Hybrid follows two sisters seeking safety, family, and their place in a magical world as they face the consequences of one sister’s transformation into a vampire. What do you find to be the most rewarding aspect of writing a series?

Continuing a beloved character’s story and giving voice to newer characters. In the first book, the POV focus is on Annamaria. In this second book, Marianna deserved significant POV moments, and the reader gets to be in her head almost as often as they are in Annamaria’s head. In a way, this was my way of exploring two sides of myself: Marianna is who I am, and Annamaria is who I desire to be.

Concordia feels like both a refuge and a judgmental space. What did you want that setting to represent in the larger story?

I wanted it to represent a prison wearing a mask of protection. Thick concrete walls surround the magical city, cutting off the coven from the rest of the world. Only two gates in and out of the city, guarded by vampires and shifters day and night. And once you’re in the city? Rules, rules, and more rules! Definitely a new adult’s worst nightmare.

The novel juggles romance, family conflict, magical law, and personal trauma. How do you balance so many narrative threads without losing focus?

All of those threads are interconnected with the main plot, and thus are needed to tell both Annamaria’s and Marianna’s stories. Family conflict is why Annamaria’s romantic life experiences challenges. Magical law is why Marianna is viewed as a source of conflict for her grandmother. And both girls’ personal trauma influences how they react to the current events they are thrown into. I’ve been told that Annamaria is a very relatable teenager; and real people go through similar issues all at once. They don’t get to focus on only one. I’m pleased to have been successful in weaving so many subplots together.

Looking ahead, how will the events of Hybrid shape the sisters’ paths in future books?

The power dynamic shift at the end of Hybrid is going to continue in that direction for the third book. Both sisters are going to continue to grow in confidence, power, and leadership; and Trinity has also earned a spot as a POV character.

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