Tell us something about yourself that not many people know.
I grew up with English as my second language. Although being bilingual is not unusual in many cultures, authors typically prefer to write in their ‘mother tongue.’

Why did you choose the themes in your book and were you aware of them from the start?
The themes in my stories are most often determined by character and place, allowing me to imagine the journey of the main character and eventually the protagonist.

How difficult was it for you to write this book? Did you face any obstacles?
The challenge in this book, my second collection of fiction, was the two longer, novella length stories When Only Today Matters and Shadow of the Flat Top Mountain. Structural edits were most helpful for both stories.

Do you always write in this genre or do you like to break out of the box?
In this book I have discovered younger voices in two of the stories, and we have included my first poem Hear My Heart Whisper.

What are your writing habits or idiosyncrasies?
I have a favourite writing spot in the house. Most days I commit to six hours of writing with a break over the weekend. I have a habit of reading a page or two by another author (as inspiration) at the beginning of the day.

What would you do differently next time?
I may try to secure a publisher (preferably in advance), although I appreciate the freedom of publishing independently.

With hindsight, what would you say to yourself as a fledgling writer?
No fear, commit and do the work.

If you worked with a professional editor, what was the experience like?
I embraced the experience of working with a professional editor. The responses were always helpful and respectful. It felt like a partnership.

What’s next for your writing?
I have started mapping out a full-length novel, partly memoir.