Maverick and the Big Game follows a young boy as he prepares for the championship hockey game, who is excited but nervous about messing up and disappointing his team. Are there any emotions or memories from your own life that you put into your character’s life?

Absolutely. Maverick and the Big Game is very personal to me. The character of Maverick is inspired by my own son, and many of the emotions he experiences—like nervousness before a big game, the desire to make his family proud, and the lessons about teamwork—come directly from moments we’ve shared. As a hockey mom who’s spent countless hours at the rink, I wanted to capture the heart, pressure, and joy of youth sports from a child’s perspective, but with all the love and encouragement that exists behind the scenes, too.

What was your favorite scene in this story?

One of my favorite scenes is when Maverick takes a deep breath and finally steps onto the ice for the big game. It’s a moment of bravery and self-trust, and it’s such a turning point for him. You can feel his nerves and his excitement, and it’s a beautiful reminder that courage doesn’t mean not being afraid—it means doing it anyway.

Will there be a follow-up book to this story? If so, what aspects of the story will the next book cover?

Yes! There will definitely be more adventures with Maverick. The next book will focus on Maverick learning new life skills—both on and off the ice. He’ll face a new kind of challenge that tests his confidence in a different way, while still building on the friendships, lessons, and hockey love that started in Maverick and the Big Game. We’re also expanding the world around Maverick to show more of his life, his team, and even his dreams beyond hockey.

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