Ask the Author: Penelope Douglas
Answered Questions (734)
Penelope Douglas
Hi, Chrissy!
I'm not really sure. I suppose her father has popped up over time, maybe they sent him to Blackchurch too. And I think she has a relationship with her mom and sister. Maybe not a great one as Arion has had lots of maturing and redemption to do, but it's also been a long time. Lots could've happened.
Ultimately, Winter has a very full family in any case. Thanks for the question!
I'm not really sure. I suppose her father has popped up over time, maybe they sent him to Blackchurch too. And I think she has a relationship with her mom and sister. Maybe not a great one as Arion has had lots of maturing and redemption to do, but it's also been a long time. Lots could've happened.
Ultimately, Winter has a very full family in any case. Thanks for the question!
Penelope Douglas
Hi! Thank you! I really appreciate that.
And hopefully next year! I'll keep you all posted if I have news.
And hopefully next year! I'll keep you all posted if I have news.
Penelope Douglas
Hey, Eva! He'll definitely be around in the series. Let's see if a love interest takes hold ;)
Penelope Douglas
Hey, there! I wish I could tell you something definite. Sometimes I just have ideas for bonus content in a world, and I should probably resist the urge to write it, because I might not be able to generate a whole book of ideas.
I loved that scene too, though. I hope we see more. <3
I loved that scene too, though. I hope we see more. <3
Penelope Douglas
I hope so!! Just trying to have a great idea for their story <3
Penelope Douglas
Hi! I feel Misha and Ryen are happy and settled. I'd like to keep moving forward with new characters.
Thank you so much for reading <3
Thank you so much for reading <3
Penelope Douglas
Hi, Nate!
I'm not sure, but it's on my mind. By the time we get to Hellbent, the cast is massive with more new characters to be introduced still, but I'll be thinking about it. For sure. <3
Thanks for reading the books!
I'm not sure, but it's on my mind. By the time we get to Hellbent, the cast is massive with more new characters to be introduced still, but I'll be thinking about it. For sure. <3
Thanks for reading the books!
Penelope Douglas
Hi! Piatkus in the UK should be publishing it in Australia in the months to come. I don't know what the covers will look like yet, though. I'll share when I do!
Penelope Douglas
Thanks, Katah! I think you can bank on it, but I've stopped talking about books until they're almost done being written. Too many times I've talked about things I was excited to write and then lost my excitement by the time it came to write them. I love taboo, though, so I'm sure I'll do more. It challenges me ;)
The only thing things coming that readers know about is the rest of the Hellbent series, and the next installment has a 12 year age gap. I hope it delivers!
The only thing things coming that readers know about is the rest of the Hellbent series, and the next installment has a 12 year age gap. I hope it delivers!
Penelope Douglas
It's inspired, to some extent, after Dubuque, Iowa. Eagle Point Park, Mines of Spain...a lot of just from my imagination too.
Thanks for the question!
Thanks for the question!
Penelope Douglas
Hi, Kadence! I struggle with this, but I do find that motivation often comes AFTER you work. Lol. If you can force yourself to stay at your computer and have one productive day, you'll be excited to feel that success again and keep the feeling going.
I'm also heavily in favor of routines and managing time. If I died tomorrow, would I be sad to no longer be around to scroll social media? No. I'd be sad, because I never got to the stories I wanted to write or spend the time I wanted to with those close to me. I try to be brutal about where I spend my time.
Set your atmosphere. Some YouTube ambience. Candles. Try writing the dialogue first. Your bag of tricks will grow over time ;) Good luck!
I'm also heavily in favor of routines and managing time. If I died tomorrow, would I be sad to no longer be around to scroll social media? No. I'd be sad, because I never got to the stories I wanted to write or spend the time I wanted to with those close to me. I try to be brutal about where I spend my time.
Set your atmosphere. Some YouTube ambience. Candles. Try writing the dialogue first. Your bag of tricks will grow over time ;) Good luck!
Penelope Douglas
Hi!
Schraeder Fane gave him the key. This was a fun fact I shared after the series ended a while back. It's why he names one of his children Fane :)
Thanks for the question!
Schraeder Fane gave him the key. This was a fun fact I shared after the series ended a while back. It's why he names one of his children Fane :)
Thanks for the question!
Penelope Douglas
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Penelope Douglas
Hey! About 6-8 months of consistent work. I don't always work consistently, though. There are lots of things that are part of the job other than writing, like promoting a release, travel, signing tip ins, updating your website, designing swag, writing bonus content, social media... It's good to be busy, though!
Thanks for the question!
Thanks for the question!
Penelope Douglas
Hi! Thank you. I appreciate the support for that story!
After a while, ideas start to happen on a dime ;) You'll see ideas everywhere, but I suggest just thinking about a situation you'd like to write. How many people are involved? Where are they? What's the problem to solve?
I find the books I enjoy the most put me in a world I don't want to leave. I think that's the reason more people liked Credence than I anticipated, because they loved being on the mountain. In Devil's Night, I think readers really loved Thunder Bay and the perpetual Halloween. Where do you want to be? In a city? On a ship? In a secluded inn with a guest who refuses to check out? ;) Maybe start a Pinterest storyboard to help you visualize.
Then, for me, I do outlines and notecards. I start to plan the scenes that I want to see. It's all about what you want to read. If you love it, others will too. Have fun!
After a while, ideas start to happen on a dime ;) You'll see ideas everywhere, but I suggest just thinking about a situation you'd like to write. How many people are involved? Where are they? What's the problem to solve?
I find the books I enjoy the most put me in a world I don't want to leave. I think that's the reason more people liked Credence than I anticipated, because they loved being on the mountain. In Devil's Night, I think readers really loved Thunder Bay and the perpetual Halloween. Where do you want to be? In a city? On a ship? In a secluded inn with a guest who refuses to check out? ;) Maybe start a Pinterest storyboard to help you visualize.
Then, for me, I do outlines and notecards. I start to plan the scenes that I want to see. It's all about what you want to read. If you love it, others will too. Have fun!
Penelope Douglas
Sadly, no. I don't read much romance anymore, just because I need something different in my downtime, but I know B.B. Reid is writing a romance with a wilderness vibe and multiple love interests. I believe it comes out this summer <3
Penelope Douglas
Hi, Taylor!
It's in the plans for a friend and I to co-write a book together. We'll see how it goes. I'm kind of a control freak ;)
I think readers will love what we have planned, though!
It's in the plans for a friend and I to co-write a book together. We'll see how it goes. I'm kind of a control freak ;)
I think readers will love what we have planned, though!
Penelope Douglas
Hi, Lorrie!
Always possible!
And Christiane gave Damon and journal--the left page is for the parent to fill out and the right is for the child. Like "List your top 10 favorite movies" It's a way for parents and children to learn about each other, communicate, etc. She's filled it out for most of Damon's life, and she finally passed it on to him.
Thanks for the question!
Always possible!
And Christiane gave Damon and journal--the left page is for the parent to fill out and the right is for the child. Like "List your top 10 favorite movies" It's a way for parents and children to learn about each other, communicate, etc. She's filled it out for most of Damon's life, and she finally passed it on to him.
Thanks for the question!
Penelope Douglas
Hey, Kadence!
Well, thanks to self-publishing, we all have a chance to be heard now. It's pretty great. And easy. I didn't study writing. I was a reader, but my education was in political science and teaching, so I learned how to write on the job ;)
I would advise finding a mentor or editor. Submit a few chapters and let them help you find your voice and style. I wouldn't be here without mine. Everyone needs feedback, and a content/developmental editor advises you on what's wrong with your story, pacing, plot holes, voice, and really putting the reader into the pages. This will be a long process and the most frustrating part, because their job is to push back on what you wrote, but you have to remember it's not personal. They're giving you an honest account of how most readers will react, and it's better to hear it while you still have a chance to fix it. If you want. I usually listen to my editor but not always. Sometimes, there's a difference of opinion.
Afterward, you get to do your copyediting, formatting, cover, and then you can go to https://kdp.amazon.com/ to upload your book and see what happens. Or you can try to find an agent and a publisher and go that route, which also has some nice things about it. I love being a hybrid writer.
Joining some online groups will be useful when you're starting out. That's how you'll find your designers, etc.
I'll just leave you with this: most of your energy should be put in the writing. The rest can be online activity, promoting, marketing... But your best work is your best asset.
Have fun with it!
Well, thanks to self-publishing, we all have a chance to be heard now. It's pretty great. And easy. I didn't study writing. I was a reader, but my education was in political science and teaching, so I learned how to write on the job ;)
I would advise finding a mentor or editor. Submit a few chapters and let them help you find your voice and style. I wouldn't be here without mine. Everyone needs feedback, and a content/developmental editor advises you on what's wrong with your story, pacing, plot holes, voice, and really putting the reader into the pages. This will be a long process and the most frustrating part, because their job is to push back on what you wrote, but you have to remember it's not personal. They're giving you an honest account of how most readers will react, and it's better to hear it while you still have a chance to fix it. If you want. I usually listen to my editor but not always. Sometimes, there's a difference of opinion.
Afterward, you get to do your copyediting, formatting, cover, and then you can go to https://kdp.amazon.com/ to upload your book and see what happens. Or you can try to find an agent and a publisher and go that route, which also has some nice things about it. I love being a hybrid writer.
Joining some online groups will be useful when you're starting out. That's how you'll find your designers, etc.
I'll just leave you with this: most of your energy should be put in the writing. The rest can be online activity, promoting, marketing... But your best work is your best asset.
Have fun with it!
Penelope Douglas
Hi, Megan!
I think it would be worth a try. I did a timeline of flashbacks, so you could at least read those chapters in continuity. https://pendouglas.com/bonus-scenes/d...
Have fun!
I think it would be worth a try. I did a timeline of flashbacks, so you could at least read those chapters in continuity. https://pendouglas.com/bonus-scenes/d...
Have fun!
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