Please tell us a little about yourself and The Winter Heir. 

Reader. Writer. Nature lover. Librarian. 

So much of my experience with and love for literature has been academic—as a student, teacher, and librarian. Studyled to creation. And one fed the other. The more I learned, the more I wanted to create my own worlds and fill them with rich and surprising characters. After years of writing—everything from poetry to technical writing—I started asking the question, “Why not novels?” The journey wasn’t quick, but developed through amazing critique partners, writing organizations, conferences, and classes. My first (small press) contract offer came about 10 years after I started asking that question. I now have an agent, two published novels in the YA fantasy Fractured Kingdoms series, and many more in the works. 

How did you choose the SFF genre? What does SFF allow you to do that other genres don’t?  

I love the quote by G.K. Chesterton about fairy tales being “more than true.” Fantasy, science fiction, dystopia, supernatural. They can all teach us important things about “dragons.” Whatever our personal definition of a “dragon” might be, these fantastical and speculative stories show us that overwhelming obstacles can be defeated and offer a place to talk about difficult and controversial things—everything that keeps us up at night—by putting them in a different context. 

And when the context is magical…well, that is an added benefit. 

Was your storyline something that you envisioned from the beginning, or did you build/change it as you wrote your SFF novel? 

On the plotter–“panster” continuum, I am definitely a plotter. I need to map the story and explore as much about my characters and world as possible. I’m much more intentional in crafting my story if I know where it is going. 

That said, sometimes there are surprises, or characters pop up who demand more space on the page. In those instances, I pay attention. Part of the magic of writing is the discovery process. 

How has critical and/or reader response influenced the way you think about The Winter Heir? 

I’m so grateful for reviews and awards. But my heart is touched when readers connect with my characters’ stories and reach out—with artwork, emails, and even an original song! Classroom visits are the best; students are both very curious and very honest. One student scolded me for letting my character make a terrible decision, but then she went right back to reading. That level of investment is the highest praise. 

What are you working on now? 

While I always have multiple projects brewing—some fully plotted and some just shiny new ideas—most of my attention is going to the third and fourth books in the Fractured Kingdoms series. We’re in revision for The Summer Queen and drafting for The Hawthorn Crown. It’s both exciting and bittersweet to bring my faerie friends’ stories to a close. 

Portions of this Q&A were edited for clarity.