Favorite television show? So You Think You Can Dance

Chocolate or Vanilla? Vanilla

Cats or dogs? Cats

Favorite superhero? Rogue

Can you tell us about your book, Priscilla the Great?

Priscilla is a quirky 12 year old tomboy who is still in touch with her feminine side. One day she discovers that she can shoot fire out of her fingers along with a few other enhancements. She knows this isn’t normal so she and her genius best friend have to discover why she suddenly has these powers.

There are currently 6 books in the series. Do the books follow a storyline throughout the series or could they be read individually?

Books one through five definitely follow a storyline. There are also a few short stories that can be read out of order like Priscilla the Great Versus the World, Priscilla the Great Vampire Slayer, and Twin Shorts. I’ve also released a prequel to the series that is from the point of view of Marco. Book two of that series will be out shortly.

How did you come up with the series?

It’s a funny story actually. Priscilla the Great was originally going to be called The Adventures of PMS Girl about a girl who got superpowers along with her first period. I just thought it would be cool for your period to being you something besides cramps and cravings. But then a major publishing company sent me through three edits and convinced me to take out the whole period angle.

Why did you want to write a middle grade series?

I never thought I would write for middle grade. Let’s just say middle school was not the best time of my life. But the character of Priscilla just popped in my head and wouldn’t leave me alone until I wrote the story.

Can we assume you love superheroes?

Oh, definitely. I was obsessed with everything sci-fi when I was growing up. My favorite was XMen. I think my first crush might have been Gambit.

What has been the best compliment you’ve received about the series?

I used to think the best compliment was having Priscilla the Great called a cross between Percy Jackson and iCarly. But I have gotten a lot more heartfelt compliments since then. For example, this is part of a review for Vampire Slayer:

” For an author to get an 11-year old reader (who also has an interest in computergames, iPOD’s and online chatting with her friends) so engaged is an achievement in itself. It is because of books like these that we can instill a love for reading in our children and I commend the author for this.”

Two of your students inspired you to write about Priscilla. How on earth did they make you think of a 12-year-old girl who could shoot fire from her hands?

They inspired her personality and her look. Helen would come in to class every day with some ridiculous story about something that happened to her. One of her stories about armpits became the basis for Vampire Slayer. It’s pretty funny.

What’s next for you? Is there more in store for Priscilla and friends or will you be moving on to a different project?

I’m currently working on the next saga in the Priscilla the Great series. It’s an episodic adventure called The Alien Chronicles.

Is there anything you would like to say to your fans?

Just that I have the best fans in the world and I love them all!

Character Interview

Priscilla

Priscilla, how are you warming up to your new found powers?

I’m pretty much getting used to all of them, except the hearing thing. The super strength comes in handy when I have to defend myself against my evil little brothers. And the shooting fire out of my fingers, well, let’s face it, that’s just pretty awesome. But the super hearing can be downright annoying when you’re trying to sleep and all you hear is your older brother humming Christina Aguilera songs in the next room.

Is it difficult to have friends when you have to hide such major secrets from them? Totally! I really can’t tell anyone, well, except Tai. But she’s more of a sister than a friend. I think if any of my other friends in River’s Bend knew what I could do they’d make me join the circus. And not the cool circus with elephants and acrobats. One of those scary freak show circuses with bearded chipmunks and broken ride operators with one eye.

How has your relationship changed with your mother? I have definitely started to understand her more. I understand that she went away so much because she was saving lives. I actually kind of look up to her. Now if I could just do something about her pitiful fashion sense our relationship would be perfect!

What about with your brother, Josh? Okay, don’t tell anyone, but I happen to think my older brother Josh is kind of amazing. I always have. He’s so thoughtful and responsible and caring. He’s the best brother in the world. But if you tell him that I will totally deny it. Anyway, while I’ve always thought that about him, I would never dare show it. Going through this whole super powered mutant thing with him has made us a lot closer, though. In fact, lately, I might even be caught giving him a hug…in public!

I’m sorry you had to leave your school and move away to the middle of nowhere. How are you adjusting to that? Okay, I might be able to handle the moving away thing a bit better if I could at least have a Facebook page and keep up with my friends back in the Bend. But, no, Dad thinks it’s too dangerous. So let’s just say I am a super bored super hero at the moment.

Marco is the only thing keeping sane while I’m banished to Misery, I mean, Missouri. Since he’s my age, he’s the only one I really hang out with anymore. But Kyle has been my bud since we were two. There’s no way Marco could ever get in the way of that…could he?

What has it been like being surrounded by other kids who have powers? Oh, it is crazy. You try playing Capture the Flag when your competition can read minds and fly. It’s like I have to create a whole new set of games to play where our powers don’t give us an advantage. That pretty much limits us to like Guitar Hero. Now if I can just figure out how to keep from melting that little plastic guitar every time I go into the solo from “Sweet Child of Mine” by Guns and Roses.

If you could have any other power what would you choose? I hate to admit that I admire anything about Specimen Xi, but her ability to heal is pretty stinkin awesome. I’d love to be able to kick some bad guy butt and never have a scratch on me.

Oh, oh, that is such a great question! How about Fire Girl, no, no, Fire Woman like that song from the Cult. Or, the Red Warrior. Or Darth Priss, though that kind of makes me sound like a villain. I guess Jedi Priss could work. Or Dancing Queen. Yeah, I know that has nothing to do with fighting bad guys, but have you seen me dance? I really should add dancing to my list of powers cause I am dancing machine!