Having It All follows a devoted mother and Wall Street trader, who tries to hold together a demanding career and a family when one disaster after another hits, leaving her to make a desperate decision. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

I started out with the idea to show three women with very different lifestyles, a single woman, a stay-at-home mom and a working mother, and show that each was a viable option. And you see these three characters in the book. But the working mother ended up being the focus. Perhaps because that was what I was most familiar with myself.

Dalia is a relatable character that many modern women will see parts of themselves in. Was there anything from your own life that you put into the characters in your novel?

There was plenty! This was originally my first attempt at writing a novel. I gave Dalia a security trader position because that was my job and I figured it would save on the research involved with using an alternative. So, I had the long commute, the stressful day and the child and husband to juggle.

I put the manuscript away for years because I couldn’t resolve some issues with the plot, but five published books later, I knew how to fix the problem. I kept the book set in 1997 because that’s when I started writing it, and if the characters had modern technology, the story wouldn’t work, and the trading details wouldn’t be accurate anymore.

What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?

Back in the day, they led women to believe they could have a perfect life as a working wife and mother with nothing having to suffer. That it should all be a simple snap of the fingers. But everything in life has its ups and downs. Also, the grass isn’t always greener on the other side, so be sure to take time to be grateful for what you have.

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

I’m working on the second book in my  Findale Fae Mystery series with hopes to have it available by the end of 2026.

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