It’s All About ME

I’m not quite sure when I decided to be a writer. I originally wanted wow the world as an Olympic figure skater. (I’m old enough to have idolized Peggy Fleming.) In high school I aspired to be a glamorous flight attendant and travel the world. I actually like airports, but found I wasn’t tall enough (for the job, not for airports.)

I ended up graduating cum laude from Cal State Northridge with a degree in graphic design, then later returned to get my teaching credential. Somewhere along the way I discovered that I wanted to write a book that sold in bookstores around the country. I’ve always loved books. My mother is to blame for this. She taught me to read from a mail-order kit when I was four. Writers I admire include Stephen King, Nora Roberts, Robert Heinlein, Orson Scott Card, Jacqueline Carey, Mary Balogh, Terry Brooks, Suzanne Brockmann, Piers Anthony, Michael Crichton, Eloisa James, Linda Berdoll, Neil Gaiman, Patrick Rothfuss, and Maggie Osborne.

I live in Southern California with my husband of sixteen years and my two sons, 12 and 13. Everyone always mentions their pets, so I will too. We have two fish (Monster and He Who Is Yet Unnamed), a dwarf hamster named Isaac, and there's a blue jay that hangs around our house and will take food from our hands. His name is Peanut.

I’m a fourth-generation Chinese-American, but speak more Spanish, Italian, and French than I can Mandarin. Of course, that’s not saying much. I can’t speak a word of Mandarin, and I can say at least please and thank you in those other languages. However, despite my “native” language deficiency, I can wield chopsticks like a pro. (They really come in handy when cooking bacon.)

When I'm not writing, I am very busy. I work as a barista at Starbucks, a great company to work for, by the way. I love trying out new recipes. I own scads of cookbooks and subscribe to Everyday Food, Real Simple, and Woman’s World, Redbook, Living, and Woman's Day. Bravo and the Food Channel are my default TV stations. I also like to scrapbook, even though I’m more than a year behind with the family photos. I try to knit, but am more successful with crocheting. I spend lots of time doing crafts and could really use a craft room. (Hint to husband, if he’s reading this.)

Ben and Jerry's Flavor:	Dublin Mudslide (Oh, I want some right now!!)
Books:	Flowers from the Storm by Laura Kinsale (the ultimate wounded hero), A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux (damned if that didn't make me cry twice), See Jane Score by Rachel Gibson, Holes by Louis Sachar, Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife by Linda Berdoll, The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Broadway Musical:	My Fair Lady
Candy to steal from my kids' Halloween Booty:	Almond Joy (but they hardly ever get those! And I don't really steal them because neither of them like coconut.)
Color:	Red
Dim Sum Restaurant:	A&W Seafood, Northridge, California
Disney Movie:	Beauty and the Beast (Yep, cried in this one, too.)
Food to cheat on my diet with:	Ice Cream (see above) or Chili Fries from Tommy's
Lotion:	Jergen's Original Scent
Musician:	Sting
Room in the House:	Kitchen
Starbucks Drink:	Iced Venti Green Tea Lemonade, two Splendas
Store:	Target
Teachers:	Mr. Robert Cowan, sixth grade, Villa Park Elementary, 1973-74, Mrs. Sternlicht, Freshman English, Birmingham High School, 1977-78, Mr. Morris Zaslavsky, Art Department, Cal State University Northridge, 1982-85.
TV shows:	Project Runway, Top Chef, Cash Cab, 30 Minute Meals with Rachael Ray.
Vacation Spot:	Italy