The Enforcer’s Tale follows a kidnapped teenager who is forced to become part of the Coalition who took him from his home and now must decide to help them or turn against them and help families like the one he was taken from. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

Joseph’s story was created from a dream and my childhood experience of being adopted. In my dream, rebels fight against the government, which is set on dictating to families how to live and care for their children. The rebels escape into underground caverns to hide themselves and plan their resistance.

​Joseph misses his mother but is groomed to see the Coalition as saviors of society and now must choose his path in life. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?

While coming from a small farming community, Joseph has not experienced much of the “big” world, but he has a good sense of right and wrong. I wanted him to learn as a new child opens their eyes to new experiences – with awe and wonder. As his senses awaken to the harsh reality of his new life, he strives to keep true to his inner self and decides to play “double agent” – playing the political game but trying hard to remain true to his family and community that he was so abruptly torn from. I wanted Joseph to be relatable to my readers – someone who is conflicted and tries to do the right thing, even if it means taking big risks.

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

One of the main themes is “we take care of our own.” It’s mentioned numerous times by different characters, even the ones we don’t like. It is meant to remind my readers that every character feels like they must take care of their family and will do whatever it takes to keep them safe.

Another theme is belonging and trust. While Joseph is taken from his widowed mother, and he misses her immensely, he realizes that he’s not alone in those feelings. Each person he meets has a similar story of either being taken from their family or knowing someone who was taken. Trust is important, but the challenge is knowing who to trust.

Will there be a follow-up novel to this story? If so, what aspects of the story will the next book cover?

There will definitely be a follow-up novel to this story! It is meant to be at least a three-book series. The next book will continue with the rebels trying to take down the government while searching for the lost treasure of Harper’s Mountain. There will be a lot of twists and shocking moments, and I’m very excited about what is coming!

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