1. where did the idea for a madness so discreet come from?

weirdest answer ever: i was lying in bed wondering what a lobotomy would feel like.

2. why do you love grace and why should we root for her?

because she’s a survivor, and mentally tough. we’re big on strong female characters these days, but that’s usually a literal sense. grace is strong in the quiet ways.

3. there are a lot of great characters in this story. who was the easiest to work with and who was the hardest? 

grace was difficult to write because she’s a mute for most of the story. nell was the easiest because her accent just flows.

4. what was your favorite scene of the story? 

anything with the girls bonding. they’re bright spots in the book and in grace’s life.

5. describe a madness so discreet in 5 words.

gothic historical thriller insane asylum

speed [ish] round:

1. you get the call/email/letter that says you’re being published for the first time. describe the next 5 minutes. 

no shit – i scooped the cat’s litter pan because no one was answering the phone.

2. what three things would you take to a desert island?

three manuals on how to survive on a desert island.

3. you can only read one book for the rest of your life. what is it?

something extremely long.

4. who are your favorite swoony boys/girls?

mindy does not swoon.

5. what is the one thing about publishing you wish someone would have told you?

that your work is never finished.

6. you wake up and discover you are bella in twilight. you know how it plays out. what do you do differently? {huge thanks to bookish broads for letting me use this question!}

i’d ask for a truck that works better and head to the east coast.