What initially inspired you to become an author and artist, particularly within the realms of fantasy and science fiction?
I don't know how much of it is nature versus nurture, but my father was a huge geek and it passed down to his daughters.The Lord of the Rings and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy were his idea of bedtime stories. My mother would draw for his tabletop games. My imagination gripped every bit of media I was exposed to like a sponge and, with my parents being colossal nerds, it was usually science fiction and fantasy.
How do you balance the darker elements of your stories with the promise of a happy ending for your characters?
This may sound like a bit of a ramble, but stick with me here. That is a very important question. Everyone is going through something we may not understand. I'm not one to wallow in my past intentionally, but it can't always be helped. I want to feel better and I want to do better. My characters, while varied, are all an extension of me. Well written characters with their own motives make that easier and more believable. There's always hope.
Gunnison, Colorado, and Florida seem like contrasting environments. How have these places influenced your writing, if at all?
I love both places for different reasons, but I can't say I've used their differing environments in my stories. I will say that a work in progress is inspired by the train from Silverton, Colorado to Durango.
Family appears to be a significant theme in your life and work. How do your real-life relationships inspire the familial dynamics in your stories?
Family questions are tough because I don't want to come across as being inspired by my problems. Everyone has good sides and bad. Only one of my characters is based on a real person. John Clayton is my dad. When my sisters got and I away from dad, we started recognizing what was and wasn't normal. I've never had a big family, but now I'm happily married and have a child.
Your characters are often described as the heart of your stories. Can you tell us more about your approach to character development and how you breathe life into them?
I am what they refer to in the vernacular as a 'pantser', a writer who writes by the seat of her pants. In my head, when I first make a character, they are an amorphous goo who appears in my daydreams while music plays. There's no flesh, no bones.Only a cool scene in my head. Then, the moment I start typing, they become tangible. I get bored with 'he said' 'she said' talking heads in books. I'm very visual and need to know what people look like and sound like, even if I don't know their name yet. Mannerisms separate characters from each other more than names. If I can't flesh a character out, I often don't keep them.
What role does daydreaming play in your creative process, and how do you channel those daydreams into tangible narratives?
I'm a big daydreamer. My brain doesn't turn off. Whether I'm in bed, the shower, walking in circles, cooking, whatever, I'm always telling myself a story. Will they translate to paper? Most of them, no. They are fun to play in, but not fleshed out. However, when I take an idea and start writing it, I stick to those daydreams more.
Your spouse is described as your best friend and a source of encouragement. How has their support impacted your journey as an author?
My husband is the most amazing man in the universe and my inspiration for making the relationship in my books healthy. He let me leave my job, which was causing me physical and mental trouble, to pursue writing. He is my biggest cheerleader and very handsome to boot.
How do you navigate the challenges of being an author, particularly in the genres of fantasy and science fiction, where world-building and complex plots are often involved?
I'll refer to your sixth question. My brain just world builds on its own. The Imperial Capital of Grace was always a moon shaped, cliffside city in my head, but I'm not quite sure how it became what it is now. Whenever I daydream, it's never on Earth. I'm not sure why, but I'm happy about it.
What do you hope readers take away from your book, “Sigils of Malice”?
I hope it tacks on a bit of me to their imaginations, like so many stories that have inspired me before. I want them to get excited when Thalia shows off, feel warm fuzzies from the family and romantic parts of the book, and I'd love to see more writers out there. There's a lot of dark and twisted things in my stories, but that's not what I want readers to walk away with.
Can you share any tips or strategies for aspiring authors who also aspire to balance their creative pursuits with family life?
Got writer's block? Write something bad. Seriously. Throw something at the wall that may not stick. Maybe you'll erase it and have to throw something else at the wall, but you can't edit a blank page. I'm a pantser, but sometimes I'll write bullet points for what I want to happen, even if I don't have the connecting tissue yet.
What drew you to the genres of fantasy and science fiction, and what possibilities do you find most exciting within these genres?
I can make more up. I'm not bound by historical accuracy, because I can make up the people, cultures, creatures, and tech level. It's great fun. I already live in reality and it's disappointingly devoid of fairies and dragons.
Your elder sister is mentioned as an inspiration. How has she influenced your writing journey, and do you draw any inspiration from your relationship with her?
For one, she is my artist for my covers. She's also my number one reader and is great at catching things I miss here and there.
How do you maintain the element of surprise and keep your readers engaged throughout the journey to the happy endings of your stories?
I surprise myself half the time. When I understand a character I've made, I can have them work in the background. While I will occasionally shift perspectives, they never spoil what the main character is not supposed to know yet.
What upcoming projects are you most excited about, and can you give us any hints about what readers can expect from your future works?
Sigils of Blight, the sequel to Sigils of Malice, is coming out July 1st! It's a race against the goddess Omera while a curse spreads throughout the empire. Thalia and Calliope don't know who to trust, even if she loves them. On the side, I'm working on a series of novellas called Cold Iron Engine. They're 1940's noir dark fantasy about a magic train run by a blind dragon and a pixie turned femme fatale who take advantage of a cabal of sorcerers.
How did you first come across the AllAuthor website? What do you like or dislike about the site?
Honest answer was Google. I had no clue how to market at first. AllAuthor has been a good starting point for me as a newbie.
