What’s the story behind the story? What inspired you to write this book?
The Fall of Velho is the second book in The Blood of Velho trilogy and serves as a prequel to the first. I wanted to explore two questions: How does a villain become a villain, and what causes an ancient, blessed civilization to fall? It’s a story about faith, ambition, love, and vengeance, but at its heart, it’s about the choices that shape us, for better or worse.
If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of your book, what would they be?
Wow, what a great question! This book follows two parallel stories. For one character, I’d choose “Look What You Made Me Do” by Taylor Swift. The character endures incredible loss and suffering before finally rising to confront his oppressor. For the other, I’d choose “Dare You to Move” by Switchfoot. It’s a song about standing at a crossroads and finding the courage to take the next step when you’re not sure which path is the right one. Both songs capture the themes of choice and transformation that run throughout the book.
What’s your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?
I love reading anything that stirs my emotions, whether that’s contemporary fiction or fantasy. If a book can make me laugh, cry, or sit staring at the wall after I finish it, I’m happy. That said, I grew up obsessing over Stephen King, so he’ll always have a special place on my bookshelf.
What books are on your TBR pile right now?
There are so many! Next on my list is T.J. Klune’s latest, We Burned So Bright. I’m a huge fan of his work and am really looking forward to it. I’m also excited to read My Friends by Fredrik Backman. Both authors have a way of making readers feel deeply, which is something I always appreciate.
What scene in your book was your favorite to write?
There’s a scene where we watch one of the main characters, at just twelve years old, become the catalyst for something terrible. Writing that moment through the eyes of a frightened and regretful child was both incredibly difficult and deeply rewarding. I wanted readers to feel the unbearable weight of that moment alongside him, the instant when innocence gives way to understanding and he realizes he cannot undo what’s been set in motion. More than the event itself, I wanted readers to feel the emotional torment that follows, because sometimes the hardest thing to carry isn’t the consequences of our choices, but living with them.
Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)
I’m not sure it’s quirky, but music is absolutely essential for me. I need to put myself in the emotional space of whatever scene I’m writing, so every chapter has its own soundtrack and mood. The right song can completely change how I approach a scene.
Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?
I have a sticker on my desk that says, “Choose Gratitude.” I try really hard to embrace that philosophy, especially in an increasingly troublesome world. We can’t always control what’s happening around us, but we can choose how we respond. There is almost always something, even something very small, to be grateful for.
If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?
That fate may write the path before us, but our choices determine who we become as we walk it. We don’t always get to choose what happens to us, but we do get to choose who we are in response. I think that’s true both in fiction and in life.
