Here's the thing about being a writer - we're kind of weird.

That may or may not come as a surprise to you.

A lot of us grew up either completely on the outside of society, or - like me - kind of in it but known as being... just a bit off. When I was younger I tried to massage my off-ness away, tried to be normal, tried to fit in. Thank God I failed.

I'm old enough now that I just don't care, and ironically now that I've won the "Published Author" ribbon, it's considered perfectly acceptable for me to just be a bit different. It never ceases to amuse me that people who have read my books but never met me in real life are amazed at how normal and well-adjusted I am (ahem - or just seem to be) when they meet me, whereas the people that know me casually in real life read my books and... are a little stunned. I can't tell you how often I've heard the phrase, "But you seem so normal."

That's because I've been practicing.

My true friends - a very small circle of people that know me very, very well - aren't shocked at all. They kind of expect it.