What is a childhood memory that makes you smile?
I had a really great childhood! I was a big outdoors kid, especially during the summer when I was out of school. I spent a lot of time outside playing with the kids on the street I grew up in. Bike riding, kickball, tag, hide & seek, we did it all. With my family we had countless barbecues at a park, so I formed many memories with my cousins as well. The best part was when my grandparents would come and visit. I’m very fond of my childhood as a whole, so a lot of it makes me smile.
Do you remember the first story you ever read and the impact it had on you?
I remember reading Number the Stars by Lois Lowry in sixth grade and I was so entranced by it. It was two girls living in a dangerous place and time, yet I saw the friendship between them, and I could relate to that. I was also really emotionally invested for their well-being all the way through. If they were nervous, I was nervous. If they were delighted about something, so was I. The book definitely began my love for historical fiction, especially World War II era books!
What developed your love for writing?
Initially, writing was an escape for me. I could rewrite things that didn’t go my way or how I wished things were different. In TV shows and movies I was a fan of, I could write in a stand-in version of myself into the action. It slowly became an outlet for me, and it only added to my growing imagination. I began to fall deeply in love with the craft of building a story, to thoroughly get to know the characters I created, to slowly develop the rules of the world that didn’t exist before. The realization that anything is possible in a good story with a pencil and paper and an ounce of imagination was everything for me. I hit the ground running from that moment on.
Were you a big reader as a kid too? If so, what were some of your favourite books then?
Oh, goodness, no! I wasn’t a reader at all. I’d read for and at school, but never for pleasure at home. I was too busy playing outside. Very few books caught my interest then. Number the Stars was a favorite as well as Adaline Falling Star by Mary Pope Osborne. Holes by Louis Sachar. The Harry Potter books were, of course, highly popular for me over the years.
What made you decide to graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology?
For a long time, I wanted to work with kids in a school setting. I currently do work with kids but in a different circumstance—at a domestic violence shelter!
What do you do when you start doubting your book’s plot-line but are in so deep you can’t change much of it?
I’d rather not dwell on it too much. And it’s hard because everything in me tells me I should go back and make changes. I have to force myself to keep writing. Usually, it has a way of working itself out. I may not understand in that moment why I wrote it in such a way, but if you write it down it’s for a reason. Sometimes, you have to finish the draft for it to make sense—to see the whole picture. If not, there’s always a second draft.
What sparked the idea for your book, Lapse?
Lapse is a prime example of me reverting to my old ways—it was me wanting to rewrite multiple books I was reading at the time. I wanted a pair of protagonists that were past the ‘do they like me?’ stage and was more of a matter of when will they get together. I wanted a story where the heroine isn’t safe guarded, that isn’t a damsel. I wanted a heroine who was ‘in the know’ of the world around her and take the reader along with her. I wanted to change the familiar tropes of the typical YA romance.
Who is the most supportive person in your life when it comes to your writing?
I’d have to say my brother. The poor guy used to let me run ideas by him when he had no idea what I was talking about, but at least he listened. He’s always asking how the book is doing and even made me sign his copy of the book. He likes to make me laugh by asking what role he’ll get in the movie!
What are some things you believe readers will take away from your first book?
I think they’ll take away that the love story between the characters is a little unconventional, that my concept of time travel isn’t what they thought it’d be but are open to the ideas I’ve presented and hopefully eager for more.
Do you think that in all cases, hard work can beat talent?
I fully believe they go hand in hand. You can’t have one without the other.
What is something no one tells you about writing a novel?
Knowing when to stop editing! Writing is the easy part, its knowing when to say it’s good enough is the hard part.
Who is your target audience? What are some things you wish your readers would take away from your books?
My target audience is probably young and new adult readers. Although anyone else is welcome. My hope is for readers to learn from Nora’s example—doubt is an obstacle if you make it one. You’ll always be your own worst critic, but what you see as failures now could be your greatest reward later.
What is the most crucial component when writing a time travel romance?
Knowing when to emphasize the love story and exploring the technics of time travel, I’d say is crucial. They’re very much intertwined. It’s quite the juggling act because both concepts are important, and they drive the story. I have to dedicate pages or events that move the romance forward. Then I have to make sure the aspects of time travel are well defined and fit seamlessly into the story.
Which is the next book you are working on? Is it a series or a stand-alone book?
Currently, I’m in the process of writing a short story that stemmed after I wrote Lapse’s first draft of a sequel. I’m trying to finish the short story so I can go back and rewrite a second draft to the second book.
How has your experience of being associated with AllAuthor been?
As a newcomer to AllAuthor, I’ve had fun exploring around the website. I look forward to the Book Cover of the Month contests. I like seeing what authors have out there. The exposure is great too. I love the seasonal mockup feature. I’m not a picture editing wiz in the slightest or great at photography, so that’s been helpful to create really good looking pictures for my book.
