I’d like to welcome my friend and author, Allison Brook, back to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday.

Favorite thing to do when you have free time: crossword or sudoku puzzle; read or listen to one of the books I'm reading or listening to.

The thing you’ll always move to the bottom of your to do list: straightening out the papers on my computer desk.

Things you need when you’re in your writing cave: my computer, of course; my notebook telling me what day I'm in in my WIP; my rough outline; my list of characters; Google.

Things that distract you from writing: the ping telling me I have a new email; a phone call.

Hardest thing about being a writer: Writing the first draft

Easiest thing about being a writer: Editing when the book is complete. Sharing a wonderful review on Facebook.

The coolest thing you’ve bought online: solar lights for my walkway

The thing you wished you’d never bought. A very large food processor with too many parts

Favorite snacks: nuts, chocolate bark with nuts, mussels, chocolate or pistachio ice cream

Things that make you want to gag: pretzels—too dry; tofu

Something you’re really good at: responding quickly to comments when I do an author takeover

Something you’re really bad at: settling down each day to write

Something you wanted to be when you were a kid: a ballerina or an author

Something you do that you never dreamed you’d do: write so many books

Something you wish you could do: ride a horse

Something you wish you’d never learned to do: promote each book that comes out. Of course I want to support my book and of course I'm glad I've learned how to do it. I only wish I didn't have to do this part of being an author.

Last best thing you ate: a great lobster roll.

Last thing you regret eating: a shrimp sandwich that was a big disappointment

Things to say to an author: I love your series. When is the next book coming out?

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: I have great idea for a book. Just don't have the time to write it.

Favorite places you’ve been: South of France, Machu Picchu, many villages and towns in England

Places you never want to go to again: Caribbean cruise

People you’d like to invite to dinner (living): some of my fellow writer friends who live far from me

People you’d cancel dinner on: some political figures I'm not fond of.

Most embarrassing moment: falling asleep and not participating in a friend's Facebook party. But I managed to get in a few minutes at the end.

Proudest moment: becoming a grandma—not that I had anything to do with it.

The craziest thing a reader said to you: I have a great idea for a book. Would you like to write it?

The most exciting thing about your writing life: a book being nominated for an Agatha; book being featured in Woman's World.

The one thing you wish you could do over in your writing life: I wish I could have avoided dealing with certain small presses.

About Allison:

I was a bookworm from the moment I learned how to read. I devoured Nancy Drews, Judy Boltons, and Trixie Beldons – sometimes two books in one day. Was it any wonder I ended up writing mysteries?

Growing up in Brooklyn, New York, I dreamed of becoming a ballerina or a writer. I practiced my pirouettes and penned short stories. My family moved to Long Island, where I continued to write stories until I was discouraged by a high school English teacher.

Turned off to writing, I continued to read voraciously in college and concentrated on my major, Spanish. I studied in Mexico and Spain, intent on becoming fluent in the language. I taught high school Spanish, married my dentist husband, and we started a family. When our two sons were small, I found myself drawn back to writing fiction.

A writer is a writer forever. We may have more than our share of disappointments, but the rewards are many – knowing you bring joy to readers; sharing the camaraderie and support of your fellow scribes. Writing is a way of life, one I wouldn’t relinquish for anything.

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