About Janice
The Short Version:
I’m a voracious reader, which used to get me into a lot of trouble in
school. Eventually, I figured out writing stories in class made it look
like I was doing actual work, so my teachers left me alone. Since
then, writing has worked out way better than algebra ever did. I now
write young adult fiction and no one ever tells me to cut it out and
pay attention anymore. For my debut fantasy novel, The Shifter, I
tapped into my dark side to create a world where healing was
dangerous, and those with the best intentions often made the worst
choices. I live in Georgia with my husband, four cats and one
nervous freshwater eel.
I’m a voracious reader, which used to get me into a lot of trouble in
school. Eventually, I figured out writing stories in class made it look
like I was doing actual work, so my teachers left me alone. Since
then, writing has worked out way better than algebra ever did. I now
write young adult fiction and no one ever tells me to cut it out and
pay attention anymore. For my debut fantasy novel, The Shifter, I
tapped into my dark side to create a world where healing was
dangerous, and those with the best intentions often made the worst
choices. I live in Georgia with my husband, four cats and one
nervous freshwater eel.
The high school experience was normal for me. I did summer and
weekend jobs working at a local ranch as a trail guide, and raised
and trained my own horse. I once tore multiple ligaments in my left
ankle training for a rodeo. Believe it or not, I hit a bridge. On
horseback. (Don’t ask). Florida wasn’t a bad place to grow up in,
and I spent a lot of days sitting on picnic tables at the beach by the
volleyball and basketball courts. I don’t play either sport, but that’s
where all the cute guys hung out.
After high school I went off to college (go Gators) to study
architecture. I debated majoring in creative writing, but figured I’d
starve a lot faster as a writer than an artist. After a few years, I
found I really didn’t like architecture enough to do it forever, and
didn’t have the skills—or the confidence—needed to design a
building that wouldn’t fall down on top of people. I switched to art
school and got my degree in graphic design.
weekend jobs working at a local ranch as a trail guide, and raised
and trained my own horse. I once tore multiple ligaments in my left
ankle training for a rodeo. Believe it or not, I hit a bridge. On
horseback. (Don’t ask). Florida wasn’t a bad place to grow up in,
and I spent a lot of days sitting on picnic tables at the beach by the
volleyball and basketball courts. I don’t play either sport, but that’s
where all the cute guys hung out.
After high school I went off to college (go Gators) to study
architecture. I debated majoring in creative writing, but figured I’d
starve a lot faster as a writer than an artist. After a few years, I
found I really didn’t like architecture enough to do it forever, and
didn’t have the skills—or the confidence—needed to design a
building that wouldn’t fall down on top of people. I switched to art
school and got my degree in graphic design.
My life was pretty typical after that.
School was fun when the subject
interested me, less so when it didn’t. I
had an English teacher (shout out to
Ms. Hagy) who introduced me to the
works of Harlan Ellison, and he’s been
my favorite author ever since. I got into
trouble quite often for reading in class,
but it was a good kind of trouble.
Teachers aren’t so hard on you when
you’re reading, but you still wind up in
detention if you do it enough. At least
there you can read and no one bothers
you. I started writing my first novels in
middle school, and most involved
horses of some kind. (I was terribly
influenced by Walter Farely’s Black
Stallion series.) There was also a strong
comedic love story plots, influenced by
Paula Danzinger.
School was fun when the subject
interested me, less so when it didn’t. I
had an English teacher (shout out to
Ms. Hagy) who introduced me to the
works of Harlan Ellison, and he’s been
my favorite author ever since. I got into
trouble quite often for reading in class,
but it was a good kind of trouble.
Teachers aren’t so hard on you when
you’re reading, but you still wind up in
detention if you do it enough. At least
there you can read and no one bothers
you. I started writing my first novels in
middle school, and most involved
horses of some kind. (I was terribly
influenced by Walter Farely’s Black
Stallion series.) There was also a strong
comedic love story plots, influenced by
Paula Danzinger.
The Long Version:
I was born in Pennsylvania, but since I was only ten days old when
we moved, I don’t think it really counts. At that time, I was the
youngest person to ever fly on Eastern Airlines and I needed special
permission to do so. We moved around a bit my first two years, but
I eventually wound up in South Florida, where I celebrated by
toddling right through the living room, out the back door, and fell
headfirst into the pool. My sister yanked me out by my feet and
saved me from a watery death. (I’m told I was still chewing my
gum.) As revenge, I threw all the shoes in the house into the pool
and we had to go to dinner that night at the neighbor's in bare feet.
I was born in Pennsylvania, but since I was only ten days old when
we moved, I don’t think it really counts. At that time, I was the
youngest person to ever fly on Eastern Airlines and I needed special
permission to do so. We moved around a bit my first two years, but
I eventually wound up in South Florida, where I celebrated by
toddling right through the living room, out the back door, and fell
headfirst into the pool. My sister yanked me out by my feet and
saved me from a watery death. (I’m told I was still chewing my
gum.) As revenge, I threw all the shoes in the house into the pool
and we had to go to dinner that night at the neighbor's in bare feet.
| Author Photos: Karen Nickle Photography |
I got my first professional job in publishing (magazines, not books)
and did fairly well for myself as a magazine designer. Won a few
awards and everything. To counteract my boring bookworm nature, I
got my PADI SCUBA certification as a Rescue Diver.
and did fairly well for myself as a magazine designer. Won a few
awards and everything. To counteract my boring bookworm nature, I
got my PADI SCUBA certification as a Rescue Diver.
Since then, we travel when we can, enjoying out of the way places
where we can read and explore, but we’re pretty much a pair of
happy homebodies. He’s my best friend, which works out really well
in the marriage department. We’re both big geeks and own most
console platforms out there. Don’t even get me started on
Civilization or The Sims. You could lose me for days.
On the family front, I have an older brother and sister, and four
nieces (one’s brand new, way to go Kim!). I’ve tried to spoil them
mercilessly, but I don’t think I’ve done as good a job as I’d planned.
Of course, I was also guilty of filling them full of candy and Yoohoo
when I babysat, so it might balance out in the end.
And that’s about it. All the super exciting stuff came once I got an
agent and sold my book, but that’s another story.
where we can read and explore, but we’re pretty much a pair of
happy homebodies. He’s my best friend, which works out really well
in the marriage department. We’re both big geeks and own most
console platforms out there. Don’t even get me started on
Civilization or The Sims. You could lose me for days.
On the family front, I have an older brother and sister, and four
nieces (one’s brand new, way to go Kim!). I’ve tried to spoil them
mercilessly, but I don’t think I’ve done as good a job as I’d planned.
Of course, I was also guilty of filling them full of candy and Yoohoo
when I babysat, so it might balance out in the end.
And that’s about it. All the super exciting stuff came once I got an
agent and sold my book, but that’s another story.
This was a good move for me,
as it put me on the boat
where I met my husband, a
fellow diver and seriously cool
and fun guy. Jumping off a
boat led to jumping out of
airplanes, and we tried sky
diving with great success.
(Evidenced by the fact that
both of us are still alive).
as it put me on the boat
where I met my husband, a
fellow diver and seriously cool
and fun guy. Jumping off a
boat led to jumping out of
airplanes, and we tried sky
diving with great success.
(Evidenced by the fact that
both of us are still alive).
| Photo credit: Nemo |
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