Behind the Pages
Questions readers ask about the TIMELOCKED series: where the characters came from, how the history gets into the story, and what is next.
Why did you write the TIMELOCKED series?
As a public school educator, I’ve seen firsthand that many students struggle to connect with the significance of historical events. They learn the dates, names, and facts, but sometimes the reality of what people experienced never truly sets in. Even with simulations and interactive activities, history can still feel distant to some students. That made me wonder: What if readers didn’t just learn about history? What if they could experience it? That question became the foundation of the TIMELOCKED series. I wanted readers to feel as though they were standing alongside the people who lived through history’s defining moments: to witness their struggles, celebrate their triumphs, and understand that history isn’t just about famous figures. It’s about ordinary people whose choices shaped the world we live in today. If my books encourage someone to pick up another book, visit a museum, or research a historical event after turning the final page, then I’ll consider myself incredibly fortunate. Sparking that kind of curiosity is one of the greatest compliments I could ever receive as both an educator and an author.
Why historical fiction?
I’ve always been fascinated by history, but for me, it has never been just about memorizing dates or learning names from a textbook. It’s about the people who lived through those moments and the sacrifices they made. A few years ago, I visited Independence Hall in Philadelphia. I remember standing there and thinking, “The founders stood right here.” In that moment, history didn’t feel distant anymore. It felt real. I was standing in the same place where ordinary people with extraordinary courage made decisions that would shape a nation. It gave me goosebumps and an even greater appreciation for those who came before us. That same feeling became even more personal as I learned about members of my own family who served during World War II. Knowing that ordinary people from my own family stood on Omaha Beach and fought in the Battle of the Bulge reminded me that history isn’t just made by the famous names we read about. It’s made by everyday people whose courage and choices leave a lasting impact. I write historical fiction because I want readers to experience that same sense of wonder and connection. If my stories can help someone see history not as something confined to the pages of a textbook, but as the lives of real people who shaped our world, then I’ve accomplished exactly what I set out to do.
How has being a public school educator influenced your writing?
Being a public school educator has had a tremendous influence on the way I write. Because I am in the classroom every day, I see firsthand how challenging it can be for students to connect with historical events that happened long before they were born. Every day, I find myself asking the same question: How do I make this matter to them? How do I make them care? That mindset has carried directly into my writing. I pay close attention to what engages young readers: the importance of strong characters, emotional connections, creativity, innovation, and stories filled with challenges and high stakes. Teenagers today are surrounded by immersive storytelling through movies, video games, and technology, and I believe books can create that same sense of excitement and connection. With TIMELOCKED, I wanted to combine the elements that naturally draw readers in with the historical moments that deserve to be remembered. While the stories are rooted in real events, my goal is to make readers feel like they are experiencing history alongside Cassidy, not simply reading about it. Ultimately, my experience as an educator has reinforced my belief that curiosity is the first step toward learning. If a story can inspire a student to ask questions, explore a historical event, or see themselves as someone capable of making a difference, then that story has done something meaningful.
How much of the history in TIMELOCKED is real?
The historical events featured throughout the TIMELOCKED series are rooted in real history. I spend a great deal of time researching each setting, event, and time period so that I can approach these moments with accuracy, compassion, and respect. While Cassidy and her journey through time are fictional, the worlds she enters are based on the real experiences of the people who lived through them. My goal is not only to share historical facts, but to help readers understand the human stories behind those facts. Cassidy is not simply a spectator observing history from a distance. She experiences these moments alongside the people who lived them. She feels their struggles, witnesses their courage, and learns that every historical event is made up of individual stories. Through Cassidy’s journey, I hope readers see that history is not just something that happened in the past. It is a collection of real lives, choices, and moments that continue to shape us today.
What do you hope readers take away from the TIMELOCKED series?
When I first began writing the TIMELOCKED series, my goal was to introduce readers to history in a way that felt different from simply reading a textbook. I wanted them to experience these moments: to see the people, emotions, and choices behind the events they may have only learned about in a classroom. But as Cassidy’s journey has grown, TIMELOCKED has become about so much more than traveling through history. At its heart, the series is about resilience, hope, courage, and the impact that one person can have even during the most challenging moments. I hope readers walk away feeling inspired. I hope they see that history is not just made by famous names, but by everyday people who face uncertainty, make difficult choices, and find the strength to keep going. Most importantly, I hope TIMELOCKED fuels curiosity. I want readers to look closer at the world around them, ask questions, explore the stories of the past, and realize that every person has the potential to leave a lasting legacy.