In Memory of Malissa

My friends and I are remembering Malissa today, on her birthday. Malissa is my very dear friend Deanna's older sister. It has been an honor to walk with Deanna through the loss and to remember how much Missi means to all of us.

Lots of people ask me about the inspiration to write TMAS - I think the heart of Miranda's loss of her sister Xanda comes from those memories. Even though the fictional Xanda couldn't be more different than Malissa, the loss of a sister and friend inspired much of...