About the Author

Q: Of the stories you have written, which one is your favorite?

A: That's a tough one! I like all of them for different reasons. I'd say Losing Grip is my favorite because it took me so long to write it that these characters truly became a huge part of my life and I spent so much time thinking about them and their issues.

Q: What was your inspiration for it?

A: It's actually a weird story. My sister and I used to play this game where we would brainstorm random ideas by assigning each other letters of the alphabet. We would have to come up with a brief synopsis for an imaginary story that starts with that letter. Then move on to the next letters of the alphabet and so on. When I got to "H", I began writing a random dialogue between random characters (Arson and Avery) about another character (Avan) that she thought would have moved on from her sister's death by now. And Losing Grip was born, haha!

Q: What do you hope your readers like best about your stories?

A: A new perspective. As both of my currently-published stories deal with grief, I just hope that my readers see that there can be different ways of dealing with pain and there's nothing wrong with that. I hope that, at the end of the book, these things (loss, grief, rock bottom), even if my readers haven't experienced them, become more real to them--more tangible as though they had watched a real person go through them.

Q: What would you say is the most crucial thing to bear in mind when you are writing and why?

A: I think the most crucial thing is to remember *why* you're writing that story. You have to be sure that this character's story matters and means something to you personally. Otherwise, your readers won't feel any of it either. They are only as emotionally involved in that story as you are.

Q: What are your favorite writers on Wattpad and what do you admire about their stories?

A: I love SO many for different reasons! I would have to say that my favorites so far are MarjorieK64 and CAITLlN. Marjorie has this crazy skill where all her characters live off the page. I see them and I relate instantly. They're so very real. She's also the queen of cliffhangers.

I love Caitlin's stories for very similar reasons. She also has the ability to change her writing style to fit the current character's perspective so that the narration sounds so authentic. I think that's just insane. 

About the Story

Kelly Rivers is doing fine - at least, that's what she wrote on her resume. The truth is, she's close to cracking and the eccentric writer, Miles Whitman, isn't helping matters. Find out what happens in 'Booked', now on our Featured reading list!

Q: Your novel; 'Booked' seems to deal with the contemporary issues in the world of new adults. Why do you feel that it is important to express these issues to your readers?

A: I don't think there are nearly enough books about college in the world these days, which is a shame because that's such an important stage. You're supposed to be an adult but you also feel nothing like one. If I can show my readers how stressful that is--if I can show them the doubts and insecurities that come with it, then I'm happy.

Q: Would you say that the life of a young adult is not as easy as many would believe it is?

A: For sure. I think adults dismiss things like insecurities and school drama as a phase or as insignificant teenage stuff. But these issues, if they're not properly dealt with at that stage, follow you into adulthood and prevent you from being as amazing as you can be. That's a very important stage of life and it should be viewed as that.

Q: Which part of your novel is your favorite and why?

A: My favorite part of Booked is when Kelly chooses to face the past because she realizes that she'll never be fully present if she doesn't acknowledge her past and grieve for it first. I thought that was a very important moment for her character and that it was crucial to her story.

Q: Out of all the challenges that Kelly Rivers is facing, which challenge is a priority to her and why?

A: Definitely her writing challenge. She's dreamed of being a writer for a long time and when she's finally so close, it feels like it has become a goal she'll never achieve. She starts to doubt that she has what it takes.

Q: What advice would you give your main character?

A: Ooh, interesting question! I'd definitely tell her to stop brushing off painful things. She has the bad habit of dismissing negative experiences and completely casting them out of her mind. I would tell her she'll never fully feel the weight of the positive things--and appreciate them--until she lets in all the bad ones as well.