1. Rise of the Ash Kingdom is praised for its lush worldbuilding. How did you begin crafting the world, and what inspired its unique elements?

Growing up, I was deeply affected by the works of C.S. Lewis and the wonder he created in Narnia. I wanted to capture that same feeling of stepping into someplace limitless, with the added nuance of remaining untouched by humankind. Elysian was crafted to reflect what I would consider to be a place where perfection exists. Each of Elysian's realms fully embraces its own climate, from eternal autumn mountains to fabled oceans, all within reach of each other. 

2. Your characters often grapple with brokenness and searching for belonging. How do you make their journeys feel authentic?

Short answer: in order for something to feel authentic, it needs to be rooted in something emotionally real. 

Longer answer: some characters wind up hitting a lot closer to home than I intended. It would be nearly impossible not to leave little bits and pieces of myself on the page, and for them, authenticity comes easily. I know exactly what I’m dealing with in those cases. But most of my characters really do tell their own stories through my fingertips and are fully their own at their core. For them, authenticity comes from making sure their stories still reflect something fundamentally human. Every character with depth has a want and a need, but the question becomes whether those things would be something we’d encounter in the real world. Even when experiences are fictional, the emotions behind them don’t have to be. That’s when empathy becomes a vital tool—when I step into someone’s head and allow their emotions to find a home on the page. 

3. What was the most challenging scene to write in this book, and why?

Oh, anything action-based, for sure! Especially the final battle scene. I don’t think fighting scenes are my strong suit, so I had to do a lot of tweaking in order to get those even remotely believable. Hopefully, I’ll get stronger with those as I write more of them!

4. How do you balance themes of darkness and hope in your story?

Life is beautiful, but it can also be pretty damn harsh sometimes. But that's life. Light and dark are a part of it, and you rarely get one without the other. But drawing from my own struggles, I’ve learned that things always work out in the end as long as I don’t give up. It might get devastatingly dark at times, but there’s always that underlying light—that hope—waiting to clear the fog. That's the balance I work toward in my writing. I hope my readers are able to recognize pieces of their own darkness through my characters and not only resonate with that but see that it gets better. Hope doesn’t live far. 

5. Are there any moments in the book that were particularly personal to you as a writer or individual?

Oof. 100%. They say to write what you know, but it was never my intention for so much of me to come out on the page. In Rise of the Ash Kingdom, Briar is her own character completely, but some moments were…unsettling to make a connection to. I think it was maybe my 6th or 7th read-through before I stopped midsentence on a paragraph and I thought, “That sounds…familiar. That’s happened before.” Those realizations weren’t comfy. This book was incredibly healing for me in ways I didn’t even know needed to be healed. I desperately hope younger readers can learn from those exact unsuspecting moments. 

6. Fantasy often lets us explore complex emotions safely. Can you share a specific example of this from your writing process?

To be completely honest? I adore writing my villains for this very reason! Xosha, in particular, was so fun to write, because it gave me a chance to deep dive into her unhinged thoughts and motives. Not that going on a killing spree and deep conditioning her hair in her victims' blood is at all excusable. But exploring her rage and crafting a backstory for why she is the way she is was a thrill ride. Then you have Briar, who is just as angry but chooses a completely different path for what to do with that anger. It opens up so many interesting conversations about morality, accountability, and how we navigate dark emotions. 

7. Did any mythologies, folklore, or historical sources influence the world of Rise of the Ash Kingdom?

C.S. Lewis left a huge mark on me when he showed different mythologies coexisting. That was the main aspect I wanted to bring into my own story. Instead of limiting myself to one specific mythology or folklore, I wanted Elysian to be a place where everything belonged. Writing it this way made the experience feel even more fantastical to write, and it also allowed the worldbuilding to expand in ways that felt limitless. 

8. How do you approach magic systems, rules, or lore without overwhelming the reader?

I actually have a really bad habit of doing just this, far before the reader ever gets to see it, but it’s become a part of my process at this point. I get so excited and want to cover all the things as soon as possible. Which, of course, leads to overwhelming and info dumping. What I’ve found helpful is to allow myself to get it out of my system in the early drafts. Then, after the story is there, I get serious. During edits, I’ll pluck out pieces from the blocky sections that explore magic laws or lore and drop them elsewhere, making sure to space them throughout the novel at a comfortable pace. Writing is such a layered craft, and I’ve found that for me, I’m not going to get it perfect on the first try. Or the seventh…or the twelfth. So I let myself be messy and then, slowly smooth out the wrinkles.

9. Did any of your characters evolve in unexpected ways while writing the book?

Most of them, actually! My characters have a tendency of evolving on their own, and because Rise of the Ash Kingdom took me four years to write and edit, a lot changed from the original vision. Xosha really took the reins of her own story. Originally, she was simply blinded by jealousy and too stubborn to listen to logic, but eventually she showed me more of what drove her to madness. I never intended to relate so much to Briar, and Tynan? Wow. He always had a backstory, but the way it kept developing on its own, over and over again, surprised me in the best way. I could never get tired of adding to him. I’m really happy with how these characters developed throughout the book.

10. Which character did you find the most fun to write, and why?

I really do love writing the bad guys. Zafar, in particular, was a joy to write. I had so much fun being inside his manipulative head and getting to showcase that through such sassy energy. Ambrose, too. I love his grumpy little self. 

Creative Process and Inspiration:
11. Can you describe your typical writing routine?

I’m in a bit of a chaotic season of life. I have two small children and absolutely no support system outside of my husband, who is incredibly supportive but works a full-time job. I’m basically in the trenches at the moment. So right now, I don’t really have a routine. I write when I can, which isn’t very often (maybe 2 hours a day), and when I do get the time, I don’t have those extra minutes to ease into the right headspace. I sort of have to dive in headfirst whenever a gap in time opens up. I make it work, though. The iced lattes help :)

12. What’s your favorite part of writing—worldbuilding, dialogue, plot twists, or something else?

I really enjoy any dialogue bits. That’s where all the fun is. Getting to play around with how things are said, in what tones, and with what facial expressions or telling postures. Breaking them up with actions to make them flow naturally. So fun. Worldbuilding is a favorite as well, because that’s where I get to be the most creative. 

13. Do you outline extensively, or do you let the story unfold organically?

A little of both! I used to be a hardcore pantser. I’d just sit down and start moving my fingers along the keyboard, with absolutely no plan. That worked back when I was writing just for fun, but I’ve found that my stories now need more structure. I’ve started outlining for a smoother experience but still leave room for gaps to fill in organically. I have a feeling the longer I write, the more I’ll lean into outlining as much as possible. 

 14. How do you navigate writer’s block or creative slumps?

Taking a walk outside and music are the two things that always work wonders for me. Something about fresh air, the blue sky, and a solid playlist works magic for my mind. A spark of creativity will usually come to me by the time I make it back inside. But sometimes my mind just needs a break. If walking and music don’t work, then I know I’m really burned out and just need to embrace the slump.

15. Are there particular books, authors, or media that inspired your storytelling style?

That’s a good question that I’m not sure I’ve thought about much before. I think many authors and probably more books than I've realized may have left a little inspiration for me along the way, even if I didn’t realize it. I can say I especially admire Maggie Stiefvater and Shea Ernshaw’s ability to make words feel lyrical, the plot twists and full-circle moments of Sarah J. Maas, and the faith-driven storytelling of C.S. Lewis.

16. You write for upper YA audiences—what draws you to this age group and genre?

YA is a tricky genre because who it’s labeled for isn't always the same group it draws in. Briar is twenty-two, but let’s face it, we’re nowhere near adults at twenty-two. We’re very much young adults only just beginning to learn who we are and what we want, and even then sometimes we have no idea. While the publishing industry currently markets YA fantasy toward ages 12-18, a much wider range of readers not only enjoy the themes found there but also heavily relate to them as well. I’m drawn to stories that explore many of those themes—identity, doubt, and growth during those in-between phases of life.  

 17. How do you ensure your stories resonate emotionally with readers who might be experiencing their own challenges?

Even when I can’t fully relate to what my character is going through, I take the time to learn them. That means stopping and really focusing on everything about them—their biggest fears, who hurt them, what they want, and what’s stopping them from having it. When I create a character, I never view any of them as one-dimensional. Even if I never say it on the page, I know who they fall in love with, where they come from, and even the children they might one day have. Readers can feel when the author has really sat with their characters and taken the time to understand them. I can only hope, in doing so, my readers feel understood too. 

18. If you weren’t writing YA fantasy, what genre or medium do you think you’d explore?

Romantic comedies! Christina Lauren type books would totally be the next genre I’d explore.  

Personal Insights and Life:
19. You’ve mentioned that small joys, like a daily iced raspberry white mocha or an eternal autumn, are meaningful to you. How do these moments inspire your creativity?

These are both things that bring me an incredible sense of fulfillment, even though they’re small things that don’t necessarily mean much on their own. But when the world slows down, the leaves fall, and I’m able to sip my raspberry white mocha while watching it all? Everything feels perfect, and my mind settles into that. 

20. Being a parent and an author is a big balancing act. How do you manage time for both without burning out?

I don’t. Truly. I’m just out here fighting like hell. Send help hahahahaha (no, really, send help).

 21. Do you have a favorite writing space or ritual that helps you enter “creative mode”?

I love writing outside on my screened-in porch! I have a close-up view of the woods, and it’s not uncommon to see deer or other wildlife passing by while I’m out there. It’s so peaceful and pretty that sometimes I get distracted by it. Even if I’m zoned in on my writing, just being in the fresh air has an effect on my creative headspace. If I’m not able to get outside, I at least need to be near a window. 

Rapid-Fire Questions:
22. Coffee or tea? COFFEE
23. Favorite fictional world (besides your own)? Narina!
24. One book you wish you had written? Heartless by Marrissa Meyer. That book still lives rent free in my head, even a year after finishing it.
25. When you’re not writing, what’s your favorite way to spend an afternoon? Horseback riding or taking my kids to the bookstore.