Where did you get the idea for your most recent book?

DP SHIFTERS came from the two main character's names. I met a girl name Ryland who had a brother named Tanner. They were little, so they have nothing to do with the characters in the story, but the names stuck with me. They sounded like characters in a book, the only problem was I didn't know their story. After several months of the characters bouncing around in my head, I had nothing.

One Saturday morning I was laying in bed and it hit me. The story of the past that brought them here—to Earth—flooded my mind. I thought about it for a week until my daughter, Angelia, came for a visit. I told her about the characters and the story and she thought it was good. I couldn't believe she liked it. After all, she is the writer in the family.

I told her about fourteen-year-old Tanner and his popular and beautiful twelve-year-old sister, Ryland, and the mysterious boy who has been following her. Angelia told me his name was Kai—that was all hers. Then I told her about Peanut, their little sister.

I wrote out the history of Gaia—their home world—as a place to start (not in the book), and Tanner's first chapter. She immediately—I mean, like within ten minutes—texted me the second half of the chapter, and the first chapter was done. From there the book and main characters were born. Tanner would begin each chapter followed by Ryland taking over the story.

The second book, ORDINARIES, is just being released to beta readers now. The next installment takes place right where SHIFTERS leaves off. Tanner and Ryland must gather support and travel to distant worlds (called colonies in the books) to finish what was started.

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