A Brief Interview with Author Isabella Quinn

Welcome back to another author interview! This week, one of our baristas spoke with local author and activist Isabella Quinn about her latest release, Temporal Hearts. Read the exclusive interview to learn why we couldn’t put this book down.

Jasper: Hi there, readers, and thanks for checking out our latest blog post. Today, I’m thrilled to be here with the incredibly talented Detroit Lakes author, Isabella Quinn. Just last month, she released her latest book, Temporal Hearts. Isabella, thank you so much for joining us today.

Isabella: Thank you for having me. I'm excited to be here!

Jasper: So, Isabella, tell us a little bit about this new book.

Isabella: My latest book is called Temporal Hearts, an LGBTQ romance about two women who fall in love despite being separated by over 80 years of time. Throughout the story, Donna and Avery need to navigate not only the complexities of time travel, but also of being a couple during a time when same-sex relationships were even less accepted than they are today.

Jasper: Wow, that sounds like such an interesting premise. What inspired you to combine LGBTQ romance with the science fiction genre?

Isabella: Well, I've always been fascinated by the concept of time travel. As a kid, I remember my mom showing me this movie called Somewhere in Time, a fantasy romance where a man travels back in time to meet a woman he’s fallen in love with. I liked the film, but I kept thinking about the things I would change about it. In a way, my book has been in the works ever since that time—I’ve only recently gotten it on paper. On top of that, I wanted to write an LGBTQ romance, because representation matters. It was always difficult for me to find relatable love stories growing up because of how heteronormativity is so pervasive in literature. I really hope my book will allow more people to see themselves in the stories they read.

Jasper: I appreciate you sharing that personal experience with us. Now that we’ve talked a little bit about the story, what was the biggest challenge you faced while writing it?

Isabella: The biggest challenge was definitely trying to balance the historical elements of the story with the time travel and romance aspects. I wanted to make sure the story was historically accurate and that I did justice to the experiences of real people who lived during the 1940s. At the same time, it was important that I made the story accessible and relatable to modern readers.

Jasper: That sounds like a lot to juggle, but, from what I’ve read so far, I think you balanced it beautifully. So, what do you hope readers take away from Temporal Hearts?

Isabella: I suppose I’m hoping for two major takeaways, depending on who the reader is. For my LGBTQ readers, I hope this book is relatable, empowering, and healing. For other readers, I hope the book encourages understanding and appreciation for different kinds of love and relationships.

Jasper: Those are wonderful messages. Now, as we wrap up our interview, do you have any final words for our readers?

Isabella: I was hoping you’d ask. If you’d like to keep up with my upcoming books, you can check out my Instagram account @bellaquinnwrites. I have a new series in the works, and I appreciate any comments, questions, and support my readers have for me!

Jasper: I’ll be sure to follow! Thank you, readers, for checking out today’s author interview from The Caffeinated Reader. Temporal Hearts is in store now, and it's a must-read! Isabella, thank you so much for joining us today and for sharing this exciting new book with us.

Isabella: Thank you for having me. It was a pleasure!