There were a lot of scenes I really loved writing. Scorpia’s opening chapter, Corvus discovering the alien ship, the two of them meeting for the first time in three years, the final fight scenes… But I think my number one favorite scene is when the siblings return to Fortuna after the evacuation of Drev Dravaask. I loved writing the delicate balance of power between Scorpia and Corvus during those moments, before either one of them is “officially” in charge, and the stress as the twins race back to the ship. The scene has so many layers of tension, and it’s also the first moment where Scorpia makes a big decision for the family. Everything that happens afterward is really the result of what happens there.

Who are some of your favorite writers, and how have they influenced your work?

Two of my favorite authors right now are Kameron Hurley and V. E. / Victoria Schwab. Both are incredible, unique, bold writers who taught me the importance of fully embracing your own personal brand of “weird” and injecting it into everything you write. I’m also a big fan of Paul Tremblay, whose deeply unsettling horror provides great examples of how to write tension and dread. Maggie Stiefvater and Holly Black both have such great characterization and dialogue, and influenced me to keep a good balance of darkness and fun. Margaret Atwood, Philip K. Dick, and Haruki Murakami are other old favorites of mine.

When you’re not writing, what do you like to do in your spare time?

Aside from reading a ton, I spend a lot of time playing video games and board games, and I have a weekly Dungeons & Dragons group that has been meeting for about two years now. I also love cooking, especially when I get to make big meals for my friends or family. I’ve also recently taken an interest in gardening and baking, though my attempts at both so far have had… well… mixed results at best. But I’m working on that!

Fortuna is the first book in a trilogy. Without giving too much away, can you tell us what we can expect in the upcoming novels?

Now that the Kaisers have garnered the attention of various planetary governments, they’re going to find it’s not so simple to return to the life of relative leisure (and casual crime) they’re used to. The choices the Kaisers made throughout Fortuna have really shaken up both their family dynamic and the system at large, and they’re going to have to deal with the consequences of that. There will also be plenty more of what I loved about this book: big fight scenes, family drama, and tough moral decisions. Plus, a deeper dive into the Primus and what exactly happened to them.

Finally, we have to ask, if you had the choice to visit any of the planets, which would it be?