This weekend, I turn 28. We're keeping things pretty low-key as it's not what my grandfather would have called a "momentous occasion" in my mind. But 28 is still something of a milestone year for me as a writer. I've been writing since I was 14 years old. In other words, I can now officially say that I've been writing novels seriously for half of my lifetime. Who would have ever guessed that something I started dabbling in to pass the time while having to sit out of PE class

In the seventh grade, I got a blue hoodie for Christmas. Money was tight that year and my mom found it on the clearance rack at Fashion Bug. It was plain, a cotton cable-knit zip-up, seemingly nothing special—and believe me when I say I lived in it. It was practically a second skin, which astounds Mom to this day. I referred to it as a wearable security blanket because I loved the texture of the yarn in a way I couldn't exactly explain (and it was almost the same shade of blu

As a kid, it was almost a weeknight ritual to watch Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! with my parents after the evening news. I always had a blast playing along and contributing answers from the couch while finishing the dessert from a Kid Cuisine microwave dinner. My mother loves to tell people about the time I solved a Wheel of Fortune puzzle before the contestants when I was four; for those wondering, it was "Winnie The Pooh And Tigger Too." It's safe to say Wheel of Fortu

Most writers are acquainted with NaNoWriMo . Taking place every November, National Novel Writing Month challenges participants to write the first draft of a novel in the span of a mere thirty days. NaNoWriMo is the main event, but it's not the only time of year to take up the gauntlet! Each April and July, the team behind the main NaNo event hosts Camp NaNoWriMo. Camp NaNo is more flexible, as you're encouraged to set your own goals instead of aiming for November's firm 50,00

No hobby of mine catches people off-guard like fantasy football. I am one of the least athletic people I know. Apart from the Olympics, during which my mother and I would be glued to the TV screen, I scarcely tuned in to watch any sports. I've been to one baseball game as part of a fundraiser and one hockey game since my high school choir was invited to perform "God Bless America" out on the ice before the match. When it comes to football specifically, I knew absolutely nothi

My favorite color is blue. It's my go-to whenever I'm able to treat myself to a pedicure. Blue raspberry is my favorite flavor for just...