This Mess You’ve Made follows the lives of two people who face many obstacles and find strength to overcome them together. What was the inspiration for the setup to this riveting novel?

Every story has more than perspective. We often only think of ourselves as the main characters in our lives and more often than not, this never captures who we really are. Realistically, we are more than we believe and sometimes, we are even a villain in someone else’s story. For the purpose of this novel, I wanted Savannah and Aryn to be portrayed through the eyes of each other so their ability to be loved is able to shine through. We don’t necessarily need someone else’s validation to feel worthy of love, but it helps us gain perspective, confidence, and strength.

Savannah and Aryn are intriguing and well developed characters. What were some driving ideals behind their character development?

I take pieces from my life, my relationships, and build characters. I take both the good and the bad from people who have impacted me. I also take the negative and positive qualities I see in myself. I try to make my characters simultaneously unique yet highly relatable. I wanted Savannah and Aryn to be characters you’d like to know in real life, people you’d root for and cry for, but love enough to be willing to tell them when they need change for the better.

What were some themes you wanted to explore in this book?

I really wanted to explore the devastating effects depression, guilt, and anxiety can have on a person. Mental health is still such a taboo topic and it’s often described as “tragically beautiful.” But not only do people experience depression, guilt, and anxiety in different ways, but we shouldn’t try glamorising someone feeling like a stranger in their skin, or feeling disconnected from those they love, or feeling like they have no future. These are serious issues that we need to have open discussions about because more people go through these struggles than we realize.

What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?

My next book is actually completely divergent from “This Mess You’ve Made.” My next novel is called “Quietus” and it’s a dark, paranormal romance novel (new adult). It should be available for purchase late spring/early summer. Here is the blurb: There is an age-old prophecy that foretells of a girl born from death itself. Devlin Raben is that girl, a witch born with death trailing her shadow. She has lived her entire life in the dark, feared by those outside the witch community as an omen meant to bring the world to its knees. She has always been a prisoner to fate and a prophecy she never chose to be part of. Now, she is hiding in plain sight, afraid of her power and the war she is destined to start. But can she truly defy fate when love and her freedom are also at stake?

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