How long have you been writing? I have been writing for only one year.
What inspired you to write your books? All of my books are inspired by the Great Smoky Mountains and surrounding areas in Tennessee. “Below” was inspired by my research into my father-in-law’s life as a former resident of Cades Cove. This led me down a path of imagining what it would be like if there was a civilization living below the feet of those visiting the National Park. After much research, I tied the true history and original residents of Cades Cove in with an imagined conspiracy that led to an entire group of people living as if they’re in the nineteenth century in a series of underground caves.
Where do you prefer to write? My writing had humble beginnings in the corner of our master closet. It was dark and quiet, and most of the time my children couldn’t find me. A few months ago, we converted some of our screened-in porch into a sunroom that is now my office. It overlooks our backyard and is quite peaceful, allowing me to birdwatch and keep an eye on the kids while they swim.
Southern Sisters Book Club 