I’ve yet to post about my trip to this year’s RWA Conference in San Antonio. There were so many great experiences, and I promise to chronicle them all for you soon. One definite highlight was meeting many of the incredibly talented people behind Romance Weekly and being invited to join their ranks, at least on the blog hop. So here goes!

You probably landed here from Victoria Barbour‘s page. Welcome! This is my first week participating. Fiona Riplee posed this week’s questions, and they’re fab.

1. Does humor help or hinder you in your creative process?

Humor never hurts, that’s for sure. I’m a pantser (actually, a hybrid) and I’m known to let my characters chat away without restraint. My heroes and heroines are fond of witty banter, and love having inside jokes. Not all of it ends up on the page, but it does help me to define their personalities.

2. What is a favorite go-to book or movie you use to unblock a problem in your writing?

Hmm, I use more music and poetry to unblock my blocks than film. But if there is one movie that can jump start my writing, it’s Lost In Translation. I’m a big fan of unconventional love stories, and you can’t get much more unconventional than that one.

3. What’s the most inspiring book you’ve read this week or month that’s generated a new idea?

I haven’t had much time to read lately, but the last book I read that strengthened my resolve to write the stories that I want to write was Maybe Baby by Kim Golden. It walks the fine line between romance and women’s fiction, as does some of my work. Before I read it, I felt like an anomaly. It’s always nice to know that you aren’t alone in something.

Missed any of the blog hop? Check out Colette Cameron‘s answers to today’s questions and follow the RW road!