John Corey Whaley

I do come from a very close family. And I'm fascinated, in particular, with family relationships and the relationships that we all form with friends who feel as close, if not closer, than family.

Dealing with chronic anxiety has taught me to better understand the nuances of mental illness and the very individual nature of it.

In the middle of my fourth year teaching is when I got my book contract - in 2010. I knew the book would come out in May 2011.

If I'm really under pressure to get work done, I can adapt to most situations, but I prefer to be at home, in a comfortable chair, with as few distractions as possible.

Call it egotistical or narcissist, but I think that's what we all look for in books - the right stories that help us make sense of the world that we, on a very personal level, live in every day.