Congratulations on getting published! Tell us a bit about your road to publishing success.

Thanks to the guidance I received from my instructor, Barbara Stretton, my first book, The Unicorn Tree, was published by a small publisher in 2012. Since then I have had stories and non-fiction articles published for various online and print publications including the weekly magazine, Woman’s World, and a classical music website, CMUSE.

How long have you been writing?

I have been writing fiction and nonfiction for about 10 years.

How has your ICL course helped with your writing?

The courses have helped with continuity, making sure all the various story lines are resolved, making sure I as the writer strike the right balance between description and allowing readers to use their imagination.

What will you do with what you’ve written during the course?

I saved all my assignments and am currently reworking a novel I started under the guidance of Mary Rosenblum.

Where is your favorite place to write?

In my room late at night when the rest of the house is asleep.

Do you have a favorite writing tip you’d like to share?

When writing a period piece, make sure you use the words suitable for that time and place.

What’s your favorite genre to write for?

ghost stories, mystery/suspense

If you could travel back in time and give yourself one piece of writing advice, how far back would you go, and what would you tell yourself?

I would go back to school age and tell myself to develop those daydreams by writing them down.

Please tell us what you enjoyed most about your ICL experience!

I feel like I really lucked out having Barbara Stretton guide me while I wrote my YA novel, The Unicorn Tree, and Mary Rosenblum, who guided me through a first draft of a 19th-century ghost/horror story. In addition to fabulous instructors, the admin staff of ICL is friendly and professional.