Writers Like Us - Janet Gurtler

I'm thrilled to have Janet Gurtler on the blog today and be a part of the HOW I LOST YOU blog tour. Janet wrote an amazing contemporary about how best friends stick together and how sometimes they break apart. I really liked HOW I LOST YOU and thought it was awesome to see girl paintballers featured.

Her answers are below in bold. Let us know what makes Janet like you in the comments.

Janet on Writing

• I've written 12 books, and 6 have seen the light of day.

• My favorite type of scene to write is the really emotional sad parts of a story.

• No matter how long I've been writing, I still have issues with repetition of my favorite words or using “just”. Thank goodness for revisions. And editors. And crit partners.

• A typical comment from my critique partner is this character isn’t acting very likeable.

• The book I wished I wrote is Are You There God, It’s Me, Margaret.

Janet on Getting Published

• If my editor really knew how damaged I was, she would find out that I write what I write for a reason.

• When I was querying, I felt impatient.

• The biggest mistake I ever made querying was sending work before it was ready to be sent.

• The craziest thought I've ever had while being published is WHY DO I DO THIS TO MYSELF?

• When I got "The Call," my first thought was SUH-WEET.

• When I saw my book sale in Publishers Marketplace, I did a little dance and song around the living room.

Janet on Life Outside Writing

• If I weren't a writer, I'd probably be a Sales Rep, which I have been on and off for many years.

• Secretly, I'm terrified of good-looking men (used to be good-looking boys but I got old).

• My secret boyfriend is Robert Downey Jr.

• Sometimes, when no one is around, I sing at the top of my lungs.

RITA ® Finalist Janet Gurtler lives in Calgary Alberta, near the Canadian Rockies, with her husband and son and a chubby Chihuahua named Bruce. She does not live in an Igloo or play hockey, but she does love maple syrup and says "eh" a lot.