It's tough to write when forced, at least in my experience. I need to have a big idea of what I'm going to create when I start writing. That's why Another Dance simmered in my brain for a couple of years before I actually started typing. I knew I was going to write about a mother who loses her husband, and I wanted her to re-establish her identity and purpose while grappling with the stages of grief. But it wasn't until two real-life events occurred that the big picture came to life for me: 1) my husband struggled with some mental health issues that left me needing to process my own emotions while writing for catharsis and 2) my sister's co-worker died at their place of work under dubious circumstances, leaving a pregnant wife and toddler. Once these occurred, it's like the loose leaf pile of ideas was finally bundled together, ready to be delivered.
Of course, I only used these experiences as inspiration, embellishing them with different details and original characters. But being able to connect emotionally with the subject definitely increased my writing experience and, hopefully, the final product.
After my father's passing after nearly a decade of being on non-speaking terms, I once again felt the need to process my emotions through my writing. Not only would I be able to work through the grief and regret of my own loss, maybe I could help others who have gone through similar experiences and feelings. Once I knew the impetus for the eventual protagonist of my second book, more details came together: a woman's estranged relationship with her father, their journey across their home state of Iowa, her attempt at a writing career, and a possible romance to help her see her own worth and value.
I'm so excited to share this story with readers, whether they be connected to the story by their Iowa roots, their experience with troubled relationships, their desire to be truly seen, or their simple appreciation for another human's journey through the messiness of life.
Leading up to the November 2025 release of Road Maps, I look forward to sharing more of my writing journey with readers, as well as the real-life journey I took across Iowa with my own family, visiting roadside attractions as research and enjoying the connection and beauty of the ride.
Five years after the events in the book, Logan finds herself living in Des Moines, entertaining offers from film producers. Enter Thomas Price, the Iowa native-turned-Hollywood-heartthrob who wants to make a movie—and his directing debut—out of her book, but only if she writes the screenplay and joins the project. Captured by Tom’s movie star charisma, Logan spends the summer in a whirlwind of filmmaking that pulls her back out on the road, back to her hometown, and ever closer to Tom.
Will giving in to her desire pave the way toward what Logan wants from life and in love, or will the minefield of professional conduct and more than a few buried secrets stifle her budding romance and dash her chances at real success?
Told through alternating excerpts from Logan’s book and the filming journey, Road Maps is the story of one woman’s rediscovery of her own value through reflection and acceptance.
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