1. What do you love about Aspen Falls?

I love the interconnectedness of the town and its residents. There is something so comforting about writing (or picking up) a book where you can revisit familiar characters, even when they are no longer the “stars” of the story. I also love that the fictional town of Aspen Falls is set in Minnesota, which has been my home base for eleven years now. There are so many beautiful, magical things about this state and I was thrilled to be able to share some of that with readers around the world.

2. What’s the inspiration behind Cam and Alex’s story?

So, I’m big time into listening to podcasts. It’s one of the things I do when I walk my dog (who is very active and literally needs to walk 4-5 miles a day to not drive me insane). One of the podcasts I listen to is The Daily, which is the New York Times’ daily news podcast, and they recently did a weeklong series on the Baltimore police department. Around that same time, Reveal, another podcast, featured a similar story. And then, because I’m something of a newshound, I started searching out other stories about police corruption. I always knew that Cam’s story would revolve around a lost love and, after listening to those pods and doing some reading, the pieces just suddenly fit together.

3. How do you see the rest of Cam and Alex’s story playing out? Where do you see them in 5 years time?

I see them the way I see all the couples in my books: living their own happily ever after. That doesn’t mean there won’t be bumps along the way, of course, because there always are on the road of life, but I think they’ll weather those storms. As for five years from now…I don’t know. Maybe there’s a story there…

4. Who is your favorite Aspen Falls character and what do you love about them?

See the answer to Question #8

5. Are there any Aspen Falls characters you’d like to write a story for?

Oh, absolutely! If I have to pick just one, I would love to write a story about Miguel, Cam’s brother. He was one of those people who I needed from a plot standpoint but then quickly evolved into this dynamic, engaging character I desperately wanted to learn more about.

6. One of the major themes in Desperate Measures is that idea of first love and how powerful it is. Do you remember your first love?

Oh my gosh, yes. But I think there are different kinds of first loves. There is first puppy love, when we’re young and giggly and noticing our crushes for the first time, and squealing when we decide that we’re “going out” together. And then there’s infatuation, which we often mistake for love, that is deeply passionate and that almost always ends up in disaster. And then there’s love. Real love. The kind of love that stands the test of time.

7. Describe your favorite type of book boyfriend?

I will always be drawn to flawed heroes. I want the guy who isn’t perfect. Maybe he’s made some bad decisions, maybe he doesn’t have a ton of money, maybe he’s directionless, maybe life has dealt him a raw hand. But what he does have is a good heart. So my book boyfriends look an awful lot like the men I write about, because those are the men I find most attractive.

8. Who is your favorite character that you’ve ever written and what do you love most about them?

That’s like asking me to name my favorite kid! I can’t do it. Creating characters is an awful lot like giving birth; they are part of me, in some small way, and I don’t think I could ever choose a favorite!

9. One of my favorite books of yours is If I Fall. I love the realism of the story and how this vulnerable character gets caught up in the wrong kind of love before realizing what real love looks like. What do you think are some vital elements of real love?

Real love looks different to every person. But these are the things that define real love for me.

Trust – not just that you trust the person you’re with, but that you trust who you are when you’re with that person.

Companionship – real love usually involves spending a lot of time together. Once the passion and desire isn’t at a 10 on the Richter scale, there needs to be something left to hold two people together. Real love means genuinely enjoying the company of the person you’re with.

Humor – Life and love are not easy. Having a partner who can see the humor in things—and who can help you see it, too—is absolutely vital to me.

Attraction – sure, physical attraction is important, but I find myself attracted to a person’s personality, and to their mind. I’m still genuinely fascinated by things my husband tells me, and the deepest, most meaningful conversations I have are always with him.

Forgiveness – We all screw up in relationships. We say hurtful things, we behave badly, we make poor decisions. Being able to forgive, both your partner and yourself, is a vital component to real love. Because we’re human, and we all make mistakes.

10. You’re giving away a copy of If I Fall because of its first love themes, is there anything you’d like readers to know about the book before they dive in?

Meg’s story is really special to me because there are a lot of elements that relate back to my own time growing up in San Diego. Meg is not me, but there are certainly things I could relate to in the experiences she goes through. My intention in telling her story was to reflect on that difference between infatuation and real love, and how easy it is to get swept up in the moment. But it’s also about redemption, and how our mistakes don’t have to define us. I think teens especially feel as though life begins and ends with what is happening in this moment. I know I did, and Meg thinks this, too. But life goes on. We recover from our mistakes. As long as we let ourselves try.