“Want to see Strangers*?” my husband Keith asked me during a lazy summer evening.

“Are you kidding? Have you seen the ads on TV? It would completely freak me out,” I said, amazed he’d even suggest it. Horror books and movies have always seemed too real to me, making it difficult for me to sit through them.

He smirked. “That would be part of the fun—watching your reaction.”

Needless to say, we didn’t see the movie that night, nor any other night. But here’s the ironic part—it’s exactly the kind of story that fascinates me. And, in a sense, it’s the type of story I try to duplicate in my writing—a hero in a rural location using his wits and resources to battle unknown creatures, usually with fantastical characteristics, like in The Curse of Blackhawk Bay.

My stories also reflect where I live—the mountains of central Idaho and the lakes and forests of northern Michigan—and my interests—kayaking, hiking, skiing, and mountain biking.

Those interests led Keith and me to quit our jobs and travel for two years in a recreational vehicle. During that time, we explored the continental U.S. and experienced many adventures, like kayak-camping on remote islands and discovering rugged mountain-bike trails. The two-year sojourn culminated with the publication of Mountain Biking Michigan.

Since retiring from my position as an online editor for the global information provider, Lone Buffalo, I can be found enjoying the outdoors on foot, bicycle, kayak, or skis, depending on the season, or with my face stuck in a book, as well as occasionally putting pen to paper.

*Masked strangers attack a couple staying in a remote location in this 2008 flick starring Liv Tyler.