Where did you grow up and where do you live now? Which place is better according to you?
I grew up and still live just north of Boston, MA. I love the area that I grew up in, enough to choose to settle just about 20 minutes away from my hometown. What I enjoy most about where I live is how close I am to so many diverse hubs of culture. As a little girl, my grandfather would take me into Chinatown to have dim sum with him once a week and I would spend time in Downtown Boston and the Boston Commons as a teenager with friends. I couldn't imagine leaving this area.
Where did you go to college? Which subject did you study?
I went to Salem State University and I studied English with a concentration in Creative Writing. Originally my focus was poetry, but I changed my focus halfway through my Junior year when I got the inspiration for Born in Shadows.
Do you remember what the first piece you ever wrote was?
Yes, it was a very cliche love poem about a crush of mine in middle school.
You are a crazy dog mom. What do you love the most about your pet?
I am a crazy dog mom! Memphis is probably exactly who I would be if I was a dog. He is playful and smart, but also more stubborn than is good for him. He enjoys his independence excessively, until he no longer wants to be independent and is instead extremely clingy.
Why did you choose the High Fantasy/Vampire genre?
I never intended to write a full length novel, much less fall into a High Fantasy epic. I like to think that this story found me. The characters all live in my head and have clamored to have their own stories told. The same could be said with vampires, while I enjoy the genre, it has never been a favorite of mine as I've always been partial to witches and magic, but something about it just fit with the characters and I could not part with the idea.
What inspired you to write your book, "Born in Shadows"?
In a very round about way Harry Potter fanfiction. I had read a story that did involve vampires and in the story a Sire could see through the eyes of anyone they had turned and when that happened the vampire's eyes would change to the color of their Sire's. I loved the concept, but I didn't quite like the mechanics of seeing through another person's eyes. I loved the idea that someone's eyes which are so unique and personal, could be changed and manipulated by someone who has remade them. The plot itself has changed more times then I can count and I can't really say where all of those various plot lines came from, but the eyes was the crux of the story for me.
How do you deal with emotional impact of a book on yourself as you are writing the story?
I've learned to set realistic writing goals and to forgive myself when I slip. I have had days which I planned to write a lot, but had to stop because the content of the chapter was mentally and emotionally draining. In the beginning I would have been upset with not meeting my own goals, now I've made what I consider smart goals which allow me time to step away when needed without missing big deadlines.
What is the main thing you want readers to take away from your book?
I want to tell a story about organic characters living their lives and no matter how fanciful and unbelievable their world is, they are relatable and real. I want readers to see themselves in these characters and maybe learn a thing or two about themselves and the world around them.
What are some elements you consider when figuring out a book title?
Born in Shadows was more of a filler title at first, I don't even know how I came up with it, but after a while I couldn't imagine changing it and so it stuck.
How did you begin writing The Shadows Series? Do you find it more challenging to write the first book in a series or to write the subsequent novels?
Writing the first book certainly had its challenges. I spent a lot of time creating the world, the lore, and the mechanics of vampires and the magic of the world. Some of the first content I created for the world was the vampire Houses, their individual identities, and the Laws of the Crown. As I get into the second book I am realizing there are details that I could have and should have established in the first book and I'm now left with needing to find a way to sneak in details and hot-fix them without diminishing any details I set in place in the first book. I am much more of a 'panster' than a planner when it comes to writing and in this case I'm needing to be creative to work around new ideas that sneak their way into my brain.
Have any negative reviews or constructive criticism come your way for your first book? How do you handle it?
Not yet, at least not that I have been made aware of. Most of the criticism, constructive or otherwise, came before publication. I had heavily workshopped Born in Shadows over the 8ish years it took me to write it and honestly received mostly negative or passive reviews. Overall, I am proud of the story, and while I understand and appreciate that everyone will have their own opinion of it, those opinions cannot tarnish the fact that this is the first novel I have ever written and I am very much in love with it.
We have seen many cute photos of your dog on your Instagram page. Can we get to see pictures of you making jewelry, knitting, or baking someday?
I have a separate Instagram for my jewelry company! It is @ purplehorizonjewelry I will probably share some to my author instagram at some point, as well as knitting and baking pictures. The honest truth is that my life has mostly only been work, writing, and my dog, but with recent world events being what they are, I will have more time on my hands to continue my other hobbies.
What are you trying to achieve through your writing? How far off do you think you are?
If I can convince another writer that they can pursue their own dreams and write then I've done what I wanted to do. Of course it would be nice to be a full time writer one day and I would by lying if I said I didn't dream about seeing my work adapted into another medium, but mostly I just want to bring enjoyment and inspiration to other creatives like so many authors have done for me.
Which is your next book to be published? Tell us what it is about.
The next book in the Shadows Series will be titled Consumed by Shadows and is tentatively on schedule for early 2021 release! I am finishing the first draft now and have already been in contact with my editors to start the process of setting up an editing schedule.
When did you join AllAuthor? What has your experience been like?
I joined in Autumn of 2019. As a self-published author, I didn't know many resources to connect with other authors and with professional, affordable marketing tools. Another writer friend of mine suggested AllAuthor. I've loved the use of the tools provided and I've enjoyed the community it provides.
