Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few people will find?

Anyone familiar with British girl pop of the last three decades would have a field day with my work. If you think it’s a reference to the Spice Girls, you’re probably right.

What was your hardest scene to write?

If I’m having problems with a scene, usually I am missing part of it. It’s definitely hard to write something you haven’t fully thought out yet. Otherwise, it can all be edited later.

Do you Google yourself?

I try to avoid it. It’s very strange seeing bits and pieces of your life vomited back to you through a search engine.

What one thing would you give up to become a better writer?

I’ve already given up years of my life, tens of thousands of dollars in tuition to various schools and classes, and I’ve lived on the internet for entirely too long. So I’m good.

Do you like to listen to music when you write?

I do. I tend to switch it up a lot. Sometimes it’s dark academia, piano music, rain or storm sounds, sometimes lo-fi, other times Christmas music. Just depends what I’m in the mood for.

What is your favorite childhood book?

My favorite book from when I first started reading was The Z Was Zapped. It’s a beautiful book. I loved the art and the words struck me as very beautiful, even at that young age.

What is the most difficult part of your artistic process?

Probably living a life that I need to write about so much. Much of my inspiration comes from dealing with mental illness. As someone with bipolar disorder, I feel and process emotion differently (and sometimes more intensely) than the average person. Writing about my emotions is one thing, but dealing with the experience is something else.

Does your family support your writing?

They continually decline to engage with it.

If you had to do something differently as a child or teenager to become a better writer as an adult, what would you do?

I would have definitely taken more classes in creative writing, whether through a school or online. All of the English classes I was taking through grade school were only writing focused if it was essay writing. I needed to be challenged back then. Critique, feedback, exposure to other writers, etc. It would have done me good.

How long on average does it take you to write a book?

Not long. A lot of my projects have been various lengths, themes, mediums, etc. But I tend to write quickly and write a lot.

I have a theory that I might have hypergraphia. Which is the compulsion to write. I’m not sure if it applies to typing. But sometimes I’m washing the dishes or sitting in a waiting room and my fingers just want to type.

Do you believe in writer’s block?

Yes. I’ve had times where I’ve wanted to write, felt the need to write, and sat at the computer staring at a blank page for hours. I’ve done exercises where I’ve forced myself to write, like it’s just discipline, when I feel blocked and it all tends to be utter crap. Sometimes the only thing I can do is to do something else and wait it out. It always comes back.