Pontus and Electra: To the Depths of the Sea follows two lonely great white sharks who find purpose and connection in each other. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

It started with a single shark fact: Great white sharks are often solitary creatures, though there are exceptions (sharks are occasionally found travelling in pairs). I wanted to explore the idea of loneliness through the lens of a frequently misunderstood sea creature. Initially, I had no clue what the book was going to be about other than that. But as I progressed with the concept, I began to incorporate themes of adoration and resilience, eventually settling upon a heartwarming and tragic tale of two sharks. The more I researched the issues plaguing sharks, the more the underlying messages began to shape the story—but originally, it started from a singular fact I happened to come across online.

What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?

Ultimately, the most important and relevant theme in Pontus and Electra to the Depths of the Sea is the environment, and the senseless havoc wreaked upon it. When I began writing the book, I knew little about shark finning. It was only when I did my research on the most prominent issues affecting the species that I discovered the practice—and realized this book was so much more important and so much more necessary than a silly book about two sharks. It became imperative that I shine a light on this matter, painting it in a way that allows the reader to sympathize with the beautiful creatures and approach the topic first and foremost with empathy.

The writing in your story is very artful and creative. Was it a conscious effort to create a story in this fashion or is this style of writing reflective of your writing style in general?

Yes and no! Pontus and Electra to the Depths of the Sea is my second novel in verse, and my third collection of poetry overall. It is both a reflection of my prose writing and a newfound style I needed to lean into in order to write this book. Writing Pontus and Electra to the Depths of the Sea as a full-length novel in prose felt as though it would not work for me, as the poetic manner allows for a more dream-like and whimsical experience for the reader (it also allows me to experiment more with my methods of storytelling). In a way, I made the poetry flow like the ocean.

What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?

For the last year and a half (alongside other projects), I have been working on Good Kids, Bad Choices, a long and timely novel combining the high school experience with modern-day American politics (and a sprinkle of my personal experiences as well), exploring themes of bullying, injustice, power dynamics, and rebellion in the school setting. So far, I’ve been releasing two chapters a week on my Patreon, but when it is finished, I plan to self-publish. It is still unclear whether it’ll be my next release or if I’ll publish a book from my backlog in between, but either way, readers can expect it to be released in 2026 (or late 2025).

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