What’s your most unusual writing habit? 

“I largely can’t listen to music while I am physically drafting, but I write in my head to music all the time. I love to take a walk with a playlist for a project and essentially choregraph scenes to the right songs. It helps create a rhythm and scaffolding for the particular moment and gives me a very sharp visualization of what I will eventually write.” 

What’s the first thing you do after finishing a draft? 

“I try to have a vacation planned and booked directly after a deadline to help create a really hard barrier I can’t cross to motivate me to finish. But in general, I usually finish a draft and take about a day to do nothing, before flipping over to attend to all the laundry and errands that I’ve inevitably ignored in the deadline flurry. And my husband and I definitely go out to a nice dinner to celebrate!” 

Describe your writing process in one word? 

“Forward.” 

Where do you most like to write? 

“I write almost entirely at home in my office, with my dog close by. I do love being entirely in my own environment that I control, with everything I need in close reach. But I’ve also begun loving to write on planes, especially long hauls, where I am sort of stuck in place. No one can bother me and nothing gets in the way of a shooting off a few thousand words.” 

If your characters could critique you, what would they say? 

“She’s very mean to us.” 

Which book is your most treasured possession? 

“I have an illustrated copy of The Lord of the Rings that I bought with all my birthday money when I was 13 years old. It’s still on the shelf in my house as a reminder of that dorky girl still inside me, directing everything I do.” 

What’s the strangest thing in your workspace? 

“This isn’t exactly strange, but over the last few years, readers have started giving authors friendship bracelets when we go on tour. I love this so much and I keep all the bracelets displayed on my desk. When I’m down on myself or the work, it’s really nice to look at a physical display of my readers’ faith and care. And a much-needed ego boost.”