Q. You’ve written contemporary romances, historical women’s fiction, general fiction, and more. Why turn to YAfiction now?

A. I’m always drawn to a new challenge. And since I have teen and tween daughters in the house, it’s been natural for me to start reading some of their fiction alongside them. I was hooked with the Twilight series and Hunger Games books. I wanted to give them something they could hand to their friends as well as read themselves.

Q Have they read Waterfall?

A. My eldest has. Olivia and her friends were my very first readers. They set me straight on things that would make other kids roll their eyes. Then I handed it off to more readers in my focus group, and they helped me refine the book further.

Q Was it hard to write in the medieval time period?

A. To a certain extent. I wrote a medieval series for adults, called The Gifted (The Begotten, The Betrayed, The Blessed), that I totally loved writing, so in some ways, it was just going back to what I’d learned for that one. Thankfully, I’d spent a lot of time researching for that, so I didn’t have to start over!

Q. Why Italy?

A. Because I’m completely in love with Italy. This is the first year in four that we haven’t been back, and I’m in withdrawal.

Q. You got to go for research?

A. Yes! Three times for The Gifted, and once, last fall, for this series. There’s just something about the place that is totally romantic, warm, and welcoming. It sucks you in. Don’t go. Because then you’ll be like me and miss it when you’re away too long.

Q. What’s next for Gabi and Lia?

A. Mmm, I just wrapped Cascade (book 2), and I think it’s a really solid second book. The adventure and love story continue, of course. But it’s even more dramatic and suspenseful than this one!