1. It’s Halloween, pick 3 of your favorite writers to paint the town red with and tell us why you chose them.
Teresa says: Victoria Laurie, because she’d be able to pinpoint the houses with the best candy; Stephen King, because he could tell the best scary stories; and J.M. Barrie, because he might have some extra pixie dust lying around, and who wouldn’t want to fly around on Halloween?
2. You’re ready to head out with your pillowcase to collect loads of confections on All Hallows’ Eve, what’s your costume and why did you choose it?
2. You’re ready to head out with your pillowcase to collect loads of confections on All Hallows’ Eve, what’s your costume and why did you choose it?
Teresa says: What little girl didn’t want to be Wonder Woman growing up (I had to be a princess; Mom couldn’t make a Wonder Woman costume…or wouldn’t)? Everyone always chooses to dress up as scary things, but she stands for all the things that are good, and sometimes, people need to have a little hope in this crazy world of ours, even if it’s just make believe.
3. Old Mrs. Robinson opens her door and you’re holding open your pillowcase patiently waiting. “Oh deary,” she says in her frail, little old-lady voice. “I forgot it was Halloween. Don’t know why you kids go begging anyways. Let me go find something to give you.” She shuffles off and finally returns three and a half minutes later with 5 pennies, 2 peppermint candies that look like they went through the dryer, and her deceased husbands dentures. “Take what you like,” she offers, squinting at you.
What do you choose and why.
3. Old Mrs. Robinson opens her door and you’re holding open your pillowcase patiently waiting. “Oh deary,” she says in her frail, little old-lady voice. “I forgot it was Halloween. Don’t know why you kids go begging anyways. Let me go find something to give you.” She shuffles off and finally returns three and a half minutes later with 5 pennies, 2 peppermint candies that look like they went through the dryer, and her deceased husbands dentures. “Take what you like,” she offers, squinting at you.
What do you choose and why.
Teresa says: I’m not sure I would take any of them. She might look like a frail, old lady, but you could really be an evil witch in disguise. She could have coated the pennies with poison; those peppermint candies could have been made out of mothballs; and the dentures, well, they’re just gross. For all you know, she slowly poisoned her husband with arsenic, which could still be on the dentures. All valid points!
4. I really love reading Dean Koontz but some of his stuff scares the bejesus out of me. What’s the spookiest book you’ve ever read?
4. I really love reading Dean Koontz but some of his stuff scares the bejesus out of me. What’s the spookiest book you’ve ever read?
Teresa says: Stephen King’s It. I’ve also seen the mini-series based on the book, and Tim Curry as Pennywise still scares the crap out of me!
5. You’re a writer by day and supernatural creature by night. (Shed that human skin you sack of bones) What are you and why?
Teresa says: Wow, this one is really hard! There are so many possibilities! I mean, who wouldn’t want to be a succubus (making love to a different gorgeous man every night), or an Amazon like Wonder Woman, kicking some serious butt? But I’m the type of person that likes to help other people, so I would probably choose a fairy, so that I could do nice things at night for the people I have witnessed doing good things for others during the day.
6. Every author has a bookshelf filled with his or her favorite reads. Run on over to yours and tell us the scariest book you have.
5. You’re a writer by day and supernatural creature by night. (Shed that human skin you sack of bones) What are you and why?
Teresa says: Wow, this one is really hard! There are so many possibilities! I mean, who wouldn’t want to be a succubus (making love to a different gorgeous man every night), or an Amazon like Wonder Woman, kicking some serious butt? But I’m the type of person that likes to help other people, so I would probably choose a fairy, so that I could do nice things at night for the people I have witnessed doing good things for others during the day.
6. Every author has a bookshelf filled with his or her favorite reads. Run on over to yours and tell us the scariest book you have.
Teresa says: Again, Stephen King’s It!
7. We don’t all write horror but there comes a time when you’ve got to surprise your readers and make sure their hearts are still beating. How do you prepare yourself to get in the spooky writing mood?
7. We don’t all write horror but there comes a time when you’ve got to surprise your readers and make sure their hearts are still beating. How do you prepare yourself to get in the spooky writing mood?
Teresa says: I’m always trying to throw in little twists and surprises in the stories that I write. I think of what might upset them the most (i.e. killing off their favorite character, or upsetting the relationship between two of the characters), then I write it. I know I’ve done the right thing if my beta readers send me messages saying, “Are you out of your mind?!!!! How could you?” If they do that, then it stays in the story.
8. Stephen King’s front porch light is on but there are no Halloween decorations.
Do you:
a) trick-or-treat and cross your fingers that he’s handing out the good stuff
b) run screaming
c) call your mom to bring your favorite King paperback and beg for an autograph
Teresa says: In order, c, a, b…but, since this is Stephen King’s house, I’m pretty sure b may be the only thing that happens!
9. Congratulations, you just won the literary lottery and sold a million books at full price! The royalty check clears on October 28th. What are you buying for the neighborhood kids?
a) an assortment of mini candybars
b) an assortment of cheap, hard candies
c) full size Hershey bars
8. Stephen King’s front porch light is on but there are no Halloween decorations.
Do you:
a) trick-or-treat and cross your fingers that he’s handing out the good stuff
b) run screaming
c) call your mom to bring your favorite King paperback and beg for an autograph
Teresa says: In order, c, a, b…but, since this is Stephen King’s house, I’m pretty sure b may be the only thing that happens!
9. Congratulations, you just won the literary lottery and sold a million books at full price! The royalty check clears on October 28th. What are you buying for the neighborhood kids?
a) an assortment of mini candybars
b) an assortment of cheap, hard candies
c) full size Hershey bars
Teresa says: C, because I remember what it was like to be a kid and seeing all those mini-bars in the bottom of the bag. Besides, I don’t have to worry about dealing with the kids coming off the sugar high!
10. Your writer friend calls you with some frightening news. They’re giving up on writing, can’t take the pressure any longer. What do you tell them?
10. Your writer friend calls you with some frightening news. They’re giving up on writing, can’t take the pressure any longer. What do you tell them?
Teresa says: I have had someone tell me that. I told my dad the same thing once, and this is what he told me: “Keep writing! You’re writing to tell the stories that you want to tell, and there are people who want to read them. You’ve heard from them; they’ve told you this. As long as you are happy with the stories that you write, that’s what is important. Don’t give up what you’re passionate about. Find a way to do it better, and keep doing it. I’m proud of what you’ve accomplished. Keep it up!”
The first story I wrote was on the back of old homework papers in the fifth grade. I'm a voracious reader, so it makes sense that I grew up to be a writer. My favorite genre is mysteries. I always knew who did it on "Murder, She Wrote" fifteen minutes into the show!
I try to incorporate humor into my stories because of my wicked sense of humor. Laughter is the best medicine in the world! Throw in a good mystery and you've got the makings for a very enjoyable experience!
The reason there is more conversation in my stories than description is because I want the reader to feel like they are a part of the story. I want you to feel like you are sitting in the room, right there, listening to it as it happens. My mother, who is also a mystery lover, is the main reason I write my stories the way I do: with no graphic violence, no overly descriptive love scenes. Just a good old fashioned mystery with as much humor as possible.
If this is what you are looking for, you've come to the right place! Give my stories a try. I promise you won't be disappointed!
Connect with Teresa!
The first story I wrote was on the back of old homework papers in the fifth grade. I'm a voracious reader, so it makes sense that I grew up to be a writer. My favorite genre is mysteries. I always knew who did it on "Murder, She Wrote" fifteen minutes into the show!
I try to incorporate humor into my stories because of my wicked sense of humor. Laughter is the best medicine in the world! Throw in a good mystery and you've got the makings for a very enjoyable experience!
The reason there is more conversation in my stories than description is because I want the reader to feel like they are a part of the story. I want you to feel like you are sitting in the room, right there, listening to it as it happens. My mother, who is also a mystery lover, is the main reason I write my stories the way I do: with no graphic violence, no overly descriptive love scenes. Just a good old fashioned mystery with as much humor as possible.
If this is what you are looking for, you've come to the right place! Give my stories a try. I promise you won't be disappointed!
