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Tell us about your background as a writer and artist. Have you always been interested in both?
I’ve played at writer since I learned to write. Artist? That’s very much up for debate. I’ve always been a fan of paint chips… I suppose I always wished I could be an artist, but I didn’t really get that gene. So I wrote. And then I decided I really wasn’t much of a writer either, just a bit of a smart-ass.

How do writing and art overlap in your life?
Oh, I don’t know. I write. I like to see pretty colors. That’s about it.

What do you do in your spare time? How do you relax?
I don’t have spare or un-spare time. I pretty much go with whatever finds me. A better question for me would be when do I not relax.

If your house were burning down, what is the first thing you’d save?
My body. I can do without my mind I suppose, but I’m not into burning flesh.

Are there any particular writers or books that have inspired and influenced you, or that you just think everyone should read?
Hope for the Flowers by Trina Paulus and My Secret is Silence by Adyashanti…

Tell us about the origin of nothing but squares: what inspired you to write these thoughts down, and put them together in such an artistic form? What was the process of collecting these thoughts and ideas like?
Once upon a time I thought I was going to be a writer. A “real” writer—not this one-or-two-line silliness. I liked writing. I wrote all the time. “This is what I’m meant to do!” I thought. So I quit my job and decided to “work on a book.” That’s when I found out I had been fooling myself. I didn’t really like writing, I liked journaling. I was completely self-absorbed. I wanted to write MY story, MY thoughts, MY opinions… and I wanted someone, anyone, to say, “Oh my God, I know.” When I realized it was all about me, I was a bit horrified at first. Well, I was horrified for a long time. And incredibly embarrassed. That’s when I hacked my journal to pieces. I did everything I could to get rid of the story, and kept a few lines that made me laugh or smile or remember… I can’t really say what exactly led me to the squares. I was trying to get a job and decided to handwrite and paint my resume so it would at least stand out. I was desperate… I painted it green, and writing on the colored background made me smile. So then I started writing the little one or two line leftovers from my journal on scraps of watercolor paper to amuse myself.

What made you decide to use a Rapidograph for the book?
There was no decision. It’s what I write with.

nothing but squares is a mix of positive and pessimistic, quirky and serious, peaceful and conflicted. Is that a reflection of the variety of life experiences?
I just write whatever is in my head at the time

One of the squares says, “‘maybe you should try writing fiction.’ i did. this is it…” What is the story behind that; do you really consider the book to be fiction, or something else?
It was one of the first reactions I got to my writing, and the thought that went through my head in response. All stories are fiction; but that’s not something I can make anyone believe.

What is the goal of your writing, both in general, and specifically with nothing but squares?
To get people to stop, I suppose, for just one second and realize we all share the same story; the specifics don’t really matter. Maybe just to get people to stop in general…

How do you envision your readers reading the book? What do you hope they take from it?
Slowly…one page at a time…and not in one sitting.
There’s really nothing there to take, it more about what they bring to it.

If you could go back and make changes to the book, would you?
I can’t go back.

What writing plans do you have for the future? Artistic plans?
I’ll write, and I’ll make cards if people want them.

How have your writing and artwork been affected by the publication of nothing but squares?
They haven’t. I suppose I’ve used it as an excuse to keep doing what I would be doing anyway…