Hi everyone! I know this week has been crazy, but I am so excited for you all to see the interview I did with Penelope Douglas! She is the author of my favorite series, Devil's Night, and just published the fourth and final book, Nightfall. I am so thankful that I got to interview her, and I hope you all enjoy it!
Penelope Douglas is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author.
Her books have been translated into fifteen languages and include The Fall Away Series, The Devil's Night Series, and the stand-alones, Misconduct, Punk 57, Birthday Girl, and Credence. Please look for Tryst Six Venom and Motel, as well as the Hellbent series, coming next!
She lives in Las Vegas with her husband and their daughter.
Without further ado, I present Penelope Douglas!
Interview:
J: To begin with, why don't you introduce yourself to new readers?
P: Hi, I'm Penelope Douglas. A wife, mom, and writer, living in Las Vegas! I write mostly New Adult, but I dabble in contemporary and erotica. I love to cook. I love road trips. And I love lemon-filled donuts 😉
J: Let's start! I like to start off with a funny-type question. What was your least favorite food as a child? Do you still hate it, or do you love it?
P: My least favorite food was peas. My father made me sit at the kitchen table for hours one time until I ate them. I still refuse to eat them. Lol
J: Why did you choose to be an author as a career? Or in other words, what got you into writing and becoming an author?
P: I used to be a teacher, but when I read Fallen Crest High, I got sad that there weren't more books like it. It captivated my imagination, and I started dreaming up Bully.
J: I love that! I love how you found a book series you love that inspired you to write Bully. Today, you have written over 15 books! After your success with some of them, how has your life changed, if at all? Do you have a different routine than before, or it just hasn’t changed?
P: Well, I was able to become a full-time writer and a stay-at-home mom. We travel more for book signings now, and my time online has certainly increased! Lol. It is the hardest job I've ever had, but I'll keep doing it for as long as I can.
J: I can imagine! My online time has also increased exponentially, it's becoming a problem...
Most authors use personal experiences as inspiration in writing. Would you say you do too?
P: I use life lessons I've learned, and some characters are based on real people, but most of what I write in my books I've never done. No steam room, no illegal street racing, no affair with my boyfriend's dad 😉
J: Aw, you're missing out, lol. Speaking of characters, to me they are about 70% of the book. They make or break a book for me. You’ve written tons of books with all different kinds of characters. Who would you say is your favorite character/characters to write about and why? Is there a certain personality you like to write more than others?
P: My favorite characters to write are the flawed ones. K.C., Jared, Ryen, and Damon. Their character arcs are much more fascinating and engaging, even if they do drain my energy.
J: Along the same lines, who do you relate to the most in your books, and why?
P: I relate most to K.C. and Ryen, I think. I was very much like them. It was easy to relate.
J: You have a couple of standalone books, as well as series. Do you have a preference to which one you like to write more of? Is it easier to write a standalone than a series?
P: A stand-alone is more enjoyable for me. Series books are great, because you can stay in the same world, grow it, and revisit the same characters, but there's a lot of stress, making readers wait for installments. And the demands and expectations get overwhelming as the series goes on. It's a lot of pressure. Standalones are nice respites, and readers have no pre-conceived expectations or opinions about what should happen with the characters. They're not invested yet, and it's nice to have that freedom as a writer.
J: You make a great point. There are higher expectations in writing a series, because everyone is more invested in the story.
This is going to be a weird and probably awkward question, so bare with me. In your books, there are some steamy scenes! Are you ever uncomfortable writing those scenes?
P: Never. If I were uncomfortable with it, I wouldn't publish it.
J: Ok, so you have written and released at least six books. The release of which book were you the most anxious about?
P: Probably Nightfall. It had been a long time coming and expectations were high.
J: In honor of Nightfall, how would you describe that book in 3-5 words?
P: Angsty? Mystery? I really can't describe my books. Sorry! 😂 It embarrasses me. It's the readers' job to do that.
I totally agree with you Penelope! Thank you so much for doing this with me!
For those of you who have not read any Penelope Douglas books, what are you waiting for?!?!
Penelope has written a couple of series and standalone, so definitely pick which ones you prefer.
I have all the links down below, so go check them out. Text DOUGLAS to 474747 to be alerted when new releases are live!
Links:
Penelope Douglas:
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