My experiences always influence my writing, but usually only on an emotional level. I have experienced death of a family member and it's easy to dredge up those feelings and get them on the page.

Dialogue saves me. I love writing the conversations between my paper people. For some reason, that is the easiest thing for me. It's like I am a transcriptionist for the voices in my head. I can hear them talking (mentally) and have a gift for getting it on the page.

There are days when I don't want to go to the gym or find myself not super motivated upon arriving. I would visualize myself playing at the Olympics.

Setting can be something that is a major player in a scene, something that makes the mood leap from the page. But if an author doesn't handle it right, it falls flat or seems overdone. It is a challenge getting it "just right".

I think I have always wanted to tell stories. My mother was the real catalyst. I kept talking about it and so she pulled out a story I wrote (and illustrated) back in elementary school. She used that as proof that I should be writing and had been doing so unconsciously for years.

I hope that in 5 years from now I'll be working and doing what makes me happy. Whatever that may be.

The best part of being a pro is being able to travel around the world. I have met so many incredible people and experienced different cultures all through sport.