What originally made you want to become an author?
I love stories so much! As a kid who was always a bit of a “weirdo” in all the contexts—family, school, neighborhood, gender—stories made me feel less alone and like magic was possible. I wanted to make magic possible too.
In your opinion, what makes a great story?
A great story is any story that tells a real truth about life and what it feels like to be alive.
Describe a typical workday in your life as an author. Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have so many jobs! Being an author is just one of them. So unfortunately, my unusual writing habits are that I am usually writing late, late—late—in the night!
What messages or themes do you hope readers take away from your book?
I hope that readers of The Shapeshifter’s Guide to Gym Class leave this book feeling just a little bit more connected to the beautiful magic and possibility that comes from their own unique individuality.
What advice do you have for kids who are interested in writing?
I have two pieces of advice for kids who want to write! One is to read a lot. Read whatever you like, read as much as you like, but it’s so important to read as much as possible if you want to be a writer. The second piece of advice is to write as much as possible without worrying what anyone else is going to think or feel about your writing. That’s really essential for developing your own voice and sense of confidence to be and do what you need to do as a writer.