WHAT LED YOU TO WRITE SWEET DREAMS AND DREAM ON?
The WJA series is a three part series and they are thrillers. I grew up reading and love story. The one thing I looked at when I first started writing was if I wanted to write Christian fiction or not. I saw authors like bill Myers and Ted Dekker who started out writing CF and how hard it was for them to get into the genre section in bookstores even though anyone would enjoy their work. Thus I decided to just write clean fiction. I don’t have profanity or sex in my books but they are not really Christian outside of coming from me and having my worldview. I wanted to reach people and change minds and be able to put out good fiction without the junk. My newest book is a YA thriller called Airel, it is getting rave reviews and I am picking up a lot of Twilight fans. This is exciting as the book idea comes from a story in the Bible.
STARTING OUT, WHO WERE THE AUTHORS WHO INSPIRED YOU? WHO INSPIRES YOU NOW?
I read a lot of Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys. Classics and the like but when i was young it was these mystery books that got me hooked on reading. Now I would have to say, Ted Dekker, Bill Myers, Robin Parrish, and Estevan Vega. Some of the new writers coming on the scene are amazing and have so much talent.
HOW DOES YOUR FAITH INFLUENCE YOUR WRITING?
I believe that by telling a story is one of the most powerful ways to reach people. I have a hidden message in all my work and try to have a strong message without being “Christian.” And it works, Christians read my books and love them and see the laced in ideas and others like them as well even if they are not of any faith. It is being harmless as a dove and wise as a serpent.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU KNOWN YOU WANTED TO BE AN AUTHOR?
Just a few years, I never thought I had any talent so just never tried. Now I am so happy to be able to write full time and live the dream I didn’t even know I had.
WHAT DO YOU MOST HOPE THAT READERS GET FROM READING YOUR WORK?
I hope to keep them up late at night and make them think. I write for enjoyment and hope to maybe give some joy in a harsh world. With my teen novels I hope to reach a new group and get our teen to think about life, and some of the hard things they are going to have to deal with. I don’t pull any punches and some subjects may be hard but I believe necessary.