(Go ahead and answer these question yourselves! We would love to know the answers!)

How did you get started writing?

*sits back and smiles* Well, ha it's funny you should ask that. It's an amusing story. I actually really started writing in text messages to my sister. Each day I would continue the story. I was the happiest when my text was so long the message collapsed. After a few months I had my first novel, which turned out to be about 60,000 words I believe.

My original story isn't quiet as dramatic. I've mentioned it a bit in the beginning but I started writing for two reasons. Both were due to my natural insecurities to due the order in which I was born into a large family. Joy and our sister, Grace, started writing stories and sending them to each other. I of course felt incredibly left out and hopped on board to seem cool.

That's what initially started it. Then, when our older brother (who is literally one of the coolest people ever) moved in with us, I realized I didn't really have anything cool to talk to him about or brag about, like Joy did with her stories. So bred out of the purest of form of littlest sister syndrome, I dove head first into this life style and haven't really come up for air since. And I ain't even mad.

Where does your inspiration come from?

Literally everywhere it's annoying. Someone could say something interesting and a full fledged story idea will pop into my head. Once my sister managed something about the weather and director and I got two stories. She hit me because I got the story idea look in my eyes, but really it was her fault. Thanks a lot Maria! (You're welcome. I demand 15% of the royalties.) I still have bruises! Anyways my list is way too long. If you want more details go to my Chapter One(s) book and read the author's notes.

I get ideas from literally the most random places. I tend to think a lot about really everything. I love observing my surroundings and watching how people live and interact. I would say my inspiration comes from a natural born curiosity of  how people think and live and then translating that into a story arc with characters and plots events based in what I've observed through out my life.

How long do you usually write for?

I try for two hours if I can. Like I said at the beginning it was fifteen minutes, but now that I have a million ideas I want to write so I have to write for longer times. I like schedules so I write from 4-6, cause I'm weird like that. 🤦🏽‍♀️

In the beginning, it was more about half an hour every night. And even up to a few months ago, I would set my timer and try to write for at least 15 minutes. That was really just a starter and I would write way past my time limit. But it guaranteed that I wrote for at least 15 minutes every day. Now, I write for about two hours every day. Sometimes more on Sunday's.

How do you get your book titles?

Those always come at odd times. Sometimes I'll get it right away, other times it takes me forever. It was only after Beyond The Barrier was written that I came up with the name, even then I didn't realize is was in the book so much. Mr. Write was from Lin Manuel's t-shirt. It was a pun and so it completely fit the story. Like I said they just kind of come when they want to.

My first book title literally took me forever to figure out. I finally found a proper title for it a complete year after I had finished it. As far as my other books, they've been rather random. One was from a song title. It worked because the story was semi-based on the artist who had written the song and the title itself fit the general aesthetic of my story.

One of my current works doesn't even have a final title right now. I merely refer to it as the main characters name and my sisters know what I'm talking about. That's usually how it goes, I'll refer to all my works by the name of the main character until I've completely my work and can proper assess the right name it deserves.

How do you prepare for writing?

I sit down and write. I don't usually have to even re-read what I've written. I just pick up where I left off. But that's also because I've been thinking about my story the whole day. I usually walk around with my characters talking to me. (They are so strange and really loud sometimes)

I need a bit of a warm up before I can start writing. So every day, when I go to write, I always re-read where I've left off. It helps get my mind back into that world. Then I'll select the playlist that I've made for the story (I have one for each book, kind of like a soundtrack for that story), and then I play solitaire for about 20 minutes. This really allows my brain the time and space to fully immerse itself back into that world I've created and vividly paint the scene I need to write.

Favorite flavor of ice cream?

You know I'm really glad you asked that. (Joy, you wrote these questions.) Nevertheless, this answer really takes some thought because every flavor of ice cream needs to be compared to the other and judged on the deliciousness they hold. Wow, give me a second. *paces around while holding chin* Okay, I have it. Moose Tracks. It has a base of vanilla with peanut butter cups and massive chucks of chocolate in it. Yup, that's my final decision.

Richardson's Coffee Oreo. It's a ice creamery place out here in MA where they make their own ice cream with literally dozens of ice cream flavors. But their coffee Oreo is the best. (Hopefully the name is self-explanatory)

Any last advice?

Yes. *looks at you intently* Don't stop dreaming. Life is too short to not dream big. So go for it with everything you got, you will not regret chasing what's worth chasing. And remember in all labor there is profit!

Don't give up. And don't let others deter you from what you know you need to be doing. Life's short. There's no time to waste letting anyone else run your life for you. As the ever wise Tyler Jospeh said, "Anyone from anywhere can do anything." He wasn't lying. Now, let's get to work!

(Yes, I did just go and look up JD and Turk gifs 😂)