Kenna's Bookshelf

Valerie Pepper

This is the fourth installment of my “Interview With an Author” series for this blog. Originally I wanted it to be a way for me to talk to authors, but somewhere along the way I changed my mission to giving authors a platform. Most of the authors that I work with are self-published and independent, so they are doing all the marketing for their books on their own while having full time jobs and even being parents in some cases. I want to help my indie authors as much as I can, because of the help I received as an indie author myself.

I am very excited to introduce you, my dear readers, to Valerie Pepper. She is the author of 3 incredible book series which you can find on her website https://www.authorvaleriepepper.com/ and on Amazon.

K: What is your writing process like?

V: I plot the entire book out in about two weeks or so, then “fast draft” the manuscript in about 30 – 45 days. Then I go back, edit it, and send to my editor after that. Once she’s done, I’ll take another pass with her comments, and then it’s done!

K: What is your favorite part of writing?

V: Changes every time: sometimes I love the drafting, and sometimes I love the editing. I *always* love watching the characters grow.

K: Who or what inspired you to write?

V: I’ve always written, so it’s just been a part of me.

K: What did you grow up reading?

V: I’m a Gen Xer, so my early years were filled with Judy Blume and Beverly Cleary books, plus the Chronicles of Narnia, the Nancy Drew books that my mom handed down to me, Harriet the Spy. Then it was the Sweet Valley Twins and literally anything else I could get my hands on in middle and high school.

K: Where do you get your ideas from/what inspires you?

V: I play around with tropes and think “what if.” That’s often how I get most of them. I’m planning an upcoming rugby series, too, and I can’t wait to dive in!

K: What is your favorite book you’ve written?

V: They’re all my favorite! Readers tend to love Price Joseph out of all my book boyfriends, though, and he’s in The Barista’s Guide to The Perfect Steam.

K: Why do you write the books that you write?

V: To give readers a brief escape from their lives. I write small town romcom because I think readers can see themselves in that situation — it’s a realistic setting with characters they recognize from their own lives.

K: What made you want to be a writer?

V: No one sets out to be a writer. It just kind of happens.

K: How do you feel social media has impacted the bookish community?

V: To be honest, I wouldn’t have a book career *without* social media, so I selfishly am glad it’s around. I try hard to ignore the drama that invariably pops up, and simply let my books do the talking for me.

K: How do you find or make time to write?

V: I have a full-time job as chief of staff at a law firm, so I write early in the morning and on the weekends. I do the “business of authoring” at night. Also, I rarely watch television, so that frees up a lot of time!

K: Did you self-publish or traditionally publish? How was that experience?

V: I’m self-published. It’s freeing, but incredibly hard. That’s its own blog post, ha!

K: What advice would you give a new author?

V: First: keep your eyes on your own page. Your journey is your own. Comparison is the thief of joy. Next, celebrate the small things. Also, start your social media presence way before you have that first book out. And assume that your first book may not be the first one you want to publish–which is okay. I would never let my first book see the light of day! Also, read wide and deep in your specific genre, and make sure what you’re reading is current. Finally, make author friends–both at your level and above, so that you have people to commiserate with and learn from. Then, be sure to share what you learn with those coming up. And a bonus tip: do not EVER take your complaints to social media at large. Like, ever. Keep those in the private group chat.

K: What is your favorite part of being an author?

V: When I get DMs from readers telling me that one of my books really resonated with them. And meeting readers at book cons–that is the coolest!

K: How do you get through writers block?

V: I don’t stress about it, and I read. I always have plenty of other author-related things to do, so I just do those. And for me, writer’s block is usually because the plot isn’t right. I’ve screwed something up, and my instinct knows it, so it sits down like a petulant toddler until I figure out where I’ve screwed up. Generally, a day or two of letting the whole thing marinate in the back of my head will clear things up!

K: If you didn’t write, what would you do?

V: What is “not writing”? I don’t understand the question, lol.

K: Any final thoughts for me or my readers?

V: Thank you so much for letting me come on here and answer these questions!!