1. What first sparked your interest in writing a fantasy novel? What does the process look like?

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     I wrote a fantasy novel because I love fantasy! Fantasy fiction strikes me as the ultimate vehicle for adventure. If adventure stories       are about pushing the limits, fantasy stories are about removing the limits. There is a desire in all of us to go beyond what is known,       beyond what we see with our eyes, to be free of the restrictions that keep us bound to our reality. The fantasy gear shifts us out of         the familiar, and into our dreams, where the unknown is waiting to be discovered. Part of how that looks is that the story creator has     the freedom to change the rules governing reality. For example, I set up a reality in which each person has a song hidden within.       Those who are trained in the healing gift can listen for and discover a person’s song, and when the song is sung, it brings healing and     restoration. This concept and its application grows as the story unfolds.

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2. Aidriana eventually found her identity that was stripped from her when she was younger. Do you think everyone finds their true identity eventually?

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     Unfortunately, no, but imagine what the world would be like if everyone lived in their true identity. Maybe that’s why I made Aidriana     a warrior-healer. There are always obstacles standing in the way of discovery, and we need the courage and strength of a warrior’s         heart to fight our way through. Sometimes, the obstacles are inside us. Our identity may be hidden under so many layers of abuse and     pain that we need a healer to sing us to freedom. Whatever the situation, it’s always worth it to pursue our true identity.

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3. Aidriana faces sexist backlash throughout her entire journey, in what ways do you think young girls face similar sexism today?

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     The phrase, “You can’t do that because you’re a girl,” is fast disappearing from mainstream American culture, but we shouldn’t be            lulled into thinking that sexism as a tool for control and manipulation is gone. There are still places in the world where girls and              women have no legal rights. Even in our own neighborhoods, women and girls can become targets of human trafficking, violence, and      abuse, because they are objectified, considered inferior, or are not physically strong enough to defend themselves. Sometimes the          individuals and institutions that should be protecting girls, are actually involved in discrimination or abuse. Girls are, of course, not the      only victims, and we can all watch out for each other by getting help from responsible authorities in the case of mistreatment or            assault.

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4. Why is it important for young girls to have such a strong female role model like Aidriana while growing up?

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     I think there is something to be learned from Aidriana’s response to adversity. She faced conflicts, disappointments, and failure. She       even had a few emotional melt-downs, but she never stayed in the victim’s seat. Aidriana didn’t view herself as a victim, or protest         and demand her rights. She diligently prepared herself and went about the business of doing what was in her heart to do, and when       the way forward opened to her, she followed through. If you are following your destiny there will be no lack of difficulties in your path.     Keep fighting, and by all means, never stop singing.

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5. What is the most challenging part of creating a fantasy world for your readers to explore?

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    One of my challenges was to create a world that is different, new and fresh, but not so foreign or complicated that the reader gets         lost in the strange names, creatures and places. I’ve kept the setting similar to our own world, with some added ‘magical qualities’       and one new creature. Unfamiliar names can be pronounced phonetically and I’ve included a map to orient the reader. I used folk lore       in the beginning section to communicate a sense of the values and culture of the Realm.

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6. What research did you do to create this fantasy world and characters?

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    I’ve always been fascinated with history and historic sites, so my imagination has been stimulated by places I’ve visited as well as          historical and fantasy fiction, history documentaries, and videos. Google and YouTube have been a huge gift. If I want to know how          steel was made in the Middle Ages, or what a horse looks like when it’s swimming, or how to spin wool thread for weaving, there’s a      video to watch. I am so grateful to the many historians and volunteers who give their time to preserve and reenact historical events,        buildings, methods, and culture.

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7. What part of writing Warrior of the Dawn did you find the most challenging?

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    Writing about war was difficult. The concept of war is powerful and intense—you don’t worry about what’s for dinner when you’re in     the middle of a battle. As such it’s a great metaphor for the challenging seasons or events we may face in life, but I did not want to         glorify violence or make it the focus. War is never a first option, but sometimes it comes to us and we have to rise to meet the call. It’s     not about the body count, it’s about doing what needs to be done.

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8. Do you have plans to write a sequel to Warrior of the Dawn?

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    Yes, at least two more books are coming in the world.

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