Reckonings follows a college student seeking a carefree night at a Halloween party who must confront a rising tide of the undead and the haunting shadows of her past. Were there any particular books or films that influenced the tone and style of Reckonings?

There were a few films that influenced “Reckonings.” The western references come from the film “Near Dark.” I think this film has a great story line and its well done. I had a little fun with the truck explosion scene. That was a quick reference to several 80’s films. I’ve had several readers take guesses at the films being referenced. They are having fun with it. So far, all of their guesses have been correct.

When I write the All Hallows’ Eve Tales, I try to base them loosely on legends I heard growing up. In “Reckonings,” I used the Casket Girls from New Orleans. In reality, these were women, often young girls, who were brought to New Orleans from France to be married off to men in the French colony. They often came in different groups. According to the legend, several vampires managed to penetrate the city in one of these groups.

How did you approach developing Jessica’s emotional arc alongside the supernatural horror elements?

We’re always tempted between doing the right and wrong things. It’s a conflict everyone faces every day even if it seems unfair. Each of the vampires had a grudge, or reckoning, which Antonia used against them and turned them into monsters. Each of these vampires obviously gave in and made the wrong choice. Jessica at one point could have easily given in and went to their side. But she didn’t, even with all the wrongs that had been done to her. She made the right choice therefore she is the bigger person.

How did you balance the fast-paced action with the deeper, introspective moments to keep readers both thrilled and emotionally engaged?

When I started the “All Hallows’ Eve Tales” series, I wanted to make a series of short stories. I knew I would need to cover a lot of ground in a limited amount of time. In “Reckonigs,” I try to give each character their moment so the reader can learn about their pasts and struggles. In between all of this, Jessica and her friends are facing their own struggle (fighting to survive) throughout the course of the story.

The theme of unresolved trauma is central to Jessica’s journey. What message were you hoping to convey through her confrontation with both inner and outer demons?

I think we all face demons every day. Some more than others. It’s a constant struggle, but you can’t give up. If you give in, it could make you a monster.

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