In The Titanic Test, a time-traveler yearns for a simple life, but she is forced to revisit the doomed Titanic and retrieve a valuable book before the ship meets its fate. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

The Titanic Test was born out of my obsession with the concept of time travel and with the ill-fated voyage of the Titanic, especially as so beautifully brought to life in James Cameron’s 1997 film. Put those two things together, and voilà! The Titanic Test. 

The notion of a high school test in time as the central theme of the book came from one of those “lightning” moments when an idea just strikes you. After that, Charlie took shape in my imagination, and her story spilled onto the page. 

I added “A Love Story” as a subtitle to the book because, of course, Charlie and Quinn’s relationship is a huge part of the story, but also because Charlie finds love for humanity through her experience in 1912.

Why choose this period in time for your time-traveling main character to visit?

Because of the role of the Titanic in the book, the time period was decided for me. Happily, the late Edwardian era was a time of elegance, technological advancement, and change, making it the perfect backdrop for Charlie’s life-altering trip in time.

What were some of the trials that you felt were important to highlight Charlie’s development? 

Charlie is a girl who lives in the moment and doesn’t appreciate the past. She dreads Windline Academy’s Junior Year Test, even more so when she learns she is to sail on the Titanic. When she engages with real-life people on the ship, she begins to realize that the right thing, in her eyes, and the rules of the test are incompatible. Then, when she makes her choice, she must fight an uphill battle — against time, against fate, and against the men who run the ship. The entire test is designed to bring out Charlie’s strengths, and it succeeds in spades.

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

I’m deep in the throws of finalizing the audiobook for The Titanic Test, working with an excellent narrator, Lillian Field. It will be available in late January. After that, I’ll be diving in (so to speak) to The Titanic Test’s sequel…. At the moment, I’m learning so much from this journey and enjoying every minute of it! 

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