Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When did you first start writing?

I first started creating stories when I could first draw pictures. I would craft short illustrated "books" that I kept in a 3-ring binder. Then as soon as I learned how to read and write, I was writing full on stories. Then in 8th grade, when I got a laptop, I began to write full manuscripts and hundreds of pages

Q: What inspired you to start writing?

I'm an autistic who is overly fascinated with absolutely everything, so as vague as that sounds, the honest truth is that everything inspires me. The ocean and mermaids, however, were a major driving force behind my inspirations. Even unwritten stories in my head frequently involved mermaids.

Q: Why mermaids?

As with many little girls of the 90's, I fell in love with mermaids as a child watching Disney's The Little Mermaid. But I think beyond that, something lit my fire every time I would visit Sea World, and that was frequently as a child. It's difficult to put into words how these watery worlds made me feel alive and euphric. Stories and ideas would just begin to flow. Mermaids, in my opinion, are an embodiment of the beatuty of the sea and the relationship we can have with it. They are often depicted in popular culture as creatures who long for love, and quite honestly, I feel similarly in my longing for the sea every time I visit the ocean or an aquarium.

Q: Your mermaids don't look like traditional mermaids. How did you come up with their design?

My merfolk do look a little different from the conventional western idea of mermaids. They are covered from head to tail in colorful scales and beautiful marble designs, some of which are influenced by real fish scale patterns. Their hair will often complement the color of their scales as well. This design choice is because I wanted my merfolk to feel like they truly lived in and belonged to the ocean like other fish. They don't have gills though, and it's never explained how they breathe other than it being as natural as breathing air, so I'll let you figure that out. My merfolk also don't have navels, which are a telltale mark of a mammal. My merfolk more closely resemble fish since they are born from eggs. For a companion guide to my world of merfolk, join my newsletter!

Q: What is a day of writing like for you?

As of now, I am a full-time employee for a fortune 500 company. But I make plenty of time for writing. Since there is scientific evidence that our brains are at their most creative within the first 15 minutes of waking up, I make it a habit to spend the first thirty minutes to an hour after rising every morning to write, particularly to solve story issues and plot holes. The solutions come to me so much faster in the morning. If I have a good idea during the work day, I jot it down to flesh it out later. If there's time during lunch break, I'll sneak a couple of paragraphs of writing in. Late afternoon and evening are where my creative energy is bursting. I'll spend a minimum of two hours writing or editing, depending on the project. And yes, if an idea comes to me as I'm lying in bed, I write it down. Future me has never been able to remember, no matter how much I've hoped it would. My hope is that when we retire early, I will be able to switch to full-time writing.

Q: Do you plan to stick with writing series or will you write standalone stories?

I like exploring characters and the world I've constructed, so I predominantly work in series. However, I have a few standalone books up my sleeve. Stay tuned!

Q: any plans on doing any book signings?

I've not done any book signings just yet, but I'll be sure to announce any book signings in my newsletter. Sign up to stay up to date! In the meantime, if you'd like a signed copy of any of my books, please feel free to reach out to me through the contact form on this website.

Q: How do you manage to write in a world of AI?

Humans have hearts and souls. AI is a machine which has neither. In the creative writing space, AI is likened to a fancy parrot. It can only repeat and rearrange what it's been told. It doesn't have real, unique, and raw experiences from which to draw, and that is something special to humans. I write from my own experiences and interview people who have done things I've never done. Being human is what makes stories real and unforgettable. It's part of the story of humanity. That's why I keep writing.