I actually pushed the boundaries on how long a book like this [The Thorn and the Blossom] can be. The original plan called for two 7,500 word stories, and I turned in two 10,000 word stories.

The appeal of writing a romance was that I'd never written one before the The Thorn and The Blossom.

Now that The Thorn and the Blossom has come out and I'm done with my doctoral degree (yes, I'm finally Dr. Goss), I'm turning to longer projects.

Believe in the importance of your art.

What writers do - everything comes from inside, from experiences of the world that we have digested. And then we turn it into silk, or stories.

Writers: believe! And go do the work . . .

If you believe you have a voice and something to say, chances are you do, and the world needs you to do whatever you're drawn to do. So you should do it.