I am a woman born and raised in North Carolina who loves words, loves to write them down. I am a person trying to live by Christian values, values of love and compassion and mercy and care for the marginalized. I enjoy being outside, love my husband, haven't eaten meat in eight years, always find reasons to laugh, and can be a bit noisy.

Inspiration for FRIENDSHIP CAKE came from Mount Hope United Church of Christ where I served as the pastor for four years. It was during a time I experienced a true sense of community in the church and it fostered the notion of these friends finding themselves in the church putting together a cookbook.

Title came from a woman who wanted to give me the starter for the cake. I thought it had a lovely ring!

All of the plots emerge as I write. I never know what's going to happen when until I sit down to start writing. I didn't plan any of the plots, the wedding, the relationships, the deaths.

I've been writing novel-length pieces since 1988. I've always loved the act of writing, always kept a diary. But I didn't think about writing until I was in my twenties.

I wrote FRIENDSHIP CAKE in about four or five months.

FRIENDSHIP CAKE is a part of a trilogy. The second, GARDEN OF FAITH came out spring, 2002. The next book is due out spring, 2003. There's also MEDITATIONS FOR WALKING and THE THINGS I KNOW BEST.

I like quiet when I write and lots of space during the day so that I don't have to go anywhere!

The characters, like the plots, just appear. With FRIENDSHIP CAKE, it was if five noisy women showed up at my house. I had to ask them to introduce themselves one at a time while I tried to write down their stories.

Message of FRIENDSHIP CAKE: Love your friends and eat well!