What was your inspiration for Anchored?
"When I anchored in cable news, certain days or moments struck me as perfect material for a movie or TV comedy. The behind-the-scenes stories in a newsroom are often more interesting than the stories we're covering."
Which events in Anchored are based on personal newsroom experiences?
How do you relate to the character Barbara?
"I wish I had Barbara's fire. She fights for what she wants even if her temper gets her into huge trouble. I definitely don't have her "ruthless" gene when it comes to business. We both worked in radio before television and we both have a strong moral compass, but the similarities end there. Plus, she's a red-head. I tried that once but couldn't pull it off."
Can you describe any challenges you faced transitioning from writing journalism to writing a novel?
"I can write in a noisy newsroom. Maybe that's why I was able to write the novel with hundreds of interruptions from my kids, the dog barking, and my 70s tunes playing. It was hard using adjectives, which is a news "no-no." But once I started up making stories, I had great fun and even cracked myself up on occasion. I hope readers have a good laugh!"
What advice do you have for aspiring reporters?
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