I grew up in a small, Southern town; at times I loved it, and other times, I wanted to escape. I didn't think it would influence my writing at all, but over time, I'd say that I can tell that my upbringing has enabled me to write close-knit families and a realistic Southern setting. I hope it's also made me able to write about love—because love of all kinds is really prevalent in small, familiar towns.

I think I was 12 the first time I began trying to write. Back then, they were short scribblings, but over the next few years I began to write "novels" - looking back, I'd say those were more like novelettes that I thought were these really epic novels. I found a love of reading and writing by my teen years, and neither of those have ever changed.

In As You Come Undone, Jenna and Ethan's worlds collide on a steamy beach fling. Jenna is fighting for a divorce from her ex, who won't let go. Because of that, she's reluctant to love again, but Ethan, who rarely lets himself truly want anything or anyone, wants her. And he's hard to resist.

I wanted to publish books that I believe in, that I believe can promote messages about love, family, and heart—and I didn't want to wait forever to be able to do that. Also, I enjoy having a high level of control over a lot of aspects of my writing career and to be able to change when I find something that works or that doesn't.

Connecting with my characters and finding out the message of the book I'm writing. Each one is a little different but no less important and getting to THAT moment resonates every time, as I try to imagine who will connect with this book.

Everything! Anyone who reads my writing is a superstar in my book. Knowing that someone out there is connecting with my characters and my words means so, so much.

I'm always working on something. Right now (summer 2018), I have two different female/female romances that I'm going between and working on. I'm really excited about them both.

Jodi Picoult, Stephen King, Lauren Oliver, Emily Murdoch, Patrick Rothfuss, Terry Brooks, Stephanie Perkins, Suzanne Collins, Victoria Schwab, Richelle Mead, Tahereh Mafi, Robin LaFevers, Kasie West, JK Rowling.

I love reading, working out, and long dinners with friends. I read a lot of YA and a lot of Romance, both of which are sort of my happy place. I'm obsessed with music and when I'm cleaning or working out, I always have music playing. My talents include over-analyzing everything (ever) and fangirling over fictional characters (no, not just ones I create).

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Daughter of the Blood by Anne Bishop
Black House by Stephen King
If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch
Little Do We Know by Tamara Ireland Stone

I love books that make me feel things and change me in some way, and these books all did that.

Mainly Young Adult books or Romance. I've been really rediscovering my love of reading and it's wonderful to remember how great it feels to get lost in a book.

For my covers, I work with my amazing cover designer (Maggie Hall of Clementine Designs). I go in with some inspiration pictures and an idea of the "feel" I want my cover to have. Maggie and I search for stock images and narrow down until we find THE picture. Then the fun begins!