What were you like as a teen?

Pretty much the same as I am now, I was working on my “novels” (air quotes for the ones I wrote when I was a teen – I would get about sixty pages in and give up) I had a fashion column in the school newspaper, I was an honor student and class president. I was the classic over-achiever. The only difference is that back then I was also very shy and had very strict parents, so I had zero social life, I spent Friday nights at the movies with my sister and my dad, which strangely enough, is now a really great memory. I longed for a boyfriend but I never had one until I was in college (see: strict parents, also all girl’s high school). I totally believe in late bloomers—don’t ever peak in high school, it’s not worth it.

What were your favorite books as a kid?

I’ll always have a soft spot for Gordon Korman’s Bruno & Boots books. And Sweet Valley High. But Dune and Lord of the Rings and the Dark Tower series by Stephen King are probably the top three.

If you had one wish what would you wish for?

Inner peace. Being a writer means being agitated, nervous, jittery, it’s a real roller coaster of self-loathing and self-aggrandizing. I’d like to have a more stable personality and not be so moody or manic all the time.

What musicians have influenced your writing? I love the singer-songwriters, like Rufus Wainwright, Bob Dylan, the Cowboy Junkies. ‘Misguided Angel’ was totally inspired by the Cowboy Junkies song.

If you had one wish what would you wish for?

Inner peace. Being a writer means being agitated, nervous, jittery, it’s a real roller coaster of self-loathing and self-aggrandizing. I’d like to have a more stable personality and not be so moody or manic all the time.