#PennedPossibilities 951 — MC POV: Write about something presently in your life that is “worth it.”

Fenella: *He’s* worth it. Alistair is worth all of it and more. Why do you think I’ve ensured it all? And why do you think I eventually came home to Dorcha Castle to seek his protection? Because he will always protect me, I *trust* implicitly, and I will always care deeply for this man. I’ve been in love with him for so long. What an idiot I was to end things between us and leave the safety of our castle for a ridiculous trip to Paris. It’s been nine long years and my feelings have never changed. I thought he grew bored of me back then. As it turns out, I might not have been the only one who thought so. I’m also beginning to think I might not be alone in my affections, either.

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#PennedPossibilities 952 — How do you use social media as an author?

For me, it's easy. I promote my stories, no matter how big or how small, right here on Mastodon. I talk about my writing process, characters, ideas, and plots here. I've made friends here as well, and I'm grateful for all of you. As writers, we support the work and check stuff out, boosting, reading for free, or buying from each other. I don't need any other social media sites these days. I've been on here for years now. This is it for me. Mastodon is my forever home.

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#PennedPossibilities 953 — What author(s) did you dislike at first but grew to enjoy reading?

I feel so badly about this, but there's only one I can think of off the top of my head. It's Sarah J. Maas. It took some time for her work to grow on me. She has an amazing style, but there are occasional things that she'll say in books (sentences or phrases) that just strike me as rather odd. That being said, of course, she's a bestselling author for a very good reason. Her stories are terrific, compelling, and fantastically woven, her characters are refreshing, and her worlds are creative, dangerous yet beautiful, and heartbreakingly tragic. I really do enjoy everything of hers these days.

With that in mind, us authors sometimes tend to read books and an oddly worded sentence will strike us. We might think to ourselves, "Gee, I could have written that sentence better," or, "I would've worded that like this, instead." Needless to say, I've had a few moments like that. But don't get me wrong, I *do* love her books.

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#PennedPossibilities 954 — What is your SC’s skill level when it comes to cooking and baking?

Hati is fabulous at both, and Sam appreciates it. She actually *enjoys* cooking and baking.

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#PennedPossibilities 955 — Is your MC keeping any secrets? Can you reveal them to us?

Two of them, actually, but I can’t elaborate on those secrets just yet, so I’ll just list them.

• Alistair’s age... (Shhh.)
• His love for Fenella.

He has very good reasons for keeping both hidden. The very first one is even hidden from the readers for a while.

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#PennedPossibilities 956 — With whom is your SC’s most important relationship?

It’s Hati’s husband, of course. His name is Samuel. She and Sam have been together for years now, and they would be lost without each other. They’re both werewolves.

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#PennedPossibilities 957 — Does your MC have or wear a signature color?

Alistair does, but it’s never done on purpose. He tends to wear deep blues, darker shades, and occasional purples and plums. (Typical vampire lol. At least he doesn’t wear a lot of red, though!)

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#PennedPossibilities 958 — What’s your favorite under-appreciated novel?

It's a little something from 2000. This book taught me so much about *my* life, friendship, life in general, stereotypes and racism, Spanish Harlem, and what it means to be a morally gray character who does bad things for very good reasons.

Please, buy this book and read it, I beg of you. It will be on your list of favorites afterward. You will, cry, enjoy it, hate parts of it, and it will leave you with emotions and thoughts long after it's finished. I read this one as an older teenager and it changed me. Ernesto Quiñonez is such an amazing author. Libraries aren't even allowed to carry this book in schools anymore. (For the obvious reasons. I'm sick to my stomach.)

Quick blurb: The word is out in Spanish Harlem: Willy Bodega is king. Need college tuition for your daughter? Start-up funds for your fruit stand? Bodega can help. He gives everyone a leg up, in exchange only for loyalty--and a steady income from the drugs he pushes. Bodega turns to Chino, a smart, promising young man, for a favor. Chino is drawn to Bodega's street-smart idealism, but soon finds himself over his head, navigating an underworld of switchblade tempers, turncoat morality, and murder.

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#PennedPossibilities 959 — MC POV: Complete this thought: “I wish I had paid more attention when…”

Alistair: I wish I had paid more attention when Caden told me about the coven (more like a cult) that he was in a decade ago. I wish I listened closer. Now I’m having to pore through my old journals for any important pieces of information I might have jotted down about them. Not only is it tiresome but most of it is entirely unhelpful for us.

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#PennedPossibilities 960 — Describe the longest romantic relationship your MC has ever had. (If they’ve had one.)

Alistair’s one and only love was Miss Fenella Ralston (AKA Lady Fenella McKay). They were quite a pair. Random fact, unlike other vampires, they actually enjoyed making love. While she’s had other partners in her long life, he hasn’t. He wasn’t ever interested in a mate until her. He was in love with her for decades before he finally worked up the nerve to tell her, and although they eventually ended things between them, he still loves her. (And guess what? She still loves him as well.)

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#PennedPossibilities 961 — SC POV: Have you ever spoken up when you saw that something going on was wrong? Were you scared? What was the end result?

Hati: I did. Alistair was in trouble. So was Fenella. I yelled out, and then I shifted into my wolf form and ran to their aid. And yes, I was utterly terrified. The end result was certainly… Well, no, that would require far too much explaining. But I will say this: everything was okay.

(I can't explain too much... Spoilers!)

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#PennedPossibilities 962 — If there was ever going to be a film or a series based upon your WIP, what do you imagine the soundtrack would be like? What genre?

Give me a spooky OST, something ornate, complex, and rich with emotional depth. It would be soft and mournful during the sadder moments, then uplifting, inspiring, moving, and emotional at times, and serious, scary, and terrifyingly brash and loud at others. It needs to be rich and dynamic, allowing for expressive contrasts and emotional depth. All classical, of course. In my mind, it would be reminiscent of Hammer Horror as well, which was what started this entire novel (which turned into a series) for me.

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