Ain’t No Way This Is Real is a poignant exploration of friendship, heartbreak, and self-reclamation—when a lifelong bond shatters over love and shifting priorities. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

So, the inspiration behind this short story is my own friendship in high school. I met this kid in my freshman year, who ended up becoming my best friend for 5 years. We got so close, we saw each other as brothers. But, we sadly ended it shortly after graduation.

The book has a poetic and lyrical style. Was that intentional from the start, or did it evolve as you wrote?

I wrote it this way as I wanted to put a bit more emotional depth into the story, and poetry and lyrics have that ability. The narrator’s emotions feel incredibly raw and real.

Was there a particular scene or moment that was the hardest for you to write?

Throughout the entire writing process, I had to take breaks, break down, and had to call my support people. But, if there were particular moments I felt the hardest to write about were related to our past memories and connection to my mental health.

What do you hope readers take away from the narrator’s journey of loss and healing?

I wrote Ain’t No Way This Is Real as a way to heal, but I later realized my story could help others heal. Help other young adults and teens like me who are going through or went through a similar situation like mine, but never found anyone to relate to. As in the media, romantic relationships and breakups are pushed to be seen as the most important relationships and the most painful relationships to end,compared to friendships.

Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Amazon