A Second Chance follows a faith-filled teen whose prophetic dreams, fractured family, and fierce love for her best friend collide with online grooming, violence at home, and the cost of believing God can still redeem what’s been broken. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

I was listening to “Running up That Hill” by Kate Bush, and I thought, what would it take a teen to make a deal with God? And I expanded upon that because not everyone has a perfect life, and that makes youth vulnerable. Vulnerable youth are key targets for predators, in person and online. I wanted to show that through it all, faith can get you through it, and so can supportive, responsible friends and family.

Mikaila’s dreams play a major spiritual role. How did you balance portraying divine guidance without removing her agency as a character?​

Many times, in life, we’re given tests–tests of character and even tests of faith that require us to use our own strengths and character to get through them. I wanted to focus on the internal and external struggles of passing those tests.

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

Friendship, because that is foremost important when you’re a teen. Secondly, I wanted to tell the truth about manipulation, loyalty, and faith under pressure.

How did you approach writing faith conversations so directly while still keeping the voice authentic to teens?​

I thought about my nephews, who are faith-driven teens now, and what the conversation would look like from their perspective.

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