Cherokee Steel follows Amelia as she tries to find a family member who’s worthy to carry the special family heirloom on to the next generation. What were some new ideas you wanted to introduce in this book that was different from book one and two?

In book 1, Amelia was very young and knew nothing about the special stone. In book 2, she is surprised that she is chosen to inherit the stone and becomes a reluctant guardian. By book 3, she has matured and has freed herself of much of the emotional baggage she has carried throughout her life. Now that she has become truly worthy of the stone, it is time to turn it over to someone else.

Amelia is a compelling character that I enjoyed watching evolve. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?

I wanted to show how emotional trauma experienced by a young person will not only affect that person but will affect the generations to come. Conversely, I wanted to show that even a badly damaged individual can find redemption. I also wanted to give readers a glimpse into how Amelia’s Cherokee history and culture continued to impact her life even when she seemed to forget it.

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

Effects from the past, family abuse, family violence, alcohol abuse, infidelity, tragedy of war, feelings of inadequacy, rebellion, dealing with death, persistence of love, the touch of the supernatural, the influence of culture, realization of dreams, discrimination, bullying, and redemption.

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

Before We Were a State, 2023.

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