The Attic Door follows a little boy in a new bedroom that has a strange door where strange and scary sounds come from who works up the courage to investigate what is behind the door. What was the inspiration for your story?

The inspiration for The Attic Door came from my experience in second grade when I lived in Chicago, Illinois. My family moved into a new house, and my sister, brother, and I each got to choose our own bedrooms. Unfortunately, I picked the one with a large door that led into the attic. At first, I didn’t think much of it, but that quickly changed once night fell—especially during Chicago’s windy winters. The attic door would rattle and shake, and I began having nightmares. Eventually, my younger brother and I switched rooms, since the attic didn’t bother him at all. But as fate would have it, his old room—now mine—had a window that opened onto the roof. Of course, my imagination took over once again. I had to endure the rooftop window for another year until we finally moved!

What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?

I loved writing the story, and the completed illustrations made me love the picture book even more.

The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with the illustrator David Barrow?

All communication went through the publisher. She shared the illustrations as David completed them, and I provided feedback. It was an easy process because David captured everything just as I had envisioned.

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

I submit directly to publishers and currently have three stories out on submission. No takers so far, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed!

Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon