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There are cities you visit, and cities you return to. Paris has always been the latter for me, drawing me back year after year, as inevitably as the tide returning to shore. I didn’t plan to set two thirds of my novel in Paris. I knew early on that it would begin aboard Titanic’s sister ship, the RMS Olympic , and that it would move into a European city shaped by the early years of the First World War. What I didn’t know at first was which city that would be.   When Paris re

And the thread that binds them together I never expected to write a book, let alone two books at the same time — especially two that seem nothing alike on the surface. Two books born from one cozy workspace. One is a nonfiction book called You Don’t Have to Stay   — a guide for anyone who feels stuck in a job or a life that slowly wears them down. It was born from a moment that left a lasting impression on me: sitting on a plane, tears running down my face, realizing I didn’t

Halifax was the final stop on my transatlantic cruise from Southampton to New York, a journey whose ports of call so poignantly traced the Titanic’s  story. I had already visited the museums in Belfast , where Titanic  was built, and Southampton , where she departed on her maiden and only voyage. Both museums were filled with history and remembrance, honoring the lost ship and her passengers. In Halifax, I visited the final museum of my trip, the Maritime Museum of the Atlant

Born together in Belfast, destined for two very different fates. Two sister ships were born in the shipyards of Belfast — Olympic and Titanic . Built side by side in a world that believed deeply in progress, craftsmanship, and unshakable confidence, they represented the highest expression of early-twentieth-century ambition. One would sail for decades, beloved and reliable. The other would sail only once, becoming immortal in tragedy. Together, their intertwined stories rema

During my recent Titanic research trip for my historical fiction novel, I made a stop in Belfast and had the opportunity to explore the SS Nomadic . Pictures of SS Nomadic next to Titanic and Olympic shown on a sign where the ship is moored Just steps from Titanic Belfast rests the SS Nomadic , a small, unassuming vessel with an extraordinary story. She once ferried first- and second-class passengers from Cherbourg Harbor in France out to the RMS Titanic,  anchored offshor

Belfast is where the story of the RMS Titanic truly began. In the early 1900s, Belfast was one of the great industrial capitals of the world. Its shipyards were a symbol of innovation and pride. At Harland & Wolff, the city’s master shipbuilders undertook an unprecedented feat for White Star Line: the construction of not one but two sister ships, Olympic  and Titanic  — the largest and most luxurious vessels the world had ever seen. Side by side, their great hulls rose abov

By the time my train pulled into Southampton Central Station, I had been awake for nearly two days. After two flight legs and three train rides, I was utterly exhausted. But I was also exhilarated, eager to discover what stories Southampton had in store for me. My first lesson of the trip? To pack lightly! Never again will I travel with a large suitcase and 2 carry-on bags when three train connections stand between me and my destination. Waterloo Station in London The journey

For me, writing historical fiction begins long before I ever type the first sentence. It starts with finding a historical subject whose story sparks my imagination — someone whose life can become the heart of a great tale. From there, I immerse myself in books, photographs, letters, music, and when possible, the very places where history unfolded. From Paris cafés to Titanic survivor testimonies, my inspiration comes from the stories history leaves behind. Here’s how I appro

From a young age, I’ve been captivated by the story of the Titanic . Not just the ship itself — with its unmatched luxury, bold engineering, and tragic fate — but the people who were aboard. Real lives, real choices, and the terrors that lingered long after the ship sank. That fascination became the starting point of my own story as a writer. Where fascination meets fiction — my desk as I dive into Titanic and WWI research. Over the years, I’ve devoured books, studied photog