If I could do it again, I wouldn't change a thing

I never thought I would ever publish anything outside of the scientific articles I was used to writing. But I guess it took some truly traumatic and life-changing events for me to finally step out of that 'what if I fail?' mindset that had been holding me back for so long. “It beats sitting there feeling sorry for yourself. Go ahead. Write,” my Mom encouraged me, pushing me to take that leap of faith. So, I began the process of writing short stories, experimenting with different themes and styles. Those initial stories evolved into a splatterpunk horror anthology titled A Trinity of Wicked Tales-- Jilted. The idea of jilted lovers with sinister motives and deep psychological issues tapped into the darker side of my imagination; it was then that I decided I was always going to write from that shadowy place.

I’ve been frequently asked where the inspiration for my novel, When We Swing, truly came from. Originally, it was supposed to be a part of ATOWT--Jilted, but as I delved deeper into the narrative, I quickly realized it would be one hell of a novel in its own right. The story plays around with the provocative idea of swinging, something I have always wondered about: Why do people engage in this lifestyle? Do those involved benefit from it? What kind of complex problems could that lead to? Is everyone involved genuinely comfortable with it? With these burning questions dancing in my mind and my twisted, taboo imagination working over time, the plot and characters began to take vivid shape. In less than eight months, When We Swing was complete, and within just a couple of days of my 28th birthday, I had the incredible privilege of releasing it to you, my audience. I'm immensely proud that I found something I truly love doing, and if I had to do it all over again...I would choose to do it all the same way.