Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a Colorado-based young adult author and a working journalist who contributes to such publications as Fortune Magazine, the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. In 2017, I published my first work of fiction, the young adult trilogy, the Trinity Forest Series, (Ember Burning, Oshun Rising and Venus Shining). The series is set in nearby Leadville, Colorado and is about a girl who becomes entangled in a local forest teeming with urban legends of witchcraft and strange disappearances and must not only find herself but ultimately save the world. In 2020, I published my fourth novel, Extraordinary Lies about two girls from vastly different backgrounds who are thrust together for psychic testing at the Stanford Research Institute. As the scientists’ experiments begin to get creepier, the two girls must discover the truth about who they are and the secrets that keep them in the dark. I am currently working on my fifth novel titled Déjà vu.
I’m curious and people say I ask too many questions. You’ll most likely find me at my keyboard or under a blanket with a great book, enjoying a glass of wine or a handful of frozen chocolate chips. I revere my mountain bike, and I’m known to squeal on the ski hill and drive a boat pretty poorly. Most people agree I need my yoga mat to stay sane.
The Trinity Forest Series has won a number of awards, including:
*Gold Medal Best YA Ebook Independent Publisher Book Awards 2018
*Gold Medal Best YA Horror/Mystery 2018
*Finalist Dante Rossetti Book Awards 2018
*Honorable Mention Best Indie Ebook: Writer’s Digest 2019
*Finalist: Publishers Weekly Book Life Awards 2017
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest novel, Extraordinary Lies, was inspired by the real-life psychic testing performed by the U.S. government in the 1960s and 1970s at the Stanford Research Institute. The genesis of the story started not long after I published my first trilogy The Trinity Forest Series in 2017. My husband showed me a story on Flipboard about a Russian psychic during the Cold War that he thought I would find interesting.
The article was about this Russian psychic named Nina Kulagina’s supposed powers kicked off a “psychic arms race” between the U.S. and the Soviets during the Cold War. When American officials discovered the Soviet research into her supposed powers, they began funding investigations into supernatural phenomena at Stanford Research Institute. I learned about the true-life facts for the unique setting for my book and intriguing details from government documents and interviews. Then, my imagination took over. The resulting novel is a paranormal mystery with strong themes of feminism, family and friendship.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I will wake up and write in the middle of the night; and sometimes if I’m really obsessed, I’ll write on my phone.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love Jandy Nelson, Lauren Oliver, e. Lockhart and a long list of others. I get inspired by their beautiful prose and smart plotting with surprising twists and deep knowable characters.
What are you working on now?
I’m working on another paranormal mystery called Deja Vu. It’s in the early stages and will take some time, but I’m so excited about it.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I seek out readers where they huddle, whether it’s a niche Facebook page, a special book blog, on Instagram or sites like Awesome Gang, which really help spread the word among readers.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Today has never been a better time to be a writer. Carve out time to do your magic, tap smart editors, take classes, read and read some more.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
My dad used to tell me, “Illegitimi non carborundum.” It is a mock-Latin aphorism that means “Don’t let the bastards get you down.”
What are you reading now?
I am listening to Cross Her Heart by Sarah Pinborough. I finished A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder and the French Exit. And I’m also re-reading Emma.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I have several stories in my head, and hopefully in the next couple of years, I can get them onto the page for readers. My first trilogy, The Trinity Forest Series, and Extraordinary Lies, have film/tv interest, so it would be great to see those go to the big screen.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I’d like to bring two new books I’ve never read—one classical and one a suspenseful thriller. I’d bring one favorite, maybe Jandy Nelson’s I’ll Give You the Sun, and then Stephen King’s book On Writing, so while I sat there, I could plot my next book.
Author Websites and Profiles
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