In the evenings, I shake off the structure of writing for work and have fun exploring the creative fiction world.

Not too long ago, the Illinois Author Project invited me to talk about my background and writing process. I wanted to share a little about how I got started as a writer, why I can't go without an outline, and why I'm a fan of NaNoWriMo.

"It’s been a lifelong dream to be an author."

My love of writing started with a love of reading. As the daughter of a l...