Moonrise follows a weary corporate employee who is forced to attend a company retreat where he is attacked by a lycan and becomes part of a dark prophecy and war. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

Moonrise was born from my fascination with the intersection of corporate burnout and primal transformation. I wanted to explore what happens when a person who has spent their life adhering to routine and conformity is suddenly thrust into a world ruled by instinct, violence, and ancient forces. The idea of a company retreat, a symbol of forced team-building and superficial wellness, felt like the perfect backdrop to unravel something much darker. The lycanthropy serves not just as a physical transformation, but as a metaphor for awakening a suppressed identity and confronting the beast within.

What character did you enjoy writing for? Was there one that was more challenging to write for?

I particularly enjoyed writing for Anthony, whose descent from a jaded office worker to a reluctant player in a supernatural war provided a compelling internal arc. Balancing his skepticism, fear, and eventual empowerment was deeply rewarding. The most challenging character to write was the Elder, the ancient lycan who serves as both a mentor and a threat. His dialogue required a careful balance of wisdom and menace. He’s a creature of old world power but operates in the modern world, and that tension needed to feel both authentic and unnerving.

What intrigues you about the horror and paranormal genres that led you to write this book?

Horror and the paranormal allow us to explore human truths through extraordinary circumstances. I’ve always been fascinated by the way fear strips away artifice and reveals what we’re really made of. These genres also give permission to question the boundaries of reality and identity. In Moonrise, horror became a lens to examine isolation, transformation, and the masks we wear in society, both literal and metaphorical. There’s something deeply cathartic and thrilling in taking familiar environments, like the workplace, and letting them unravel into chaos.

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

Yes, a follow-up is already in the works. While Moonrise centers on Anthony’s transformation and the initial unveiling of the prophecy, the sequel will dive deeper into the mythos behind the lycan clans and the ancient war that now threatens to spill into the human world. We’ll see Kane stepping into a leadership role he never wanted, navigating uneasy alliances, and facing a greater enemy tied to the origins of the curse itself. The themes of identity and control will continue to evolve as the stakes get higher and the line between man and monster blurs even further.

Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Instagram