Tell us a little about your writing background. How long have you been writing? What inspired you to start? What challenges have you faced along the way?

I’ve been dreaming up and writing stories since I learned to read. I started writing my first novel in high school and was thoroughly convinced I’d be a bestselling author by the time I graduated (unclear on how I thought I’d accomplish this without letting anyone read said novel). I’ve written a lot professionally in journalism and PR jobs, but my heart has always been in creative writing. This was the first year I really committed to finishing a novel as an adult, and it was both more fun and more challenging than I thought it would be. Prioritizing writing can be tough when no one’s giving you a deadline, so you have to be really self-motivated.  

What is your dream as a writer?

I feel like you’ve made it as a novelist if people are creating fanart based off your work. I think I would sob if anyone ever sent me their depiction of one of my characters! It would be beyond cool knowing I wrote a story and world immersive enough that someone wanted to create their own interpretation of it.

How did you come up with the idea for this story?

Burial Games was inspired by so many things—my love of the occult, fascination with organized crime, and the underground club scene of 90’s New York City, to name a few. It’s hedonistic and bloody on the surface, but at its core, Cass’s journey is one of love, friendship and self-discovery. I hope that, not unlike New York itself, this story works as a mashup of paradoxical ideas, colorful personalities and persistent humor that shines through even during dark times.

What is your writing process like?

Honestly, it’s pretty chaotic. When I have an idea, I usually start writing random scenes as they come to me (often frantically typing into my notes app at 3 a.m. or on the subway). This means I end up writing out of order, which can create a bit of a Tetris-like process as I fill in between scenes and shift things around to form a cohesive, well-paced story. I also tend to surprise myself a lot as I write—more than once, my intended path or personality for a character has been demolished and reformed as I get to know them. I don’t exactly recommend this process, but hey, it’s never boring.

Have you written more of this story yet? How much?

I have a completed manuscript! I’m working through the daunting process of writing a query letter and synopsis with the goal of securing a literary agent. It’s wild trying to distill an entire novel into a few hundred words, especially in a way that will stand out among the hundreds of submissions agents get. Fingers crossed.

Where can readers find more of your work?

If Burial Games is ever published, you can bet I’ll be screaming about it from the rooftops (read: posting incessantly on Instagram). Give me a follow at @alivenosa! At the very least, you’ll be treated to tremendously cute cat content and only slightly over-edited travel photos.

What advice would you give writers on writing a great first page?

Don’t be afraid to throw people right into the action! As a writer, I think the first page is one of the most fun parts of a novel to tackle. You have a blank slate and get to welcome readers to your world with a bang and set the tone for your whole story. As a reader, I love when the first page gives me a strong sense of the main character’s voice rather than diving into world-building or background right off the bat. Give me someone to care about first!