Archive: Winter 2005
About the FTC from the inside back cover: "Follow Juniper, Anne and Gena - the founding members of the Fortune Tellers Club as they use Tarot cards, crystal balls and other cool fortune telling tools to solve mysteries and save lives."
Books from the Fortune Tellers Club Series: The Lost Girl, Playing with Fire, The Magic Shades, Secrets of the Lost Arrow, Hand of Fate, Mirror, Mirror, The Burning Pendulum.
How did you initially come up with the idea of the Fortune Tellers Club series?
The series is based on my own childhood, and my two best friends, Pamela and Debbie. We spent hours and hours playing with the Ouija board and any other forms of divination we could comprehend. Our goal was to divine the future of course, wanting to know which movie star we’d marry or which romantic foreign country we’d travel to first. We didn’t solve any mysteries, but we probably would have had it occurred to us to try.
Which character do you feel is most in sync with who you were when you were around Juniper, Anne and Gena’s age? Please explain your choice.
They are all based on my 12-year-old self, but I relate best to Juniper. She’s the truly psychic member, yet the most down-to-earth.
In a recent issue of New Worlds you wrote about encountering obstacles with the divination theme of your books. What advice can you give to young people who are interested in working with divination (tarot, pendulum etc.) but are afraid of how others may react?
First and foremost, you need to keep in mind that it’s a free country. Do what you’re comfortable doing. It’s never an easy encounter when faced with someone who feels they must “save” you or the rest of the world from what you’re doing, but I find it’s always best to smile and politely make it clear that the conversation is over without any argument. People are people, put here for various reasons. An argument is only expressing that you think you’re right and someone else is wrong, and that’s stooping to the other person’s level.
In the Burning Pendulum (book seven in the Fortune Tellers Club series) you introduce the concept of book banning. Why is it important to bring up this subject matter with young readers?
Because we are all protected by the First Amendment. We live in a country that let’s us speak out. When it comes to books, only I can decide what’s best for me or my children. I have no right to make that decision for someone else. I expect the same respect from others. If we’re allowed to ban books, then what’s next?
Your bio mentions that you have two teenage daughters. Have you used them as inspiration for your characters? Do you ask for their input on your books?
Yes, they’re scattered throughout my books in mannerisms and dialogue. And no, I don’t ask their input too often, which makes it all the more fun when they recognize something they’ve done or said in one of the books and sarcastically yells, “Thanks a lot, Mom!” What can I say…I changed their diapers, cleaned up their puke, and listened to them cry for years. It’s payback time!
Do you have any tips or suggestions for aspiring writers?
READ! Read everything you possibly can in the genre in which you intend to write. Make connections with writers’ groups and associations. Read how-to books, and don’t hesitate to actually put something on paper. Practice makes perfect. But more than anything read what’s out there.
Can you offer some insight into book eight: The Ghost of Shady Lane? Which character will be the focus?
The Ghost of Shady Lane focuses on Anne. She’s decided to do her history report on the town’s legendary haunted house, AKA Boogerman’s House, and while snapping pictures of the dilapidated mansion, she captures a ghost on film. With the help of Juniper and Gena, Anne explores deeper, finding more than ghosts and goblins. She uncovers a one-hundred year old secret.
Visit the Fortune Tellers Club website for information on all the book in this great series!
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