At the heart of who I am is a teacher. It’s the river that runs through almost everything I do. I homeschooled my daughters, led Sunday School both on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings, provide free workshops that educate others on abuse and support survivors. My books seek to build community by raising awareness and recognizing those who need someone to see.

Whisperroot: A Hushwood Tale was published last year. It’s the most symbolic of my stories. It was the first time I really played with personification, making both the town itself and the forest distinct voices. In the story, 12 wayward girls — girls who wore red or stayed out a little late or laughed too loudly in chapel — disappear in a small Polish town. The story is about what happens to them and how they ultimately redefine the word freedom.

I made an interactive game – complete with exclusive, very short snippets of the girls’ voices, to help introduce the story. You can play The Chapel’s Cellar here – it’s an easy look into a complicated, slightly haunted, town.