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1.      Paperback, hardback, audiobook?

Hardcover! There’s something charming about mass market paperbacks too, though. 

2.      Pick a genre, any genre!

Adult fantasy with romance.

3.      What is the first book you remember reading?

When I was in kindergarten I read a book about mice stealing pizza from a chef that I never really forgot about. Pizza Pat, I think? I tracked it down for my nostalgia list on Goodreads recently. 

4.      What book shaped your childhood most?

Probably the Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini. The series is deeply flawed in a lot of ways (I re-read it for the first time in a decade in 2020) but Eldest & Brisingr were on my thoughts a lot as a kid/teen. 

5.      When did you first start writing?

I was 7! It was a story about three pretty girls and magical lockets. 

6.      What made you want to write? Does it still hold true?

Hard to explain … I want to so I have to. It’s something I’ve always done & something I enjoy working at. 

7.      What book/poem are you most proud of creating?

I have 4 books out now that I’m really proud of for different reasons. I think I’m really good at bittersweet moments (a lot of those happen in my Fate’s Fall duology, especially in Slow Wanes the Night) & placing memorable characters in unique worlds like in my Tales from Lyrassan standalones. 

8.      Did you publish your first book or is it for your eyes only?

Unfortunately I did, but it was very clumsy, had a lot of issues, & I’ve removed it everywhere possible. I consider Long Grows the Dark my first REAL book. 

9.      How many books/collections have you published so far?

Four books! A duology & two high fantasy standalones. I’m working on a companion novel follow-up for a side character from the duology, & I expect to write two more standalones set in the Tales from Lyrassan world over the next couple of years. Plus other projects not related to anything I have out now! 

10.   What genres do you write in (or hope to)?

 I stick to new adult or adult fantasy, pretty much always with romance. 

11.   Do you do research for your writing or is it all in your head?

The more complicated the project, the more research I do. I’m still learning to balance research with writing so I don’t fall too behind on my schedule. 

12.   To plan, or not to plan your plot?

So much planning! Sometimes there’s only so far I can plot ahead & ideas need to simmer for a month or two, but I definitely plot with outlines & lots of notes. 

13.   What route of publishing have you chosen? Do you plan to stick with it?

Self-publishing. With the state of … things, I would really like to stick to indie, but for a couple of my projects I’m considering small press or traditional publishing. I suppose it depends how much waiting time I’m willing to sacrifice.

14.   If you could live inside another author’s universe, which one would you pick? (Ex: Middle Earth, Narnia, etc.)

I don’t know if I trust another author’s world enough to live there forever! I like variety (it’s the Sagittarius in me). Plus I really like the worlds I make best …

15.   Do you currently have a WIP?

Three-four main projects right now! A fantasy renaissance WIP, my Fate’s Fall companion novel, the next standalone in my Tales from Lyrassan series, & a dark & sexy Edwardian gothic fantasy WIP.

16.   Tell me about the character you’ve created who is dearest to your heart.

Niles from Long Grows the Dark & Slow Wanes the Night is very special to me, and while I think Larkspur (from A Song for the Road) & Aubria (from A Turn of the Wheel) both have pieces of me in their characters, there’s something about Gwendoline from my Fate’s Fall duology & about how flawed she is that keeps her on my mind a lot. 

17.   What do you consider your *current* magnum opus?

 If I can pull off the fantasy renaissance WIP people are going to love it. 

18.   Do you have a favourite romance in your books? Or, if yours features no romance, tell us about your favourite character friendship!

All of my books have romance so it’s difficult to choose! When I was writing Aubria’s relationship in A Turn of the Wheel I was LIVING (that whole book was a heart book for me & it’s the fastest I’ve ever finished a WIP) but I have to admit that Larkspur’s journey with Merrion had a lasting impression on me. 

19.   Do you listen to music as you write? Recommend a favourite writing song.

 Sometimes! Mostly a lot of instrumentals – Celtic music, the sort of music bards would listen to, random mood setting things. I jump around playlists a lot. 

20.   Do you have any character art for your books, whether by you or another artist? (Be sure to credit/link if you can!)

Yes I do! The interior art in all my books is by the same artist, Marija Ilik. 

21.   If you could give one piece of advice to an aspiring author, what would it be?

Advice is hard to give. Mainly just write the story the way you want/the way it needs & worry about the rest later. The writing & book communities online have a lot of conflicting, arbitrary rules that can mess up your headspace, so don’t listen to every piece of information like it’s pure truth. 

22.   Have you entered any writer contests? Tell us about your experience!

Nah. I don’t do contests. The stories I tell are really too long for anything like that, & I just don’t like the pressure. 

23.   Who are your top 5-10 favourite writers?

I haven’t really found many authors where I like everything they write! It’s more about the stories themselves for me than the author. I might like one book or one series by someone & then strongly dislike their other books. I do read a lot of indie books!

24.   Link us your book/twitter/goodreads or wherever we can best connect with you!

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