Photo by Molly Harrell

Janna McMahan | Author

If I were a superheroine, I would be: In better shape.

I can’t live without: Chocolate. Women who don't like chocolate are suspect.

My family:  Mark and I've been married 20 years and he's the greatest guy. Our daughter, Madison, is eleven and she's such an energetic, positive addition to our life.

My work: I write. And I write. And I write.

My passion: Reading has always been my most consuming passion in terms of time and money. I read a lot of magazines. I love Vogue. Their articles sparkle.

My favorite possession: My wedding ring. It's an awesome piece of sculpture I can wear. People comment on it frequently.

My hometown: Campbellsville, Kentucky.

I’m thinking about: The upcoming elections. This is all so very interesting.

What keeps me awake at night: The upcoming elections. This all so very interesting.

Words I live by: Don’t count your chickens before they're hatched.

I am most proud of: My daughter. She's a talented artist, particularly in sculptural forms. She's well-spoken and well-mannered.

If I could be totally wild, I would: Tow-in big surf in Hawaii.

One thing I never want to do again: Wait tables. I thought I'd never have a job where I wasn't cleaning up after somebody.

Right now I’m reading: The manuscript of my new novel for the first time all the way through.

The one item that has changed my life: Laptop.

Favorite web site: Mine. jannamcmahan.com.  A friend designed it. He did a great job.

Last major purchase: Had my house painted inside and out.

I am guilty of: Overeating.

The nickname I wish I had: I'm not into nicknames.

My theme song: Breakaway, by Kelly Clarkson and Mary J. Blige's one about liking herself when she's walking past the mirror.  What's that song?

If I could do it all over again: I'd start writing fiction earlier. I feel as if I've wasted productive years.

My favorite body part: My feet. They're cute.

The food I could eat every day: Salmon, with chocolate sauce.

The most important thing I ever lost: An entire novel manuscript.

The best thing I ever won:The South Carolina Fiction Project

My best friend says I am:  Alert.  She says I comment on things most people overlook.

I still can’t get the hang of: Whistling. I cannot whistle. I'm pathetic.

I wish I’d known: That everything was going to be okay.

The world would be a better place, if only: Everybody moved to a place foreign to them for at least five years.

I’d like to learn to: Spanish.

Something most people don’t know about me: I watch America's Next Top Model.

The worst idea I’ve ever had: Eating mussels I thought tasted weird. It was my first time. I was sick for three days.

My first job: Library volunteer.

What are you most vain about? My writing.