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Tests of Character
A Second Chance follows a faith-filled teen whose prophetic dreams, fractured family, and fierce love for her best friend collide with online grooming, violence at home, and the cost of believing God can still redeem what’s been broken. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I was listening to “Running up That Hill” by Kate Bush, and I thought, what would it take a teen to make a deal with God? And I expanded upon that because not everyone has a perfect life, and that makes youth vulnerable. Vulnerable youth are key targets for predators, in person and online. I wanted to show that through it all, faith can get you through it, and so can supportive, responsible friends and family.
Mikaila’s dreams play a major spiritual role. How did you balance portraying divine guidance without removing her agency as a character?
Many times, in life, we’re given tests–tests of character and even tests of faith that require us to use our own strengths and character to get through them. I wanted to focus on the internal and external struggles of passing those tests.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Friendship, because that is foremost important when you’re a teen. Secondly, I wanted to tell the truth about manipulation, loyalty, and faith under pressure.
How did you approach writing faith conversations so directly while still keeping the voice authentic to teens?
I thought about my nephews, who are faith-driven teens now, and what the conversation would look like from their perspective.
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For Mikaila, faith is simple. When her best friend Chara is in a horrific car accident, Mikaila makes a promise to God: Chara’s life for her devotion. She is determined to guide her friend back to the light.
But an old friend from her past has other plans. He’s charming, intelligent, and seems to understand Mikaila better than anyone. Until charm becomes pressure. Until flattery becomes control. Mikaila finds herself trapped in a game she doesn’t understand.
Chara tries to warn Mikaila before the game turns deadly. But in a world of doctored emails and masterful lies, they discover that the most dangerous predator is the one everyone trusts. A Second Chance is a faith-lit YA suspense about the dangers we don’t see until they’re too close, and the courage it takes to run toward the light.
Emerge Stronger
The Rise follows a gladiator trapped in a collapsing society ruled by tyrants who has to battle enemies, inner demons, and a regime built on resurrection and control. What was the initial idea behind this story, and how did that transform as you wrote the novel?
The initial idea was I wanted to explore what would happen if man was able to wield a small portion of God’s power and what they would do that. How would they respond? Would they use for good or for selfish reasons? It became obvious to me as I finished book one (The Wall)… That I would need two more books to complete the story to satisfaction.
What are some things that you find interesting about the human condition that you think make for great fiction?
I think that the human condition seems to gravitate towards either love and goodness or power and evil. And that we need to actively hold our thoughts and actions captive.
The Rise begins in a traditional way but then takes a turn that defies traditional sci-fi storytelling, turning into a dark, emotional exploration of trauma, resistance, and sacrifice. What was your approach to writing the story?
The Rise is book 3 in The Wall Trilogy. It is an accumulation of all the trials, sacrifice, heartaches, and battles of good against evil from the first two books. I wanted to put the characters through trial after trial so they could finally emerge stronger at the end and learn what really matters.
Where do you see your characters after the book ends?
I see our main characters Asher and Sarai finally be able to live in peace with their son. For the first time, they don’t have the threat of war or outside forces trying to separate them. And although they still have the struggles from their past, they can finally move forward with love.
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