EP 210: Interview with Author Peggy Payne

Today, co-host R.N. Roveleh interviews author Peggy Payne about her books. She asks Peggy the following questions:

1) You’ve just released a new novel entitled, “My Life of Earth and Elsewhere”, a Young Adult story with a 16-year-old protagonist, Darcy. Which is interesting, because your previous books, Sister India, Cobalt Blue, Revelation, are adult fiction, with heavy themes and very mature experiences. What inspired you to write a Young Adult book?

2) Darcy, your protagonist, in spite of her supernatural experiences, is a very relatable character. How do you approach creating relatable and authentic teenage characters?

3) What are some of the main themes that you’ve tackled in this book?

4) How do you balance entertainment and storytelling with addressing important issues or conveying meaningful messages in your Young Adult novels? 

5) Young Adult fiction usually has a more poignant didactic purpose than other genres, since it’s supposed to introduce young readers to certain topics or to educate them. Do you think there is more pressure on a Young Adult writer when tackling sensitive topics? More censorship, in this sense?

6) You know quite a bit about writing sex, based on your previous books - it is, after all, one of the main themes in Cobalt Blue. What makes a good sex scene?

7) Do you have a unique approach to sex or romance scenes in Young Adult, since Young Adult is mostly for a younger audience? 

8) Your books are heavily spiritual, and “My Life of Earth and Elsewhere” also features supernatural experiences. What draws you to this theme?

9) How would you describe the supernatural? What is the line between supernatural and fantasy for you?

10) What was the most challenging part about writing this book? How about the most fun part?

11) What advice would you give to aspiring authors who want to write Young Adult novels?

Peggy’s website: https://www.peggypayne.com/ 

Peggy’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/peggypayne

Peggy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Peggy-Payne/author/B001HPQRO0?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

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