So you really want to know a little more about me, eh?
This is it, just me...
Hello and welcome to the 'about me' section of my web page.
I work full-time (computer/software support) and I'm also the author of, The Kindness of Strangers, From Heaven, The Last Curl & several short stories and poems. I have three children - Cameron, Sonya and Derrek, and one crazy (but lovable) Shepard mix named Deuce. When I'm not working or spending time with my family and/or friends, I can be found in my mud room (where the computer is) typing away.
I've been telling stories since before I can remember. Writing books since I was 10. It is not just a hobby for me, it is my passion and I absolutely love it. I grew up all over Massachusetts, graduated high school in '99 and attended Bridgewater State College (now Bridgewater State University) for a degree in English and Early Education. If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to contact me!
Q & A:
Q: Are you a pant-ser or a plotter?
A: It really depends. Some stories I went off the seat of my pants, others I've plotted out before writing. I will say when plotting the story it can be easier to write, but I find it restricting because you want to stay within your own framework. By going off the seat of my pants there are no boundaries and I'm not cramped. So they each have their own benefits, and I utilize them both (when appropriate).
Q: Have you ever plotted anything out while in the bathroom?
A: I probably have. There are times while brushing my teeth or taking a shower when something, some idea, will strike. Can't say I've done it often though. A lot of my ideas come from my dreams or from real life.
Q: People say writers write what they know, does that describe you?
A: In a way, yes it does. In my published work, a lot of the stuff described in vivid detail was easy to describe as I lived through it. In other stories/poems, I do write what I know because it's easier to describe. It makes it more 'visual'. If I don't know something, I'll do research and will try to write what I know (because I would have learned it).
Q: What's your favorite color?
A: That would be green!
Q: What's your favorite food?
A: Boneless, skinless chicken teriyaki/stir-fry style, and I also love mixed vegetables with garlic
Q: What's your favorite book?
A: Up A Road Slowly by Irene Hunt. I could read that book for the rest of my life. The Giver by Lois Lowry is a close second. I also have to mention On Writing by Stephen King. I love his writing style.
Q: What was your first job?
A: Aside from the typical babysitting job, my first 'real' paycheck came from being a bagger at Roche Bros. grocery store in Norton, MA
Q: Tell me, are you Team Jacob or Team Edward?
A: I hate to admit this, but I will, I wasn't a huge fan of the Twilight series. I loved Anne Rice's The Vampire Lestat and Interview With A Vampire, and I also loved the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris. If I HAD to like anything from the Twilight series, I did like Breaking Dawn's story, up until it changed point of view [which irritated me].
Q: Favorite movie?
A: That's hard, but I think I'll go with The Princess Bride and Down With Love. There are a ton more that I adore, but we'll probably be here forever if I start going into detail.
Q: Who is your favorite actress/actor?
A: I love Meryl Streep, she's so versatile! I also like Dwayne 'the rock' Johnson. But my biggest crush is on Cary Elwes, who I've loved since I was about six-years-old.
Q: If you could meet one celebrity, who would it be?
A: That's hard too, it'd be a toss between Oprah and Ellen Degeneres. Both are incredible women and are very influential.
Q: If you could have dinner with a celebrity, who would it be?
A: Seth MacFarlane. He's a terrific cartoonist and an exceptional writer, with a knack for comedic wit. He's wicked cute too.
Q: Where were you born?
A: I was born in Boston, MA
Q: I read that you are a big supporter for adoption, is there a personal reason behind this?
A: Actually, yes. I was adopted at age 13. There are so many children in the world that need a solid, stable and loving home. I think adoption would be ideal for any person or couple wishing to have a family.
Q: White chocolate or milk chocolate?
A: Yum! Any chocolate. :)
Q: If you could take three things with you to a deserted island, what would you bring?
A: A book, a blanket and bug spray
Q: If The Kindness of Strangers were to ever become a movie, who would you suggest to be cast?
A: I've actually thought about this often. I know I would love to have Kristen Stewart as Sydney. Michelle Pfeiffer as Irene. And Sam Worthington as Ian (though he's a tid-bit older than Ian's character).
Q: Along the same lines if The Kindness of Strangers were to ever become a movie, who would you want featured musically?
A: I would love for Paramore, 30 Seconds to Mars and Taylor Swift to be a part of the soundtrack, and for Clint Mansell to be in charge of music.
Q: When do you get to write?
A: Uh - that'd be anytime after 930 pm (on a good day). If my youngest is having a rough time getting to sleep, it could vary. There have been times where I couldn't write until 1 in the morning. I'd write up until 430 am, go to sleep, and make my journey to work for 8am. :)
Q: Do you have a pen name and if yes, what is it?
A: Yes. At this time, the only one I have is Spencer Collins. I'm dabbling in horror and I'm trying to keep the genres separate.
Q: If you were to win $1 million dollars, what would you do with it?
A: I'd probably jump up and down, squealing with delight. Aside from donating money to The Italian Home for Children and the MSPCC, I'd pay off some debts - mine and some of my family members. If there was anything left over, I'd put it in savings for a rainy day.
Q: With all the attention surrounding this new 'indie publishing' craze, and indies feeling they've lost one of their own when one of them accepts a publishing house deal, would you ever accept a big six book series deal?
A: I'm not sure. It would really depend on the terms. I know I'd be flattered, considering that would normally mean someone liked my work. If you're asking about the recent stories surrounding Amanda Hocking and H. P. Mallory (as well as others), I think they are exceptional authors and they made the decisions that best fits their lives and their desires. Going with a large publishing house doesn't necessarily have to be all about the money. It could also be about wanting access to resources one wouldn't normally have access to being self-published. Not everything is about money.
Q: What cartoon character(s) is your favorite?
A: Eeyore. Absolutely adore him! At one point in my life I had well over 50 Eeyore's; porcelain, stuffed, puppet, pictures, plastic, etc. I still have an Eeyore pin from Disney's pin swap, but a lot of the porcelain got broken in-between moves and I had to throw away my stuffed and puppet Eeyore's because of a spider infestation that nearly killed my daughter.
Q: Is it true that your son wrote a book and it's now for sale?
A: Yes! My 10-year-old son, Cameron, was inspired by the recent tragic events across our nation caused by several destructive tornadoes, and has written a children's book where all royalties will be going to Habitat for Humanity. He is actually in the process of writing another one, which he hopes all royalties will be going to Boston's Children's Hospital thanks to their excellent care from when he was diagnosed with a heart condition at the age of 7. His book for Habitat for Humanity is now available in eBook format, as well as trade paperback. It can be purchased directly from the publisher, World Castle Publishing, or online at Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Borders and other online vendors. If you'd like to see it in book stores, it is available through the Ingram Catalog and can be requested at your local book store!
I love to hear from readers, so please feel free to contact me by clicking HERE. I promise I will get back to you!
I work full-time (computer/software support) and I'm also the author of, The Kindness of Strangers, From Heaven, The Last Curl & several short stories and poems. I have three children - Cameron, Sonya and Derrek, and one crazy (but lovable) Shepard mix named Deuce. When I'm not working or spending time with my family and/or friends, I can be found in my mud room (where the computer is) typing away.
I've been telling stories since before I can remember. Writing books since I was 10. It is not just a hobby for me, it is my passion and I absolutely love it. I grew up all over Massachusetts, graduated high school in '99 and attended Bridgewater State College (now Bridgewater State University) for a degree in English and Early Education. If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to contact me!
Q & A:
Q: Are you a pant-ser or a plotter?
A: It really depends. Some stories I went off the seat of my pants, others I've plotted out before writing. I will say when plotting the story it can be easier to write, but I find it restricting because you want to stay within your own framework. By going off the seat of my pants there are no boundaries and I'm not cramped. So they each have their own benefits, and I utilize them both (when appropriate).
Q: Have you ever plotted anything out while in the bathroom?
A: I probably have. There are times while brushing my teeth or taking a shower when something, some idea, will strike. Can't say I've done it often though. A lot of my ideas come from my dreams or from real life.
Q: People say writers write what they know, does that describe you?
A: In a way, yes it does. In my published work, a lot of the stuff described in vivid detail was easy to describe as I lived through it. In other stories/poems, I do write what I know because it's easier to describe. It makes it more 'visual'. If I don't know something, I'll do research and will try to write what I know (because I would have learned it).
Q: What's your favorite color?
A: That would be green!
Q: What's your favorite food?
A: Boneless, skinless chicken teriyaki/stir-fry style, and I also love mixed vegetables with garlic
Q: What's your favorite book?
A: Up A Road Slowly by Irene Hunt. I could read that book for the rest of my life. The Giver by Lois Lowry is a close second. I also have to mention On Writing by Stephen King. I love his writing style.
Q: What was your first job?
A: Aside from the typical babysitting job, my first 'real' paycheck came from being a bagger at Roche Bros. grocery store in Norton, MA
Q: Tell me, are you Team Jacob or Team Edward?
A: I hate to admit this, but I will, I wasn't a huge fan of the Twilight series. I loved Anne Rice's The Vampire Lestat and Interview With A Vampire, and I also loved the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris. If I HAD to like anything from the Twilight series, I did like Breaking Dawn's story, up until it changed point of view [which irritated me].
Q: Favorite movie?
A: That's hard, but I think I'll go with The Princess Bride and Down With Love. There are a ton more that I adore, but we'll probably be here forever if I start going into detail.
Q: Who is your favorite actress/actor?
A: I love Meryl Streep, she's so versatile! I also like Dwayne 'the rock' Johnson. But my biggest crush is on Cary Elwes, who I've loved since I was about six-years-old.
Q: If you could meet one celebrity, who would it be?
A: That's hard too, it'd be a toss between Oprah and Ellen Degeneres. Both are incredible women and are very influential.
Q: If you could have dinner with a celebrity, who would it be?
A: Seth MacFarlane. He's a terrific cartoonist and an exceptional writer, with a knack for comedic wit. He's wicked cute too.
Q: Where were you born?
A: I was born in Boston, MA
Q: I read that you are a big supporter for adoption, is there a personal reason behind this?
A: Actually, yes. I was adopted at age 13. There are so many children in the world that need a solid, stable and loving home. I think adoption would be ideal for any person or couple wishing to have a family.
Q: White chocolate or milk chocolate?
A: Yum! Any chocolate. :)
Q: If you could take three things with you to a deserted island, what would you bring?
A: A book, a blanket and bug spray
Q: If The Kindness of Strangers were to ever become a movie, who would you suggest to be cast?
A: I've actually thought about this often. I know I would love to have Kristen Stewart as Sydney. Michelle Pfeiffer as Irene. And Sam Worthington as Ian (though he's a tid-bit older than Ian's character).
Q: Along the same lines if The Kindness of Strangers were to ever become a movie, who would you want featured musically?
A: I would love for Paramore, 30 Seconds to Mars and Taylor Swift to be a part of the soundtrack, and for Clint Mansell to be in charge of music.
Q: When do you get to write?
A: Uh - that'd be anytime after 930 pm (on a good day). If my youngest is having a rough time getting to sleep, it could vary. There have been times where I couldn't write until 1 in the morning. I'd write up until 430 am, go to sleep, and make my journey to work for 8am. :)
Q: Do you have a pen name and if yes, what is it?
A: Yes. At this time, the only one I have is Spencer Collins. I'm dabbling in horror and I'm trying to keep the genres separate.
Q: If you were to win $1 million dollars, what would you do with it?
A: I'd probably jump up and down, squealing with delight. Aside from donating money to The Italian Home for Children and the MSPCC, I'd pay off some debts - mine and some of my family members. If there was anything left over, I'd put it in savings for a rainy day.
Q: With all the attention surrounding this new 'indie publishing' craze, and indies feeling they've lost one of their own when one of them accepts a publishing house deal, would you ever accept a big six book series deal?
A: I'm not sure. It would really depend on the terms. I know I'd be flattered, considering that would normally mean someone liked my work. If you're asking about the recent stories surrounding Amanda Hocking and H. P. Mallory (as well as others), I think they are exceptional authors and they made the decisions that best fits their lives and their desires. Going with a large publishing house doesn't necessarily have to be all about the money. It could also be about wanting access to resources one wouldn't normally have access to being self-published. Not everything is about money.
Q: What cartoon character(s) is your favorite?
A: Eeyore. Absolutely adore him! At one point in my life I had well over 50 Eeyore's; porcelain, stuffed, puppet, pictures, plastic, etc. I still have an Eeyore pin from Disney's pin swap, but a lot of the porcelain got broken in-between moves and I had to throw away my stuffed and puppet Eeyore's because of a spider infestation that nearly killed my daughter.
Q: Is it true that your son wrote a book and it's now for sale?
A: Yes! My 10-year-old son, Cameron, was inspired by the recent tragic events across our nation caused by several destructive tornadoes, and has written a children's book where all royalties will be going to Habitat for Humanity. He is actually in the process of writing another one, which he hopes all royalties will be going to Boston's Children's Hospital thanks to their excellent care from when he was diagnosed with a heart condition at the age of 7. His book for Habitat for Humanity is now available in eBook format, as well as trade paperback. It can be purchased directly from the publisher, World Castle Publishing, or online at Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Borders and other online vendors. If you'd like to see it in book stores, it is available through the Ingram Catalog and can be requested at your local book store!
I love to hear from readers, so please feel free to contact me by clicking HERE. I promise I will get back to you!
