Answers to the most common questions about myself or my books:

For “Crowded Nest Syndrome”:

Q: What is CNS?
A: Crowded Nest Syndrome

Q: Where did the idea for the book come from?
A: While out on a national book tour for Grandma Online, my husband invited the adult children to move up to Washington. I should have been suspicious when he kept looking at four bedroom homes in the Olympia area instead of two.

Q: What advice can you offer other parents suffering from CNS?
A: Take care of themselves first. That means first into the shower.

For “50 Fabulous Places to Raise Your Family”:

Q: What makes a town family-friendly?
A: A community that has spirit, where City Hall and the constituents worked together for the good of the city.

Q: How did you decide on which cities and towns made the list?
A: I had to comb through hundreds and hundreds of towns across the country giving a point scale to such areas as education, jobs and economic development, recreation values, and housing. I began to feel like a judge at the Olympics where hundreds of a point seem to make a difference.

Q: You worked in municipal government for years. What advice do you have for cities to be more family friendly?
A: I think you'll find it has to start at the top. The mayor or the city manager has to be a people person, understanding of the importance of public safety, education and the oversall services for the community. The people can be rallied to join in recycling, environment issues and recreational fun when they know there's community support.

Q: Who or what is a Parrot Head?
A: Jimmy Buffett fans are called Parrot Heads.

Q: Where did the idea for the book come from?
A: Originally the book centered on the main character wanting a baby but in the end it was the birth of her play that satisfied her heart. Once I began writing the story, however, the characters made up their own minds and suddenly the woman is pregnant and the play took a back seat.

Q: Who is your favorite character?
A: Most people would think it is Allie, but truly it is Gillian Nation. I like him so much, he is a continuing character in a couple other books in progress. He makes me laugh. I wish I had a good friend like Gillian.

Q: What are you working on now?
A: I have a couple ghostwriting projects in progress; one novel completed and two in progress; plus a couple book proposals ready to send out as well.