
A lifelong Mississippian, Annie Oeth is a graduate of Mississippi University for Women and Kaplan University who counts life as the best educator of all. (Amazon)
BBB: What inspired you to become a writer?
AO: I'm not quite sure I ever consciously decided I was going to be a writer. It's just who I turned out to be. I always loved a good story as a child and would wear out my mother and aunt, begging them for one more story, and I was that kid in high school who looked forward to writing a term paper. In the summers, I remember writing in a notebook just for fun. And I have always loved to read.

AO: The idea for "Because I Said So: Life in The Mom Zone" came partially from The Mom Zone blog I write for The Clarion-Ledger, a daily newspaper in Jackson, Mississippi, and from my life. If I wasn't my kids' mom, I'd have to pay for entertainment. We do laugh a lot in our house.
BBB: What do you think readers will enjoy most about your book?
AO: I think "Because I Said So" is a very down-to-earth book, with some laughter, memories and a lot of love in the mix. There's something for everyone in there, whether you are a parent or not. I hope readers will laugh, but also will leave it with a few insights.

AO: I am, and thank you for asking. I am finishing "For Love or Money: A Guide to Bungee-Jumping Through Life" and will have it to my publisher, Sartoris Literary Group, in June.
BBB: Do you ever get writer's block?
AO: I do. I think every writer gets that. Working as a journalist will make you get rid of writer's block at the office, because you always have a deadline looming. When I am writing on my own time, though, I tend to get writer's block more often. Sometimes I will find myself puttering around the house during my writing time.
What has worked for me in banishing writer's block: Just show up. Just write something, anything, even if you have to go back and erase it. Another thing that works for me, especially if the block comes after an hour or more of writing, is to get up and move. Walking the dog or going for a run helps.
Finding balance -- time to write, time for family, time for friends, time to think -- is the key. The better my life is balanced, the less I have writer's block.

BBB: How can readers connect with you?
AO:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/annie0
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Annie-Oeth/480352692008828