1. What were all of the reasons that led you to choose a hybrid car to buy? What research did you do?

Before we bought a car, we used City Car Share in SF, and at the time they had a few Civic hybrids in their fleet. We drove those around sometimes and they seemed pretty easy. Also SF has the highest gas prices in the US, which is why that city became the number one hybrid car city in the country as well. I compared the Prius with the Civic and the Prius seemed like the better car, especially after it won one of those “Automobile of the Year” awards in 2004. Toyota is known for making good, reliable cars, and I liked the design of the Prius. After the test-drive, we were sold. We buy gas about once every four to six weeks.

2. What is your favorite type of tea?

Green tea, esp from Mighty Leaf. Second would be English Breakfast tea with a splash of milk, or peppermint tea, or chai. Actually those are really the only teas I like at all. I dislike anything with fruit or flowers in it. Ew.

3. Who, in your opinion, is the most overrated, overhyped, least-deserving author to see recent success?

I don’t know if I can really answer this one since I don’t really follow the “literary” “scene.” I do hate it when I read a book that has glowing accolades on the back cover, only to read it and be underwhelmed or annoyed. This happens whenever I find myself reading Chick Lit ™.

4. What is one thing that you learned about doing a big, multi-state move?

Plan way in advance, get started with packing three or four weeks ahead of time. One thing I wish we had done was do all the throwing away and selling of items months ahead of time instead of weeks. Like having a garage sale in the spring and cleaning out junk in the kitchen etc. Stuff that could have been done any time. Also: hire a good moving company and don’t cheap out on it. If you hire the cheapest movers, they are probably also the shadiest. We used Atlas. It also helps to have a house waiting for you to move into, rent free, and be able to take your SF income with you to the new state. But I realize not everyone can do that.

5. How do you keep yourself motivated with writing/editing? This is serious, as I need the help. How do you get up the ability to sit and just do it? Caffeine? Alcohol?

Ha ha alcohol. No, that would just make me sleep. But who knows, maybe I should try it! My motivation I think comes in different forms. 1) I am confident about my story and believe in it, even when I don’t always believe in my ability to tell it properly. 2) When I am having down time and not writing, I have faith that eventually it will pass and I will be able to get going again; it always does. 3) Even when I am not writing, I think about the story and often come up with ideas during the oddest times and places, like while grocery shopping or washing dishes. I don’t really get a lot of “ideas” while physically typing, it mostly takes place away from my computer. 4) I think about how exciting it will be to finish a novel, and how I have wanted to do that since I was about 15 years old. I keep my goals realistic — right now my only goal is to finish it and be pleased with it, and to have it in the condition where my friends can read it and hopefully like it. I hope this helps?