Q&A with Penelope Douglas

[LeAnn]

Happy New Year, NABC! I hope 2018 is amazing for you all! This week, we have the amazing Penelope Douglas starting off 2018 right, with a super special Q&A! This Q&A, Penelope can answer as herself, OR any of her characters. (So keep in mind you can ask them questions as well!) Penelope is the author of Bully, Punk 57, Misconduct, Corrupt, Hideaway, and many others. Please leave her (and your favorite characters) your questions below! <3

[Reading with 2 book lovers]

Who is your nost favourite charater of yours an
d why?

[Viktória]

You write about characters in a pretty wide age range, from teenagers to late 20s. Which age do you find easier to write?

[Beatrice]

Hi Ms. Penelope! I really enjoy your books and I'm looking forward on your upcoming book Kill Switch
My questions are:
- When is the release date of Kill Switch? I'm looking forward for Damon's story and can you describe in 3 words what's to look forward in Kill Switch :)
- Are you going to write the next generation of characters from Fall Away series?

Have a wonderful new year! 😊🎉

[Chiara]

I loved your Fall Away series and you're one of my favorite authors! I read on your fb page that you're planning on working on a Fall Away spin off and I was wondering if you could tell me something more about it! Who are the characters the series is gonna focus on?

[amanda]

Punk 57 touched me somehow more than Fall Away series. Will you soon write more standalone like Punk 57, with the style or classic love-hate relationship, like you always put in your stories? Because I want more, Miss Pen!

[Pamela]

Hi Penelope. Love your writing. Any chance you’ll be attending a UK signing in the future? Pam x

[Karen]

Hi Penelope, do you plot every chapter for each book or the first few then go with the inspiration?

[Steffi]

To Rika : What's your most favorite thing/moment with Michael?

To Pen : Will you ever come to a signing that's very close to Belgium?

Also Happy New Year!! Don't forget to relax in the New Year! Xoxo

[S.Shade]

Hello, love your work! And am actually currently reading Rival, cannot put it down! I want to know what was one of your favorite scenes to write or favorite character to write about? :)

[Let Your Heart Rule Your Read Book Blog]

Hi Penelope! In Hungary, only Fall Away series has been released, but we love it soo much. ^^ <3

You have a lot of fans in Hungary. What's your message to Hungarian readers?

And my second question is: what's your opinion about Bully? Because this is your book's title, and I would like to know your point of view.

We wish you a Happy New Year, and good luck for your next book. <3

[Betül]

Hi Penelope!

Which scenes are the hardest and which ones are the easiest to write?

[Grey]

Just because all of these are such great questions, I can be free to be a bit silly... Coke or Pepsi? Toilet paper.... over or under? Socks... in bed- yay or nay? Favorite movie theater snack?

Thank you for indulging my goofiness and thank you so much for all of your hard work!

[Zeljka]

Hi Penelope! I'm eagerly waiting for the kids' books to come out, and in the meantime I'm enjoying reading the Devil's Night series - loving Will!
Who can we expect to be the wildest - will it be Hawke, Kade, Hunter... or perhaps Dylan? ;)
And a question for Will - do you think love is in the cards for you, being that Michael and Kai seemingly managed to find their happily-ever-afters with Rika and Banks? Or are you resigned - or happy - to live the life like it's one big party?

[Alex in Spades]

Hi Penelope! If you had to write a present time/contemporary Disney Princess retelling who would you chose and why? :)

Best wishes, and many amazing new ideas in the New Year!

[Court]

I love all your characters. If you had to choose one to hang out with for the day, who would it be?

[Story]

Which, if any, of your characters do you most identify with? Did you write your own personality into true character? Do you get inspiration from characters from people you know or meet? Do you dream up all of their back stories before you ever put them on paper?

[Nightmarish-Moon]

Hi Penelope! I've got one question that I've been asking myself since I read Punk 57 (and I guess Misha can answer too ^^) :
What does "57" stands for ? (I've always thought that it was the number of letters which were left unanswered but I'm not sure and it keeps bothering me ahah...)
Have a nice New Year's Eve Celebration !

[Carolina]

Are you interesting in writing trilogies this new 2018 or just keep writing series? I'm super curious to know.

[Jessie]

Which couple was your favorite to write about?

[Sophie's Reading Corner]

Hello Penelope! I'm curious what inspired you of the events that took place with the Horseman. Also, about the pen pals in Punk57, did you also have a pen pal? :)

[book bruin]

What are your favorite types of books to read? Any recent favorites?

[Caitlin]

Would Misha and Ryen have still met if other events never happened?

[Sarah]

Do you always know how your story will end before you start writing them... or do you have a vague idea that forms into a solid ending the more you write?

[Ellen]

Hi Penelope, I love your books and I'm very excited for the next generation of the Fall Away series.

Who is your favorite from the next generation kids?

[Cassie]

What is your "must-have" (beside music) when your in writing mode?

[Mercedes]

Hi Penelope! You've got some pretty awesome book covers, I'm wondering what the process for getting those is like? Do you make suggestions or just let a cover designer run with their ideas?

[Marisela]

Hi Penelope! I just love your work. What was your favorite thing to write about Erika??

[Christa]

Who is your favorite out of Jarrod, Madoc, and Jax?

[Nicole]

Happy New Years!
What are you working on now?

[Putri]

do u have an all time fav book & author? i would love to know! and i love you and your bookkksssss pls keep writing queen i will support you!

[Z ~ The Diary of Book Enthusiasts]

Which book was the hardest to write? The character who gave you the most trouble?

[Brittany]

Does music play a role in your writing process? Do you create playlists for each book you write?

[Stephanie]

I loved Misconduct. Are you planning to write any more books in that world?

[Whitney]

Which character was your favorite to write about?

[Yi Shan]

Looking at the future, what do you hope to write one day?

[Bookish Affair]

Hey Penelope!
Misconduct was my first taboo (parent/teacher) romance ♡ so do you plan on giving a little glimpse of the Marek Family, like Would we get a teaser of their life after the grand reunion? Also will Christian get a book of his own?

[Valentina]

Hi Penelope :) Who is your favorite from the Horseman?

[Penelope]

Sarah wrote: "Who is your nost favourite charater of yours an
d why?"

Hey, Sarah!
My favorite female character is Ryen, because she's the most real I've written. She's flawed and insecure, but she fakes it for the world and hides a lot. My favorite male character will probably be Damon. I love the crazy ones. They're the most fun to write.

Thanks for the question!

[Penelope]

Viktória wrote: "You write about characters in a pretty wide age range, from teenagers to late 20s. Which age do you find easier to write?"

Hey! My favorite age range to write are the younger ones. Young love is easier for me and more fun, because kids are irrational and everything is the end of the world. It's fun to tap into that intensity.

I think a lot of people wish they could go back to that time and relive their firsts, but in books we can have the story end in our favor this time. It's nice to be able to relive that.

Thank you!

[Penelope]

Beatrice wrote: "Hi Ms. Penelope! I really enjoy your books and I'm looking forward on your upcoming book Kill Switch
My questions are:
- When is the release date of Kill Switch? I'm looking forward for Damon's st..."

Hey, Beatrice!
There is no date for Kill Switch's release. When I know I will let everyone else, but I wouldn't expect it before next summer. Three words to describe the book are....hmmm, lockdown, secluded, and men, I guess?

And yes, I will be writing the Fall Away spin-off stories. Again, I'm not calling release dates until books are just about done, but I will never write more than 2-3 books a year and even that's optimistic. Lol. I'm just not capable of working that fast, so brace yourself for a wait. I doubt I'll even begin writing those this year. I have other books on the schedule.

Thanks for the questions!

[Penelope]

Chiara wrote: "I loved your Fall Away series and you're one of my favorite authors! I read on your fb page that you're planning on working on a Fall Away spin off and I was wondering if you could tell me somethin..."

Thanks, Chiara!!

Yes, I will eventually get to those and it will be 6 books focusing on the kids of the original characters. The stories will take place while some of the characters are teens and on into their early twenties.

Thanks for the question!

[Penelope]

Amanda wrote: "Punk 57 touched me somehow more than Fall Away series. Will you soon write more standalone like Punk 57, with the style or classic love-hate relationship, like you always put in your stories? Becau..."

Hey, Amanda!

I definitely have a couple stand alones on the schedule, so hopefully you like the sound of them when announced. One might have a similar vibe to Punk 57, but I'm definitely starting to branch out and explore other kinds of stories.

Stay tuned!!

[Penelope]

Pamela wrote: "Hi Penelope. Love your writing. Any chance you’ll be attending a UK signing in the future? Pam x"

Hi, Pamela!

I would love to!! I don't have anything on the schedule right now, though. International travel can be hard on my family who have to readjust their schedules when I'm not home, so I've been trying to ease up. My website lists my signings, so please check there periodically for updates.

Thanks for the question!

[Penelope]

Karen wrote: "Hi Penelope, do you plot every chapter for each book or the first few then go with the inspiration?"

Hey!

Oh, no. I plot everything. I mean the story itself comes from inspiration, but I don't like not having a map. I would hate the process if I didn't have my outlines and notes. I'm the type who makes to-do lists on paper just to have the satisfaction of crossing off what I'd finished. lol

Thanks for the question!

[Penelope]

Steffi wrote: "To Rika : What's your most favorite thing/moment with Michael?

To Pen : Will you ever come to a signing that's very close to Belgium?

Also Happy New Year!! Don't forget to relax in the New Year!..."


Hi!

Rika: Honestly, I love it when I make him mad. He's especially "vigorous". I recently made him angry. You'll hear about it soon enough, I'm sure.

And I would absolutely love coming to Europe again, but I don't have any plans on my schedule yet. As I mentioned in another comment, I have a child, and it's hard on my family to be gone. Re-arranging schedules and such. Hopefully, eventually!

Thanks for the questions!

[Penelope]

S.Shade wrote: "Hello, love your work! And am actually currently reading Rival, cannot put it down! I want to know what was one of your favorite scenes to write or favorite character to write about? :)"

Hi, there!

I actually don't think I have a favorite scene. There are so many I love. But the books I'm most proud of are Corrupt, Punk 57, and Falling Away. In that order. They have the most scenes that I love to go back and reread.

Thanks for the question!

[Penelope]

Everglow wrote: "Hi Penelope! In Hungary, only Fall Away series has been released, but we love it soo much. ^^ <3

You have a lot of fans in Hungary. What's your message to Hungarian readers?

And my second quest..."

Hey, there!

Thank you so much to all the readers over in Hungary. I get so many emails full of support from there, and I'm so grateful people love the books. Hopefully, we'll eventually have all of them there.

And my opinion of Bully, my book, or bullies in general? If you mean my book, of course I love it. It will always have a special place in my heart. It was my first. It was a labor of love and it was the only book where I truly wrote with freedom, before I knew how I would be critiqued and felt fear of what people would say.

That being said, though, I don't think it's one of my best books. I made rookie mistakes, and there's one line in particular I wish I could go back and delete from peoples' memories lol, but I understand it was many readers' first experience with my work and it's special to them.

So I'm glad I started, and I'm glad Bully did as well as it did. It gave me confidence to continue. But I'm also glad when people love my later work more, because it means I'm getting better, which is what I want.

Thanks for the questions!

[Penelope]

Betul wrote: "Hi Penelope!

Which scenes are the hardest and which ones are the easiest to write?"

Hey!

The easiest ones to write are the intense scenes. Chase scenes. Fight scenes. Race scenes. Crying and sobbing. Those are fun, and I love tapping into raw emotion, so it makes them easier for me to sit down and write. The hardest scenes are the intimacy scenes and side character scenes. They're just mundane to write, and I will often skip them and write them when the book is done and I have no choice. lol

Thanks for the question!

[Penelope]

Grey wrote: "Just because all of these are such great questions, I can be free to be a bit silly... Coke or Pepsi? Toilet paper.... over or under? Socks... in bed- yay or nay? Favorite movie theater snack?

Tha..."

Hey, you!!

Coke, of course. Do you know me?!?! Toilet paper needs to be over, no socks in bed, and I always have to have popcorn at the theater, but I also love gummie bears or Milk Duds.

Thank you!!