Tom Blacklock asked Leah Thomas:

Firstly I wanted to thank you for two amazing books that both made me cry and made me feel less alone (I was only diagnosed with Asperger's in my late 30s and felt just like Moritz growing up). My question is: how do you manage to write two distinct first person voices so successfully? Do you actually hear both boys' voices in your head or is it something you can learn as a writer or is just that you are a genius?

Leah Thomas Tom,
Sorry for the late reply! I am so glad you could relate to Moritz. I really feel for folks on the fringes. :) I am no genius, but I do think of myself as an almost painfully empathetic person. I tend to get absorbed in the struggles of other people, real or fictional. I think this is why one of my writing strengths is slipping into different characters. It's less that I hear their voices so much as become them during their scenes. While I do think I have a natural tendency in this area, it is something that gets easier with practice. I did a lot of theater in high school and I do a lot of cosplaying now, and those things help develop that too! I am so happy you felt less alone with my characters.

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