Adanne is a makeup artist and John is an actor, two careers that intersect but probably aren’t seen as equally important. What kind of power dynamic does this set up between these two characters who are also from different backgrounds? 

Though stories about interracial couples are more common than they once were, there are still few interracial romances on the Christian fiction shelves. What made you want to write a romance about an interracial couple?

I wanted to write a sweet romance that reflects the people we see in our churches, in our communities, and in families like mine. As followers of Christ, we are part of a diverse, colorful, and culture-filled kingdom. It’s nice to be able to place a book on the shelves that represents that and that readers can relate to. I also felt it was important to tell a story in which the differences of race weren’t emphasized, just the beauty of finding love and belonging where it may not be expected.

Between her family and the community center her parents started, Adanne has lots of responsibilities to other people in her life. How does this affect her ability to follow her own dreams and plans?

Adanne feels the pressure to carry on what her parents started—to preserve their legacy. With her brother dealing with his son’s illness, she works overtime to step into her mother’s shoes, even though she doesn’t feel equipped to do so. For Adanne, pursuing her dreams takes a back seat to making sure her parents’ dreams don’t crumble. And because of how her career was affected by John’s decisions, she’s afraid to step out of the shadow of those responsibilities. It’s all she thinks she has. 

As the story opens, John is trying to make some needed changes in his life. What challenges linger from the way he used to live that make it hard for him to move forward in a positive direction?