What led you to become a writer for AIO?

God did. I'd just moved to Colorado out of college and I needed a job--I really didn't care what or where. AIO was looking for a coordinator (to do casting, travel plans, administrative type stuff) and I got the job. I'd heard of Odyssey but didn't know much about it. At the time, Phil Lollar was the producer (1999) and he let me be a part of writer's meetings. We were short on stories at the time, so he encouraged me to try writing one. I loved it and I've been doing it ever since.

How long have you been a fan of the show? Were you interested in it before you became a writer?

Since I started working there. I became a fan fast. I knew I should probably listen to a few shows to get what Odyssey was all about, but I quickly became addicted. I listened to every single Odyssey show in a few weeks.

What is your favorite AIO episode of all time?

Wow...there are so many favorites! Underground Railroad has to be up there. License to Drive. And pretty much anything with Eugene and Bernard.

What is your favorite episode that you have written?
I hate that question. Because I hate hearing my shows once they're produced. I always think...oh, that joke didn't work...or I wish the actor delivered that line differently...or what was I thinking writing this show? There's no point! But if I HAVE to pick one, it would probably be For Better or For Worse I and II. I really like Champ of the Camp, too, which I wrote with Nathan. It hasn't aired yet.

Why do you think the show has been able to continue for so many years?

God's still using it. I love reading letters from kids (and adults!) who have been impacted by Odyssey. It's amazing that he can use us as his tools to do his work. And I think an incredibly talented group of people created the show and were deeply committed to seeing it succeed. The people who work for Odyssey love Odyssey, and that helps keep it going.

If you could change anything in AIO history, what would it be?
It's easy to say, Wow...I wish this person or that person hadn't left, but I think in the transition of the writers and actors, the show keeps evolving and growing. The change keeps the storylines and characters from getting stale and stagnet. So although I've often been sad when people move on, I know God uses that to make the show better.

What do you like most about being on the AIO staff?
The team!!! I love the people I work with. We have so much fun together. So much so sometimes, it's hard to actually get things done. They're a second family.

What is the hardest part about your job with AIO?
The getting stuck part. There's always some point in the script where I feel brain dead and have a couple days where a script doesn't seem to go anywhere. Sometimes it's the outline, sometimes first draft, sometimes a following draft. Sometimes I have multiple "stuck" points. The only show I didn't get stuck on at all was "Broken Window."

How is the show different now than it was when you first became a writer?
It's better now that I'm here, of course! Just kidding...I think the team is more cohesive, and therefore the stories tie in better. In the past, we might meet a family and then never see them again. Now every main character has a story arc going on. For example right now we have Eugene and his father, Connie and the book, Mandy and [Edit: Spoiler Removed]...and then we keep following the stories instead of just doing one show and dropping it. Phil got us more into writer meeting where we'd get together as a team and plan the next season, and Marshal's done a phenomenol job keeping us focused on continuing story lines. I think it helps the characters develop better, too. (Like Wooton, Grady and the Washingtons) Of course, with the entire team working together to plan and outline shows, it does take more time, and so the writers do less shows in a year than they used to.

How big of a role did you play in creating the character of Mitch, and what was your inspiration for him?
It's not often you get to invent a man, so it was fun doing that for Connie. I really pushed for Connie to have a boyfriend. Since I'm the only female on the writing team, I feel the need to stand up for her. (: Mitch was probably loosely based on my now-husband, who I was then dating. Good-looking, funny, a little quirky.... The irony is that I was planning my wedding when I was calling off Mitch and Connie's... (:

What made you and the other writers decide to break up Connie and Mitch and send him away to another country?
I was never really thrilled with the chemistry between Connie and Mitch. And although I think it made for some interesting stories, I think Connie is a more fun character without Mitch. We also thought that with Eugene marrying Katrina, we didn't want all of our characters to go off and get married. Keeping Connie single helps keep her more relatable to our target audience.

What are your thoughts about Mitch ever coming back?
Mitch will be back when Hell freezes over, Starbucks goes bankrupt and the Chicago Bulls win the Superbowl. (And yes I know they're a basketball team.)

Besides Mitch, what other ideas have your contributed to AIO?
That's hard to answer because so many ideas are a group effort and we just add on to each other ideas. For example, Eugene's return has a bunch of ideas from all of us, all mixed together to make the show.

What ideas have you suggested that were rejected by the rest of the team?
Whit having a girlfriend...although they did let me introduce a character that has a crush on Whit and drives him crazy.

Have there been any episodes that were hard to write or episodes that didn't turn out the way you planned?
All of them pretty much. (:

Would you care to share any hints about upcoming shows?
Here's a hint: The blue French fry laughs at the squeaking dog.

Do you have any final comments you would like to share with fans?
I have the best job in the world. And I appreciate all the fans who love Odyssey like I do!