Questions and Answers 2026!

It seems the time has come for questions... and answers! Below I'll have the questions sent to me over the last few weeks and my answers with them. I hope to have this organized somewhat, but we'll see if my aspirations become reality. 😁

Question: What movie impacted you the most last year? How?

Answer: To be honest, I can't really remember everything I watched new this past year. I saw some good things for sure, but the year has been weirdly fast, yet looking back I hardly remember the spring. 🙃 The one that comes readily to mind is Truth and Treason. That was an amazing movie and not only did it cover a German resistance group during WWII which I LOVE, but the story itself was very impactful, the courage and self sacrifice of the characters was inspiring, and the music and filming was top notch. Definitely a highlight movie of the year.

Question: What book/book series impacted you the most last year? How?

Answer: Again, I read so many things this last year it's hard to say. However, I think in non-fiction it would be Speak Truth To Your Heart by Sarah Mally and Prison to Praise by Merlin Cruthers. Both of them really encouraged me in my walk with God and in how I approach different things in life.

Fiction would have to be The Scarlet Pimpernel series by Baroness Orczy. Not only is the Scarlet Pimpernel one of my favorite characters in fiction ever, but the Baroness has a wonderful way of writing, is historically accurate, and her characters are actual Christians and live out their belief. They are just very refreshing and inspiring to read. Also Before Night Falls and Jewel in the Evening Sky by MaryAnn Minatra. (These are adult books and deal with mature topics) Both of those were very well written, again had strong Christian characters, were historically accurate, and just a lot of fun to read. The Writing style is also very good and the story was very powerful.

Question: What would you say is the purpose of friendships?

Answer: Friendship was designed by God so that brothers and sisters in Christ could encourage one another and help and uplift each other in their walk with God. Friends are to encourage, correct in love, pray with one another, etc. There is truth in the saying that there is strength in numbers, but not just in a military sense. We were created to interact with and befriend other people. True friends would, as Jonathan did for David, strengthen one another's hands in the Lord.

Question: What is most important in friendships?

Answer: That you both share the same faith. If you can't claim the same foundation, you can't really be close friends, and it could be harmful to try. Don't be unequally yoked is often quoted in reference to marriage, but it applies to friendships as well. You can and should be friendly to and have acquaintances among non believers, but you can't have a deep friendship with them. You aren't walking on the same road, you aren't standing on the same foundation, and the centers of all your values and beliefs won't be the same.

Question: If you could only ever visit one other country, what country would that be?

Answer: Well, my dream trip is to track WWII across Europe, so I guess if I only got to go to one country, I'd say Germany. It's a great place to start for that project, and it's also beautiful. I was there as a very little child, but not enough to have really appreciated it. (I just liked the big swimming pool we went to and watching the teenage boys who jumped off the cliff with hang-gliders every morning) So yeah, I'd have to say Germany.

Question: What would you say are some key differences between men and women? And I’m not asking for physical differences.

I think some of the big ones I've notices are communication. Guys and girls communicate very differently. Friendships. The way we start, build, and retain friendships is very different. Competition. We compete in a very different way– men's competition is often more outward and physical while we females can get more catty and emotional in competition. (Also guys normally compete when having a good time with friends, we tend to compete and not be happy with one another) A lot of different things, but those are the big ones that come to mind.

Question: What was the hardest thing for you when learning to ride a horse?

Answer: Well, I learned starting when I was about 4, so I don't remember what was hard starting out. The biggest thing I remember is that I learned in Europe and then came to America and was taught to ride Western, and I was always trying to figure out what I was actually suppose to do when the two styles are so very different.

Question: Dogs or cats?

Answer: Oh cats for sure! Cats every time. (And no, I'm not a crazy lady with the cat, lol) But out doors for sure. I don't like animal hair in my house.

Question: Pineapples on pizza? Yes or no and why?

Answer: Ahh! *Panic attack* the life or death question! 😂 Okay, ready for a shocker. I've never had pineapples on pizza, and not because I don't want to try it, it's never something I've gotten around to! I think it could taste good though. For some reason something in me really wants them to be fresh thinly sliced pieces, not cooked ones. I don't know though, someone needs to get me a slice so I can try it! 🤣

Question: What song have you been listening to the most recently?

Answers: Well I normally have the playlist to my current book on a loop while I'm writing, so all those songs for sure. But I've also recently gotten into the musicals mood again. (Cold weather and cloudy days does that to me) so I've been re-listening to all my favorites while I clean house. I finally put together a playlist with all my top favorite songs from old musicals I love all randomly shuffled together. That's been a lot of fun. So not really one song in particular.

Question: What inspires you the most?

Answer: In writing it always tends to be a good song, a painting or black and white photograph, or a forgotten little bit of history I stumbled upon. In general, it's stories. I'm inspired by stories (fiction or non fiction), and most often by the ones of courage and sacrifice and characters standing for truth and right even when the world is against them.

Question: What's your favorite color?

Answer: Blue. Especially the color the sky gets at sunset. The deep, light blue. Green is a close second.

Question: Do you love cute little dogs like I do? 😂

Answer: I'm not a dog person, (except I do have a weak spot for German Shepherds but that's because of WWII, lol) I like puppies, but I don't really love dogs.

Question: What time do you get up in the morning and when do you go to bed?

Answer: Ideally I go to bed around 9:00-9:30 and get up between 5:00 and 5:30. I am a morning person for sure.

Question: What is your favorite childhood memory?

Answer: I don't think I could pick a favorite. I love little bits and pieces of all kinds. We were always very adventurous, and the things mom came up with for us to do was always fun. From recreating a village in the mud for geography/history to getting lost in the big city, to hiking and climbing trees... we've always done stuff, and we've always done things together.

Question: When you die, what do you want to be remembered for?

Answer: Charlie Kirk said it very well, and I would echo with a very similar statement–– I want to be remembered for having lived faithfully, to have used what God has given me well, to have loved like He did, and to have been faithful with what I was given.

Writing

Question: Why do you write?

Answer: I write because God has given me a gift and when God gives a gift, he doesn't give it without reason. He has given me this skill, and not only that, but has given me a love of writing. With this gift, I can honor and glorify Him by using the things He has given me. For me not to write... well it almost be like refusing to unwrap a present your Dad had given you.

Question: What’s your number one tip for writing male characters? (Especially for a female author.)

Answer: Observation. Observation is the number one tip. I was privileged to grow up in a home with brothers and got to see how they interact with one another and with their friends. (in fact, I feel more comfortable writing guys vs. girls because I have been able to observe guys more than girls.) There are also a lot more young guys than girls in our church and I've been able to watch them hanging out and doing things together, picking up on styles of conversation, friendship, play, work, communication, etc. Watch your brothers or cousins, watch the guys in your church, school, homeschool group, etc. Watch and take note. They are different from us in many ways and sometimes I think we females can forget that they aren't just like us. 🙃 This may be an odd way to put it, but on nature shows when they want to know more about an animal, do they bring it into their film studio and watch it in their 'world' or try to interview it? No, they go out to it's natural habitat and watch. Not to say guys are animals, lol, but observing them in their natural habitat (with one another, working, playing a game together, etc) is the best way to know more about them. And the more you know about something, the better you can write it. (Just don't get creepy and go stalker on them or they won't like it, lol.) Observe without being observed.

And on the flip side, everything I just said could go for a guy author writing girls.

Question: Do you have any tips for writing books quickly?

Answer: Hmm, well, I think the biggest one is don't stop. A lot of authors struggle with writer's block, and that isn't a think that happens for me. But it's not because I'm some unusual person. It's because writers block is often a choice. We don't think of it like that, but it really is. It's the same as quitting practice or the sports game because your legs or arms are burning. My word of advice is never stop. (Sunday is of course an exception as it is our day of rest) If you want to write fast and complete books well, I suggest this: Write a minimum of 500 words per day. (for context, the answer I am writing at this moment has already broken 100 words) If you're having a good day with writing, just go for it and write a ton. If you sit down and think, I don't think I can do this Just write your 500 and be done with it. (getting up and going for a walk outside is something i find helpful when threatened with a block) You may come back the next day and delete most or all of those 500 words, but just keeping in touch with the book every day really helps avoid a block and also keeps the flow smooth. (Also, quite honestly, some people just write faster than others. I type very fast and stories flow very easily for me. That isn't the same for everyone. But chipping away 500 words a day will put you at 500,000 words by the end of the week-- Sunday not included)

Question: What is your top tip for writing character development in books?

Answer: Keep it human. Don't try to get too tangled up in a bunch of ulterior motives and complicated ideas and driving forces. Humans can be complicated, but also ridiculously simple. Examples: The boy who's father was distant will often view God in the same way. The girl who is very inwardly focused either with emotions or aspirations, will often miss very clear things that would clue her into what others are planning/doing because she is so wrapped up in herself she won't notice. Etc. I guess another way to say it would be knowing your character. Every human (thus every character) has weakness and strengths. There will be physical ones and emotional ones. Your job is to know them. You can't just have a lone wolf who doesn't like or trust people. You have to know why he's this way. You don't have to tell your readers, but you must know, and when you know, the character will become more realistic. So, he's the lone wolf and doesn't like people because the only people he's ever trusted have hurt him. This will provide him with certain knee-jerk reactions that you can choose to trigger along the way to clue the reader in. Instead of just having the "badguy" give him motives and reasons. Give your villain a "moral code" he refuses to break, a line he won't cross, a thing he can't do, etc. Keep them human. They will all have things they want, and they will all have things they fear. Know your character and don't step outside the "boundaries" of who they are. The rest will almost come naturally as you place them in situations that will either impact them negatively or positively.

Question: How did you manage to publish a book before you were 18?

Answer: I was homeschooled and because of this, I had a lot of opportunities that others just don't have. My mom was always very supportive of my love of writing and storytelling. She geared my schooling toward more literary learning and really paved the way for me to be able to accomplish a lot of things that I wouldn't have been able to do otherwise. I've sort of always had the personality of "This is something I should do... I'm gonna do it" I'm not a huge planner ahead. lol. So yeah, when I decided I wanted to publish, I prayed, saw the open door, and took the plunge.

Faith and Convictions

Question: Why is Prince Jonathan your favorite Bible character? What have you learned from him/his story?

Answer: Prince Jonathan is indeed among my favorite Bible characters. I have always loved him because he was a noble young man in a very hard place. He was trying to respect and obey his father, but also had come to the point where he could see that his father was pitting himself against God. His friendship with David is also very admirable and one that I love. We are told that as Jonathan stood and watched David speak to his father, the head of the giant still in his hand, Jonathan's soul was knit to David's and he loved him. (1 Samuel 18) This was a very deep friendship that they had, and when Jonathan found out that David was going to be king instead of him, he did everything he could to protect him and show his loyalty. What kind of crowned prince not only hands over the throne to his usurper, but willingly and nobly does so because God has chosen another man as king. Jonathan was a magnificent and powerful warrior, taking on an entire garrison of philistines with only a shield bearer because he knew God was with him. (1 Samuel 13-14) There is also a very interesting little passage that I think often goes unnoticed. In 1 Samuel 23, Saul is out to kill David again, and all the soldiers were searching for him high and low to kill him. Then it says that "And Jonathan, Saul's son, rose and went to David at Horesh, and strengthened his hand in God." Jonathan knew David so well that he didn't have to go hunting for him. He knew exactly where he was, and he got up and went to him in his time of need. And what did he do when he reached David? He strengthened his hand in God. That is a true friend.

Question: What was the greatest truth/lesson God taught you last year?

Answer: Contentment would be a big one. I have many dreams for the future, but learning to be content where I am now and to grow and learn in the place He has me. Also rejoicing not just in, but for trials. Thanking God for the trials because I know He's going to refine me in some way through them. It has helped me to become more joyful every day.

Question: How do you live out all of Christ for all of life?

Answer: By daily prayer and submission. Giving Him the glory, giving Him the work of my hands, praying for strength and guidance, repenting when I have sinned, being thankful in all things, and trusting Him.

Question: What does it mean to you to be a dangerous woman?

Answer: (To clarify, we are talking dangerous to the world, not a woman who would be a dangerous/sinful influence to Christians) A dangerous woman is a Biblical woman. The most effective and dangerous and frightening thing we can do is live as God has called us to. Be a proverbs 31 woman, submit to your husband (or father if you are unmarried) have and raise children, make your home a place of refuge and encouragement that strengthens your Christian brothers and sisters for the fight. Be feminine and beautiful, serve and strengthen others, move with grace and poise, speak with love and Christian virtue. In these ways we will become a thing of terror to the enemy.

Question: What’s the meaning/message you take away from Jesus’s talk about taxes?

Answer: I haven't thought much about this. It's something I should look into.

Question: How do young women cultivate joyful submission and obedience?

Answer: This is a matter of the heart for sure. You can outwardly obey/submit, but if the heart is not in it, it's not true obedience or submission. The first thing to do is start in prayer. Tell God you want to joyfully obey and submit to Him and your parents (or husband if you are married). Ask Him for help, and He will give it to you. Repent when you fail, both to God and the person. Smile when asked to do things, even if you would really rather not. Tell yourself that you are going to joyfully obey in this task, even when you dislike it, or submit when you'd rather not. Make a deliberate choice to do so with joy. It doesn't come naturally. Our nature is sin and rebellion. You must constantly deny your nature to obey and submit with joy. It will grow easier over time, but it will always be something we must make the deliberate choice to do.

Question: What is one thing that you are passionate about and believe to be very important that you think most Christian teens/young people neglect?

Answer: Hmm, this is an interesting question. There are many things that come to mind, but I think it could be summed up in this. The "Y/A" or "Teenage" phase, should not be a thing. So many young people use this time to get all the fun they can out of life before they settle down to being adults. This will look different in Christian teens vs. non-Christians, but even then, this is often the root sentiment. The word "teenager" wasn't even used until the later 1940s! Thousands of years went by without that word. It used to just be child and adult. Now we have a new category, and with it comes a new phase of life that never existed before. Now, I'm not advocating for 14-year-old girls to get married and those sorts of things, but I do think that it's time for teenagers to stop messing around.

At 16 years old, George Washington was a surveyor. He was measuring off and declaring property boundaries all over the state! At 16! Most of our sixteen year olds are thought to be doing well if they can serve fast food!

At age 11, Horatio Nelson saw that his family was struggling financially and as wrote to his uncle asking for a job in the Royal Navy. He was given a place when he was 12 years old in the working world of men.

When Clara Barton was 10 years old, she acted as a nurse to her brother David for two years after he fell from the roof of a barn and sustained a severe head injury. In nursing her brother, she learned how to deliver prescription medications and care for him as he struggled for life. David eventually made a full recovery

I could go on and on. Young people throughout history have taken up responsibly, done incredible and very hard things, and truly acted their age. I think that's something that we are rapidly losing.

Question: Were are you going in life? What is the most important thing to you?

Answer: I'm going wherever God leads me. The most important thing to my is my faith and my Savior.

Question: You've shared that you only wear skirts and dresses. When did you first come to this conviction? Or have you always dressed this way?

Answer: I've always worn dresses when I was little. There was a stage when I was about 9, 10, 11, somewhere in there, when I started wearing jeans and khaki shorts but they were more often guys' shorts/pants because the girl ones were just too tight in the wrong places. (And on top of that, it was easier to pass around in a house with a majority of guys. 😄) Once I was a little older though, I went back to dresses and skirts. We had a modesty rule in our house, but I wasn't forbidden to wear pants, they just couldn't be tight. However, I found that skirts and dresses with a pair of shorts on under was the easiest way to go. Plus, as I got even older and began to look for styles that fit me well, I found that the 1940s-1950s cuts looked the nicest on me, along with some cuts from the early 1900s as well. I'm not against girls wearing shorts and pants so long as they are modest. I just found for myself that I was more comfortable in dresses and skirts and that I liked the look of them better. My ideal outfit is a skirt or dress with some flow to it and a pair of cotton shorts under in case I need to climb trees, jump fences, drive 4-wheelers, scale cliffs, play soccer, or ride horses, (all of which I have done in a dress. 🤣)

My Books

Question: I know that in Choices we made, the focus is on Christine and Friedrich, so this is a question that comes to mind when I think about TCWM. Have you ever thought about what the economical effects of combining countries would be?

Answer: Well, for starters, economy back then was not the same as it is now. Secondly, the two countries were basically just a large island split in half by the river that runs down the middle of it. They aren't going to be living that much differently from one another and will be trading the same sorts of goods. To combine the countries would be kind of like combining Northern Australia and Southern Australia. It would not have caused too much change.

Question: What was Friedrich busy with all the time? Seems like an obvious question, but combining the forces of Arvendell and Valoria would be a hassle an' a half. You've got two countries who have been sworn enemies for as long as anyone could remember. And BOOM everything you thought you were fighting for just kind of evaporates.

Answer: Well, you kind of just answered your own question, lol. He was busy with a tone of politics and trying to sort out everything that comes along with the end of a war and the uniting of two countries. Lots of paperwork, lots of changes, some new laws, etc. On top of that, he was holding court as the judge of the land. Some of this he did well, some of the time he failed, but the poor guy was also trying to figure out how to be king and a husband at the same time. He got his priorities mixed up for sure, but you can see how it would have been easy to just lock yourself up with the paperwork and ignore the rest of life.

Question: How long would it have taken to actually stop all the fighting after the union of the countries in TCWM?

Answer: What we refer nowadays as an armistice would have been made. This is an agreement two countries make to call a ceasefire on a certain date at a certain time. Once it was called, there would be no more fighting. From there, soldiers would return home, armies would pick up their weapons and start marching back, etc. The initial fighting would have been brought to an easy end, and a royal wedding would have helped with giving the people a new thing to think about, but there would have been a ton of prejudice between the two peoples even after that. We don't see this in the book as the characters we follow wouldn't have experienced this, but it was always something I thought would have been interesting to explore.

Question: How would the trade with other countries change in TCWM?

Answer: There would have been change internally, but externally it would have been close to the same. Both countries had well know sea ports where trade was held and they would have both remained open. There would now just be one in the West and one in the East.

Question: What became the name of the country in TCWM after they combined?

Answer: The book never states this because the time covered is only a few months, and at that point everything was still unstable as decisions were being made and politics rearranged, so a new name was never decided upon.

Question: What is your favourite book you've written? Why?

Answer: Favorite book I've written? Wow, that's kind of impossible to answer, lol. I think I have a few favorites, (though they tend to change a good deal as I write more or skim over old ones) The Choices We Made has long been a special one, but that was really because of the crazy way it came into being. I think My current favorites have to be the one I am currently working on and the one I wrote before that (which is currently in the editing process) I like them both for a few reasons. 1, those are the books that crossed the line between YA and adult fiction for me which is an age range I have really enjoyed writing for. 2, they are both HisFic which I love. 3, they both deal with issues that I believe are very important to explore in a way that is honoring to God and pure. 4, I just really love this new set/style of characters.

Question: Who is your favourite book character you've written? Why?

Answer: Again, crazy hard to answer. I would have to say... hmm, I don't think I can pick. I really love a couple of the villains I've written lately because they were very interesting characters to write from an author's prospective. I also really have loved several of the recent leads and allies. Sadly, I'm not going to reveal names at this time because the books in question are unpublished.

Of the published books my favorites are easily Friedrich (The Choices We made) Damir (Fateful Night) Luke (Fateful Night) Jim (Sector 5: The Hidden) and Cassion (The Numbered and the Nameless) Friedrich is a favorite because he really was a noble young man, despite the amount of mistakes that he made, and in the end he stood up and obeyed God's calling to him as a man and husband. Damir because I love the conflicted character and he was one for sure. Luke because I embodied all of America into one kid so that someone who has never been here could taste a little bit of our country through him. I mean, you can't get much better than a cowboy in a pickup with a southern accent and a handgun can you? Jim because he was conflicted as well, but he also was not a great guy, yet was thrust into position of mentor to one of my characters. He was not the ideal guy for the job, and you don't want the kid to turn out like him, but he's also the only guy there is. Cassion... well if you've read the book you know. He was a great guy and he did what was right, even when he knew it would cost him everything.

Question: If you got to be the sister of one of your characters (from across all your books), who would you pick?

Answer: Oh these last few have been hard! Hmm, sister of the character.... Daniel Forrester and Ethan Airmen would both be fun to have as brothers. Cassion too, honestly. I may have to pick one of them... but again, it's quite difficult.

Art & Design

Question: How do you digitalize your physical art onto the computer?

Answer: I used a scanner and scan it onto the laptop. From there I use different filters and sometimes drawing apps to go over the art until it looks the way I want it too (sharper and cleaner/more like a photo/etc. etc.)

Question: How do you design your covers?

Answer: Depending on the cover, I sometimes will do an ink sketch and then set it on a background, sometimes I'll do more digital art styles, sometimes I draw the cover and then go over it with filters, sometimes I cut bits and pieces from photos in the public domain, sometimes I take my own pictures, it all really depends. But then I upload the material into different apps and work from there.

Random

Well, thank you all so much for sending in these questions! It was a lot of fun to answer them all and I hope to do it again sometime soon. Hopefully within the next week or so I'll be able to write and post a few more updates and such. For now, I've got to get back to work on my current WIP!

God bless and have a wonderful day!