Name Amanda K. Dudley-Penn

Age 38

Where are you from:

I was born in Tullahoma, Tennessee but I am currently living in Grand Prairie, Texas.

 

 

A little about your self `ie your education Family life etc  

I am married to a wonderful man named David.  He was my best friend in high school.  I have three children, Joshua, Isabella and Constance.

 

 

 

Fiona: Tell us your latest news?

I will be doing a book signing in my home state of Tennessee in January.  I will also begin my first dystopian novel at the end of the year.  I have three books that will be released this year.  The first will be Lured (Book 4) The Brazil Werewolf Series.  It will be released in a couple of weeks.

 

 


Fiona: When and why did you begin writing? 

I have always written.  I can’t remember a time that I didn’t.  I didn’t realize that other people wanted to read what I wrote until my seventh grade teacher told me how much she enjoyed my writing.

 

 


Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

Probably not until 2012 when I finished my first book.

 

 
Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

My brother’s death.  I would always write short stories.  My brother, Josh made me promise to finish The Hidden and when he passed away, I couldn’t get the promise out of my head.

 

 


Fiona: Do you have a specific writing style?

I mostly write in first person.

 

 


Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

I call the book Lured because there is an evil werewolf that is trying to lure our main character to him.

 

 


Fiona: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Yes, I want the reader to believe that even when everything is against it, love conquers all.

 

 


Fiona: How much of the book is realistic? 

This book is a fantasy of mine.  Most of it is not realistic to me at all.  However, it is close to my soul because it allows me to live through my characters.

 

 


Fiona: Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

No but the Brazil name is a family name and it is where I found my traveler roots.  That factored heavily into the traditions of the Brazil werewolves.

 

 
Fiona: What books have most influenced your life most? a mentor? 

This question is going to take a while to answer.  Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll, The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, Ghosts I Have Been by Richard Peck, Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews, The Witching Hour by Anne  Rice, The Wings in the Night Series by Maggie Shayne,  Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, The Lords of the Underworld by Gena Showalter, The Earth Witch by Louise Lawrence, The Immortals After Dark Series by Kresley Cole, The Moon Chaser Series by Sharie Kohler, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak The Love and Skate Series by Lila Felix and so many more.  If I was going to pick a mentor, I would pick Maggie Shayne.  She always tries to help other authors and she has been kind to me.  So, not only is she a great author, she is a genuine and nice person.

 

 


Fiona: What book are you reading now?

I’m reading two books.  The Mercy Tree by Nicole Donovan and Twilight Vendetta by Maggie Shayne.

 

 
Fiona: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?

Nicole Donovan, Nicolette Scarletti, Elaine Barris, Felicity Brandon, Effrosyni Moschoudi, J. Thiele, Blakely Bennett, Jaye Cox, Elizabeth York, Jenni Flatman, Rissa Blakely, Michelle Lanarelli, Marie Lavender, Melissa Bell and Nick Salupo.  I’m sure there are more but those are the ones that I think of immediately.

 

 


Fiona: What are your current projects?

Lured (Book 4) The Brazil Werewolf Series will be released in about two weeks, Eternal (Book 3) The Preston Vampire Series will be released in November and Cherish (Book 1) The Angel Essence Series will be released in December.  Also, I am outlining a new dystopian series.

 

 


Fiona: Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.

I believe God did .  He saved me by giving me this gift.  I’m grateful to him.

 

 
Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?

Yes, writing is my career and I love it.

 

 
Fiona: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book? 

No because just like life, it came out the way it was supposed to.

 

 


Fiona: Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

I can’t remember a time that I didn’t write.  How it began is a mystery to me.

 

 

Fiona: Can you share a little of your current work with us? 

Sure.  I’ll give you the synopsis of Lured.  Nadia Scarrett has wanted to return to her home town of Timbly Mountain, Colorado since she was eight years old to face the family of werewolves that killed her little sister.  Ten years later, she gets that chance because of her betrothal to Tamas Brazil.  However, she is not prepared when she finds that she has stepped into the middle of a war where she is the prize.  She finds that she must trust Tamas Brazil to help her not only to avenge her sister’s death but to protect her from Eli, a rival wolf who wants to claim her as his own.

 

 


Fiona: Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Yes but it’s me.  My own doubts try to creep into my mind.  The only way to fight it is to write through it.

 

 
Fiona: Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

How do I choose?  There are so many that I love for so many different reasons.  I love Maggie Shayne because she creates magical worlds with beautiful and emotional characters.  I love Anne Rice because her work is enthralling with interesting settings and characters.  I love Gena Showalter because of the passion and real pain her characters experience.  I love Lila Felix because she shows beauty in imperfection and I love Markus Zusak because he pulls raw emotion from me.  I  can go on and on about how I love these authors.  I love them all.  So, I can’t pick one.

 

 

 

Fiona: Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)?

I usually don’t but I will be traveling little over seven hundred miles in January to do a book signing in my home state of Tennessee.

 

 
Fiona: Who designed the covers?

 

I designed some of them but I also have a wonderful book cover designer by the name of Laura Gordon of The Book Cover Machine who has designed some of the newer covers.

 

 
Fiona: What was the hardest part of writing your book?

Finding time to write.  This year has been eventful.  Thankfully, I’m back on track.

 

 
Fiona: Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

Yes, I was reminded that writing is my therapy and I also realized that I have a lot of cheerleaders out there.  I am very thankful for them.

 

 
Fiona: Do you have any advice for other writers?

Do not listen to negativity.  Never give up.

 

 
Fiona: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

Yes!! I am thankful for all of you for giving me a chance.  There are no words to describe how wonderful you all are.

 

 

Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?

The Pokey Puppy.  I read it when I was five and was very proud of myself.

 

 

Fiona: What makes you laugh/cry?

My children make me do a bit of both and sometimes, both at the same time.

Fiona: Is there one person pass or present you would meet and why?

I would like to meet Jane Austen.  She took a different path than most women during that time and that took bravery and character.  I believe she would be interesting.

 

 

Fiona: What do you want written on your head stone and why ?

I have hated words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right. –The Book Thief.  The reason is exactly what it says.  I have both hated and loved words but I hope that I made them right.

 

 

Fiona: Other than writing do you have any hobbies ?

Even though I do it badly, I love to paint and draw.  I also love crafts.

 

 

Fiona: What TV shows/films do you enjoy watching?

I love Outlander.  I am a major fangirl of that series.

 

 

Fiona: Favorite foods / Colors/ Music

Chile Rellenos/Green/Anything (I listen to everything from Opera to Heavy Metal)

 

 

Fiona: If you were not a writer what else would you like to have done?

It hurts to think about that.  I suppose I would have been a teacher.

 

 

 

Fiona: Do you have a blog/website? If so what is it?

Yes, I have a website and three blogs.

Website:  http://www.amandakdudleypenn.com/

Blogs: http://amandakdudleypenn.blogspot.com/

http://poetrybyamandakdudleypenn.blogspot.com/

http://amandakdudleypennreviews.blogspot.com/

 

Amazon Authors page http://www.amazon.com/Amanda-K.-Dudley-Penn/e/B008MMME6G/ref=la_B008MMME6G_pg_2?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_82%3AB008MMME6G&page=2&ie=UTF8&qid=1443076880