A.Q.

I used to see you on TV all the time. What are you doing now?

     I’ve reported for TV, radio, and newspapers for years (check out my bio page for details), and, until very recently, I was a reporter at Milwaukee’s NBC affiliate, WTMJ-TV. I’ve returned a few times to provide occasional commentary, but I now focus on writing for children.

You traveled all the time for stories. How did you find the time to do that and children’s books?

     It wasn’t unusual to do quite a bit of traveling for stories. WTMJ covers its area and news in general very, very well, and is committed to reporting the news where it happens, so we’ve all travel at some point or another. Most of my reports were based out of somewhere in Wisconsin, although they were frequently sent via satellite feed around the country — even around the world.

     Still, I found time to write. I’d learned to do so under deadline, so even if I had only ten minutes, I took advantage of them to write a few sentences or clean up a paragraph.

     I’m also blessed with a great and supportive family. They give me time alone when I really need it or they join in (which is more fun) when I need that!

     I also know some incredible talents who won’t let me quit — and even push me to their level of greatness, some without even knowing it. One is my husband, Jeff Miracola, who has been published hundreds of times already. He’s a fantastic illustrator whose children’s book Welcome to Monster Isle is available now. I credit myself as being the inspiration for his most gruesome creations!

What do you like to write, and what are you writing now?

     I’ve finished a middle-reader fantasy that focuses on a 5th grade boy who finds an amazingly magical way to confront his bully and, eventually, his own fears. I’m also working on a creepy young adult fantasy.

     I like writing children’s fiction best, not only because of its whimsical and sentimental qualities, but because of the amazing opportunity it provides. Fiction directed toward a child affects that child’s view on the world and humanity. Imagine speaking your vision, passing on your wisdom, or even just sharing a laugh with a child who may benefit for a lifetime. I hope to accomplish that at least once!

     Also, children’s fiction is the polar opposite of what’s been my day job. Television journalists are supposed to write about the “real,” ie, non-fiction — what is really happening, what is really said, and what is really done (Never mind that a whole lot of people would prefer that journalists not report the whole truth.). So, when I do want to write the “unreal,” children’s fiction becomes my creative outlet.

     If you’d like to learn more me or my thoughts on writing, please feel free to keep poking around this site. Thanks for visiting!