With the magic of words. I wrote a list and a poem about my ideal partner: traits, values, even “he drinks hazelnut coffee,” with a soft spot for Aquarius. A month later, I matched with Jake on Bumble. From our first conversation, it felt cosmic. He matched everything I’d written. Drawn to his mind, soul, and something unexplainable, I felt inspired to write about our time together. Then my intuition nudged, “Write a book.” What began as fun became the love story I always believed in.

All of them! From writing each other love letters (mine in verse, his in Italian!) to unknowingly showing up at the same place at the same time, I’m continually amazed. But the most cinematic? I secretly plotted with his best friend to plan a surprise trip to Denver and mailed a proof copy of the poetry book I’m writing about us so it was waiting when he arrived. He had no idea, and it was so hard to keep it a secret for months! No matter the moment, our love always feels like magic.

I’d see the world & serve the world. Jake and I have dreamed of Paris since we met. For me, Paris is a symbol of everything I’ve fought for: freedom, love, and becoming the woman my younger self needed. It would be a celebration of personal growth & our romance. The rest would go to Tempest Press, the indie publishing house I co-founded to amplify underrepresented voices. We’re building a more equitable, author-first model that challenges gatekeeping and uplifts stories that deserve to be told.