On the Ropes is meaningful to me for a number of reasons – and not just that it’s set in my hometown and in my current neighborhood. As a bisexual lady, I was thrilled to write my very first bisexual main character. The second that Tabitha appeared on the page – with her goofy humor and loveable charm – I felt called to tell her story through the lens of being a queer woman and the many unique ways that her sexuality shaped her life, her struggles and triumphs, her reactions and her relationships to those around her. I’m always overjoyed to see bisexual folks get their own happily-ever-after…and for Tabitha to find that love with Dean was extra special. Dean’s own experiences being raised by gay parents also shaped who he was and his world view, and he was, in so many ways, the perfect person for Tabitha – kind, compassionate, thoughtful, and understanding of the things they experienced and shared in their support group.

As a bisexual person in a straight-passing marriage, it was a privilege to write a love story that looked like my own and to celebrate love, identity and relationships in all of their many beautiful and unique forms. For those who have been made to feel invisible, who have had their identities questioned or been told they are simply “confused” or going through a phase – I see you.

And I based The Lavender Center on two groups here in Philly serving the LGBTQ+ community: The William Way Center and the Attic Youth Center.

Throughout the pandemic in Philly, there have been incredible acts of mutual aid and community care that shaped and informed many aspects of this book. Our city does have many abandoned lots for a variety of (often complicated) reasons, but there are also many, many people who have done exactly what Dean and Tabitha have – created a green space that serves their neighborhood. It has also been an honor to volunteer with South Philly’s network of community fridges and pantries, which operate with a “take what you need, leave what you can” mentality and have helped so many of our food-insecure neighbors keep food on their table during this tumultuous time.

On the Ropes mentions several beloved Philly landmarks – John’s Water Ice on Seventh and Christian Streets is a must, as are all of the Italian Market and the Philadelphia Museum of Art (including those Rocky steps!) The Broad Street Diner (where Tabitha’s dad works) is indeed open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

I imagined Dean and Tabitha’s block to be located in a part of South Philly between Passyunk Square and Little Saigon – a beautiful and culturally diverse neighborhood, where many different languages are spoken (Italian, Spanish, Vietnamese, Mandarin and more), and there are as many churches as there are Buddhist temples. There are also two neighborhood-based nonprofits doing amazing work: SEAMAAC (which supports and serves immigrants and refugees and has turned a lot of abandoned lots into community gardens!) and Juntos (a community-led, Latinx human rights organization in South Philly).