What made you finally decide to publish your first book?
Becoming an author was something I had quietly dreamed about my whole life. But that's all it was. A dream. Something I could think of fondly when life got hard. But then it got so hard that I rage-quit my job and suddenly found myself with a lot more free time. It was my shot and I knew it. So, I took it. And I'm so glad I did! The world works in mysterious ways.
How does it feel seeing your book out in the world?Every single time it happens, whether it's seeing my book in pictures on social media or in someone's hand in real life, it makes my heart skip a beat. I don't think that feeling will ever go away.What surprised you most about the publishing process?
The biggest surprise for me was learning that typing "The end" on my manuscript wasn't really the end at all. Not even close! "The end" was genuinely just the beginning. From there, came the after—the editing, formatting, map creation, artwork, cover design, ISBN assignments, print specifications, ARCs, release dates, distributor uploads, and marketing. It was all one hella fast and furious blur! 😅
What was the hardest part of writing your debut?
I love this because for me, writing my debut was the easiest part of the whole process. The story just spilled out of me. The characters had full conversations in my head. In my dining room. My kitchen. Anytime I closed my eyes, there they were telling me what was next. For me, marketing takes the cake as the hardest part of the whole process by sheer time consumption alone. Not to mention trying to be cute or clever with it!
What inspired this story?
Kingdom of Time was inspired in equal parts by Game of Thrones and Throne of Glass—two series that entirely changed the way I looked at reading. Not only was I captivated by each story, but also—maybe even more so—by the craft. The lore and plot twists of GoT and the easter eggs and reveals of ToG were big influences on my writing style. And then, of course, Daenerys and Manon are two goddess-tier FMCs who my characters look up to dearly.
Which character feels the most like a piece of you?
This is so funny because I know I inadvertently gifted *more than a few* of my quirks to my FMCs. So, while I am neither a badass cutthroat immortal killing-machine or a crafty and cunning sweet-faced witchling with more power than the sun, I am always hungry and often ill-tempered. 🤣 And for that, I feel I'm most like Everly.
What emotion did you feel the most when writing?
Exhilaration. As the chapters took form and the characters came to life, these invisible strings that had lived in my head for so long began tying into bows more beautiful than even I imagined they'd be. It felt like—and still feels like—having magic.
What do you hope readers feel the most after reading it?
I hope the moment they finish the last page is the very same moment they start questioning every word they just spent the last 460 pages reading. I hope Kingdom of Time makes them think and wonder and yearn for what comes next.
What tropes can readers expect?
Ancient PropheciesBattle AcademyBeasts RebornDeadly TrialsForbidden MagicHidden Identity (my personal favorite)Hunter Becomes HuntedImmortal WarriorsMulti-POVPolitical IntrigueRival to AlliesSlow-burn Romance
Who is this book perfect for?
Kingdom of Time is perfect for high-action, multi-POV fantasy lovers who enjoy immersive worldbuilding and thick and twisty plots with new mysteries hiding at every bend. And, of course, for those of us who love a good old fashioned slooooowburn.
What makes your story standout from others in the genre?
To me, the most special thing about Kingdom of Time is that she doesn't underestimate her reader. Yes, she might be bound in a pretty pastel cover, but beneath wait pages that slice sharp as blades. She is not meant for those faint of heart.