I had a lot of different reasons for writing the book, but at its core was the desire to write for black teenage girls growing up reading books they were absent from. That was my experience as a child. 'Children of Blood and Bone' is a chance to address that. To say you are seen.

The knowledge and insights you can get in just one day at a writers' conference make it worth the trip.

We like epic stories, we like adventure, we like epic fights, so if you can mix a great story that can also really teach someone about a different experience, you have the potential to really help people.

I want a little black girl to pick up my book one day and see herself as the star. I want her to know that she's beautiful, and she matters, and she can have a crazy, magical adventure even if an ignorant part of the world tells her she can never be Hermione Granger.

My story as an artist has been about trial and error. It's been about artist development, character building, struggle, happiness and failure, family, and music.

I love working and writing new songs. But sometimes you need to wait, to have something in your mind, and then you can let yourself play music.

My view is that at a younger age your optimism is more and you have more imagination etc. You have less bias.

I realized after writing songs for years how important it is. Whether it provides a living for me or not, that creative outlet is something I need.