Rapid City Summer follows a resentful fifteen-year-old runner whose move from Chicago to South Dakota leads her toward new friendships, family healing, outdoor adventure, and a stronger sense of identity. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

There were a few sources of inspiration; the most prominent being my work as a middle school ELA teacher. Students in that age group (ages 12-14) are starting to get too old for most middle grade books, and some young adult titles have more mature themes and content. I wanted to write a novel that fit this young teen age group, with characters and topics they could relate to and learn from. I was also inspired by how the outdoors has shaped who I am today, and I wanted to share that with readers, too.

Why did you choose running and fly fishing as the activities that shape Natalie’s growth?

Running and fly fishing are both passions of mine that have greatly shaped who I am today. Both sports have taught me lots of important lessons, such as patience and delayed gratification. They have brought me to incredible places and connected me with great people. I also enjoy reading stories that include more “niche” topics, and you don’t see a lot of fiction that includes fly fishing!

How did you develop the warm but complicated relationship between Natalie and her grandmother?

Natalie’s grandmother was inspired by my relationship with my own grandma (except she was around my entire childhood, unlike Natalie and her grandmother). Growing up, my grandma was like a second parent to me, and I value all the time I got to spend with her. As a reader, I gravitate toward stories with complicated family dynamics, so I wanted to infuse some of that into this story, too. Ultimately, I wanted to showcase how meaningful and valuable grandparent/grandchild relationships are, and the scenes with Natalie and her grandma were some of my favorite scenes to write.

What research or personal experience helped you portray the landscapes, wildlife, and outdoor culture of South Dakota?

My husband’s family is from South Dakota, and we’ve been traveling there together for the past decade. We’re both teachers, so we spend part of our summer break fly fishing in different states, including South Dakota. I brought a lot of my personal experiences into this story, with some fictional fishing stories mixed in, too. While writing Rapid City Summer, I wanted to share the beauty of South Dakota and Montana with readers, without giving away all my favorite spots, so I did change the names of certain locations! I hope readers feel like they are transported to the mountains and rivers when they read Rapid City Summer.

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