Are you going to write a book from Ian, Sam or Noie's perspective?
A book from Ian's perspective is in the works and will be out in 2016. It will focus on his life prior to college. Click here to see cover. I am still undecided about writing a book that focuses on Sam or Noie, but I won't rule out the possibility.
Were any of the characters inspired by real people in your life?
There was not a real life inspiration for any of the characters, but parts of different people I know did bleed into the characters in this book.
Why are coffee and cigarettes so prevalent in the book?
This is something of myself that bled into the book. I have faced times in my life when coffee was the only reason I got out of bed in the morning and it was the only thing that brought me joy. Cigarettes are another one of those crutches I have used when I was depressed.
Do you have any other books in the works?
I have another book I am working on and hope to have out in early 2017. It is still in the early stages, so I am not ready to share much about it yet. I will soon.
What shampoo do you use?
Funny question! Most of the time I use Herbal Essence, but I randomly try new shampoos based on smell.
Why did you name the cat Russell?
I do not have a good answer for this. I was writing and needed a name and Russell just popped into my head. The only person I can think of with the name Russell is Seth Russell (Baylor Quarterback). It could have been a subconscious tribute to my Bears.
What is Nia's fascination with trees?
Trees kind of represent the phases of life. They grow and change. When you first meet Nia, she is starting to shed her old life, like the trees shed their leaves during the fall. During the spring, when the trees are filling back out with new life, you see the same happening for Nia. Plus, trees are just beautiful.
What is your favorite book?
This can have multiple answers depending on fiction/non-fiction or different genres. My favorite novel is probably The Amateur Marriage by Anne Tyler. My favorite non-fiction book is The Autobiography of Malcolm X as told to Alex Haley.
If your book was made into a movie, which actress would you want to play Nia?
This is an easy and fun question. I knew before writing one sentence in the book, which actress I imagined as Nia - Krysten Ritter!
How did you come up with the title?
The title was one of the hardest parts of writing the book. The first title I had was Fall Colors, but that was mainly just something to save it as. The next title was Silence of the Broken, but I kept thinking of Silence of the Lambs every time I looked at it. I decided it had to be changed. Finally I found the final title, I Know This of Myself, while listening to music in the car. Those words were in the song I was listening to.
