Q. "Where did the idea for Virginia Creeper come from?"

W. "I have wanted to use that as a title for years. Virginia Creeper is actually something like one of my older books, but I decided to just let it go where it wanted to."

Q. "Why human trafficking?"

W. "This is something that is rampant worldwide. It's one of the most terrifying possibilities for any person. To wake up in a strange country with no money and no one to help you. That has to be one of the most horrible fates imaginable."

"Also, there are many areas in the Appalachian Mountains that simply aren't inhabited. Many times, it seems the last people to really go through were the explorers heading west, if they came through the area at all. What better place to hide such a group?"

Q. "What's with 'Cabin Fever?' Are you a gamer?"

W. "I'm a closet gamer when no one's looking. My favorites are the 'Silent Hill' (Red Pyramid!), 'Wolfenstein,' and 'Resident Evil' series. Actually, there are a number of them, but those seem to be the most popular. If you are ever in the rural areas of the Appalachian Mountains during a bad snow, you'll also know much about cabin fever.

"There's a lot of attention today towards violence and realism in games considered offensive. I thought a good basis for a group so technologically advanced would be the internet and what better mask than a video game?"

Q. "Was there any reason for using three spirits to haunt Karen?"

W. "That was just a part of the story. I liked all of them and couldn't see the story without them. They all were very different so there was no worry of confusing them."

Q. "Do you have a single message you hope readers get from the book?"

W. "I think people are far stronger than they ever believe. Karen faced much, but she was able to cope. Everyone is like that. Albert Einstein said if we did what we were truly capable of, we would amaze ourselves."

Q. "Are you a feminist?"

W. "If so, I'm a sorry one. I consider myself a realist. I believe in equality. Period. No gender or race is superior to another and most women feel that way. So often it seems, if you use a female heroine, that's supposed to somehow lessen the plot or alienate men. It's funny in ways. There are just as many women in the world as men, but there's such an assumption that you aren't supposed to write with them outside of a certain genre. It's amazing how many are eager to jump to this conclusion, even though you just want to portray reality. Both genders are strong and weak in very different ways."

Q. "Where is Roan Mountain? Is it really a park?"

W. "It certainly is. Roan Mountain is in Northeastern Tennessee. It is a beautiful mountain and has some wonderful gardens."