About Me
My writing roots
My latest book came from an unexpected spark. One day I was feeling sad about not finding my soulmate and thought I’d eventually write a romance about that longing—about believing you’re destined for one person and never finding them. I put the idea aside, but it stayed with me. Watching Retta’s Ugliest Houses in America, I saw a home with a floating indoor river and suddenly imagined a preppy boy in the 1980s standing beside it. I filed that picture away, too. It wasn’t until I read Heartbones by Colleen Hoover—a GenX story set in today’s world with several plot holes—that I thought, I have to write my story now.
The first version of the novel took six months to write, as I channeled pieces of my own childhood trauma. The second draft took two months and was heavily edited to streamline the characters and the story. I’m proud of the final version—it feels true to the era my characters live in while still raising questions that matter today.
My style
My personal approach to writing usually involves four drafts. The first draft goes to my developmental editor, who pulls no punches. The second draft is my rewrite with her changes. My third draft goes to a copyeditor, and the final draft is where I incorporate all the feedback. It can be overwhelming at times—especially if that last round requires a massive overhaul—but every stage sharpens the story. By the end, the book feels polished, true to my vision, and ready to meet readers.
