A.M. Pennyfeather

A.M. Pennyfeather is an author, mom, wife, and Montessori teacher living in the United States. Her life revolves around her family, especially her young daughter, but stories about the truest of loves energize her heart. When she’s not making up her own worlds – or enjoying someone else’s – she’s probably spending time with her family, often in the beauty of nature.

Author Q&A with A.M. Pennyfeather

Q: Please introduce yourself! Share your name, pronouns, and something fun, interesting, curious, or important (take your pick) about yourself that you would like your audience to know.

A: Hi! My name is Abby (she/her) and I write under the name A.M. Pennyfeather. The most important thing about me is that I'm also a mom. I have a precious daughter, and I write the kind of stories (and especially romances) that I would be proud of her reading when she is older. This also means my writing comes second (sometimes third or fourth, because I'm also a teacher and a wife) so my writing is really slow. So, don't expect fast releases of anything. I do the best I can, though.

Q: What genre or format do you write in? (for example: romance, fantasy, short stories, poetry, etc.)

A: I write novels in the romantic fantasy or fantasy romance subgenres. I love stories about magic, and the magic of TRUE love.

Q: Who do you write for? Who is your audience, and are you seeking to reach a particular type of reader with your work? Why?

A: Honestly, I write for myself. I write the stories that fill my head and excite me. So, I guess my audience is anyone who likes the same kind of stories I do: stories about magic and love, with a happily ever after, fun, relatable characters and sweet, memorable romances.

Q: When did you decide you wanted to write?

A: Middle school, I guess. It wasn't really a decision. A story just popped into my head one day, and I wrote it down. Then I shared it with a friend and a teacher, who both liked it. And I just kept writing. It became a part of me, and I couldn't deny it (for long, anyway)

Q: What got you interested in the world of writing originally?

A: The first story that popped into my head. I never really thought about writing for fun before that - writing was something you had to do for school. But when my own stories started popping in my head, writing was the natural response.

Q: There are so many possible avenues to take. Why write?

A: I…don't really feel like I have a choice in this. Writing is just how it comes for me. Something amazing pops into my head, and I have to write it down. Making visual art or music just isn't how it's expressed. When I write, I'm happy. When I don't, I actually get really depressed and irritable (it's kind of a problem)

Q: Similarly, why pursue being an indie author? What is your goal?

A: My main reason for becoming an indie author is simply for control. I don't like the idea of some publishing company telling me I need to change my stories because what I've written isn't “marketable.” I write the stories that need told, and I don't really care about the market. I often dislike the most popular books, anyway, so why would I want to make my stories one of those?

Q: What do you do to hone your craft?

A: Keep writing. Listen to critique. Read books I enjoy. Consider why I don't enjoy something about a book I read.

Q: What tricks do you use to get out of writer’s block?

A: When I have writer's block, chances are I really just need a break. I've got too much going on, I'm too stressed, and my brain needs to rest. So that's usually what I try first. If I do that, give myself that grace and that room to rest my mind, I'm usually able to solve whatever problem it was I got stuck on. Then I know my mind is rested and I can start writing again.

Q: Would you mind telling us about your writing process?

A: I start with a zero draft, in which I jump around and write the scenes that were most gripping to me in script style - mostly just conversations. I leave the descriptions and such for the first official draft. Then I draft a few times, edit whichever draft I finally stop on. Hand it to my alpha reader (husband). Make edits based on his notes. Hand it to my beta readers. Edit. Maybe beta readers again. Edit. Deep edit. Am I done editing yet? Maybe…finally…. Wait, where was I?

Anyway, after what feels like endless editing I'm eventually done and make the cover so I can publish lol

Q: Do you have any other writing “hacks” that other writers might benefit from?

A: Not sure if this counts as a hack, but: Find your own way of doing it, and do it unapologetically.

There are so many resources out there for how to write “the right way.” You have to do this, you must do that.

But there are so many different ways to do it. Because everyone is different. And writing - creating any art, really - is taking a piece of your soul and making it tangible. 

No two souls are alike. So no two processes have to be alike.

There's lots of good advice out there. Take what works, toss what doesn't. Patch together a process that works for you and own it.

And don't let anyone tell you you're doing it wrong.

Q: Where do you get your inspiration?

A: All sorts of places. Often other art - movies, books, ttrpgs etc. It comes at me at random moments and takes hold, from almost anywhere.

Q: Would you like to share anything about your current work in progress?

A: The story I'm currently writing is a gender-bent Beauty and the Beast retelling, called Beast of Beauty. That means my “beast” is female, and the “beauty” is male.

Q: Do you consider yourself a minority? If so, would you be willing to share the ways in which you are?

A: No. I'm a woman, which might kinda technically count (at least in regards to how the white men in charge see me) but I'm not a minority in any other way.

Q: Does this impact what you write about? If so, why and how?

A: Actually, yes. I remember very vividly the stories about little black girls seeing Tiana in The Princess and the Frog, and being so excited that a princess finally looked like them. After that it just struck me how often the “perfectly beautiful” princesses in books I read were white, often blond, with blue eyes. And it bothered me. So, I decided that my beautiful princesses will not look like me. And if that kind of representation matters, why stop there?

Q: What do you wish you found more of in books today? Why?

A: Healthy relationships. It's all too common in media to get relationships based on insta-love, or unhealthy (or even abusive) dynamics. I kinda get it, to a point. Very few people want to sit through the formation of a healthy relationship - because it's hard! And often slow. But I truly believe there is a way to make an engaging story about the formation of a healthy relationship. So that's what I always try to do.

Q: What does representation in literature mean to you? Is it important to you? How so?

A: Representation means showing those parts of society that other *certain* parts of society wish were invisible (or didn't exist). And yes, I think it's very important. It's important for people not in these marginalized groups to recognize that these groups can and should exist in society. And it's valuable for people in these marginalized communities to see themselves portrayed in a positive light. A truly peaceful society requires coexistence, and maybe a little desensitization can help get us there.

Q: How do you think representation in literature affects culture? Does it?

A: I think I kinda answered this in the previous question. I don't know if it actually works or if I'm naive, but I think it can truly help.

Q: Does representation play a role in what or how you write? Please talk about why or why not.

A: Yes. I try to include BIPOC and Queer representation in everything I write. I don't write about the struggle, just because it's not my story to write. But I portray the peaceful coexistence that I wish existed in our world.

Q: What advice would you give to new writers?

A: Just write. Don't get caught up in whether or not it's “good” (spoiler alert: your first draft is never good) But you can always make it good later. For now, just tell yourself the story. Enjoy it! Then, if you decide it's something you want to share, make it shareable.

Q: What do you wish someone had told you when you were finding your path?

A: How to edit. Like, with specific, step-by-step instructions. Figuring it out (assuming I have by now) was such a headache.

Q: Do you have any work already out there that you would like to talk about? If so, please tell us about the project, why you wrote it, and what you hope readers will take from it.

A: My first book came out February 17th. It's called Fates Alight, and it is a romantic fantasy story about a pair of best friends who go on a journey to end a war, and face losing that which is most important to them in the process. It's the first of a duology (with the second coming out March 17th).

I wrote it because the characters gripped me, and I had to tell their story.

In all honesty, the main thing I hope people get from it is an enjoyable escape. Reading was always an escape for me when times got hard growing up, and let's be real - things are really hard for a lot of people right now. This story and these characters brought me joy, a sweet romance to drown in, and a magical world to get lost in. My deepest hope is that it provides the same for others.

Q: Where can readers find your work? Please share links and pertinent information.

A: My book is available in ebook and paperback from various retailers - bookshop.org, Smashwords, Barnes&Noble, Amazon, Kobo, and others. You can choose which one you prefer by visiting books2read.com/fatesalight And as I write my stories, you can get all the information on my website: pennyfeatherbooks.com

Q: What would you like to share or say to the Underground Bookshelf audience that hasn’t already been brought up?

A: I can't think of anything, except thanks for reading my answers!

Q: Thank you for sharing your thoughts, today. Any final words?

A: Thanks for letting me fill out the interview!