In this Author Spotlight interview, American Limoncello author Justin Phillips invites us into a creative world shaped by curiosity, unconventional inspiration, and a fascination with the grey areas of human behaviour. From an unforgettable first week working as a valet in Las Vegas to becoming a debut novelist, Justin reflects on the experiences and influences that shaped his writing journey. He shares his thoughts on flawed heroes, philosophical villains, emotional storytelling, creative chaos, and why writers shouldn’t let an onslaught of “necessary” rules drain the joy from their craft. Influenced by comic books, Raymond E. Feist, S. A. Cosby, and Grace D. Li, Justin’s approach to storytelling is captured in one simple philosophy: just start, get better, get weird, and repeat.