1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?
Writing started out as an extension of reading for me, continuing the same activity. I’ve been doing it for as long as I could write my name, even if it took a long time for the scribbles to mean something.
2) What inspired you to write your book?
My interests in fin de siecle England, when social attitudes among the aristocracy were changing as wealthy Americans penetrated their ranks, and the occultism practiced during that period.
3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?
How both good and bad people can be driven to do horrible things through no fault of their own, because of social pressures in no way designed to inflict the pain that they do.
4) What drew you into this particular genre?
My love of fantasy novels I grew up reading, in particular the Alice books (the best in the genre), John Crowley’s great Little, Big, Mervyn Peake’s Gormenghast books, Peter Straub’s underappreciated Shadowland, Mark Helprin’s Winter’s Tale and Swan Lake trilogy, Hope Mirrlees’s Lud-in-the-Mist, and many others.
5) If you could sit down with any character in your book, what would you ask them and why?
I would ask my lead character Christine if she believes she could ever earn Allie’s forgiveness.
6) What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?
Facebook. It’s the easiest way to reach like-minded readers and to keep them engaged.
7) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?
Read, read, read. Read the current market, read the classics, absorb as much as you can.
8) What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?
I’m just finishing another historical fantasy, this one centered on Renaissance Europe.
