Here’s a brief Q&A segment to help you get to know me and my book better. Fate’s Calling was released on October 26, 2025. It’s done fairly well given my relaxed marketing style. I’m so very proud of myself for actually having this dream, holding it for long, and seeing it through. I can’t wait to grow into an author who enjoys marketing and talking about her work. Until then, here’s more about me and Fate’s Calling!
What inspired you to write this particular book?
This book was a challenge/dare to myself. Over the years, I’ve written poetry, a play, a bunch of stories, a blog, and a fiction novel series. I wanted to know if I could write paranormal romance, which is my favorite genre. The characters came easily, but I had a hard time deciding which point of view I wanted to use, and this was the first time I had to create a villain. It turns out, interpersonal conflicts are much easier to write than bad guys. Honestly, I think I’ve gotten better with each round of edits. Even with all the trials and false starts for this book, and there were plenty, I didn’t expect this personal dare to turn into a series. At most, I anticipated it would be a long but satisfying duology.
What do you hope readers will take away from your book?
I hope my characters demonstrate that you can reinvent yourself whenever you want. It takes courage and effort, and sometimes you have to confront your own ego and upbringing, but you can change your life.
What might readers not know about the book just from reading it?
I can’t speak on that. It is apparent in book two.
Who is your least favorite character?
Terisa, Luke’s mom, for obvious reasons. But also, she’s a very stubborn character. I want one thing, and she wants another. We’ve been in a bit of a tug of war since the beginning. She was supposed to play a much smaller role than she’s currently playing.
Who is your favorite character?
Genie because I want to be like her when I grow up. She just wants to read spicy books, travel, and love on her man. That kind of surety of self and reverence for a simple life is admirable. I adore Selena as well, but she’s just starting to come into her own.
What’s one thing you know now that you wish you’d known when you started writing?
Word count matters!! Seriously, this book is long, which doesn’t bother me, but it started out at well over 205,000 words, or rather, I stopped paying attention after that. At some point, I had trouble opening the Word document, and the editing software struggled to keep up. Also, do you know how overwhelming it is to see 5,000 suggestions in your spelling and grammar check? It’s intimidating. Not to mention, the cost of editing a manuscript that is over 90 thousand words gets pretty steep.
Were there sections that were difficult to write or required dozens of revisions?
I knew I’d have trouble writing fight scenes because I’ve never had to before. However, I didn’t realize one could lose the ability to write spicy scenes. For both, it is about the choreography, which body part is going where and when. The first few edits were stilted—he did this, that went there. Part of the problem was I hadn’t written a love scene in first person before, so it took a while, and some (ahem) research to get the flow right. And while I wasn’t sure how explicit I wanted to be in the first book, I knew the characters’ chemistry and personalities enough to know that once they had a green light, the subsequent books would get pretty interesting. So, it was important to me to strike the right balance of this is hot, but it’s new, and just you wait.
How do you create your main characters?
Being a writer is so weird because one day you are trotting along, living your life, then suddenly there’s a voice in your head announcing itself, and you have to write what they say. At least that’s how it is for me. Sometimes the characters don’t rest until I finish a few scenes, or they get really annoyed when I try to write something that isn’t authentic for them. I think most writers experience this to a certain degree, but I’ve definitely read books where I can tell the writer’s needs trumped what the characters wanted to do, or what the characters would do given what the audience knows of their personality. I tried that once, and the entire story fell apart. I had to rewrite it. I’m still rewriting it, actually. So now, I just let my characters guide me.
Selena came to me while I was working through a period of trying to dismantle my superwoman syndrome. I wanted to create a literal superwoman. Somehow, I ended up taking her through a journey of dismantling her infallible superwoman image while embracing how extraordinary she really is. The two are very different.
Were you surprised by anything while writing this book?
Yes. I was surprised by how all the characters interacted with one another. Starting out, I assumed it would be one way. Luke has three best friends. I figured they’d all have a similar relationship. That was not the case. And with Selena, I assumed she’d remain closed off and only form relationships with those she met early on. I had no idea she’d open her life to so many people. She and I were equally surprised by that. I was also surprised by all the nuggets of wisdom coming from these characters. I would write something, pause, and reread it like, Whoa, that’s so profound.
I was also surprised that this ended up being a slow burn with characters that are 24 to 27 years old, which is slightly older than the traditional 18-year-old romantasy main characters. I tried to change their ages, I really did, but it didn’t work, and honestly, it would have made no sense.
What’s your favorite line from the book?
There are a lot of lines that I love. Blake and Jason have amazing one-liners. Harmony has zero filter. And Luke and Selena are so cute and earnest together. There’s one scene where she walks in after he had a bit of an emotional outburst, and Selena is trying to be there for him, but she’s distracted by the fact that he destroyed his bookshelves. After some back and forth, she asks, “Wouldn’t you have preferred the satisfying crunch of an expensive piece of equipment instead of the dull thud of books and that one pathetic lamp?” I love this line because I love books too. Like her, I respect them too much to throw them on the floor. It’s the one trait she and I share.
But there is this one other line, it’s essentially a super hero waving the white flag, saying I cannot be strong tonight. Selena and Luke are finally having a conversation about her magic and she says, “How about, just for tonight, I will be a witch who isn’t on the run. And you will be a man, sorry, male, with no responsibilities? We’ll eat pizza and watch a movie like the weirdo, carefree people of the world.” It’s such a small part of the book, but it’s her way of admitting that she was exhausted from, not just the emotion toll of the reveal, but from carrying the load of her secret for so long. She’s asking him to be unguarded with her too and he answers in kind.
How did you choose the title for your book, and what significance does it hold for you?
The title came from something that Luke said. Before that chapter, the book had the working title Selena and Luke Shifter Series. LOL I tried to name the book something else, but it didn’t feel right, and I ended up going right back to Fate’s Calling, as in fate is calling you. Honestly, I believe in fate, as do the characters. The title fit the theme of the book perfectly.
What are you working on next?
Well, I do not write chronologically, so books two, three, and four of the Sunridge Pride series all have a significant chunk completed. A new paranormal couple just came to me last week. He’s fae and she’s psychic. I see a vampire, as I have outlines for two more projects that will probably end up being novellas.
So much to write, so little time.
Sneak Peak of book 2
Enjoy this unedited preview of the book two!
Lucas
She was about to jump out of her skin. Selena was trembling in my arms as my family pulled up to my house in a big coach bus and a Winnebago. A bus full of tiger shifters was approaching and my mate was ready to run for the hills. I pulled her closer and whispered in her ear.
“Relax, it’ll be fine.”
“Ambush,” she whispered back, sounding panicked.
I laughed. A group of tigers is called an ambush. Gram, my paternal grandmother, mentioned to Selena and me that a few aunts, uncles, and cousins wanted to visit the pride now that they were allowed back on campus. She didn’t mention the bus. Loud rumbling could be heard minutes before two Mustangs and a Ducati pulled up behind the bus. Selena turned around, intending to run. I grabbed her shoulders and turned her back around, holding her tight to my side.
“Seriously? You single-handedly kill multiple shifters and witches in combat without blinking an eye, but this scares you.”
I was making light of the situation but I understood her apprehension. Selena didn’t have a big a family. In fact, before her mom died it was just her mother and stepfather. She’d been on her own and on the run for six years. Meeting anyone’s family was out of the question. Now, she was about to meet a literal bus load.
“It’s a bus full of tigers,” she whisper-yelled. Smiling, I kissed her lips.
“It’s just my family.”
“Your mother is your family and she hates me.”
“My mother hates all witches and me, and pretty much everyone in the world. So that’s not a great example. Besides, they’ll be gone in a few days and only like three of them are staying with us.”
The first one out of the Winnebago was Gram. The first one off the bus was Logan, my cousin.
“Shit,” I hissed.
Logan and I did not get along. We competed for everything and fought constantly. Barely six months apart in age, we suffered from severe sibling rivalry that was mostly perpetuated by our mothers.
“Fuck my life,” Selena said under her breath before turning around again, her back to my approaching family. “The one that just got off the bus. Is his name Logan?” I nodded. “He your cousin?” Concerned now, I nodded slowly. “Fuck me. Nothing serious, but I dated your cousin for like two weeks. He’ll think my name is Serena.” She met my eyes before turning back around and plastering the fakest smile I’d ever seen on her face.
“Date, date?”
“Nope. I had to leave Memphis before we got to that date.” Meaning, Donald’s crew had found her and she had to run. She’d most likely left without a word.
“Shit.”
“Yup. I ghosted your cousin.”
I watched Logan approach as I put the pieces together. They’d dated. Selena hadn’t had a one-night stand with him which meant…
“Seriously? Him?”
“He was really sweet. But clearly you two have issues.”
“Remember the asshole I fight with constantly?”
“Well damn.”
By then half the family had disembarked and were in hearing range so we stopped talking. My grandmother and Logan reached us first. She pulled me into a hug, stroking my face and kissing my cheeks, telling me how much she missed my face. Logan hung back, scowling.
“Small fucking world,” he sneered. Before he could approach Selena—or I could deck him—Gram grabbed her up in a similar embrace. I held out my hand for Logan.
“Lo, nice to see you, man.” He ignored my outstretched hand.
“Lucas. Nice to see you too. Big man on campus,” he said, clapping my back harder than necessary. I shoved him off. “Looks like we have similar taste in women,” he said, gesturing toward Selena.
“Hi, Logan.”
“Hi, Serena.”
“Selena.” Logan’s face fell.
“What?”
“My name, my real name, is Selena.”
“Fuck me running.”
Selena brows rose at the expression and my grandmother, troublemaker extraordinaire, was grinning from ear to ear. Gram loved gossip and other people’s drama. We’d clued her in on a bit of Selena’s history during our last video call. Judging by her excited grin, she was eager to find out how this apparent love triangle would play out. Before Logan could say anything else we were bombarded by bodies. People shoving to get closer and check Selena out or hug me.
Hand in hand, Selena and I ushered my family into the now-too-small house where Jason and the others waited. Jason beamed when he saw my grandmother, his true soul mate and first best friend. He grabbed her up in a tight embrace and kissed her cheeks multiple times.
“Gram, where’s Pop?” I asked.
I’d missed my grandfather. He was in Ireland the last time I visited the family. She waved an irritated hand in the direction of the front door.
“He’s with Richard. They argued the entire way here.”
Uncle Rich was Grandpa Beau’s youngest brother. They fought about as much as Logan and me. Reaching for Selena again, we made our way back to the Winnebago. She had of way of creating calm in the midst of chaos. Also, I didn’t want Logan to corner her in front of the entire family. I knocked on the window before walking up the three steps to enter. Growls and angry male shouts were coming from the mobile home. Selena raised her brows in question.
“Brothers,” I mouthed. She smiled.
“-Because you’re a jackass!”
“You’re an over-educated, pompous prick!” my uncle drawled, grabbing my grandfather by the collar.
“Mr. Beau,” Selena called sweetly. Both men snapped to attention and dropped their hands. Pops’ eyes swung from Selena’s to mine. She smiled. “And Mr. Richard, right? Gram sent us to get you two.” My grandfather shoved past his little brother and spread his arms wide to engulf Selena in a hug.
“Welcome to the family young lady!” Releasing her, he held his hand out to me, we shook then clapped each other on the back. “You look great son! Life’s been good?”
“Yeah, Pop.” He beamed. Every other time he’s asked me that over the last seven years the answer was never yes.
“It is damn good to hear that, boy.” He hugged me again. Our heads snapped to the right when a pained squeak came from Selena. My six foot six, two-hundred fifty pound uncle had Selena in a bear hug.
“Rich, I’d like to keep my mate in tact,” I said laughing. His hugs were legendarily painful. I wasn’t sure how Aunt Mary dealt with them.
“She is gorgeous, Luke. You are gorgeous Selena,” he marveled. Then he finally focused on me. “Nice to see you baby boy, it’s been a while.”
“Lorraine sent you?” Pops asked.
“More or less. Why were you arguing this time?”
“Your prick of a grandfather won’t let me drive this thing and he said I have to take the bus back. The bus! Like I’m your age or something!”
“So the bus is the equivalent of the kiddie table?” Selena asked before I could.
“I don’t like some of my grandkids enough to sit with them for hours on a smelly used bus,” Uncle Rich complained, his drawl getting thicker with every word.
Sensing his growing agitation, Selena said, “Well Mr. Richard you must be sick of being in this cramped space. Why don’t you come in with me, get a beer, and some snacks? Maybe introduce me to everyone?” Charmed, he held his arm out for her, and waited until she looped hers through.
“Call me Rich,” he said, grinning from ear to ear. Then he guided them toward the house, chatting away.
“You would have let us duke it out,” my grandfather said so only I could hear.
“That’s what Gram always said to do.” Pop chuckled and clapped me on the back again. We sat across from each other at the little table.
“I like her. She’s a good cat wrangler too.”
“Ha! I’d say so. You two played right into her hands.”
“Your Gram likes her because she’s feisty and puts stars in your eyes.”
“That she does.” My grandfather’s face got serious.
“Mated looks good on you, Luke. Happy looks even better. It’s been awhile since I’ve seen you happy.” I nodded. I didn’t keep many secrets from my grandfather, so there was nothing I needed to say in response. “She’s really that little girl that used to run around with you guys in the summer?” I nodded. “Well, I’ll be. That Fate is a long game kinda lady.”
“Guess so.”
“Your mom?”
“Still on the territory. Stripped of rank and a job. Hates me and Selena with the fire of a billion suns.”
“Hmmm, well as long as she stays away from Lori, Marissa, and Kira she’ll live to hate another day. You okay with it all?”
“Being alpha is boring and draining the life out of both of us. But the pride isn’t stable enough for me to step down yet. But it’s also not imploding, so I guess we’re doing a good job. We have to overturn some messed up laws Ryan put in place and fix the budget.”
“It might take a few years. Are you prepared to be alpha that long?”
“I’m dedicated to rebuilding the pride the way it should be. The rest… Honestly, if I didn’t have Selena I would be bald right now. I don’t think the pride has had a she-alpha as involved as her before.”
“And people are okay with her being-”
“Human? Yes. Most people don’t know much more,” I said quickly.
“Plan on sharing that?”
“We haven’t thought that far ahead yet. Right now, we are establishing our power base.”
“And people listen to her?” I lifted a brow.
“Are you and Rich fighting right now?”
“Right.” Pops thought for a minute. “She’s not an empath, doesn’t have mind control?”
“Nope. The empath was Shara. And no, no mind-control. Just…she’s a natural leader. People instinctually trust her. And she’s excellent at reading people.”
“Anyone giving you trouble?”
“No. The ones who were are gone. A few others left because they feel free to come and go without repercussions.”
“Like stolen land and cut brake lines?”
“Yeah. Word has gotten out that Ryan’s gone and few others have asked to move back.” Pops nodded thoughtfully. We talked some more about the pride and about the classes he was teaching and his latest anthropological dig. He was proud of himself for finally convincing Gram to go with him. He stood, and stretched, clearly ready to go in.
“You’re a good man, Lucas. Your father would be proud. And in case I forget to say it while on this trip, I’m proud of you too.”
The words I didn’t know I needed landed hard, momentarily stealing my breath.