I can't always say for sure where ideas for my books come from. My new duology is no exception. 

There wasn't a single moment where I thought - hey, someone should combine elements of Poe short stories and set it in contemporary Appalachia. 

What I do know is that over a period of a short (7 minute) drive, and a flurry of texts with one of my writer friends as I aired ideas, (Is this too crazy? How much puking is allowed in YA?) I arrived home aware that I had something hot on my hands.

My agent not only thought the idea had legs, but that the legs might be marathon-worthy. That afternoon I banged out a synopsis - which is not an easy thing for me. I am a pantser by nature (hence the name of this blog), and putting down on paper what I think might happen in a book is anathema to me. Luckily, my editor trusts me, and knows full well that the synopsis he receives now might not be what’s actually in the book I turn in a year later.

I got the green light and went to work, asking the hard questions - what is a panther’s inner monologue like? how dehydrated do you have to be before you can’t pee your pants anymore? is duct tape a good band-aid? how bad can a community illness get before a school is shut down (this was pre-COVID, call me Nostradamus), what is the difference between an alligator and a crocodile? And finally… how long does it take for mortar to dry?

The Initial Insult releases February 23rd, and I hope everyone will enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!