Interview with amy jane

1. Tell us a little about yourself. A native New Yorker, I now live in Connecticut with my sarcastic but wonderful husband, our three little girls, two cats and one very large Labrador. I am a desperately sleep deprived freelance writer and stay-at-home mom. After majoring in journalism and creative writing in college, I worked as a staff writer and editor for an international furnishings magazine, then later as a corporate software trainer, where I wrote, edited and customized training materials for a major corporation. I quickly tired of the stifling, stuffy corporate environment, so I became licensed massage therapist specializing in Neuromuscular Therapy and the management of chronic pain. I also developed and taught seminars on massage and alternative healing. Writing has always been my passion, rivaled only by my love of horses. I started my first, never to be completed novel in the 3^rd grade. I no longer write fiction, as I have found real life supplies quite enough drama. I am currently working on a non-fiction book that may some day join my expansive collection of unfinished projects.
2. What brought you to HubPages? I was browsing through a freelance writing job board somewhere, I can't really remember where, and I came across HubPages. I immediately loved the idea of writing on a variety of topics of my own choosing. My interests are diverse, and completely unrelated ideas swarm through my head constantly.
3. What do you like Hubbing on, with respect to topics? My life revolves around my children, so parenting challenges and family issues are a natural focus right now. I also enjoy writing about real estate, interior design, and horses. I enjoy researching new topics, so I never give up on an idea just because it is not my area of expertise. A couple of my favorite hubs are Learning Games For Toddlers, and Therapeutic Riding: How Horses Help and Inspire People.
4. What has been your best Hub so far (in your opinion)? Why? I think The Perfect Mom Next Door is my most popular hub, and I love it because it is based on my personal struggles. It was one of those ideas that just fell into my head one day, and was complete in 20 minutes. My most informative hubs took far more time and effort, like How To Prepare Your Home For Sale: A Guide to Staging and How To Save Money on Your Wedding.
5. What is your favorite Hub by another Hubber? I have so many favorites; it's hard to choose! Dealing with Bullies in School by Helena The Great is extremely well done, and has been enormously helpful to me recently. She presents a fresh, encouraging perspective on how to handle this common challenge. She writes with honesty and recognizes a realistic and positive way to handle this painful part of growing up.
6. What is one nice thing about HubPages (the site) that many might not know? Each Hubber can really develop their own style, beyond writing, in their hubs. There are so many ways to work with the layout of a hub to make it look appealing to a reader.
7. Name one thing you learned about from another Hubber's Hub that you didn't know about before. I can't narrow it down to just one thing, but In The Doghouse always has something interesting and new for me to read about! I am bracing myself for the tumultuous teen years and she has lots of great advice for parents and families.
8. What kind of Hubber do you typically join the Fan Club of? I love to find writers who make me laugh. I am a very loyal fan of stephhicks68 and Peter M. Lopez because they are so much fun to read and their unique voices can be heard loud and clear in their writing. Lissie seems to smile at her readers through her words. I will quickly become a fan of anyone who is just undeniably interesting, like EmmaBalmer. She is a former model, a horse trainer and a funeral director.
9. If you could impart one piece of advice to a new Hubber, what would that be? Read darkside. I know everyone says that, but it is true. Darkside has compiled so much information that can really help a newcomer understand how things work. Read and make friends with others, it will really make your experience far more enjoyable!
10. Tell us something that we'd never guess about you—surprise us! I was a model in high school and studied acting at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Manhattan, and got in lots of trouble for cutting voice classes. Some people have skeletons hanging in their closets. I have evening gowns and tiaras. Please don't hold it against me, I was young. I was Miss Teen New York of the year 19…never mind. I promise, I can find Namibia, Cambodia or even the elusive state of Iowa on a map in seconds.