“I need to report to your dad, Esma,” Derek said. He yanked his helmet off and tucked it under his arm. “Is that good by everyone here?”

“Only if you’ll make me some food afterwards,” Kariana snapped. “I’ve lived off of nothing besides poisonous mushrooms for the last month and a half.”

“If that were the case, you’d be dead.” Clarence led the way up the road; Esma followed, keeping his back directly in front of her. “I don’t think it’s possible for anyone to live off poison for a day, let alone a month.”

“People survive off poison. If it’s all they’ve got, it’s what they’ve got. They eat it.” Kariana stuck out her chin in his direction.

 Clarence snorted and held up his hands. “Well, excuse me.” Esma could not see his face, but knew that he was trying to act really offended when in reality he was trying not to laugh.

 “I need some tea.” Kariana clutched at Derek’s shiny and metallic arm. “Derek, make me some tea.”

“But it’s like eighty—”

“I NEED TEA!” Kariana bellowed. Derek stepped away from her, his eyes growing so big that they could have been bulging out of the sockets for all he cared. “I’ve been away forever and I need tea.”

“Fine, fine, I’ll make you tea! Sheesh!” Derek flung his head back before straightening with a perplexed expression. “Wait, why do you want me to make you tea? I thought you told me not that long ago that you absolutely  hate my miserable excuse for tea and that your brother would string me up from a curtain rod if he ever tasted it.”

“Well, he would,” Kariana said. “But you’re my friend. And when friends have been out in the wilderness for a really long time and have had no tea whatsoever for two entire months, they make each other some tea, no matter how horrible it is.”

Clarence snorted.

“And you, sir!” Kariana whirled on him and he realized his mistake, just a little too late. Esma covered her mouth with her hand to keep from laughing out loud. “I don’t know what you think you are doing, but have you ever tried to survive two months without tea? I don’t think you understand how grave the situation is here.”

“She could die,” supplemented Esma to back up her friend, and also because she was enjoying this conversation and wanted it to continue. Her friends had been away for far too long.

“Kara, I’ve made it my whole life without tea, and I’ve had no repercussions whatsoever.” Clarence shrugged.

“Oh, you’ve had repercussions! You’re just so stupid that you don’t notice them.”

“Whoa, Kara! That was low.” Derek swatted at her. She sidestepped to avoid it.

Clarence pretended to act offended. “Oh, and let me guess. My stupidity would be completely fixed if I were only to drink some of your magical tea. Remedy right there. Problem solved.”

“I mean, sometimes I treat patients with tea…” Derek said.

Esma wanted to be just an ordinary woman with a husband and kids and a house to take care of. Unfortunately, she's the princess, so...instead, she gets to be queen someday. Bummer. 

Kariana wanted to become a spy, and became a spy--sometimes. Most of the time she hangs around the castle, claiming it's because she's a "royal bodyguard," but mostly because she's spending time around her adopted family (the Pentegreens). 

Derek wanted to be general of the Misue army, and he's actually on his way there now--but he's only a captain and needs to go through about five more ranks before he can even think about being general. So bummer for him. XD 

Other characters? Spoilers, darlin'. Either that or they ARE adults and I'm not sure what they wanted to be...or they're kids and have no idea where they want to go with their lives. So. *shrugs*

(I'm answering most of these questions for the Pentegreens, by the way. If I need to, I'll bring up Watched or Ink Storm; but mostly it'll be The King's Daughter). 

General Burashna, for sure. I'm not even sure where his name came from---it just kind of wrote itself into my notebook when I realized I needed a new villain, and while the character himself has changed a TON over the years (in his original incarnation, talk about a cliche, cardboard bad guy....SHEESH) the name is still awesome (at least IMO.) 

Over in Watched, though, is Bryce Osgood. I'm not sure why--I just happen to love Bryce's name. Okay, and  his character....he's just my favorite little cinnamon roll guy <3 

Ummm....

In my current WIP, Kariana and Derek got to have a heart-to-heart about their lives and stuff in my last chapter, which was very good for both of them. They deny needing any kind of affection at any time....but it's not true. XD 

Everyone else? Ummmm.....this is not their happiest novel. So. *grins sideways* 

Rishatta. 

That is all. 

Or maybe Briallen from Ink Storm, because she's not really me, but she brings out a serious streak of writer problems and writer's life type stuff that makes me just really happy. Because I've always felt like there need to be more writers in the book world. 

Esma would throw out all her stuff, her castle, and pack only enough food for about three days, in all likelihood. As long as she had the people she loved, she'd be okay. 

Rishatta, on the other hand, is a bit more of a pack horse. He'd need books, mostly. Books and journals and food and water and a ton of other stuff that nobody really sees the practical use of.

Basically, he likes to cart things around. 

Everyone else travels pretty light, forming connections, not attachments. 

Enemies to friends; enemies to lovers; villains to heroes; the lost sheep being welcomed home; someone who thought they'd never be enough proving him- (or her-)self; really close hands-and-feet best friendships; the snarky science geek; the shy girl with the pen attached to her pen; adopted second families....I could go on XD

Is there really any question? XD 

But then there's also the Super Secret Project, which I shall hopefully be sharing more of VERY soon (it's taken a backseat to writing as much of the Petegreen series as I possibly can this year, which is probably okay, but it still makes me sad because I can't WAIT to get cracking on that beautimousness) and which holds my heart in a different way. 

Toni Morrison once said, “If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” What are the books that you want to see more of, and what “holes” do you think need filling in the literary world?

Ummmm.....
I genuinely believe that there is a need for more good YA fantasy that is also Christian. That's what I write, for the most part, although some things (like the Pentegreen series) are more straight YA than Christian. However, one trend that I've seen more and more of in the YA market is that character morality is moving more and more in the direction of "everything is shades of gray; no black, no white, no good, no evil." Relative good and evil rules in the world of YA fiction.

And of course, this is realistic. No one, in reality, is truly good, truly evil. But that's what fantasy is for--showing us the light in the darkness. Showing how evil may seem like it's way more powerful, but in the end, good will triumph, no matter how much of an underdog it may seem.

That's what I strive to write. Good triumphing over evil. Hope in the midst of evil. Light in darkness.

Also I'd love to see some mainstream books that feature:

• Christians that AREN'T bigoted intolerant fools but just live their faith the way Jesus intended
• Conservatives WHERE IT'S OKAY TO BE A CONSERVATIVE
• Conflicting viewpoints explored where both sides come to an understanding and they don't exactly agree but they don't kill each other either
• Homeschoolers
• Basically just GIVE ME ALL MY #REPRESENTATION PLEASE

Favorite pinterest board/ aesthetic for a book? 

(and because I can't figure out how to embed it....here's the link. XD)

HERE

Favorite time periods and settings to work with?

When people are done reading your book, what emotions do you want them to come away with?