I decided to become an author when I was thirteen after I read the Lord of the Rings. Before then, while I was a voracious reader ofmysteries, LOTR was my first fantasy. It was the first time I realized I could create a world that was my own. People like to ask how tostart writing but all I can really say is I sat down and put words on a page—or rather typed them on my computer. I distinctly remembernot knowing what I was doing and thinking…how do I start this? The thing is, you can spend forever reading about how to write a novel ortrying to outline a book to perfection, but sometimes, you don’t know what the book is about until you begin putting words on a page.

Reading about how to write IS important. But I think it should come as you are also actively writing a novel.

I have always been interested in mythology. I do not know where my initial interest came from, but in college, I was an English major andwe read a lot of Greek Epics. I always found the dynamics interesting. The Gods rule with emotion, which is considered a very humanflaw. The Goddesses, who are among the most powerful women in the world, are still oppressed and shown to be shallow and wrong.

Overall, I feel like myths mostly illustrate how humanity doesn’t change but I think that is also because myth is how we attempt tounderstand the world around us. This is also why I think retellings are important.

I think there is a difference in the time it takes to prepare to write a book and the time it takes to put words on a page. Preparing to writea book takes me a good three to four months. First, there is a process between books where you sort of shed the previous world (if youare alternating series like I do). Even then, I have usually already started hearing character voices, writing down lines and scenes, andresearching various things. When I feel like I have enough scenes and information, I start to write the actual book and at that point, Ihave to write in chronological order. I don’t usually begin with an outline. I start writing what I know and when I hit a wall, I do my outline.I also usually make multiple outlines because sometimes things just change. Technically, I can put words on a page in a month—meaning,yes, if really pushed, I can write about 100k in a month. Do I like to? Absolutely not. Not only is it hard on your body, it’s hard on yourmind.

I started by self-publishing. My first two books came out in 2014 and 2015. They pretty much failed to get any traction. I took a break towork on my writing and worked on When Stars Come Out which I published in 2018. This book also did nothing but I wasn’t going to giveup on self-publishing because I had tried to go the traditional route before and it just really stole my joy. Writing was an escape for meand I wanted to keep it in that category and continue to love it, not make it something that made me feel lesser.

After I published When Stars Come Out, I felt really guided to write a mythology retelling that had been in my head since 2016. I hadalways loved the myth of Hades and Persephone but I had been too afraid to write romance. I figured there was nothing to lose and wentfor it.

A Touch of Darkness was my first romance novel.

After it was published (May 2019), it gained a small readership and I had made the most money ever off my books. I was ecstatic andmotivated to continue the series.

I next wrote A Touch of Ruin (April 2020) and by the time I decided to write A Game of Fate (Sept 2020), which was a request from myreaders, I was making enough money to go full-time as an author so I took the chance and left my job as a full-time librarian after fiveyears.

At this point, I was making enough money to go full-time as an author so I took the chance and left my job as a full-time librarian afterfive years.

It wasn’t until after I released A Touch of Malice in May of 2021 that I knew I needed help and Bloom, a new imprint with Sourcebooks,reached out and offered an agreement that worked for me.

Contrary to what many may think, and despite my success as a self-published author, I did not have a lot of agents or publishersinterested in representing me and those who did offer to chat only told me what was not possible–you can’t make more than 10k/month,you can’t get into Walmart or target, you can’t write what you want.

When Bloom reached out, they told me I could do all those things and more.

So it was a journey. I think all roads to publication are different and they all come with challenges, even the ones that look easy. I’m verygrateful for the way my path unfolded–the way it’s still unfolding. I would not change anything about it.

• I would say stop comparing yourself to other authors and their journeys.

• I think you should leave competition to the publishers.

• Write down your goals, small ones and big ones, and celebrate all of them.

• Recognize that a ‘no’ doesn’t mean you won’t achieve. It just means finding another way to ‘yes.’

• Legitimately, you can be a great writer and be told no by agents and publishers alike. You have to find worth in your own writingbefore anything else.

I think and research a lot. I write a lot of myth-based stories, so I’m constantly looking for new Greek Mythology books or books onwitchcraft and the history of magic. I take notes as I read and let that information simmer, and as I start to think and hear scenes in myhead, I will write those down, too.

There comes a point when I feel I can begin the book–sometimes it’s because I have enough information and sometimes it’s because Ihave no choice. I usually get about 20-40k into a book before I stop and outline.

My outline is never set in stone, either. It usually changes as I continue to write, so don’t be afraid to revisit and modify.

Inevitably, the beginning of my books are always far more clean than the end because I spend so much time on the beginning and rushthrough the end to finish, so most of my editing work happens from middle to end.

I was a librarian and Information Services Manager for five years before I became a full-time author. I loved it and still love the library soit was very bitter-sweet to leave a job I was so passionate about but becoming a full-time author had been my dream since I was thirteen.

I decided to put my notice in once I realized I was making more than I made monthly at the library. I had done a lot of work to prepare forthis beforehand and already had an alternative life insurance plan, a retirement account, and several other investment accounts. I wasalso working closely with a CPA so we checked in quarterly and I was aware of my tax payments. I highly recommend doing all of thesethings before you decide to go full-time. 

Usually when I get writer’s block, it’s because I haven’t given my brain enough rest. I usually take a break and workout, take my dog for awalk, or nap. Other times, I am trying to force the story in a direction it isn’t meant to go and I have to let go of that control and just letthe characters tell the story.

The second one is hard to do. It’s hard to just listen and it really does feel weird for the moment, but just sit down, take a breath, andwrite one word after the other. It will feel like chipping away at words, but you’ll get into the flow of it and the words will just pour out. Promise.