About the Author of Hidden Secrets:

About the Author of 

Hidden Secrets:

  Leona Palmer Haag

 Writing Stuff:

• I've been a writer since grade school
• Back then there were no computers
• And no dictionaries
• Just kidding
• I stole the family dictionary, so for the rest of the household, that was basically true
• Have you ever met a kid who reads the dictionary for fun? Me neither, but I did it anyway
• No, I don't have a huge vocabulary
• When I met a thesaurus for the 1st time it was love at first sight
• Same with my husband
• My first typewriter was electric. It was a hand-me-down after my mom bought a word processor. Remember those? Me neither
• My first computer was intended to help my kids graduate from Jr. High
• I controlled it and its black screen with orange print
• They still graduated from Jr. High
• Paper threaded through the printer in one continuous sheet with perforations where you could separate them
• I've written more novels than I can count on my fingers, less than counting on my fingers and toes
• One was written after someone said something annoying in my presence
• Yes, say whatever you want around me. It might spur me on, but not with a FB post.
• I have 1 article published and 2 short stories published
• I still dream of "being published," despite being published

True or False: (you figure these out if you can)

• I never cuss in my novels
• I stay up all night writing
• I'm a fearless editor
• My husband loves it when he finds me at the computer
• My kids are starving to death
• My kids have learned to cook
• My kids eat out all the time
• Most days I need to stop writing and do something else
• I write only about what I currently know
• I research stuff
• I never research anything but preferred names for characters
• I've been to all the places my characters visit, and then some
• I drag my husband to places I want to write about
• I write on vacations, preferably poolside
• I eat chips and chocolate and drink Dr. Pepper while writing
• I write on the back of my hubby's motorcycle
• All of the above are true.
• Most of the above are true
• None of the above are true
• I have no clue what's truth, therefore, I write fiction
• You can always trust a writer to steal your funny lines
• And snatch your funny experiences
• And twist them around to make them better 
• And never give you credit
• But you will know, and you can brag

People to thank:

• My husband for being patient and nice while I write, edit and scheme
• My husband and his sister for sending a cake swimming in a sink
• My daughter for being sassy
• My Grands for acting their ages and helping me remember
• My friends for encouraging me to write
• My writing class for blasting the ever-living-daylights out of many chapters that really did need more work
• My writing class who praised and encouraged me
• A writing friend who confided she was laughed at in her writing group for her plot revolving around an insurance agent that made me so mad I decided to create an insurance agent character of my own 
• My Computer savvy son who saved the computer and my sanity many times
• My husband who has listened to every plot and contradicted a few, which improved things
• My niece who has smiled and listened, although bored, I'm sure
• My daughter-in-laws for graciously putting up with my books
• Everyone who has had to wait for me to finish writing before I'll fix dinner
• Everyone who has taught me how to write better
• Everyone who has helped me see and express things better
• Agents and publishers who sent polite rejections

Things to thank:

• My computer for not crashing at key moments
• Me, for not killing my computer when it crashed at other key moments
• Wal-Mart for having the cheapest printer paper and ink cartridges
• Spell check. Delete Key. Backspace key. 
• Word for inventing copy/past and highlight/delete

Personal stuff:

• I love pizza
• I have a science degree
• I love driving my car
• I love hyperbole 
• I'm addicted to flowers
• My favorite color is green
• Greatest Wish: I could catch every mistake before I posted or published and correct it

  * Answers to true and false--but not in this order:

• Always
• Never
• Sometimes
• Maybe
• Can't remember
• Won't tell
• Possibly
• Unsure
• Yes
• No
• Ummm 
• etc.

 ~~ Leona
Come back for more of my running and writing...