What’s the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Ten Years and Then…?
he story behind Ten Years and Then… is very personal—it sprung from thinking about moments when I was younger when things could have turned out very differently: What if I’d realized at the time that the girl at the bus stop in 10th grade was actually flirting with me, or if one particular date in my sophomore year of college had gone better, and so on? I’m not Daniel, but there’s a lot of me in him and a lot of shared experiences. The other part of the story is taking a deeper look inside at people we dismiss or label because of what we see from the outside, and trying to see who they really are—that’s Nora.
If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Ten Years and Then…, what would they be?
There’s a song for the couple together—they sing it at karaoke at one point during the book: “Don’t You Want Me” by Human League. For inspiration while I was writing, I also created some songs for Daniel and Nora using the Suno AI music app.
What’s your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?
My favorite genre to read is science fiction, but I don’t currently write it. I write more earthbound stories—mainly mystery and romance.
What books are on your TBR pile right now?
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern is sitting by my bed, and it’s due for a re-read.
What scene in your book was your favorite to write?
There’s a fun moment when Daniel is in his senior year of college, getting ready for an interview, and he gets some help preparing from a law student who’s taken a liking to him. I really enjoyed writing that. She actually only has a small role, but she was a very fun character to write.
Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)
I don’t really have any special writing habits, other than listening to classical music when I write—something that creates a mood but doesn’t demand my full attention, so I can concentrate on writing.
Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?
I don’t really have a motto. I just try to stay as positive as I can. I have to really focus on that because I have a habit of thinking the worst if I don’t actively make myself look at things differently.
If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?
This is a line from the book that I think says it all: “Hang on to how you’re feeling. Love isn’t ever wasted. Ever. You remember that.”
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