When
did you start writing?
I have
been writing ever since I was a kid. I received a journal as a child, and
instead of recording my daily experiences, I made up things that seemed far
more interesting. As an adult, I worked professionally as a graphic designer
for over a decade before feeling the urging to return to my childhood love.
What
makes you want to write?
I feel
like the stories choose me. The characters voices and scenes just come to me
and compel me to write them down. I love that sense of discovery as you work
your way through your story.
Do
you ever get writer's block and what do you do to get over it?
I
think for me, writer’s block is more writer’s distraction. When the stresses of
life pull my attention away from my writing, it’s difficult to get into my
characters’ heads. If I make sure I get into my writing zone every day, I
rarely get writer’s block. Another thing that helps if I get stuck is to do
something creative that isn’t related to writing - play music, draw, make a
craft, etc. Oftentimes this allows the creative mind to relax and the problems
begin to solve themselves, allowing you to return to the writing.
Do
you have a special way of going about writing?
My
stories don’t come chronologically. As scenes come to me, I jot them down
briefly as plot points. If the scene is longer and/or includes dialogue, I
write paragraphs. I do a lot of this brainstorming before I write my first
draft. Once I have the bulk of the story (I don’t need it all yet), I order the
plot points and scenes. I don’t number my chapters yet because I often shuffle
scenes around. As I’m writing, I will continue to move scenes if it makes more
sense or if it improves the storytelling. Once the chapters are mostly set in
place, I number (and title them depending on the stories).
Do
you have any works in progress?
I am
currently editing book 2 in “The Shadow Wars” series The Bloodstone Prophecy.
I am also writing a NA romance called “Restless Hope” and outlining the third
book in “The Shadow Wars series.
What
are your hobbies?
I
enjoy playing the piano, singing, drawing and hiking. I also enjoy a good game
of dodgeball or floor hockey. :)
How
did you choose the character names for Born of Shadow?
They
came from all over. Samuel T. Towers was named after a cop friend. I got
Kamilah, Zaynah and Haji’s names from a baby naming app. With Kamilah, I wanted
a name that could be both Egyptian and American. I recently learned that the
shortened version she goes by, Kami, means God in Japanese, which I found very
interesting. I have always liked the name Liam, so he had to be my leading man.
Christopher is named after St. Christopher, patron saint of travelers. I found
Ahmed and Layla’s names by looking at a list of Egyptian movie stars. I have
always loved the name Yasmin, so I jumped at the chance to use it for Kami’s
cousin. As for Galileo the turtle? Like Kami, he’s one of my favorite scientists.
Who
is your favourite character in Born of Shadow?
This
is a tough call, but probably Kami because she was one of the first characters
that came to me and I relate to her so much. It has been fun watching her
character growth over the course of the books.
How
did you get the idea for Born of Shadow?
I have
been obsessed with Greek mythology ever since I picked up “The Odyssey” as a
precocious child. Later, in junior high and high school, I loved studying Egypt
- the culture, artifacts, pyramids, mummies, all of it. The idea of this story
all started with the jar. In myths like Pandora’s Box (which actually was a
jar, not a box) and others, there is a force trapped that, if unleashed, could
cause the destruction of mankind. So I took that concept, applied it to a Greek
amphora and decided to bring Alexander the Great into the mix. There is a lot
of mystery regarding his life, cause of death, and the location of his body.
For many Egyptologists, finding Alexander the Great’s body would be like
finding the Holy Grail. So I loved the idea of Kami’s grandfather being an
Egyptologist with an obsession with Alexander the Great who accidentally
uncovers something that should have remained buried.
What
was your favourite part of writing Born of Shadow?
One of
the best parts was immersing myself in the research. I was also surprised by
how much I enjoyed writing the action scenes.
What
are you currently reading?
Red
Rising (I’m actually listening to it on Audible). I am a little late to
starting this series, but I’m enjoying it very much so far.
What
is your favourite book?
Three
way tie - Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre and To Kill a Mockingbird.
Who
is your favourite author?
Three
way tie - Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte and Harper Lee.
What
is your favourite film?
Lord
of the Rings Trilogy.
What
is your favourite TV show?
Fringe.
Quick-fire
questions:
Chocolate
or ice cream? Both!
Paperback
or ebook? Paperback.
Dogs
or cats? Dogs.
Go
out or stay in? Stay in.
Summer
or winter? Summer.
Thanks
so much for the interview!
