Interview

Congratulations on your new release. Please tell us a little bit about it. What’s your favorite aspect or part of the story? Do you have a favorite character? Who/Why?

Thank you! I am very excited to introduce these guys to the world. This story is a mix between two of my favorite tropes, friends-to-lovers and second-chance romance. Beckett and Riley were teens before they were separated, barely coming to terms with being gay and their own feelings. Due to unforeseen circumstances, they never had the opportunity to explore what might have become of their very close friendship. Fast forward ten years, and they discover their once-in-a-lifetime bond is still once-in-a-lifetime.

I think my favorite part of the story, aside from watching their love grow, is the flashbacks at the beginning of each chapter. Each one shows how their unbreakable bond developed as kids, which emphasizes why it was so difficult when that friendship was torn apart.

What was the inspiration for your latest story?

Beckett, one of the main characters, visited me in a dream. I saw him sitting at a computer looking utterly depressed and heartbroken. His fingers were hovering over the keyboard and I could tell he was just itching to type a name into the search bar. I heard “one more time, just one more time…” It took some coaxing, but eventually he told me about his long-lost best friend, Riley.

Are you a planner or a pantser? How much do you know about your story before you start writing? How often does your plan change? Why does this work best for you?

I do a little of both. I knew they had been separated after spending several years together in care, and that they’d find their way back to each other through a case Beckett would take on. The case he was working on, however, changed about a half dozen times in the process. I realized as I was writing that I wanted to focus more on the story of their reconnection, than the case itself. The how and why they reconnected didn’t change, just details and the depth of the case Beckett took on. In the end, it worked for me, though. I think I needed the guidance of having the plot laid out but the flexibility to change the details throughout the process.

What did you edit out of this book?

One of the main female characters was pregnant when I wrote the rough draft, but the more the story unfolded, the more I realized it was a plot point that just didn’t fit. Also, there were a few flashbacks I cut that I wish I had room to include. Those boys and their shenanigans, I’m telling you. They were in their own world most of the time!

Does your research lead to bizarre internet searches? If so, tell us about some of your wackier searches, or ones that would make you nervous if your computer were ever confiscated by law enforcement.

While dreaming up Beckett’s case, I had to research different types of wood for their hardness and colors. And, yes! I did get a few search results that went there, too! I was fascinated with the different variations and the natural reactions wood has once it was cut, though. I fell in love with snakewood and actually had a picture of it as the background of my computer for a while. Who knew you could cut into a piece of a tree and it would change so drastically?

How do you select the names of your characters?

Beckett’s name came easily. My husband’s coworker had a baby around the time the story started to unfold in my mind, and when I heard the baby’s name, I absolutely fell in love with it. It fit the character in my mind perfectly. Riley’s name was a bit more of a mystery. I knew it had something to do with birds, but that was the only clue I had for a while. There’s another significant name used in the story, but you’ll have to read it to find out why it’s important.

Do you ever say dialogue passages aloud as you write them, or make the facial expressions or actions you’re describing?

YES! Oh man, my husband loves to make fun of me when I write. I make all sorts of faces depending on their moods. During a particularly stressful scene, he threatened my screen would break if I continued to glare at it. But then he could always tell when it was safe to be in my bubble too, if there was a smile on my face.

One last question. If you could, would you live in the world you created in your book?

Yes! I’d love to live in Reedsport. Not only for its picturesque setting and artful touches everywhere, but also for the kind people who live there. You’ll see more of Reedsport in my upcoming books, too, because I simply can’t stop dreaming about it. It’s my idea of a perfect place.

Thanks for having me! I hope everyone enjoys Beckett and Riley’s story in Back To You.