INTERVIEW:

How long have you been writing?
I always told my students, “You’re a writer because you write.” With that definition, I’ve been a writer since childhood. However, my interest in writing fiction began in the last decade, and my debut novel is being released this fall by Pelican Book Group. Its sequel will be released next year.

What inspired you to write?
Originally, I started writing fiction as a new challenge to do alongside my students, who were participating in the student version of a novel-writing contest. The story of Son of the Mountain King, however, came to me while doing my devotions one morning. I knew that it was something I would commit to paper one day.

Do you have a favorite author or book?
If I had to pick one–which is almost impossible!–I would choose C.S. Lewis and his Chronicles of Narnia. Even though they were written for young readers, the story and allegory is for all ages. Every time I reread them, I discern new spiritual truths, which is why I love allegory as a writing form.

What is your favorite genre to read/write?
Definitely allegory! It’s fascinating, and it requires connecting to truth on a subsurface level. All forms of metaphor give me a thrill.

What do you like most about what you do? What are your biggest challenges?
I retired from teaching to be a full-time mom, and I joke that I now have a full-time and part-time job. I love all aspects of the writing process, and I love working with the wonderful people at Pelican Book Group. Envisioning something, then creating it and reworking/changing/polishing it–every stage has its thrills. The biggest challenge is finding time to work. My husband is my lifeline for this, whirling our two little girls off to the park or library so I can pull out my laptop for a few hours. Otherwise, I snag time early in the morning, while the girls nap, or late into the night!

What inspired you to write Son of the Mountain King?
SOMK began the way flint fires start: with a spark catching curls of unsuspecting tinder. The words in my morning reading of Samuel Bagster’s classic devotional, Daily Light on the Daily Path, ignited something inside. The passages? A few verses from Song of Solomon woven together with other verses from the Bible describing how God’s love for humanity is like that of a husband for his wife. Why did this idea strike me that morning? I don’t know. I was still pretty newly married to my kind, loving husband, Greg, and perhaps the glimpses of God’s love that I observed in him had been resting in my mind like tendrils finely shaved from a branch. But the verses set alight a story in my mind, an allegory of the greatest love story: God’s love for people. What if I told the main “plot” of the entire Bible in a simple love story? What if God’s love for Israel, for the Church, for every person ever born, could be seen through a disguised son of the king for his betrothed?  The plot developed and thickened while I drove to work that day. Royalty, sacrifice, betrayal, intrigue—the flames grew thick. There was no holding back this fire. When it was time to sketch an outline, I was ready.

What are you working on now? What can we expect in the future?
The sequel to Son of the Mountain King is deep in the editing process right now, and I’m planning to start writing the third and final book in the series this fall. My desire is to continue writing Christian allegories, but as with all things, we’ll see which doors God opens in the future.

Do you have a favorite character in Son of the Mountain King?
Of course, I love Judah, the narrating character! But a “smaller” character that I have great fondness for is Hilda, assistant to the governor. She’s observant, practical, has a dry sense of humor, and when things get difficult she holds firmly to what is right.

Any fun facts to mention?
When it’s drafting time or major revision time, I pull out popcorn and gummy bears. There’s something about crunching and chewing that keeps my brain moving. And, if I’m honest, bits of chocolate find their way into the ensemble, too.

Last thoughts for readers…
Enjoy the story, and if you’re willing, dive in deeply. There’s so much more going on below the surface for anyone searching for truth. Dredge up hope, look for love and life. Underlying everything, this is the story of God’s love for people.

ABOUT THE BOOK:
235 pages
Released October 10, 2025
Harbourlight Books
Available in Kindle and Paperback

Book Blurb: When an invasion threatens the land of the Mountain King, the fate of the people rests on the shoulders of young governor Judah. She has sworn to prove herself a skillful leader by protecting her kingdom from foes, but difficulty and danger surround her. Then Judah’ s life is saved by two different men who divide her loyalty. One, a fascinating healer, captures the hearts of Judah and her people. The other, a mysterious shepherd, forces Judah to question what she believes to be true. When a conspiracy comes to light that could destroy Judah and her kingdom, a single choice might cost her people everything. Will the headstrong leader prove herself— or find herself trapped?