Some loves are unforgettable.
Others are impossible to hold onto.
- End
Official Book Playlist
I love creating mood and character playlists when I first come up with a story idea. It makes writing any scene feel like watching a movie. Here's the official book playlist to make your reading experience feel immersive and surreal : )
Aesthetic Boards
Aesthetic Boards are my go-to when I hit a wall in my story. I've made boards for the characters, moods, and settings. On the End boards, you'll see teasers of original parts of the story, including the private school that Olivia and Ander attended together in the unpublished first draft.
Enjoy!
Author Q+A
What inspired End?
I was struggling in school and couldn't stop wishing that I had a photographic memory. This turned into a whole question where I wondered, "What if I had a videographic memory, instead?" And then, being the writer that I am, I added stipulations, like "What if you could remember everything... but only for a set amount of time?" From there, End was born, and I've learned to count my blessings as someone with a completely ordinary memory, despite the everyday challenges that it presents.
What motivates you to keep writing, even on tough days?
Honestly, I'm a workaholic, so if I start a project, I need to see it through. I do get bored and frustrated with writing, but I've learned that adding small things I love—whether that's a trope, setting, or awkward interaction— can make me enjoy writing any scene, which keeps me going.
How do you decide what stories are worth telling?
Words have so much power. The things you say today can change the course of someone's entire life. When I decide which story to write, it's usually based on a concept or trope that I really love. Then I twist it to create a theme that answers a question on my mind. With End, that question was "If everything happens for a reason, then why do bad things happen to good people?" Through this story, I was able to find that answer for myself.
Do you include any hidden messages or Easter eggs in your books?
Yes! In fact, I had a list of Easter eggs from End at one point. One of my favorites to create was the theme of butterflies. From the moment Olivia met Ander (three years before the story begins), she got butterflies. In the last chapter, when they meet again, the butterflies return, which is a subtle indication about how she stays the same, despite the impact of her amnesia over the years.
How do you decide when a story is ready to share with the world?
One thing I've learned the hard way is that, no matter how much I prepare, I'll never feel ready on Release Day. However, when I feel happy with the plot of the story, and I start imagining specific people I know who need to hear the messages intertwined in the story, that's when I decide that I need to share it. You'll always wish you could have reworded a sentence differently, or found those typos that slipped through, but you'll never regret when someone comes up to you and tells you that your words changed their life.
Official End Watchlist
These movies are what inspired and/or got me through the hard writing days. If you need some comfort movies like End or just can't find anything to watch, I compiled this list for you : )
The Map of Tiny Perfect Things
This is a story about a guy and a girl trapped in a time loop who fall in love. It's literally my favorite movie of all time, but be aware: there are themes of death and grief.
Paperman
This isn't actually a movie—it's all of 5 minutes, but the idea of throwing paper airplanes across buildings was the entire reason why I turned End into a next-door-neighbor romance when the first draft was set in a private school.
Inception
This is more of a psychological, makes-you-think kind of a movie, but the dream sequences are really what inspired me to write Ander's night-mares out in all the different ways.
Love Next Door
Yes, a cute, cozy K-drama! I typically watch with subtitles, but you can probably listen to it translated in English, too. I love all the awkward interactions! The bike-ride scene ins-pired my own.
Me Before You
This definitely has a sad ending, so watch with caution, but I loved the themes conveyed in this story of love, life, and loss.
La La Land
More nighttime vibes! I love the music and cinematic scenes... I don't think there's anything not to love about this one!
Five Feet Apart
This one is so good! My book is like a mesh of cozy feel-good vibes, whereas this one is more heavy, but it's super bittersweet.
The Notebook
No doubt about it. This movie is why I added a "kissing in the rain" scene into my book. 10/10 recommend.
Clouds
This is another sad one, but I love how sweet it is. The songs and duets are really what made me want to get Ander and Olivia to sing together on the street.
The Space Between Us
I think this movie is so cute! Definitely a little quirky and awkward at times, but I highly recommend if you're into Hallmarks. The outer space theme is what really reminds me of Lola.
Midnight Sun
Girl with a life-long illness that limits her ability to have a rela-tionship... need I say more? This movie is a heartbreaker, but it's super cozy, too!
50 First Dates
This is what people usually think of when I tell them the premise of my book. No, I did not get the book idea from this movie, but yes, it opened my eyes to how you can see the world as an amnesiac.
End.
Every “goodbye” feels final when you know that one day you won’t remember “hello.”
Diagnosed with a rare form of periodic amnesia, Olivia Astor finds herself trapped in a life where nothing lasts the test of memory, and memory only lasts so many months. One paper airplane, one song, one smile from the boy next door is all it takes to lift the weight off her shoulders when the world seems to go on. And from there, everything falls into place—and apart.
Everything happens for a Reason—
Including the almost-plane crash that sent Ander Barlow’s life flashing before his eyes… and ended with a memory of a girl he’s only seen once. After a safe landing, Ander meets her—Olivia. Time with her is beautiful, fleeting, and dangerously easy to fall into.
Over one unforgettable summer, Olivia finds herself drawn to his world… until Ander convinces himself she’s terminal. He used to think that saving a hundred lives outweighed losing one, but now he doesn’t know what to do if he loses her. And who knows if she’ll recognize her own family, let alone him, when her memory reaches the End?
All my books are appropriate for individual ages 10+, but if you're concerned about the content, please check out the guide below.
