Growing up Daphne was a big reader who loved real characters with complex issues. Drawn to dark, edgy authors like Stephen King, Daphne consumed sci-fi and fantasy books at a furious pace for years before deciding to write The Amber Torch. The most gratifying part of writing for Daphne is the continual sense of surprise she feels in the process of creating her characters. The best of piece of writing advice she ever received was not to wimp out—if a line or passage makes you feel uncomfortable, you’ve probably gotten in right.