When did you realize that you wanted to become
a writer?
My entire high
school career I thought I was going to major in social work or journalism and
save the world but midway through my senior year I had a mild crisis of spirit
and realized that I really wanted to be an artist. I'd always loved to read and
spent more time with books than people and even though I'd always glamorized
the idea of being a writer I'd never actually attempted it. I'd written short
stories and really terrible poetry but making the decision to major in Creative
Writing was the real turning point for me.
What made you create (your book)? How did it come to you?
I started
working on this novel in April of last year and, to be honest, I can't really
remember where the original idea came from. Probably because I can't really
remember what the original idea even was. I know that it started out as a
contemporary standalone and I'd been really interested in exploring dual
narrative again but I suppose the story started out the way all of my stories
have--with the central relationship. It isn't always a love story that's
central to my novels but I do like to focus on human relationships, whether
that's familial or within the context of first love.
The characters always come to me first and the various means of
torturing them always come later.
Who is your literary hero?
My favorite
author is Melina Marchetta. Every single one of her
books is so poignant and breathtakingly real and every time I finish reading
one I learn so much, not only about the human spirit but about myself. She is
the pinnacle for me of everything I want to be and do and say as a writer and I
think if every person on the planet read her books the world would be a more
beautiful place.
Describe your main character in six words.
Thoughtful,
resilient, creative, headstrong and kind.
What scene was the hardest for you to write?
The final scene was the hardest for me to
write. I usually take my time with endings and sometimes don’t perfect them
until the very last minute before publication. But this ending was a
particularly emotional experience because I’ve lived every move Bryn makes and
experienced every thought she has in that moment. I don’t want to spoil it for
anyone but the roller coaster of emotions Bryn goes through is taken straight
from my own experience and it was definitely difficult to relive it.
What are you working on now?
I’m in the middle of finishing the third book
in The Girl In Between Series and plan to get back to revising the fourth and
final book in the series in December!
