When I began writing, I wasn’t trying to reinvent fantasy. I just wanted to tell the kind of stories I craved but couldn’t always find—stories where female leads kept their strength no matter what was thrown at them.
I’d read too many books where a heroine could face down monsters, survive impossible odds, and walk through fire… but the moment romance appeared, her independence melted away. I started calling them “puddles of goo” heroines—powerful until the ‘Man’ walked in, then suddenly defined by him instead of by themselves.
Mackenzie Green was my answer to that. She’s flawed, stubborn, and sometimes makes the wrong call, but she owns every part of herself. Her strength doesn’t vanish when she loves someone. If anything, it deepens—because real love isn’t about erasing who you are, it’s about finding someone who respects and values that strength.
Creating Mackenzie has been one of the most rewarding parts of my career. She’s taught me as much about endurance and self-respect as I’ve hopefully given readers in return. And if just one reader sees themselves in her and feels inspired to stand firm, then I’ve done my job as a storyteller.
