Have you ever pulled out a really old story and reworked it? Did it work out?
Black Flowers, White Lies went through many incarnations over the years before it evolved into my second published novel (Sky Pony Press, 2016). I actually wrote the first draft of the psychological thriller in 2006. I had a hard time getting the plot to come together, so after many rewrites, I put that manuscript aside and began a story about deadly bird flu, which became my debut novel, Pandemic (Sky Pony Press, 2014). Pandemic’s success reenergized me, and I started a new version of what became Black Flowers, White Lies. BuzzFeed’s included Black Flowers, White Lies on their list of 23 YA Books That, Without a Doubt, You’ll Want to Read This Fall, which was a gratifying moment. I’m glad I didn’t give up on the story!