What was the last book that you read that you’d now recommend? 

It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey.  

Have you read any classics lately that you were reading for the first time?

Not for the first time, but I always adore a re-read of Rebecca and Sense & Sensibility.  

Do you re-read books? And if yes, what was your last re-read?

Always!  It feels like returning to an old friend, but still finding new ways to be surprised by the text.  Emily Henry and Holly Black are authors whose books I reach for over and over.

What are your go-to genres? 

Fantasy in all age groups, Romance in Adult and YA, and Mystery/Suspense in Adult and YA.  

What is your favorite childhood book?

I loved the Arthur series!  

What books are on your bedside table right now?

I can’t wait to read Portrait of a Scotsman by Evie Dunmore and The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Córdova.  

Do you bookmark or dogear your page in a book? 

I used to unrepentantly dogear, but these days I am reformed!  Bookmarks all the way. 

What is your ideal reading setting? 

Cozied up on the couch with a blanket and some snacks.  

Tell us about your favorite indie bookstore? 

Sadly, I don’t have a local indie, but Livraria Lello (located in one of my favorite cities in the world!) is always enchanting.  

What was an early experience where you learned that language had power? 

I think this is something I’ve always been aware of—it’s hard not to be, when you consider the magic of books in transporting you to far-off places.  

What literary pilgrimages have you gone on?

While not quite a pilgrimage, Paris’ Shakespeare and Company was a destination I’ve been lucky enough to visit several times.  I’d love to go to Stratford-upon-Avon one day!

Where do you get most of your writing and editing done?

I try to sit at my desk as much as possible, but I usually wind up on the couch.  

Does writing energize or exhaust you?

Honestly, a good writing day usually results in a great deal of both!  

How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?

Surprisingly few!  Even from the books that will never see the light of day, something or someone I’ve shelved will pop up in a WIP and get a breath of new life. 

Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?

Sometimes!  While obviously most authors hope everyone will love their book, that’s not the reality, but there’s no better feeling than when someone really gets your work. 

If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?

Don’t give up when the shiny newness of an idea wears off!  Keep going until The End!

When you’re not reading or writing, what are you doing?

My books are always a little bit foodie, so it should come as no surprise I love to cook!

What are your three favorite things right now? 

The crisp air of autumn, my secret WIP, handcrafted jewelry. 

Your favorite travel destination and why? 

I have several favorite places, but right now I’m yearning to return to Nice, France.  I spent Christmas there pre-pandemic and it was a city I could see myself living in. Maybe one day!  

What’s your favorite meal and go-to drink order?

 Beef stew and a mint mojito—not that they would go together! 

What six people, living or dead, would you invite to dinner a party? 

Alan Rickman, Geraldine McEwan, Dianna Wynne Jones, Agatha Christie, Gene Roddenberry, Rainer Maria Rilke.  

If a movie was made of your life, what genre would it be, who would play you?

Offbeat rom-com starring Leighton Meester.  

What’s the last TV show or movie you watched that was really good?

I recently finished watching Westworld, which is intense, but raises good questions about what it means to be human. Lucifer is also fantastic, and the series finale just aired last week so it’s totally binge-ready!  

You have to sing karaoke; what song do you pick?

Ingrid Michaelson’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love” </3 

If you were being taken to a deserted island and could only bring one book, what would it be?

I will be really practical here and say whatever survival guide has the best consumer ratings LOL.