Simone LaFray and the Red Wolves of London follow a young spy girl as she tries to find a missing spy, and winds up entangled in more trouble. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?

This is the second book in a planned 6-7 book series. After toying with a completely different plot, I decided to pivot to a more traditional second installment. Second books are notoriously hard to balance and I needed to add information as well as characters that are critical to the following books. It was also important for Simone to leave Paris and expand her world. The primary inspiration was again highlighting the importance of family.

The tween years are when children go through a lot of character development and discover themselves. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?

Character development is always critical as it endears the characters to the reader. Characters do not need to be complex, but they do have to offer enough information to let the reader form an opinion on them. In this book, relationships and loyalties become complicated for Simone, which is typical for the age. As mentioned in the book summary, life is about to get messy, which everyone can relate to.

What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?

As previously mentioned, one of the central themes is that Simone’s life, both personal and professional, is getting complicated. The absolutes that she used to accept and even found comfort in are now wavering. The theme of a family’s love for one another is also front and center, as it was in the first book.

What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?

I’m currently writing Book #3, which I hope to have published in mid-2023. I also have a graphic novel currently under consideration for publication.

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