Barbara: What was your most memorable experience as a marine biologist and did this influence your writing or did the writing come first?
J.S.: Meeting the octopus made me fall in love with them. I studied them. When I began to write about dragons, an octopus appeared to save Arak. I didn't plan this. All my experiences find a way into my books. In some ways, these are my autobiographies.
Lisa: Do you enjoy that others read your books or do you miss just writing for yourself?
J.S.: I became accustomed to this being my private world. But I've met many marvelous people because the Dragon Dreamer books were published.
Lisa: When did you decide to write?
J.S.: Meeting the octopus made me fall in love with them. I studied them. When I began to write about dragons, an octopus appeared to save Arak. I didn't plan this. All my experiences find a way into my books. In some ways, these are my autobiographies.
Lisa: Do you enjoy that others read your books or do you miss just writing for yourself?
J.S.: I became accustomed to this being my private world. But I've met many marvelous people because the Dragon Dreamer books were published.
Lisa: When did you decide to write?
J.S.: I've written most of my life, but in different settings. I've published marine science papers and educational books with crystals to teach math and chemistry. I learned a new set of skills to write a novel: pacing, character development, story arc, etc. This is fascinating! It lets you use everything.
Nichole: Where did the idea come from for Scree and Arak?
J.S.: I don't really know. This story just grew in my head, from all I know and imagine. Once my characters arrived, they became real to me and I knew what they would do. Dragon Arak is a determined dreamer, which I understand. Octopus Scree loves the ocean and tries to do the right thing, which I think is important.
Nichole: Where did the idea come from for Scree and Arak?
J.S.: I don't really know. This story just grew in my head, from all I know and imagine. Once my characters arrived, they became real to me and I knew what they would do. Dragon Arak is a determined dreamer, which I understand. Octopus Scree loves the ocean and tries to do the right thing, which I think is important.
Donna: Where did the names of your characters come from?
J.S.: Octopus names are one syllable and sound like the sea. Dragon names are 2 syllables (male) or 3 syllables (female) and sound dragonny.
Connie: Do you do any kind of research on dragons before writing?
J.S.: I've studied all kinds of beings to learn what is possible; electric eels, birds who probably see magnetic lines, insects that communicate with chemicals through plants, how birds fly, how some insects can squirt stuff that burns. Then I put it all together to understand my dragons.
Katie: What's your favorite thing writing about your dragons?
J.S.: I'm fascinated by the science behind all the neat things they can do. In Dragon Lightning I delve into how they use and see energy.
Sandra: Why did you have your dragons make snowflakes? Are your dragons cold blooded?
J.S.: My dragons are warm-blooded and have a fast metabolism. That's why they eat fatty foods like nuts and fish, to have enough energy. They eat a lot before they go up into the clouds and grow fantasy flakes. Growing these flakes takes skill and develops their talents at manipulating micro-energy.
J.S.: Octopus names are one syllable and sound like the sea. Dragon names are 2 syllables (male) or 3 syllables (female) and sound dragonny.
Connie: Do you do any kind of research on dragons before writing?
J.S.: I've studied all kinds of beings to learn what is possible; electric eels, birds who probably see magnetic lines, insects that communicate with chemicals through plants, how birds fly, how some insects can squirt stuff that burns. Then I put it all together to understand my dragons.
Katie: What's your favorite thing writing about your dragons?
J.S.: I'm fascinated by the science behind all the neat things they can do. In Dragon Lightning I delve into how they use and see energy.
Sandra: Why did you have your dragons make snowflakes? Are your dragons cold blooded?
J.S.: My dragons are warm-blooded and have a fast metabolism. That's why they eat fatty foods like nuts and fish, to have enough energy. They eat a lot before they go up into the clouds and grow fantasy flakes. Growing these flakes takes skill and develops their talents at manipulating micro-energy.
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