Kia Ora

1 - What’s the weirdest place you’ve ever written from?

The first few years I lived in Melbourne I didn’t have a car, so I spent a lot of time on public transport. I ended up writing about half of Order of the Valkyrie on my phone, riding on busses and trains.

2 - What’s your favourite character you’ve ever created — and why?

Maeve McKenna from The Valkyrie Chronicles. I just love how badass she’s turned out. She’s this warrior vampyre who started out in obscurity, then went on this incredible journey of self-discovery, all while reluctantly fighting in a war she didn’t sign up for.

3 - Do you listen to music while writing? If so, what’s your go-to playlist?

Actually, I prefer to put a TV show on in the background, something I’ve watched before and can tune out when I’m hyper focusing. Although, I have created playlists for my major projects where each character has a song on the list that would play whenever they walk into a room.

4 - Which of your characters would you most want to grab a drink with, and which one would you least trust with your wallet?

I’d grab a drink with Jewels, the Fate from The Valkyrie Chronicles, or any of the crew from The Adventures of Black Edythe. As for my wallet? Hands down, the least trustworthy character would be James O’Reilly from The Adventures of Black Edythe. He’d probably drink or gamble away what little cash I have on hand.

5 - If you could live in any of your worlds for a week, which one would it be?

Nikleghar is one of my favourites, I’d specifically want to live in the kingdom of Ulfrikstad. Maybe not the capitol, with all the political stuff going on there, but a nice little farm on the coast in one of the smaller holds.

6 - What do you do when you’re stuck on a story?

I marinade on what’s happening in the book, playing a scene out in my head over and over again until it’s ready to come out on the page. Going for a walk and listening to music helps.

7 - Do you put pieces of yourself into your characters, or do you keep them at arm’s length?

Yeah, there’s a few characters in my books who share some of my traits. Maddie Harper plays soccer like I did when I was in high school, Peyton Talbot loves music (maybe even more than I do), and Maeve McKenna is stubborn as hell with a side of dry, witty humour.

8 - What’s a dream project you haven’t started yet but really want to?

There’s a couple of ideas I’ve made notes for and done some light world building. One involves reincarnation, two people who have loved each other through multiple past lives, and a black market for stolen souls. The other is like Harry Potter meets Outlander.

9 - Tea, coffee, or something else entirely when you write?

I don’t drink hot drinks... well maybe a milo once in a blue moon. I exist on stubbornness and energy drinks.

10 - Do you outline everything in advance, or let the story wander where it wants to?

Even when I do attempt to outline in advance, my characters usually take me where they need to go. Part of what I love about writing is that my characters end up taking me on as much of an adventure as someone reading their story for the first time.

11What’s your favourite D&D character that you’ve played?

A character that I created for a level 20 one-shot. Kade Voss, a multi-class character with 9 levels of Rogue Assassin and 11 levels of Rune Knight Fighter. I took inspiration from the nomads in Cyberpunk for his backstory and build him for the soul purpose of going up against an ancient red dragon. He did 147 points of damage in the first round of combat.

12 – Which TV show do you think deserves another season?

In today’s culture of cancelling shows without a second thought (I’m looking at you Netflix), there are so many shows that ended before their time, and usually on a cliffhanger. My top five would be Wynonna Earp, Heels, Lovecraft Country, Altered Carbon, and The Winchesters.

13 - What’s your ultimate comfort re-watch/read/play?

That’s a toss up between Supernatural, Downton Abbey, and pretty much any Assassin’s Creed game.