Hi Lisa,
I'm going to go out and get A Long, Long Way today. Thanks for the recommendation! I could use a great book to get me going. Take care and keep those fingers typing.
-Rae

Hi Rae, thanks for answering my earlier question. One more.... I've read the Q&A with you and your mother, she sounds like a really neat person. I know it's difficult to imagine, but do you think you would still have ended up a writer, even if you're mother had not been so supportive?

Hi Julie,
My mom is wonderful--thanks for reading that interview. She was/is really supportive, but I think it took a mini-crisis in my twenties to push me to try writing in the first place. I took a class and met an incredible teacher, and from there participated in some of his workshops which then led to an MFA program. I really think it was this teacher--still a good friend--who made me believe it was a possible path for me. Certainly knowing my mom would support me in whatever I chose was helpful, but I think I would have ended up as a writer anyway. (My dad was not in favor of my choice to leave a career path!) I feel very fortunate that I have been able to publish books and have my mom as my cheerleader.