Category Archives: Interviews
Better Choices Are Possible
Against All Odds is a blunt and emotional memoir about growing up in poverty, surviving horrific abuse, entering the foster care system, and clawing a way toward stability, purpose, and adulthood. Why was this an important book for you to write?
I grew up believing that instability was normal—new homes, new schools, new last names on the mailbox. Writing this book was my way of refusing to let chaos be the whole story. I wanted to document what that instability does to a child’s sense of identity and possibility, and to show that survival can become purpose.
It was also a letter to three audiences. To foster youth: you are not what happened to you; you are what you choose next. To caregivers and professionals: stability is not an idea, it is a practice—measured in rides to school, ceremonies you don’t miss, and promises you keep. And to the broader public: systems are made of choices; better choices are possible. The memoir gave me language to transform private pain into public service.
How did you balance honesty and authenticity with protecting privacy—yours and others’?
I followed three rules. First, I wrote from the “I”—what I saw, felt, and believed in the moment—without assigning motives to others. Second, I protected people who were not public figures by changing names, compressing timelines, and removing identifying details, while keeping the emotional truth intact. Third, I applied a dignity test: if a detail sensationalized trauma or exposed someone’s private struggle without advancing understanding, it did not belong in the book.
When possible, I sought consent from supportive adults who appear in the story and shared passages with them. I also set boundaries for myself—there are scenes I chose not to relive on the page because my present and the youth I serve deserve a healthy author. Truth and care can coexist; that tension shaped every edit.
What was the most challenging part of writing—and what was most rewarding?
The hardest part was narrative order. Lived experience is nonlinear; trauma scrambles memory. Turning 25 placements and 13 schools into a coherent arc meant revisiting rooms I’d rather forget and deciding what belonged to the reader and what belonged to healing. Writing about my mother’s death and the first nights in strangers’ homes required frequent stops—walks, prayer, and time.
The reward has been hearing from youth and caregivers who used the book as a bridge—youth who said, “Now I have words for what this feels like,” and caregivers who changed a practice so a child could keep a school, a therapist, or a ritual. Reclaiming my narrative was personal; watching it make someone else feel seen has been the joy.
What is one thing you hope readers take away from your story?
That pain is data, not destiny. For kids in care, the difference between drifting and developing is often a single steady adult plus continuity—of school, relationships, and story. If readers finish the book believing they can be that steadiness—by mentoring, fostering, advocating, or simply showing up reliably—then the pages did their job.
And for those who grew up in instability: you are allowed to build a life that is quiet, rooted, and yours. Resilience is not just surviving the fire; it’s learning to live without smoke.
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From a young age, Tristian’s life was marked by chaos and uncertainty. Witnessing his mother being taken away on a stretcher was a pivotal moment that thrust him and his younger brother into a turbulent existence within the foster care system. They bounced from one temporary shelter to another, grappling with abuse, neglect, and the haunting specter of trauma. But amidst the darkness, a flame burned brightly within Tristian’s soul. Dreams became his sanctuary, providing solace and fueling his unwavering determination to rise above his circumstances.
Tristian’s memoir is not just a personal narrative-it sheds light on the broader societal issues surrounding foster care. With staggering statistics, he underscores the challenges faced by children in the system and gives a voice to those whose stories often go unheard. Through his writing, Tristian aims to foster empathy and understanding, urging readers to confront the flaws and shortcomings of the foster care system within. His ultimate goal is to inspire positive change and create a more compassionate and supportive system for future generations.
Against All Odds is a powerful and necessary memoir that shines a light on the realities of growing up in foster care. Tristian’s journey serves as a testament to the indomitable human spirit and the transformative power of hope. It is a call to action, urging society to come together, support foster youth, and create a brighter future for all.
The Cost of Competence
Stealing Stealth follows a CIA officer tasked with protecting a new stealth technology who must enlist the help of a brilliant thief to stop it from falling into the wrong hands. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I wrote the initial draft of this story when I was deployed in Afghanistan. I was constantly in this battle with what is said and what is left unsaid, in an intriguing chess match with men who were both my ally and not at the same time. To capture this specific paranoia, I thought of the mid-1970s. We often look at the Cold War through the lens of the 80s. That was the end. But just before that, everything was messy. The Church Committee was exposing CIA secrets, Vietnam had just ended, and trust in institutions was crumbling. I wanted to drop a “Boy Scout” character like John Olson into that moral grey zone and force him to work with someone like Gabrielle Hyde, who represents pure, chaotic individualism. The stealth technology itself was the perfect catalyst because it represented a revolution in warfare that terrified everyone. The idea that a plane could be invisible to radar felt like magic in 1977.
There was a lot of time spent crafting the character traits in this novel. What was the most important factor for you to get right in your characters?
Competence. Nothing kills a thriller faster than characters who make stupid decisions just for the sake of the plot. I wanted Olson and Hyde to be masters of their respective crafts. When they fail, it’s because they were outmaneuvered by a smarter opponent, not because they were making bad choices. I also wanted to explore the cost of competence. For Olson, his dedication to the CIA cost him his personal life. For Hyde, her tragic youth led to brilliance as a thief, but it also left her isolated. The most important factor was ensuring that even when they were enemies, they respected each other’s skills. That mutual respect is the engine of the book.
How did you balance the action scenes with the story elements and still keep a fast pace in the story?
My background in special operations taught me that real action is rarely a continuous two-hour firefight. It’s hours of tension followed by seconds of chaos. I tried to replicate that rhythm, but with a better balance. Also, it is important that the reader cares. 1970s politics and game-changing aircraft technology are complicated enough, but I needed the reader to feel that pressure. Then, as the tension built through briefing room politics, the surveillance, and the planning, the reader finally felt the stakes. The pacing comes from the pressure cooker effect; the clock is ticking, and the walls are closing in. Then I added the guns.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
The next book is Arctic Fire, releasing in April 2026. It is a tonal shift from the spy world of Stealing Stealth. It’s a Neo-Western Noir set in the Alaskan wilderness, following a female Marine veteran who uncovers a conspiracy in a small, frozen town. Think Wind River meets Sicario. After that comes Eye of the Caldera. It’s a high-octane disaster thriller inspired by incredible true events and a declassified CIA operation. It drops in the Fall of 2026.
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At the height of the Cold War, America’s revolutionary stealth technology could tip the balance of power. Now the race to control it threatens to derail a critical nuclear treaty between the world’s two superpowers.
Soviet operatives are close to acquiring this game-changing military secret. CIA Officer Olson has just seven days to protect America’s biggest technological advantage from falling into the wrong hands. His only hope lies with the brilliant thief he couldn’t catch: Gabrielle Hyde.
Inside the secretive Skunk Works facility, nothing is what it seems. Hyde and Olson discover Moscow isn’t the only enemy. A traitor from within is thwarting their every move. With both the FBI and KGB closing in and bodies piling up, Olson faces an impossible choice: follow orders from an agency that no longer trusts him or follow Hyde into an elaborate con against his own government.
From a decorated Air Force Colonel with 26 years in special operations and field command comes an authentic Cold War thriller where the greatest threats wear familiar faces.
Trust no one. Question everything. And never underestimate Gabrielle Hyde.
For fans of David McCloskey’s Damascus Station, John le Carré, and Daniel Silva, Stealing Stealth is a high-stakes heist where the only way to protect freedom is to steal its deepest secret.
Faith in Faith
Miracles Beyond the Crowd is a heartfelt call to push past spiritual passivity and step into a faith that moves, reaches, climbs, and refuses to settle. What is a common misconception you feel people have about living their faith?
Faith is not a theory or an empty ritual. A common misconception is that faith just exists without investigation and exploration. The truth is, everyone must wrestle with what they believe and practice how to hold fast to that conviction. It is personal, and it is relational. It is a firm conviction so powerful that it can turn a hopeless situation into a hope-filled pursuit.
There is a saying that says: We do what we believe, and we don’t do what we think is futile. Many people have faith in faith, but when challenged, they find it hard to pinpoint what their faith is ultimately built on. Faith must have a foundation, a source, or a place where believing can stand. This kind of faith is dynamic and alive, not static. It grows, shifts, matures, and deepens as we live it out.
Now, how we live by faith is different and looks different for everyone. It is easy to believe what you can trust. I believe in God, His promises, His nature and character, His history, and His word. I trust His integrity and His capacity to do what He says. That makes it easy for me to live by faith.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
Heaven has not run out of miracles. For those willing to press through fear, doubt, and societal pressure, a deeper encounter with God awaits. My hope and passion for every reader of this book is that by reading what I have written, it will awaken a relentless, persistent, and resilient faith in the person, promises, and goodness of God. To those who pursue Jesus wholeheartedly, miracles are not accidents. My heart is that people will be inspired to look beyond the obvious distractions, troubles, and obstacles of everyday life and see that pushing deeper into God is where miracles can be found.
I also hope every reader will see they are not disqualified, unworthy, or broken beyond God’s ability to renew, restore, and bless their life. It is scandalous what grace can do when a life is surrendered to God! I pray the love of God bacons all to hear their life is valuable and important.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from Miracles Beyond the Crowd?
I hope they take away hope! Big, crazy, and impossible hope. Hope is the beginning of faith. If hope lives, then faith is not far behind.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Step into a 10-week journey of powerful persevering faith and transformation. Based on the popular book Miracles Beyond the Crowd, this 50-day interactive devotional helps you move from watching miracles to living them. It is an invitation into faith that moves — not just in Sunday moments, but in the ordinary walk of life.
Across 10 weeks, you’ll explore what it means to:
• Press past the noise and hear God’s voice
• Reach beyond barriers and touch Jesus
• Walk in obedience before you see the path
• Finish strong when the crowd has left
Inside you’ll find Scripture, original excerpts from Miracles Beyond the Crowd, daily reflection questions, faith-in-action exercises, and a full 100-question application questionnaire to help you embed what you discover and carry it forward.
Ideal for personal study, small groups and corporate settings. This devotional workbook will guide you beyond survival into possession, beyond visitation into habitation, and beyond promise into fulfilment.
This is not a book for spectators—it’s a roadmap for those who dare to move beyond the crowd.
– FOR BEST EXPERIENCE it is recommended (not necessary) that this devotional workbook is used with the original book ‘Miracles Beyond The Crowd- The Power of Persevering Faith ‘ by Nico Smit. Whether used individually or in a group, this workbook is a tool, a challenge and a commission—to rise in faith, move forward with purpose, and passionately pursue the presence of God, no matter the cost.
Unexpected Psychologies
Drinking from the Stream follows two young men on the run for different reasons who cross paths and set out together exploring East Africa and their own morals in a world where dictatorship and mass murders are the norm. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I left the US to travel one week after graduating college. When I came back five years later, my mother kept asking me, “What did you really do in Africa?” How to explain what I was thinking, whom I had met, where I had gone, what I had seen and felt and heard, smelled and tasted, what I had learned, what scared me, what made me laugh, and what inspired me? I decided to write a novel, a kind of anthem for the generation that came out of the wreckage of the ’sixties and whom I met on the road. I thought the story I wanted to tell would have more weight if the character who kills his antisemitic persecutor was not actually Jewish, thus forcing him into unexpected psychologies. Having two narrators allowed me to broaden the scope and to develop the characters in many more settings and situations than would otherwise be possible, and through their eyes also to show more of Africa and of the world.
You took your time developing the characters and the story, which had a great emotional impact. How did you manage the pacing of the story while keeping readers engaged?
There are novelist tricks that I had to learn. A novel consists of scenes. Something must happen, or else there’s no reason for the scene to be there. Scenes should ”start late and end early,” not waste time, and leave the reader wanting to know what comes next. I alluded to massacres at the start of the book, which I hoped would give readers a feel for what came next. There is a rhythm to travel which speeds up and slows down, and the action of the book also speeds up and slows down.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
A partial list: friendship, long-distance travel on bad roads with little money, politics and history, courage, the world of the early 1970s, East Africa and Ethiopia, judgment, colonialism, revolution, mass murder, dictatorship, insurrection, racism, loyalty, small acts of bravery.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
Next book: A TRIP BY CANOE (short stories) to be published by Koehler Books July 2026.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Amazon
Jake Ries, a twenty-two-year-old Nebraska farm boy turned oil roughneck, turns fugitive when he unintentionally kills a homicidal White supremacist on an oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico. On the run, he meets Karl Appel, a restless Oxford dropout and former anti-war activist struggling with his own personal demons. Together they throw caution to the wind and plunge into the Ethiopian and East African hinterland, where they discover that dictatorship and mass murder are facts of life.
Guiding Principles
Aries I – The King of Mars follows a 13-year-old boy who, after his mother’s death, ends up part of the Mars colony, leading him on a journey of self-discovery and understanding of what survival really means. What were some of the emotional and moral guidelines you followed when developing your characters?
When developing my characters, I followed emotional and moral guidelines rooted in loss, survival, and empathy. The death of my son last year fundamentally changed how I understand pain, resilience, and what it truly means to endure. Grief stripped away any interest I had in shallow motivations or easy answers. From that point on, I felt a responsibility to write characters who carry weight, who hurt, adapt, and keep moving forward, not because they are fearless, but because stopping isn’t an option.
One of the strongest guiding principles was an understanding that all life is engaged in a constant struggle to survive. Whether human, animal, or even systems we build to sustain ourselves, survival is never abstract; it is physical, emotional, and moral all at once. I wanted my characters to reflect that truth. Their choices are often imperfect, driven by fear, love, guilt, or hope, but always grounded in the instinct to protect what remains and to find meaning in continuing on.
Emotionally, I allowed characters to be shaped by loss rather than defined by it. Grief does not disappear; it changes form. I tried to honor that reality by letting characters carry their wounds quietly, sometimes awkwardly, and sometimes in ways that create conflict. Morally, I avoided clear heroes and villains in favor of people making the best decisions they can with the tools they have at that moment. Survival, after all, rarely allows for clean moral lines.
Ultimately, these characters exist because I believe survival itself is an act of courage. Every living thing fights to breathe, to belong, to matter—even in hostile environments. Writing from that place, shaped by personal loss, became a way to acknowledge pain without surrendering to it, and to recognize that continuing forward, however imperfectly, is one of the most human acts there is.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
At its core, this book is centered on a single idea: life fights to survive. Everything else grows out of that truth. My experience with loss helped me to see survival, not as something dramatic or heroic, but as something constant and relentless. Life persists even when it is broken, even when it is exhausted, even when it has been reshaped by loss. That realization became the emotional foundation of the story.
I wanted to explore survival in all its forms, not only the physical struggle to stay alive, but the quieter, harder fight to keep going emotionally and morally. Every living thing is engaged in that struggle, adapting to hostile conditions, scarcity, fear, and uncertainty. In the book, survival demands resilience, cooperation, and sacrifice, whether the challenge comes from an unforgiving environment or from the weight carried inside a person’s heart.
The idea that life continues forward also shaped how I approached legacy and responsibility. Survival isn’t only about the present moment; it’s about protecting what remains and making space for what comes next. Even after loss, life pushes forward through memory, through purpose, and through the act of building something that can endure.
Ultimately, this story is about the stubborn persistence of life. It doesn’t deny pain or minimize grief, but it recognizes that choosing to continue—to breathe, to build, to hope—is itself an act of survival. Life may be fragile, but it is also determined, and that determination is what drives the heart of this book.
Where do you see your characters after the book ends?
When Aries I: The King of Mars ends, the story is really just beginning. The characters may have survived the first and most dangerous step, arriving and establishing themselves, but survival is only the opening chapter of a much larger journey. Mars is not a destination that stays still; it pushes back, changes the people who live on it, and forces them to evolve.
Aries, in particular, is only at the beginning of becoming who he will be. By the end of the book, he has proven he can survive, adapt, and contribute, but leadership, identity, and consequence are still ahead of him. Mars will demand more than intelligence and resilience; it will test his values, his relationships, and the kind of future he believes is worth fighting for.
The other characters follow similar arcs. What starts as cooperation for survival will grow into conflicts over control, legacy, and what it truly means to claim a new world. Some characters will rise in unexpected ways, others will fracture under pressure, and alliances that seem solid at the end of this book won’t remain untouched by time or hardship.
In many ways, Aries I is the foundation stone. The next chapters explore what happens after survival, when building, ruling, and protecting a world brings new dangers that are no longer purely environmental. This story was always envisioned as a trilogy, and the later books dig deeper into the cost of leadership, the weight of inheritance, and how far people will go when Mars is no longer just a place to live, but something worth fighting over.
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At first, Mars is just another hostile frontier, a place for scientists, soldiers, and survivors. But when disaster strikes and no one listens to the boy who knows the colony best, Aries must choose: follow orders or forge his own path.
What begins as rebellion becomes legend. Alone among the wreckage, Aries discovers that survival means more than oxygen and water, it means leadership, courage, and the will to challenge Earth itself.
In a world where every breath is borrowed, one boy dares to claim a planet.
How Not to Behave
How to Host a Unicorn: A Tale of Hospitality and Manners follows a unicorn that enjoys structure and quiet, who visits his bear friend that has a drastically different idea of fun and has to learn how to be a good host. What was the inspiration for your story?
There’s a funny and quirky backstory. I was working on a scene for one of my nonfiction projects. In the late 1950s, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev invited UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld to his villa at Sochi. Khrushchev behaved rather boorishly, and I thought to myself, “In a different context, this could actually be a good teaching moment. How not to behave with a guest. How not to host a unicorn.” And so, Nick the Bear and Dag the Unicorn have an experience with manners and hospitality that neither will soon forget.
What were some educational aspects that were important for you to include in this children’s book?
I think in Western society, extroversion is still seen as the “norm,” as the “desirable way of being.” Introverts and HSPs, particularly children, can feel left out or ostracized if they don’t wish to yell, stomp, get loud, perform sociability, etc. So one thing I wanted to do with Dag the Unicorn is to show that it’s perfectly fine to enjoy solitude, tidiness, a quiet afternoon with a book, and so forth.
From the hospitality perspective, I also wanted to show that when you host a guest, you must consider their feelings, too. Hosting doesn’t mean bringing someone into your space and forcing them to do all the things you want to do. You must be conscientious of the other person. For instance, Nick thinks a boisterous, wild surprise party is a lot of fun. Dag doesn’t. As a host, you can ask the guest, “Do you enjoy parties? Would you like a large group of people to talk to, or would you prefer a quieter night to watch a movie?” As an introvert myself, the quiet night of movie-watching would always be my top pick!
What scene in the book did you have the most fun writing?
The scene where Dag is in the bathtub. He discovers all of the water is cold, the soap is basically unusable, and the towel is the size of a handkerchief. I had a similar experience once when I stayed with a friend who told me I needed to buy my own towels and washcloths (and a bathmat, too). Then we have Nick jiggling the knob impatiently and lurking in the hallway. It’s a reminder that even though someone is a guest in your home, they still need a modicum of privacy—and basic necessity items.
Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out, and what can your fans expect in the next story?
Yes, it’s the beginning of the How to… with a Unicorn series. The next book, How to Christmas with a Unicorn, will release in November 2026, in time for the gift-giving season. Dag goes home to visit his parents for Christmas. His brother and sister-in-law arrive with their three wild children, who proceed to go nuts in the house: pulling the cat’s tail, trying to tear down the Christmas tree, yelling, and banging the piano keys while Dag tries to play. It’s highly relatable for any introvert or HSP who’s gone home for the holidays and found the experience chaotic and entirely too noisy.
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Nick is a bear who… doesn’t.
When Nick invites Dag for a visit, he means well—but his idea of hospitality includes stomach-churning boat rides, chaotic surprise parties, and a bath towel the size of a handkerchief.
Dag does his best to stay gracious. Nick tries to show a good time. Somewhere between the fish feasts and the chandelier-spinning owl, Nick discovers what it really means to be a good host—and a good friend.
How to Host a Unicorn is a cozy, gently funny picture book about mismatched personalities, mutual respect, and the quiet strength of thoughtful souls. Within these pages, you’re invited inside a world with wit, wry humor, and plenty of fun.
Rendered in hand-drawn, imperfect illustrations that celebrate character over mechanical polish, the art honors the heart of the story itself: that real beauty lies in sincerity, not perfection.
Ideal for sensitive kids, introverts, and the adults who were once that kind of child, this story celebrates kindness and friendship without noise, unicorns without glitter, and emotional intelligence without preaching.
Stillness and Reflection
Shifting Sands follows the survivors of Sol Thalen in the aftermath of its fall as they try to rebuild their culture and society when everything has literally been destroyed. How did you approach writing about this destruction and your characters’ response to it?
For me, destruction is never just about the physical loss of a city—it’s about what happens to identity, purpose, and relationships in the aftermath. When Sol Thalen fell, it wasn’t just the loss of a home; it was the unraveling of legacy, belief, and the illusion of safety. I approached the writing with a deep sense of grief—both personal and communal. I asked myself, What do people hold onto when everything collapses? The characters’ responses came from that place of questioning. Just as some characters choose hope—clinging to survival and the chance to rebuild and dream of a future—others give up hope for themselves, often believing that their own death or disappearance might still serve a purpose. There’s this tragic tendency to justify surrender as a kind of sacrifice: If I fall, maybe someone else can rise. That contrast—between hoping for self and hoping for others—is the heart of the emotional conflict I wanted readers to feel. It’s rarely clean or heroic. It’s messy, human, and deeply personal. And it’s in those moments, I think, that the soul of a story reveals itself.
It seems you took your time in developing the characters and the story, creating a great emotional impact while the survivors process what is left of their world and civilization. How did you manage the pacing of the story while keeping readers engaged?
Thank you—that means a lot. Pacing is something I pay obsessive attention to. I wanted the emotional beats to land, but I also didn’t want the story to feel like it was dragging its feet. What I aimed for was a rhythm: moments of stillness and reflection followed by bursts of urgency. It’s like breathing. When the characters pause to mourn or reflect, the reader breathes with them. But when danger returns—and it always does—they’re pulled right back into the action. I layered multiple storylines so that even when one character is reeling, another might be scheming or moving forward. That way, readers never feel stuck. There’s always a heartbeat somewhere.
I also use an outline, and I’m meticulous about following it. That’s where I catch when there’s too much breathing space, when a chapter feels like it’s meandering, or when a sequence clearly needs to be tightened with rising tension or sharper stakes. The outline becomes a map of emotional flow and momentum, helping me keep that delicate balance. I layered multiple storylines so that even when one character is reeling, another might be scheming or moving forward. That way, readers never feel stuck. There’s always a heartbeat somewhere.
Are you a fan of the fantasy and adventure genres? What books do you think most influenced your work?
Absolutely, I’m a lifelong fan. Fantasy gave me the language to talk about things I didn’t always have words for—identity, grief, power, longing. I grew up reading Tolkien and C.S. Lewis like many others, but it was later on that I was deeply moved by authors like Brandon Sanderson, Cassandra Clare, J.K. Rowling, and Ursula K. Le Guin. Each of them, in their own way, showed me that fantasy could be epic and intimate. That worldbuilding could serve emotional truth. Their works taught me that it’s not just about dragons or swords or kingdoms—it’s about the people who bleed and hope in between. I try to carry that into every page I write.
I hope the series continues in other books. If so, where will the story take readers?
Thank you—and yes, it absolutely does continue. Shifting Sands is the fourth installment of a five-book saga, and the next book is the finale, where everything comes to a head. The choices made in Shifting Sands ripple outward, and readers will be taken to corners of the world that have only been hinted at until now. The political game gets even deadlier. Old wounds resurface. And the more fantastical elements take center stage in ways that force the characters to question not just their loyalties, but their very sense of identity.
If Shifting Sands was about surviving the collapse, Ancient Paths is about reckoning—learning who you really are when certain truths come to light, and deciding what kind of legacy you want to leave behind. Some legacies, after all, might be too broken to rebuild. And some people may discover they were never meant to serve themselves, but something far greater.
Readers have often told me they don’t know how the stakes could possibly get any higher—and to that, I say: I’m excited for them. Many have also noticed how I tend to plant seeds in earlier books that only bear fruit later on. Well, this fifth and final book is where all those seeds bloom. Every thread comes together. Every secret is revealed. This is the climax of everything.
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THE DAWN OF A NEW ERA IS ALWAYS PAID IN GRAVES. And with the Sunken City subdued and Sol Thalen fallen, this truth has become undeniable. The Cycle of the Capitals has ended, leaving a world fractured by distance and silence. As Chris joins a people in exodus, he finds no victory left untainted—every gain paid for in blood, every cost sharpening like a blade. Joined by the new Chronicler, he journeys in a final attempt to save a scattered remnant from extinction—and soon realizes he must confront the creature within him… and accept that surviving the monsters around them may require becoming one himself.
Elline faces a different reckoning. With the Capitals isolated and every line of communication severed, mistrust coils behind every stone of Djarin Tor—ready to ignite a coup that would ensure their defeat in the widening war. To stop this collapse, she must embrace the birthright she has long avoided—even if it means defying the Magister. Meanwhile, Havet’s designs tighten with a precision that suggests his victory has already begun, and his cruelty shows no end. As an era dies in silence, the fate of the next will be written not by those who hope to endure it, but by those who dare to shape it from the ruins left behind.
A fast-growing favorite among epic-fantasy readers, this saga delivers cinematic battles, devastating stakes, and slow-burning bonds caught in the crossfire of a war that threatens to consume entire eras—set in a world where monsters rise and no victory comes without a price.
Finding Self-Worth
Janice Everet is a Southern gothic historical romance that retells Jane Eyre through the perspective of a blind heroine growing up in the 1930s American South. What was the inspiration for this creative and intriguing retelling of the classic story?
Janice Everet was my first attempt at a historical fiction novel, and it was a true joy to write. I chose to retell this story because, as much as I love Charlotte Brontë’s book, I found the idea of blindness being used as a sort of test or punishment to be both frustrating and sad. I am blind myself and wanted to depict a more affirming exploration. Also, my editor and friend, Stephanie Ricker, gave me the idea to explore Jane Eyre from my own perspective. Like Janice, I find solace in stories, and I love walks in nature. I am also a person who had to learn assertiveness, as I was very passive growing up. Janice Everet is a story of finding self-worth and discovering a worldview that others might not share, but it is a story of finding your voice and discovering that you truly matter. Janice’s character began to assert herself quite forcefully, and all the other characters did as well. Writing this book was both cathartic and surreal, a joyful experience I will never forget, and the characters will always haunt me. They’re some of the “truest” fiction characters I have ever had the honor of creating. They truly do not feel like something created, but something that has always existed. This is not by my doing, I can assure you. They just needed to be brought to life. This fact is hard to explain, but the characters are truly special.
Janice is based on the character of Jane Eyre, but you have added your own unique twist to this classic character. Are there any emotions or memories from your own life that you put into your character’s life?
Yes, this novel does explore some difficult topics, but Bronte’s original work explores abuse as well. What I love about the original Jane Eyre is that it is a story about a woman who defies her society’s expectations, but she does so in a humble way. So many books portray “strong” women as girl bosses or Mary Sues (people who don’t struggle or who are insufferable to be around). I wanted to portray a strong woman who is also quiet and humble, but who does not allow others or her disability to define her.
Over 83% of disabled individuals will experience assault of some kind in their lives. This shocking percentage is one I understand through personal experience. I wanted to portray the very real ways that disabled people are often treated by those who perceive them as weak or worthy of nothing but disparagement. I wanted to depict resilience and provide hope despite the horror often encountered in the world. This world is a cruel place, but it is also a place of resilient hope. How often do we encounter horrifying things on the news? Yet in the midst of the horror, hope can always be found if we seek it. Fiction enables us to explore difficult things, but true storytelling involves providing a leavening agent of hope and courage to balance out the horrific.
In your book, you explore the struggles of living with a disability, trauma survival, and the complex social dynamics of living through the Great Depression, WWII, and the 1950’s. What interests you in these subjects?
I am interested in the Depression, World War II, and the 1950’s, both because my grandfathers served in World War II and because my grandparents grew up in those eras. That generation truly learned the meaning of the word sacrifice and endured so many hardships. It was so interesting to research the time periods more extensively. I find the generation in which my grandparents grew up to be a remarkable one (as well as a generation marked by trauma that we might never fully grasp). To tell a story from that time period was truly fun and cathartic.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
I am working on a book called Earth Charmer (a sequel to my book entitled Wind Charmer). The story contains Native American lore and fantastical elements. Fans should probably expect its release in early 2027. I am also considering another historical fiction story in which one of the characters from Janice Everet makes an appearance, a story about polio and a mysterious entity in a music school. This idea is still germinating.
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Growing up in the oppressive home of her Aunt Richards, Janice is stifled by condescending attitudes and flagrant disregard. She finds solace helping the household servants as they, too, are belittled. Janice especially enjoys the company of Gustav, her aunt’s servant, who is often mistreated because of the color of his skin.
When a harrowing event forces Janice to take an unexpected journey, doors are opened and opportunities are revealed. As Janice navigates school years of both triumphant and tragic times, helps with the war effort and makes both friends and enemies, her dark past lurks in the shadows.
When Janice accepts a position to teach a precocious and rambunctious little girl who is also blind, the malevolent events of her past prove to have shocking connections with her brusque and mysterious employer. Hidden passions, danger and self-discovery await in this account of a strong woman who will stop at nothing to protect the ones she has grown to love. Yet true love often means letting go. A story of confronting adversity, hidden secrets and forbidden love, Janice Everet will make you see Charlotte Bronte’s classic with new eyes.
This book is the adult debut of the author. The story contains mature sexual content as well as some mild profanity.
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