EP 210: Interview with Author Peggy Payne

<p>Today, co-host R.N. Roveleh interviews author Peggy Payne about her books. She asks Peggy the following questions:</p> <p>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?</p> <p>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?</p> <p>3) What are some of the main themes that you’ve tackled in this book?</p> <p>4) How do you balance entertainment and storytelling with addressing important issues or conveying meaningful messages in your Young Adult novels? </p> <p>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?</p> <p>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?</p> <p>7) Do you have a unique approach to sex or romance scenes in Young Adult, since Young Adult is mostly for a younger audience? </p> <p>8) Your books are heavily spiritual, and “My Life of Earth and Elsewhere” also features supernatural experiences. What draws you to this theme?</p> <p>9) How would you describe the supernatural? What is the line between supernatural and fantasy for you?</p> <p>10) What was the most challenging part about writing this book? How about the most fun part?</p> <p>11) What advice would you give to aspiring authors who want to write Young Adult novels?</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Peggy’s website: </strong><a href="https://www.peggypayne.com/">https://www.peggypa