The story of Henry began taking shape when I was in middle school. Through the Native American Indian Youth Association, I went on field trips that brought local history to life. My great-grandmother, Josephine, had already told me stories about Henry Berry Lowry and how we were direct descendants, but going on those trips made it hit so much closer to home. It’s not often you hear about Native American figures in a classroom setting, so realizing I was learning about my own great-great-great-great-grandfather in an educational space was a profound experience for me.

I started looking deeper into his history. By high school, I joined the cast of Strike at the Wind, which let me see his story in a completely different light. But then 2020 happened. The pandemic put the play, and school, on an indefinite pause. I needed something to keep me going and keep me learning, so I dove headfirst into Henry's story. I went down the rabbit hole, writing every single night. It was important to me to stay true to his legacy while telling it through my own frame, which is why the book naturally took the shape of historical fiction.

I published the book right after I turned fifteen, the exact same week I got my learner's permit. Looking back, it’s still crazy to me. How many people can say they published a novel the same week they got their permit? Because of COVID, a traditional launch was out of the question, so I held a drive-through book sale in my front yard. I sold out. That was the moment that truly made me see myself as an author.

Today, I’m immensely proud of this book, its legacy, and the confidence it has given me. I’ve always believed my books should be living documents, and Henry has absolutely lived up to that standard. As I’ve learned more about my community and my ancestry, I’ve adapted the story. I ultimately rewrote the book to reflect that growth, releasing the fifth-anniversary edition last year. It’s a project that continues to evolve right alongside me.

If Henry was my introduction to being an author, Graduation Chronicles is the project that pulled me back into my creative space when I needed it most.

At the beginning of 2021, I lost my great-grandmother and my grandfather within 24 hours of each other. That profound loss was a major reason why I took a massive step back from writing. By the time I reached my senior year of high school, I had actually grown incredibly shy and insecure about telling people I was a published author. I was eighteen, so much life had happened since I released my first book at fifteen, and I just felt disconnected from that part of myself.

Everything changed thanks to my senior year art class. I am eternally grateful to my teacher, who gave us a final project with a simple, open-ended prompt: just make a form of art. Initially, I just drew a book cover. I told myself, "That's it, that's my art." But looking at that cover, a spark reignited, and I thought, You know what? Let's do it again. Let's write a second book.

While Graduation Chronicles might not be my personal favorite of my works, it’s a bit more for a younger audience and almost serves as an early thesis for my writing, I am incredibly thankful I did it. It was the absolute catalyst that pushed me back into the world of creation. I even got to do a mini promotional tour for the release, which was a lot of fun and ultimately set the stage for what would become The Battle of Hace Pond.

There are so many videos and unreleased materials from this era that I hope to share one day. Honestly, if it weren't for that teacher and that single assignment, none of my current artistic endeavors would likely exist. Looking back, this is the project that has arguably had the most impact on me as a creator, simply because it gave me my voice back.

I had tried writing other novels after Henry, but nothing was really sticking. That changed in December 2023 during a school visit on my promotional tour. I was chatting with a teacher who asked if I had ever visited the Native American Museum at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. I realized I hadn't.

I decided to go, and as I was walking through the exhibits, I came across a display for the Battle of Hayes Pond. Seeing that history in front of me immediately brought back memories from those same middle school field trips that originally inspired Henry, and everything just clicked.

I went home that day and threw myself into research. Within a month, I had nearly 60 pages of notes. I sat down and meticulously organized all that history, figuring out exactly how to weave it into a narrative structure. With this book, I didn't just want to tell a character's story; I wanted to capture the true, complex social atmosphere of Robeson County at that time, an external factor I felt I missed out on exploring in Henry.

The narrative is told from the perspectives of three main protagonists. One of them, Koda, is a young boy just trying to grasp the weight of his community and take everything in. I put so much of myself into his shoes, and creating his character was an incredibly fun, deeply personal experience.

If Henry made me realize I was an author, The Battle of Hayes Pond is the project that made me truly feel like one. I had my first signing at Barnes & Noble, completed a two-leg promotional tour around the county, spoke at more schools, and was incredibly honored to be recognized by my tribe.

All of this was happening during an intensely turbulent and busy season of my life. I was graduating from Early College with both my degree and my high school diploma, and preparing to move into my university dorm. With so much going on, I barely had time to soak it all in. Life has only gotten busier since then, so I'm profoundly glad I took the opportunity to write it when I did. I once thought I would never write a second book, let alone have a project surpass the reach of my first. Looking back, I am immensely proud of this book and so thankful for the era it represents.