How/why did you start to write?
I started writing as a child. I grew up in a house full of books, and
reading was how I understood the world.
My Grade Two teacher, Grace Tugwell—I used her name in INSIDE, as a
tribute—encouraged me to write special assignments outside of class. I still have some of the things I wrote for
her, like an illustrated fable that I stitched into a little book bound with
construction paper.
How did you become an author?
After I graduated from university I began
writing seriously, and secretly. I
thought I would cultivate my genius in private until I could spring it
full-blown on the world with a series of brilliant stories in The New Yorker or something. Eventually I realized it probably wasn’t
going to happen this way, and I went to graduate school in creative writing
instead. There I began to publish my
stories in literary magazines, and eventually got a book contract.
What was your first published piece? Where
was it published? How long ago?
It was a short story published in Western Humanities Review, a journal in
Utah, in 1998. It was actually part of
a whole book-length story cycle, but I only published one story from it. I still have the acceptance letter framed.
What did you do before embarking on your
writing career? Was it an asset to your writing? How?
I worked a variety of jobs, like editorial
assistant at a publishing company, temp, freelance writer, bookstore
clerk. I learned early on to make time
for my writing around a work schedule, which was helpful discipline. And working in book publishing and
bookstores taught me a lot about the business that helped me as a writer—mainly
by making me grateful for the people who devote their lives to those fields.
What inspires you?
I’m inspired by art museums, eavesdropping,
gossip, family history, strong coffee, and the work of other writers both
contemporary and classic.
Please share one of your successful author
platform building technique
I don’t think much about platform building,
but I do think about participating in communities of writers—both online and in
person. I believe in sharing ideas and
offering support. Maybe the best
platform is to be a good literary citizen: be a reader, support independent
bookstores and literary journals, be part of the conversation.
Parting words
Author website
