How did you choose what to write for the Block Party Summer Edition? 

When Kelly Anne invited me to join the Block Party, she mentioned that she was interested in hearing more about me winning the R. L. Stine "Fill In the Fear" contest, in which I got to collaborate on a short story with Mr. Stine. This made me think about the significance of being involved in Wattpad contests in general; I have both hosted and judged contests as well as taking part in them as a competitor. I decided to write about the overall contest experience and am hoping to encourage more writers to participate however they can. 

Wow- that's absolutely inspiring! So I take it that's your favorite thing about Wattpad? Tell us more. 

Being able to interact with readers has been fantastic! Each day I feel encouraged by their thoughtful comments and am reminded of how grateful I am to be a part of the Wattpad community. At the same time, the connections I've made with other authors has been equally beneficial. I've developed incredible friendships with some amazing people. I couldn't ask for more! 

And you've been rubbing elbows with authors for years as a librarian, I assume. How has that experience helped your writing? 

The fact that I'm a librarian is the reason I write. Being a librarian exposed me to everything from picture books to middle grade and young adult literature. After years of reading, I decided I wanted to do what those writers were doing. I liked YA a lot, so that's what I wrote. Being a librarian gives me a pretty good handle on what appeals to young adults, though I'm learning a whole lot more about that through Wattpad! 

Tell us about your 'lightbulb' moments; those that spark an idea. Where do they come from? 

Every story I've written has been pulled out of my brain for often what seems like very random and unexplainable reasons. Bearing that in mind, I'll choose one that has a non-random reason: UNSEEN was written after my husband had a dream featuring what he called "breathless ones." I liked the idea of a character that existed without breathing (and wasn't a ghost or vampire). My story stemmed from there. His dream was a nightmare; his breathless ones were rather ominous. My character is lonely but sweet, so really, I only used his dream as a jumping off point. Still, if he hadn't had that nightmare and then shared it with me, UNSEEN and its sequels would never have been written. 

Who are your favorite authors? 

Margaret Atwood, China Mieville, Ursula K. Le Guin, Julianna Baggott, Gail Carriger, Scott Westerfeld, Charles Dickens, Elizabeth Gaskell, Jane Austin, just to name a few! 

Margaret Atwood is on Wattpad, you know. Maybe she'll have a contest coming up too! OK. Time for my desert island question! You can take only 3 books. What are they, and why? 

I should probably take a book like "How to Survive on a Desert Island" but where's the fun in that? 

HA! You're hilarious! 

Let's try these instead: Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale. This is a classic bit of Feminist Dystopian literature. I might feel better about being stranded on an island away from civilization after reading it. China Mieville's Perdido Street Station. Weird fiction at its best, Mieville is a total master of his craft. This is a creative tour de force. I won't easily get bored with this one, no matter how many times I read it! Charles Dickens' Bleak House. Another story which requires a lot of time, which I'm guessing I'll have plenty of. This is kind of a depressing trio, but...yeah, I'm still going to go with them! 

Depressing, maybe, but  dry contemplative, and worthy of filling your time. What advice do you have for aspiring authors? 

 Be patient, especially with yourself. Writing is a craft and a craft takes time to master. Not only that, but it is something you are exploring, improving upon, and learning new things about for the rest of your life. The best thing you can do is keep going, keep writing. If you become discouraged at some point, that's okay. We've all been there! Don't let it stop you. 

When and where do you find the time to write? 

I write whenever I can, wherever I can. I have a tablet/laptop combo that I take with me everywhere I go. I work full time as a librarian and I have an eight year-old so I don't often get solid chunks of uninterrupted writing time. I write on my lunch breaks, in the evenings if I have the energy, and most often, on the weekends. 

How did you discover Wattpad? 

Believe it or not, I'd never heard of Wattpad before March of 2014. Two friends who knew I wrote mentioned it to me, thinking I might be interested. I joined at the end of that month and haven't looked back since! 

Please finish this sentence: When I'm not writing I'm:

 ...In my garden or hiking in the mountains. 

 And this one too: In an alternate universe, I'm:

 reading while relaxing on a tropical beach without a care in the world. 

 And hopefully not on an uncharged desert island, huh? :) But seriously, what can we expect from you after the Block Party? 

 I'm releasing a new story on Wattpad this summer and am really excited to share that with everyone. It's got adventure, conspiracies, a gigantic ravenous desert taking over the world, and more than a little romance. It should be a fun ride!  

All great info, Amber! I know I appreciate it, and so do all of your fans. Thanks for your time!