Where did you get the idea for Decoding Jessica?
The idea for Decoding Jessica came to me while I was on a 3-week work vacation. I woke up one morning, sat down with my trusty coffee mug, and just started writing. By the end of the vacation, I had logged 40k words.
I went back to my normal job after that and found that I just couldn’t focus on much else, I knew I had to finish the book. Over the next few months my amazingly supportive, wonderful husband and I, discussed what it would look like if I quit my job to focus on writing full time.
We made a plan. I made an outline. Outlining my first book was a challenge, with zero formal experience in writing, I was floating around lost. Thankfully, I connected with some amazing writers who were kind enough to point me in the direct of Scrivener and I never looked back.
Over the following 8-months, we sold our house in S Florida, moved onto an RV and took off for lands unknown. Funnily enough we got as far as North Carolina, bought a house and settled in. With a backdrop of the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains, I set out to finish my book.
One more year later, I got to write “The End”, err well I guess it was more like “To be continued”. I then set out on the daunting journey of editing. Ten rounds of my own––and my lovely beta readers––edits later, I found a professional editor who aligned with my needs and handed my baby over to her. She was/is amazing and had it back to me in no time, and even made it better with some love of her own.
And then I had a whole book, a real book, that I was finally ready to share with the world. One of my absolutely amazing friends in the art world, selflessly offered his time to me to help create the absolute masterpiece that is the Decoding Jessica cover, while I copyrighted the story and voila, Jessica was ready!
She is now in the hands on over 100 people who are enjoying her company as ARC readers and I could not be happier with their responses to my “labor of love”.
I can’t wait to do it all over again for book 2!
Do you believe that suspense thrillers can also provoke thought or social commentary?
Absolutely! In fact, Jessica’s entire purpose, in my mind, is to bring awareness to the darkness that we all carry inside of us. That darkness that threatens to swallow us whole. When it scratches, we listen. I am a huge supporter of mental health awareness and when I wrote Jessica, I wanted to highlight that, through her. I wanted to show what it would be like for someone coming into their own emotions for the first time, whether that be from dissociating from childhood trauma or from mental illness or any other reason, honestly. Her character arc is meant to show what it would be like for someone to conquer their inner darkness and not only be able to gain control of it, but to learn how to use it, to wield it like a weapon.
What was the most unexpected challenge you had while writing Decoding Jessica?
At the time, it was finding the space to write. 40ft RVs don’t offer much in the way of desk space! Once that was sorted; by buying a house and having a dedicated writing space, it was smooth sailing.
Where did the idea of Cole come from?
I love this one. Cole is actually based on my real-life husband. Sorry ladies, he’s all mine!
What was the most rewarding moment?
When I wrote the last line. That line hit hard and was never edited, it’s always been there from the first draft.
When will the next book be out?
Ha! I’ve worked so hard with the help of my amazing therapist, to be a “live in the present” person. So, I don’t have an answer for this just yet, right now I’m basking in the glow of book 1.
What inspired you to become a writer?
My father, hi dad! He’s always been into writing and between him and my mother, they instilled a deep love for reading and writing in me from a young age. I’ve written stories for as long as I can remember.
Do any of your characters’ names have any meaning?
They gave them to me! They just came up when I thought of them as people, almost as if they introduced themselves.
Where is your favorite place to write?
Where there is chaos! The noisier and busier the better. This next round I might spend some quality time with my laptop in a coffee shop.
Do you have any more books planned after the duet is finished?
Absolutely. I have had such an amazing time with this book, I can’t wait to get the rest of my WIPs out.
If so, will they also be psychological thrillers?
You’ll have to wait and see!
What other authors inspire you most?
Anne Rice was my first author love. However, the most inspirational author who I still idolize to this day is Laura Thalassa, she such a sweet down to earth person who, unbeknownst to her, inspired me by posting her own Instagram live stories on her process for writing. She made it attainable; she made it real for me.
Did you ever get in a writing slump? If so, what helped you get out of it?
Of course. No matter how much you love what you do, there will always be days when you just can’t do it and that’s okay. On those days I lean heavily into self-care, I give my body what it wants, whether that’s a spa day or just a nap.
Have you always wanted to be a writer? Or what did you want to be growing up if not?
Did I always want to? Yes, absolutely. Did I always Believe I could be? No, not at all. There was a long period of time where I thought I was going to be a forensic psychologist, like Cole. However, it just wasn’t in the cards. I’ve worn many hats before I donned my authors hat, and I have to say this is by far, my favorite one.
Shameless Plug Time
Decoding Jessica is currently available for pre-order through my web shop, Amazon and Barnes & Noble, before it’s available everywhere October 1, 2024!