New Adult Book Club discussion

This week we warmly welcome back Bestselling Author Penny Reid. Penny is that author of a tonne of amazing books including Friends without benefits, Truth or Beard, Neanderthal Seeks Human, Elements of Chemistry: Attraction, Kissing Tolstoy and many more!

Leave your questions for Penny below!

Hello! I'd like to know what inspired you to start writing?

Who do you think would win in a battle of who is the wittiest, Martin or Greg?

The best thing about being a writer?

Would you want to write with another author, like you did with LH Cosway?

You write a lot, you have a family, a house, friends, you spend time on the internet talking with your fans ... Do you sleep sometimes? lol

Hey there, what do you think is the most important aspect of writing romance novels?

Hi Penny! I know you love all of your characters but just between us here, which of your couples is your favorite and why?

Hi! It's so exciting to have you here! 🥰 I'm curious if there's a subject particularly challenging for you - something you really wish to take on someday but you're not sure if you should.
Also, what helps you relax? Candy? Music? ... Reading? 😁

Out of all of your books, which was your favorite to write?

Christine wrote: "Out of all of your books, which was your favorite to write?"

Beard Science was a lot of fun to write. It didn't take me very long, as Cletus practically wrote himself.

Lena wrote: "Hi! It's so exciting to have you here! 🥰 I'm curious if there's a subject particularly challenging for you - something you really wish to take on someday but you're not sure if you should.
Also, wh..."

Hmmm... I don't know that I could take on organic chemistry. It's a little difficult for me ;-)

I would say that music, peppermint tea, and reading help me relax.

Anita wrote: "Hi Penny! I know you love all of your characters but just between us here, which of your couples is your favorite and why?"

This feels like trying to choose my favorite child! I think it changes from day to day. They're all so different and unique. I tend to be partial to whoever I'm writing at the time though.

Salma wrote: "Hey there, what do you think is the most important aspect of writing romance novels?"

I think the most important aspect of writing romance novels for me is writing books that my readers enjoy. Without them, none of this would be possible.

Patricia wrote: "You write a lot, you have a family, a house, friends, you spend time on the internet talking with your fans ... Do you sleep sometimes? lol"

I've been known to sleep.... On occasion ;-)

Patricia wrote: "Would you want to write with another author, like you did with LH Cosway?"

Yes! I want to write with some of the Smartypants Romance authors. I also want to write another book with LH Cosway if she'll have me.

Patricia wrote: "The best thing about being a writer?"

Getting to tell the stories that are in my head all the time.

Tiffany wrote: "Who do you think would win in a battle of who is the wittiest, Martin or Greg?"

Oh this is a tough one. Greg tends to take the cake in terms of wit.

Caryl Jannie wrote: "Hello! I'd like to know what inspired you to start writing?"

I actually was bet by a friend to write a book. The rest is history!

Hello Penny..
I know you like to read historicals but would you ever be interested in writing one? Oh and btw thank you for recommending Edenbrooke I loved it...

What is the most challenging thing about being an author?

Hi!
If you could be any book character for a day, who would you choose and why?

Hi,
What do you think is the best w ay of getting your writing to readers as a beginner?

Hi.
What are you currently working on?

Hi Penny
You're a new to me author. What is one book of yours that you think someone should read?

Hi! Penny. I love your knitting in the city series and time to time I have asked you whether you are going to write Neanderthal and the human seeks baby or not but got no answer. So again I am asking that will there be a book like this or not in the near future.
P.S love Janie and Quinn

Hi Penny ⭐️
What was your first exposure to adult fiction?

Antonella wrote: "Hello Penny..
I know you like to read historicals but would you ever be interested in writing one? Oh and btw thank you for recommending Edenbrooke I loved it..."

Isn't it so good?!?! Perhaps one day... I'd probably write under a different pen name.

MiDouradoP wrote: "What is the most challenging thing about being an author?"

The self discipline required to sit down and write the books. Well, at least in 2020.

J. wrote: "Hi!
If you could be any book character for a day, who would you choose and why?"

I'd be Gandalf! Mainly for the robes, but also to be full of wizard wisdom.

Lauren wrote: "Hi,
What do you think is the best w ay of getting your writing to readers as a beginner?"

Amazon. I uploaded my first book, 'Neanderthal Seeks Human' to Amazon for free and that's how people ended up it. Also, use Goodreads! That's where the readers are.

Nicole wrote: "Hi.
What are you currently working on?"

I'm working on a completely new series called the Three Kings Series. The first book is called 'Homecoming King' and it has no release date as I'm writing this book for fun, for myself, to find my joy (and hopefully share it with all of you).

If you could have one of your books made into a movie, which you would choose and why?

Aly is so frigging bored wrote: "Hi Penny
You're a new to me author. What is one book of yours that you think someone should read?"

Hi Aly! First off, I'll just warn you that my books are strange... I'd start with either 'Neanderthal Seeks Human' or 'Beauty and the Mustache' from the Knitting in the City series, or 'Truth or Beard' from the Winston Brothers series. If NA is more your style, I'd recommend 'ATTRACTION.'

Ñäyåb wrote: "Hi! Penny. I love your knitting in the city series and time to time I have asked you whether you are going to write Neanderthal and the human seeks baby or not but got no answer. So again I am aski..."

Hi! Thank you so much for your kind words about my books. Neanderthal and Human Seek Baby is only a short included in 'Neanderthal Seeks Extra Yarns.' I currently don't have any plans to expand it into a full length novella. I'm so glad you love Janie and Quinn <3

Julia wrote: "Hi Penny ⭐️
What was your first exposure to adult fiction?"

Hi Julia! Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, which is still one of my favorite books.

Hi! Love your books! What is your process for writing a book? Do you have a complete outline or do you just have more of a general idea and see where it takes you?

How in depth do you get with the research for character jobs and backgrounds? Do you build a character backstory for every character or only for your mains in every book?

How do you come up with the stories? Do they pop up or do you search for ideas?

M wrote: "If you could have one of your books made into a movie, which you would choose and why?"

I think Beauty and the Mustache. I'd want to see Cletus's shenanigans on the big screen, as well as the rest of the Winston Brothers.

Autumn wrote: "Hi! Love your books! What is your process for writing a book? Do you have a complete outline or do you just have more of a general idea and see where it takes you?"

Hi! Oh goodness, thank you! I have more of a general idea rather than a complete outline in my head. I tend to write bits and pieces down as they come into my brain, and then I try to put them together. However in terms of series I tend to plan them out from the beginning with an outline.

Clarissa reads it all wrote: "How in depth do you get with the research for character jobs and backgrounds? Do you build a character backstory for every character or only for your mains in every book?"

I most likely go too in depth with my research for character jobs and backgrounds LOL! I have a backstory for the main characters and then also recurring characters (like those in Green Valley).

Hi Penny. I'd love to know which character of yours 'spoke' to you the most?

Who (or what) is your go-to source for working on the technical aspects of writing?

Steffi wrote: "How do you come up with the stories? Do they pop up or do you search for ideas?"

I usually pull inspiration from real life experiences and people. I have characters inspired by real people I've met, and then I add the old Penny Reid spin to it.

Sometimes ideas come to me in the shower. This may be an overshare.

Irma wrote: "Hi Penny. I'd love to know which character of yours 'spoke' to you the most?"

This may come as no surprise, but Cletus.

He's very adamant about being heard. He still speaks to me frequently...

Are you saving any specific Pennyverse characters for yourself to tell their stories or are they all up for grabs by the smartypants authors?

Jo wrote: "Who (or what) is your go-to source for working on the technical aspects of writing?"

When I first started writing I used to read the one star reviews and use them to improve. I'm grateful for them, they made me a better writer. I also find that talking with my author colleagues for feedback is helpful.

Clarissa reads it all wrote: "Are you saving any specific Pennyverse characters for yourself to tell their stories or are they all up for grabs by the smartypants authors?"

YES! I have a few Pennyverse characters that are not up for grabs because I plan on writing their stories in the future. I am keeping them a secret ;-) They'll appear mainly in the Good Folks series.

Hello Penny

Where is the place where you are most inspired to write?
Do you follow any ritual or rutine before you start writing?