When did you realize that
you wanted to become a writer?
I can honestly say
that it’s something that I’ve always known I’ve wanted to do. Even before I
could read and write, I was dictating stories to my mom to write down!
Is being an Author all
you dreamed of, or did it just happen?
It’s definitely been
a lifelong dream of mine. But it definitely didn’t just happen. It took many
years of hard work and persistence. While writing is the most natural thing for
me, making a living at it is tough!
What was the very first
thing you ever wrote?
Hmmm…I think it was
a short story along the lines of, “Once upon a time there was a cat and a dog.
They were friends. The end.”
Haha. I’m actually
being serious, but the first book I wrote was in the 5th grade—a
story about a young girl who follows her brother who enlists in the American
Revolution. It won an award!
What was the inspiration
for your book?
When I describe the plot of the Rebel Song series to
people, but tell them it’s contemporary, they often say, “Wait, it’s about a
princess and a rebellion and star-crossed love? Sounds a little Medieval.” And
it does sound like a plot of old. But it’s also a reality of today...Let me
explain a bit of history about its inspiration.
The very first incarnation of Rebel Song came about
22 years ago—no joke! When I was 12—possibly suffering some unrequited love of
my own—I wrote this short book about a princess who falls in love with a spy
from another country and she betrays her kingdom for him. In the end she jumps
off a cliff and kills herself so in retrospect it wasn’t a very uplifting story
(I was a strange 12 year old, I admit). But I never forgot that tale and I’ve
maintained this affinity for the star-crossed lovers since.
So fast forward a couple decades. I’m in Madrid,
Spain, reading about the turmoil of Spain’s 20th century—from a
monarchy to a dictator to back to a monarchy. And I realized that, while it’s
strange to Americans, royalty is alive and well in much of Europe. Additionally,
many countries in Europe have undergone rebellions, dictators, civil war and
more in the last fifty years alone. Sometimes there’s even a juicy love story
thrown in there. I was fascinated by the history there and I suddenly knew I
had to bring Rogan and Elyra’s story to life in a fresh new way.
Who is your literary
hero?
So many to choose
from! Well, the Laura Ingles books (Little House on the Prairie) were what
really got me into books, so I must give credit there. Others would include
Jane Austen, Isabel Allende, Tolkien and George R.R. Martin (if he ever
finishes his darn series!).
How much of your
characters are based on your traits or someone you know personally?
I think every writer
bases her characters on being they know whether they mean to or not. It’s
difficult not to! Maybe it’s just a personality tick or someone’s appearance. I
don’t have any characters that are entirely based on someone I know personally,
but I certainly draw inspiration.
Describe your main
character in six words.
There are two main characters so…
Rogan: Loyal, Brave, Pensive, Dreamer, Fighter, Resolute
Elyra: Determined, Fiery, Idealistic, Haughty (at times!),
Kind, Faithful
Describe the world you’ve
created in six words.
Broken, Beautiful,
Torn, Ancient, Transforming, Renewed
What scene was your
favorite to write?
Without giving too
much away…there is a scene with Elyra and Pantone that actually gave me the
chills.
What scene was the
hardest for you to write?
There is a scene in
which Elyra has to make a very tough choice. And I’ll admit, it was hard to
write it!
What are you working on
now?
I am finishing Book
3—Rebel Fire, out November 21, 2017!
Goals? Accomplishments? Improvements?
My goal is to have Rebel Fire and
then a novella to another series of mine, Lies in the Darkness, both done this
year.
Are there any authors or books you
recommend?
How long have you got?! 😊 Some authors I’m loving now are:
Tiffany Reiz—adult romance/drama (VERY steamy)
Joanna Penn—Adult thrillers in the vein of Dan Brown (But much better in
my opinion, shh…)
In the YA Space, I’m loving series by India R. Adams and Robert Krenzel.
What's your favorite
thing to do when you're not writing?
Travel! As I write
this, I’m currently in Valencia, Spain.
