In the coming weeks, months and years, each of us will need to take guided action to ensure that love, hope and inclusion have a place in this world. I’m daunted, but not deterred.

After five days of intense emotions, I turned to my work to give me the strength for this new era.

I have a couple of new YA manuscripts in various stages of drafting. These projects feature strong female and LGBTQ protagonists, which we need now more than ever. Here are a few people and images currently inspiring me as I craft these stories of empowerment.