Why historical?

I have a pretty typical author origin story: scribbling tales in blank books as a child, melodramatic short stories as a teen and young adult, and lots of lyrics as a singer/songwriter. I also fell in love with history as a child, enjoying living-history museums and reading through the history shelf in the children’s library. In sixth grade, passions intersected and produced a sixteen-stanza ballad for a school project (“Eleanor of Aquitaine, Born into a duke’s domain…” May God bless you for your patience, Mrs. Haynes.) My first crushes were Daniel from The Bronze Bow and Johnny Tremain. 

Even with all this fascination, it took a while to make the next leap as a student of history. Studying overlapping timelines and cultures changed everything. In elementary school, I studied Egyptians, then Greeks, then Romans. I had no concept that they interacted with each other or that one rose while another fell. Or that they traveled. So seeing which events and cultural movement happened at the same time, or which things may have had cause/effect relationships changed my view of the human experience. In this context, the what-ifs can blossom and and spread underground roots.

Why fiction?

I believe exploration of the human experience makes fiction compelling. When I read or write a character in an unfamiliar setting, I sit with her wounds and loves. Then I ask: what do I know now – how has my vision widened? What do I feel – how is my heart more open?

I hope that fiction does that for you too. I’d love to hear what you think. 

Why this story?

First century Britain captured my heart and mind with the incredible stories written by Roman historians. But what truly lit the fire for me as an author was the history combined with all we don’t know about the time-period from the point of view of the tribes. What a treasure for a writer who loves history but also loves a bit of world-building! While I tried to be faithful to what is known about events, people, or places, I also filled in what is unknown with how I pictured it in my imagination. 

My favorite stories feature strong women, adventure, and thought-provoking themes. Daniel and Johnny may have fueled romantic ideas, but it was characters like Meg Murry, Kit Tyler, and Elisa Lindheim* who gave me an idea of who I wanted to become. When it came time to write my novel, I knew the main character needed to be fierce, loyal, and brave. (Of course, she’s also impulsive and likely to get her self into trouble.) 

But what about your nonfiction for parents of kids with mental illness?

I haven’t lost my passion for helping parents tend to their souls while they care for their kids. I continue to speak on topics of mental health, caregiving, and soul-care for parents. There are more books and blog posts on these topics in the pipeline too.

*Meg Murry from A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle, Kit Tyler from The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare, and Elisa Lindheim from Vienna Prelude by Bodie Thorne.