Do you have an agent?

No. I am currently self published. I may consider submitting to agents for future works.

Are you published?

Yes! I self published my first novel, Darkness Surrounding, in 2011.

How many of the books have you finished?

Darkness Surrounding is published, Streets is in its second draft stage and is slated for an early 2012 release, and Warmness on The Soul will have its first draft by the end of November 2011.

Have you written/published anything before?

Unless if you could the book my dad bound for me under the "HappyCat" label in the second grade, no.

Why did you pick New Mexico? Isn't that, like, cheating?

Because I have yet to read a YA novel set here. This is a very culturally rich place, you know. (Fun Fact: Originally, the novels were going to be set in Polpar Bluff, MN)

Who drew those ugly creatures in the header?

Why, that'd be me. I know my drawing "skills" leave much to be desired, but I kind of like their rawness. It suits Zanni and DeathX well.

What software do you use to write?

Microsoft Word, circa too old to support .docx. Nothing special, I'm afraid. I plan to try Scrivner soon.

UPDATE: I am now using Scrivner and learning the ropes. Pretty neat despite my not knowing what I'm doing (me, sitting through an hour-long tutorial? Not a chance).

Who is the girl on the cover of Darkness Surrounding?

That would be me -- with someone else's hair.

Why did you pick such weird names for your characters?

Oh, I don't know. To be original? ;]

"Zanni" is based off of two people I knew briefly. The first is a cousin of a friend whose name is Xani. I also played basketball with someone named Zan, so I changed the spelling of "Xani" to "Zanni" based on personal preference. (Fun Fact: Her full name is Suzannah)

Why is there only one female character and twenty-three male characters?

Because it's refreshing. Guys have a certain depth to them that you really have to work to discover. I'm willing to do that work.

Which character are you most like?

I am the most like Garr because I am quiet and sometimes misunderstood (although I live a considerably better life and I eat more than enough food). We're both tall,  awkward, and fans of plain double cheeseburgers.

Who is your favorite character?

This may surprise you, but my favorite character is DeathX. He's a very complex character, and it's fun to peel his layers. Let's just say that I definitely wouldn't want to date him!

Are you working on any other projects besides The Atavists Trilogy?

Yes, and you can follow their progress here. One is a Catcher In The Rye-esque story about a troubled teen and his path of self-discovery through art therapy, another is an exploration of freedom and self, and the other is the back story of DeathX's parents (that way, your parents can get involved with The Atavists).