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A Glimpse of Hope
You Can’t Stop Me follows a diverse group of young girls who transform their so-called weaknesses into strengths, proving that determination, self-belief, and authenticity can break any barrier. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I remember the day I decided I was going to write and publish You Can’t Stop Me. I was holding my then 4-month-old daughter, watching women’s rights being stripped away. Angry, sad, scared—I was trying to understand the world my daughter is going to grow up in. How could I make a difference? How could I make sure young girls and women keep fighting and not let the everyday battle knock them down? How do I explain it to my daughter?
I began writing down ideas immediately. Almost 2 years later, You Can’t Stop Me was born.
How did you develop the different characters, and was there one character you felt most connected to?
A small part of me can connect and relate to each girl portrayed in You Can’t Stop Me—and unfortunately, I think most girls and women will feel the same. I wanted to showcase as many types of girls as possible. I wanted the young girls reading it to think, “Oh, she looks like me and she’s in space!” or “I’m in a wheelchair too, that doesn’t mean I can’t be president!”
But if I had to choose one character I relate to the most, I would say it’s the author!
The book challenges societal expectations placed on young girls. What impact do you hope it has on readers?
My main goal has always been to give a glimpse of hope and power to little girls that don’t get told they’re enough, they’re smart, they’re brave, that they’re unstoppable. I hope You Can’t Stop Me gets in their hands and they realize that can do or be anything they set their mind to.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
I’m currently working on an apocalypse-style YA novel. It’s in the early stages, so no dates yet. This is a project I’ll be taking my time with as it’s written in memory of my brother, who will be one of the main characters.
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You’re too bossy? Sounds like you know how to get stuff done.
You’re too weak? Well, that’s not possible. You’re the toughest person I know.
You’re too nice? That’s not even a thing.
Being too “you” is not a bad thing. You are the best you I’ve ever seen!
You should embrace who you are, and use it to make your dreams happen.
Girls can do anything, and no one can stop us!
Righting the Wrongs of the Past
Hattie’s World follows a young woman as she emerges from her father’s shadow, striving for independence and redefining her community amidst her father’s pursuit of power. What do you believe your novel conveys about the power of individual actions?
Human resilience and the importance of righting the wrongs of the past.
Hattie’s World delves into themes of family legacy and personal resilience. How do you approach weaving these themes into your narrative without overpowering the story?
I hope I simply allow the characters to grow, relate to others, go through the motions of life, and experience its highs and lows in as natural a way as possible.
What inspired the character of Hattie Winthrop, and how did you develop her journey from a marginalized figure to a symbol of hope and leadership?
Strangely, I was inspired by an abandoned mansion that had fallen into ruin and was falling apart. I tried to imagine its past and came up with a short story which is the basis for the epilogue, “Herbie Banks.” I thought there was enough in it to transform it into a novel. Hattie and her father’s story emerged from my imagination.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
I’ve recently completed The Last Tryst, a historical novel of the Belle Epoque in Paris. In it, my protagonists, a young man who gains access to high society by romancing ignored wives of the very rich and a fallen socialite who becomes a successful courtesan, mingle with some of the period’s historical figures.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Website | Amazon
Convinced he needs a wife to be accepted socially, Owen marries a girl he met in Monterey. It is a loveless marriage, but when a daughter, Hattie, is born, he learns he is capable of love and becomes devoted to the child. She grows into a beautiful and confident young woman with a thirst for life outside of the confines of her home. Fascination with a Portuguese fisherman results in a torrid love affair that results in a grisly murder. To punish her, Owen confines her to their home, where she lives in isolation for twenty years until his death.
Made heiress by to a great fortune by her father as both a joke and revenge on a town that reviled him, she emerges from isolation determined to atone for the sins she discovered her father has committed. Her crusade takes her from pariah to sainthood as she molds the town in her own image. Her deeds and gifts to the town makes her everyone’s Aunt Hattie in this family saga that spans the Twentieth Century.
LITERARY TITAN 