Pretty much anyone who grew up in the 60s and 70s in Oklahoma, but really, anywhere in the Southwest. Or even beyond. If horny toads and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches were a part of your childhood, these books are for you! I’ve actually had great comments from readers all over the USA!

I sort of answered that in the first book’s intro. In short, I blame journalism! I always wanted to be the next Joseph Heller, but my training was in journalism, and my first half dozen jobs were as a reporter or editor. I write fast and short. And I have a REALLY short attention span. The Memoir style suits my writing style.      

Ha, well, I have sort of a ‘videographic’ memory. I can actually see them in my head while I’m writing. Let’s just say I’m 100% certain that what I’ve written is way more accurate than what you read in the mainstream media! And bending the truth for a laugh is a time-honoured tradition in the writing craft.

Boy, that’s a hard one. My favorite stories depend on my mood. But in general, if a story makes the reader laugh out loud, it probably made me laugh, too.

I loved writing about horny toads, goat heads, Cowboyin’, and playing non-stop with my best-friend Steve in earlier books. And I really loved my grandparents, so those “Memories” are very close to my heart. In Memories 3, the new book, my strongest emotions were felt in "Billy's Bank Book". I laughed the most when writing "Baffling Boobs", "Clint & Aunt Marcie Killed me at the Drive-in", and "Steve & Me-- Superman and Batman." And, of course, I always chuckle when I mock Dean.

I really did, and I have no idea how Mom coped. I didn’t need to be triaged every single day, but it happened a lot. I could really feel that stupid nail that went through my foot when I wrote that “Memory”!  Man oh man!

I answered that in the Introduction to the second and third books. In short, I really thought I was pretty much done with my childhood memories after the first book. But I got some wonderful responses to the “Memories” I posted on Facebook groups. Some got over 2,000 likes and comments. A girl I went to NHS with said one of my Memories made her laugh out loud, and she kept thinking ”that poor woman” about my Mom! Her comment instantly gave me ideas for two or three other “Memories”, and one thing led to another. Pretty soon I had a sequel. After that I was supposed to write our family history for my Son. So I started that, but it was like pulling teeth. I'd take breaks and write a Memory or two. And, organically, the third book came to be. A lot of the Memories surprised me about how strong they were! 

Who knows? I owe my son a family history, so that’s the next cab off the rank. I haven’t decided how to write about my years as a police reporter in Waco. A lot of that was awful. But in retrospect, a lot of it was hysterical, too, so who knows?

Hootis.  Definitely a Hootis kind of guy. I hope I make my Dad’s cousin, Sonny, proud. If this comment makes no sense, you need to read my first book!

I kept a whole LOT of high school football antics secret. Maybe I’ll use them for a novel one day. More than a few of my old teammates should worry a LOT about that, ha! Two Memories planned for this third book fell at the last couple of hurdles. A bit too "mature," shall we say. But they are too funny not to use somewhere, so...

I’d love to collaborate with my son and/or Missus on picture books about “Anna’s Farm”. Our NZ farm boasts: pet dogs and a barn cat, pet chickens and sheep and alpaca, cows and horses, wild turkeys, possums, ducks, egrets, hawks, "endangered" kiwi birds (!) and the occasional wild pig. Anna and Eli both have WAY more talent than me. I’m just a writer. Anna is an incredible artist, and she injects beauty into everything. I met her when I was an editor on The Singapore Monitor.  My son, Eli, is a professional musician (keyboard). He also has my skill as a writer and his Mom’s artistic talent. I’d love to work with them, but who would be the boss? Probably not me!

As far as writers who make me laugh, it’s old school, starting with Joseph Heller. Plus Art Buchwald, Mike Royko, Dave Barry and, at the top of the list, Ross H. Spencer. I really regret losing my “Da-Da Caper” collection. When I worked on the Waco Tribune-Herald, I actually wrote a book review about a couple of Spencer’s books, and he sent me a thank you note! I still have that somewhere. I also love all the Jack Reacher books. But the best writer of them all is G.K. Chesterton.  

Two, actually. 1) Whatever happened to Dean Blevins' pink dress. 2) How did Steve and I survive our childhoods? Maybe I'll answer those one day.

Well, if you saw it on the Internet, it must be true...

Yes indeedy! When No. 1 musician son with Super Audio Tech Skills finishes his Piano Man cruise ship contract and comes back to NZ, if indeed he does, we hope to start work on that! But, because of Whispersync and other Amazon/Kindle stuff, it's not that simple to do. In the meantime, if you'd like to hear exactly how much Okie is STILL in my mouth, after 30 years in New Zealand, have a listen to this edition of the Boomer Bedtime Stories podcast. Enjoy and pass the word! https://www.boomerbedtimestoryradio.com/post/an-okie-boomer

YES! Because it's the baby of the family, and I am the baby of the family. And we babies are the best! NO! Because you honestly love all your children equally. So you should read all the books and decide which is the best. (Hint, the baby).

Of course. It's a tradition. But it won't make him cry, like the time I smashed into his sprained ankle when he was on crutches. That happened in the NHS football meeting room. Man, it was awful. I was late, and racing to the bus taking the team to Owen's Field for the Thursday walk-through. (Details in the Book 1. I still can't believe I did that. I bet Dean can't either).

Don't ask! I still have such a headache! But since you asked... For books 1 and 2, Eli and I did the final edits and proofing around our kitchen table, which was great. When he got too uppity and entitled about the "proper" use of semicolons, or his irrational hatred of one-sentence paragraphs, I would hit him with Thor's hammer. We have two. But this time, we had to rely on WhatsApp video calls, and gmails and SCREAMING VERY LOUD OUT THE WINDOW when his ship wi-fi was crappy. Much venting was needed this time! Every time we team up on a book, Eli forgets that when I say, "This is the final final final manuscript" I am being a big fat liar. I'm allowed because a) I used to be a journalist and b) I am 68. We missed many deadlines, all my fault. But we HAD to finally get it done because my 50th Norman High School reunion was set for 26-27 July 2024, and I wanted books to be available for my old classmates. No, I won't be there. I will be here on the farm, with maybe 120 newborn lambs. And lots of mud. Which is still pretty special.

Did Aunt Katrina really get et by a giant pig? Did I see a hobo? I rest my case!

As Joe Biden said, "I am proud to be the first Black woman to serve with a Black President." And by that I mean that the well is dry. But it was dry after Book 1 and Book 2, then I fell off the farm ladder and rattled open another rusty old file cabinet in my head. So I make no promises. But I hope the next book I write, after the family history I STILL owe my son, will be mainly about when I was a reporter in Waco (that's me and Ross Perot below). And maybe including my time in Singapore. We shall see.

In addition to No. 1 Son, Eli, the Okie Boomer Team included my sisters Lynn and Cathy, Steve's sister Glenda, my cousins, old classmates (especially Michelle, Debra and Cindy), and guys at the Norman Fire Department, who kindly provided photos and some great memories! I also got some funny stuff from members of two Facebook Groups: "The History of Norman, Oklahoma" and "You Know You're From Norman, Oklahoma if..." Many thanks to them all!