Sarah asked Penelope Douglas:

How was it transitioning the Fall Away characters to parents in Next to Never? It seemed so spot on and natural, I don't know how you do it! Are you excited to explore their roles as parents more when you write the other books?

Penelope Douglas Thanks, Sarah! I'm glad it flowed. Honestly, I didn't put a lot of strategy behind it. Writing those characters comes so naturally, and it's like they're a movie I'm watching. So real and a part of my head.

I don't think they changed a lot as parents. They're still young at heart, and in our heads, they will always be that way, but they have always been fierce in their loyalty to each other. And that translates to their relationships with their kids, too. They're a clan. They take care of each other, but they know that the worst thing a parent can do is hang on too tightly. Or not be there at all. I think they learned from their own parents' mistakes. And yes! I'm very excited to see Jared stress over Dylan and Jax come clean to Hawke who he hides his past from and what happened to him as a child.

Thanks for the question!

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