I am inspired to be a writer by my protagonist, Issanka, who visits me when I dream and I’m pretty sure would kill me in my sleep if I failed to finish her story.

I remember where I was when I came up with the story for Road to Freedom. It was sunset on a beach in Marseille, in the south of France. I was watching the waves crash ashore, the sun sinking into the horizon. In the distance lurked the shadowy outline of Château d'If — an abandoned prison in the middle of the harbour. The Château has been an inspiration for many writers, dreamers, and artists, including Alexandre Dumas as a setting for The Count of Monte Cristo. 

As I stood on the sand, I imagined a young woman (Issanka) standing on the opposite beach beneath the Château. She commanded supernatural powers, superb fighting skills, and an inquiring intellect. But none of these powers would allow her to swim the channel. With all her advantages, Issanka stood alone, just like me, facing an insurmountable obstacle without hope or hurry. I have not been able to stop writing about her since.

Road to Freedom is the first book in a trilogy. I am currently working on the next two books to be published before my readers (or my main character) lose patience. 

After that, there is another fantasy series I would like to write, based on my travels through Canada and the United States. Sometimes I have dreams I wish I could turn into stories, but for now, Issanka’s tale is the one that binds me.

I am sorry to say I am a lawyer by trade. When I was in high school, a good friend wrote ‘law’ at the top of my university preference sheet ‘just in case’ because it was the hardest course to get into. After high school I spent a year studying at a school in Osaka, Japan. It was an experience that was wonderful and inspiring and terribly difficult. 

When I found myself in a tight spot, I wound up at a board meeting of Japanese men in suits who demanded I explain myself to them. I was 17, but I still remember how the mention of studying law changed their expressions from disapproval to respect. I still practise law mostly to surprise old men.

Keep writing! 100 words a day gives you a novel in a year. Without those words, you have nothing to polish and perfect. 

Also, keep your notes together in someplace safe. You do not want to have to tear your house apart because you forgot something important. 

I used to watch this live streaming show where, every week during the break, they would have fan art of the show’s characters. It always astounded me the talent of the artists and their passion for the story. They were so dedicated to draw regularly, and so generous to do so just for the love of doing it. 

It really inspired me to write because I thought, here are these people, living their dreams, embracing their passions, with no reward except the joy of creating. The show was called Critical Role and if you know anything about them then you know they are an inspiration themselves.

My favourite book series is the Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan, closely followed by Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson, the Expanse by James S. A. Corey, and the Protector of the Small by Tamora Pierce. I also love stories about mindfulness by Thích Nhất Hạnh and anything that features a brave female protagonist. See me for an annotated copy of the Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir.

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