The last great movie I saw was...
The Red Violin.

My idea of a dream vacation is...
sitting somewhere on a warm beach with a pad of paper and a big umbrella.

My desert-island book would be...
Ray Bradbury's Dandelion Wine.

My writing rituals include...
setting my Sirius to Chill if it's going to be a hard day, Octane if I'm writing dialogue.

When I'm not writing or reading I...
am usually puttering around in the dirt or haunting the home-improvement stores.

My favorite food is...
sushi, but I only eat it about once a month.

My least favorite food is...
liver. Need I say more? ;-)

The music I'm really into these days is...
Coldplay. They can do in three minutes what takes me 400 pages.

My favorite item of clothing is...
a pair of jeans I've had for more than a year, and a baggy sweater.

My greatest achievement so far is...
getting grass to grow in my front yard. Clay is good for growing things only if it's a pot.

If I couldn't be a writer, I would be...
a potter. I minored in this in school, and I love the feeling of grit under my palms.

My one wish would be...
that chocolate didn't have any fat calories in it and still tasted good.

My most embarrassing moment was...
telling my agent he was shorter than I remembered.

My best quality is...
being able to concentrate for long periods of time. But if you ask my family, they'd probably disagree.

My worst quality is...
ignoring things when I get to concentrating on something.

My greatest love is...
the freedom to do something different every day.

My favorite quote is...
"Non sum qualis eram," which loosely translates into "I am not who I was."

An author I'd love to lunch with is...
Ray Bradbury.

My favorite animal (or pet!) is...
Aleix and Xander.

The TV show that I can't live without is...
Doctor Who.

The artist(s) or musician(s) I draw inspiration from include...
Garbage (for Rachel); Evanescence (for Ivy); Sting (for things circling back); NIN (for anger at the system).

The song title that best describes me is...
"Magic Carpet Ride" by Steppenwolf. Not really me, but my life. Holy cow.

The fictional character I most admire is...
Dr. Who. (grin)

My favorite pair of shoes is...
a pair of boots that zip on both sides.

My first crush was...
a guy who's name started with a B. I can't remember more than that, but my best friend liked him, too.

My drink of choice is...
chai tea, made from a tea bag, not a syrup.

A perfect day would include...
a little writing, a little baking, a little dirt, and a little Guy.

I dream about...
everything but my characters.

My favorite sports team is...
not really a team, but an event. I watch the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show every year.

My favorite city is...
Cincinnati, Ohio! How can you not like a city once known for grave-robbing?

The place where I am the happiest is...
my home-in the dirt-with a trunk full of plants to put in the ground.

My Six-Word Memoirâ„¢ is...
Write like you have the contract.

The book I'm reading right now is...
Twice Told Tales by Nathaniel Hawthorne.

What is sexy to me is...
a nice set of shoulders. A tight butt in snug jeans isn't bad either.

My guilty pleasure is...
eBay.

I would cast these actors if my latest book was made into a movie...
Johnny Depp as Al. That guy can do anything!