30 Things You May Not Know about Me on My 30th Birthday

1. My cats are named after characters in the Chronicles of Narnia.
2. My favorite season was winter until I started working in Cleveland.
3. I won my first writing contest when I was nine.
4. I want to be a snowbird when I grow up.
5. I love my name and would never change it.
6. I hate to wait.
7. I started writing Maid of Murder when I was 21 and sold it when I was 28.
8. I hate to cook but love to watch the Food Network.
9. I named India after the country because I am fascinated by it. It’s high on my life list.
10. My favorite color is pink. Some people find this surprising.
11. I always wish for more time than more money.
12. For a long time, I wanted a pet goat name Victor. Then, I realized I have no idea how to care for a goat.
13. A vision of India Hayes came to me while sitting in a Blockbuster parking lot.
14. I’m a vegetarian.
15. I’m cold 75% of the time.
16. I became a Christian when I was three years old and vividly remember it.
17. Sometimes I rock when I’m writing. I’ve been known to hum too.
18. Watching sports makes me sleepy unless it’s the Olympics. I can stay awake for those.
19. The first mystery author I read and loved was Gillian Roberts, and she endorsed Maid of Murder. I still can’t believe that. I’m so grateful.
20. I’ve been working in a library since I was sixteen years old. I’ll save you from doing the math. That would be since 1996.
21. I’m positive my niece is destined for greatest. I know everyone says this… but seriously she’s extra, extra special.
22. I love Post-its and have dozens of varieties at all times. The library won’t buy fun ones, so I bring in my own stash.
23. I wrote a middle-grade children’s book called The Mystery of the First Andora and am seeking an agent for it.
24. I used to wish I was left handed because one of my elementary school teachers once said lefties were more creative.
25. As a librarian, I’m very pro e-books and e-journals, but as an author, I’m so excited Maid of Murder will be released in hardback first.
26. I think technology is fun… when it works.
27. I rarely listen to music.
28. Even on the worst days of my life, I’ve found something to laugh about.
29. When I was kid I wanted to be a painter, so I made India a painter. Nothing like living vicariously through your characters.
30. I’m so grateful to you all for being so supportive about the release of my first book. It will be the first of many, I hope.