I’ve always lived with my head in the clouds. Growing up in Upstate New York, the quiet landscapes were the perfect canvas for a girl with an overactive imagination. While others saw rolling hills and forests, I saw hidden kingdoms and ancient paths.
I wrote The Defender as a tribute to my Irish-American heritage. The world of the Dìonadair wasn't just built from research; it was built from the stories my grandmother used to tell me. She planted the seeds of Irish folklore in my mind long ago, and this book is my way of bringing those tales into the modern world.
I wanted to explore what happens when an ordinary life—the kind I knew growing up—collides with the extraordinary magic of our ancestors. In Alexa’s journey from a New York orphan to an Irish Queen, I’ve poured in my love for 'found family,' the weight of legacy, and the belief that we all have a bit of untapped magic waiting for its moment to wake up.
When I’m not lost in the mists of Ireland or drafting the next chapter of Alexa’s story, you can usually find me back in the clouds, plotting my next adventure. I’m currently hard at work on the sequel to The Defender, and I can’t wait to show you what happens next.
The Defender: Book 1
Alexa Kane had her summer mapped out: two months of carefree distraction with her best friends. But when fragmented, haunting dreams expose a life she never knew she had lived, her hopes for a normal teenage summer vanish. Compelled to decode the terrifying visions, Alexa embarks on a quest that uncovers an astonishing truth: she is the long-lost daughter of a mighty king, finally discovering the family and the secret world from which she was stolen. Now, she stands at a crossroads. To embrace her destiny means saying goodbye to her old life forever. Alexa must learn to harness her inherent strength and rise as the leader her kingdom desperately needs, before the fragile peace that protects her two worlds is irrevocably shattered.
The Guardian: Book 2 (Coming Summer of 2027)
Alexa has traded the quiet life of a normal teen for the weight of the Dìonadair Crown. But as Queen, she quickly learns that a throne is as much a target as it is a triumph. While the fortress prepares for the sacred Meán Gheimhridh Feast, a chilling discovery emerges: Riordan’s rebel army may not be her only enemy.
In this high-stakes sequel, the dreamer must become a leader. Because being a Guardian means choosing between the life you wanted and the legacy you were born to protect.