Overlap: The Lives of a Former Time Jumper follows a man nearing the end of his life who decides to tell his story of time travel to a young reporter. What was your inspiration for the setup of the story, and how did that help you create the ending?

Inspiration came from a few sources. The concept of being able to ‘jump’ into previous versions of yourself in your timeline came from an independent film I watched some years ago. The idea behind Marcus’ desire to change the past to save his wife comes from my experience of loss. His hope for redemption was largely inspired by my father and something he told me nearing the end of his life. A merging of these led me to an ending I hadn’t originally planned but I believe turned out to be a better conclusion to Marcus’ story.

Were you able to achieve everything you wanted with the characters in the novel?

Yes, and more. The ending for Marcus, while changed in certain details, is what I envisioned for him in my original story outline. Jessica, on the other hand, developed beyond my first draft and grew as the story unfolded. Part of the writing process I enjoy is not knowing exactly where things are going and experiencing the joy of discovering it almost as the reader would.

Is there any moral or idea that you hope readers take away from the story?

I hope readers will be encouraged by the idea of redemption and that we can lift ourselves from grief, no matter the loss. We can make a better future, even if cannot change the past.

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

I have a finished draft of a novel with my editor. By Way of Avernus follows a team of marines from Earth on a mission to a parallel world to prepare for a forced occupation. It is their last-ditch effort to save the four and a half billion left on a dying planet. Meanwhile, on the pristine sister world of Idyllium, forces work to prevent the same. Morality is blurred. Lines are drawn, some are crossed. I hope to have a release date in April 2024.

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