YABC:  What gave you the inspiration to write this book?

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 a story with legs.

 YABC:  Who is your favorite character in the book?

One of the more fun elements of this book is that some of the chapters are written from the POV of a panther. Asking myself what a panther's internal monologue would look like was pretty fun.

YABC:  Which came first, the title or the novel?

The concept, for sure. But the titles followed very shortly. The first - THE INITIAL INSULT - is pulled directly from Poe's "Cask of Amontillado" and the line, "The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge."

YABC:  What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?

Again, anything with the Cat as the narrator. Those chapters are written in verse, which was a new challenge for me, and one I'd like to explore further.

YABC:  What do you like most about the cover of the book?

A lot of the elements of the book are present in the cover - bricks, the shadow of the panther, and the ivy / vine that alludes to the isolated setting. It does a good job of preparing the reader for what we're rolling into - darkness, and bleak shadows.

YABC:  What new release book are you looking most forward to in 2021?

Honest answer - my own. I think it's the best thing I've ever written and I look forward to getting it out into the world.

YABC:  What was your favorite book in 2020?

Hard to say. 2020 was a difficult year for me with reading. It's unfortunate, as I usually turn to reading as an escape, but reality was so pressing last year. It was inescapable.

YABC:  What’s up next for you?

The sequel! THE LAST LAUGH will be coming in 2022! 

YABC:  Which was the most difficult or emotional scene to narrate?

There are various flashbacks throughout the novel, exploring the friendship of the two main characters and how some unfortunate events had unfolded in the past, specifically in their middle grade years. Writing with that young of a voice was foreign to me and took some adjustments. 

YABC:  Which character gave you the most trouble when writing your latest book?

A male character whose outward persona is essentially very different from his inward self. Actually, now that I think about it, there are two of those in the book!