All Fired Up follows two strangers who meet on the way to a small island in the Pacific Northwest and discover a shared history while trying to solve an old mystery shrouded in dangerous secrets. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

Secrets that can’t stay hidden forever. Once they are discovered, they can trigger an avalanche of trouble, including rekindling long-held resentment. In my story, these are secrets from an older generation. My main characters, Jack and Marianne, discover that their grandfathers knew each other and did something long ago that now has repercussions, and another individual feels it’s time to get even.

I enjoyed the slow-burning romantic relationship between Marianne and Jack. How did their relationship develop while you were writing it? Did you have an idea of where you wanted to take it, or was it organic?

It was very organic. Although I knew that in the end, I wanted them to be together, I didn’t want it to be easy or rushed, and I didn’t always know what would happen next. I understood each of my characters, but I didn’t always know how their personalities would respond to each other. I would write a scene and initiate some action, and see how each personality responded to it and to each other. They became real people to me. But I did have some control. 😊 I wanted them to be tempted, but I didn’t want them to play around with each other. They are two mature adults with responsibilities, and they led two very different lives. So, I tried to write about their relationship as it might be in real life, with two people circling each other cautiously, feeling that there is a connection, but also reeling a bit because this came at them out of the blue: this connection. I also wanted them to be aware that it might not work with the others’ lives being incompatible with theirs at present. Jack is used to life in special ops, never being home and he wants to return to the army because it’s a life he is familiar with and one he does best. Marianne is realizing she wants a home life and her own family. I used the comforts of a home, meals together, and a homeless teenager to further connect Jack and Marianne, giving them both another purpose in life other than what they each currently pursue. It’s what could happen in real life for two people, life showing them what really matters and what truly fuels the heart.

Was there a reason why you chose this location as the backdrop for your story?

Yes. I love the San Juan Islands, and Orcas Island is one of those in that chain of islands in the Pacific Northwest. When I was young, my family would go boat camping around these islands. We would go into the Deer Harbor marina on Orcas to use the laundromat and buy supplies. To this day, I still visit Orcas Island for hiking or a weekend getaway. The ferry ride from Anacortes takes just over an hour to get to Orcas, and during that time, the world just slows down, and you are transported to another pace of life. It’s magical. It’s also beautiful with the wildlife, the evergreen trees, and the rocky beaches. I also like the idea that a serene-looking island can have its secrets.

I hope the series continues in other books. If so, where will the story take readers?

The series will continue. There are currently four friends in The Barefoot by Moonlight writers’ group, and each gets their own story. The next book, All You Desire, is set in LaConner and is due out in 2026. In book 1, you met Marianne’s brother Ian Dunaway and her best friend Fiona Sanchez, who is also a member of The Barefoot by Moonlight writers’ group. Ian and Fiona had their eye on each other in book 1, and we’ll see what happens next when a mystery brings them together in the idyllic town of LaConner. Books 3 and 4 are in development, where you’ll meet the other 2 writers in the group, where they, too, will discover a romance and a mystery.

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