It was a mixture of people I've met and places I've been to. When 2020 hit and a lot of people lost their jobs and homes, I knew I wanted to include a plotline about homeless teens!

World building. I am a lover of low and urban fantasy and I wanted to incorporate world building elements similar to those genres. Creating an alternative 2020 set in a fictional Mid City was a challenge. The end result is kind of like a dystopian city...except it's not a dystopian book!

3?

My main characters: Malik and Noah. I'm a trained theatre actress so I naturally navigate towards complex characters. Those boys have kept me sane and entertained.

Overwhelmingly positive! Both boys are mixed race and fit in minority groups. Malik is a healthy spin of the traditional Jock while Noah's personality can be found in other books but reduced to minor, supporting roles.

The book is also a mixed genre: mystery, romance, teen drama and LGBTQA+.

5

Tough. A few months ago I would've said it's defiantly a standalone novel. Right now it's a maybe? I mean I do have ideas but still not sure if those ideas would translate into short stories or an addition to the same universe.

You are not alone. There is always a place for you no matter what, hang in there!

Follow your heart. If your story doesn't fit into a certain mold then let loose and cut yourself some slack. Just like books, the people who write them are different works of art.

Yup! I sound 100% American but I have Egyptian and French blood so I grew up surrounded by different cultures. I also come from an uber religious background that can be stifling sometimes + I do struggle with depression and anxiety. Otherwise, the boys are infinitely more interesting than I am 

9.

Genre and characters. I think romantic mysteries are being written less and less nowadays and almost never feature diverse/queer characters. If there is a reader out there who wants a unique blend with plenty of romantic tension; I gotcha!

I have three. The possible sequel to Erase and Rewind, a queer spin on the Chicklit genre starring a barista and a paranormal romance about a college student and her imaginary friend. Which one is next? Won't know until at least a first draft is fully written.