Hey readers! Today, closed-door rom-com author Amanda C. Pennington is here for an interview. My favorite thing about rom-com authors is their ability to blend humor into reality, so I’m excited to dive into this conversation! Welcome, Amanda!
LB: Why did you decide to write romantic comedies?
AP: I grew up loving stories in general and rom-coms specifically, thanks to classics like How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, and everything Nora Ephron. I love the flawed, relatable characters, the humor, and the hopeful vibes. While I like a suspenseful thriller as much as the next reader, happy escapes and feel-good rom-coms will always be my favorites.
LB: Some of my most favorite lines are from My Big Fat Greek Wedding! So you love the characters and hopeful vibes of rom-coms; what are the main themes you hope to impress upon your readers?
AP: As mushy at it may sound, love is everywhere, especially where we least expect it, and especially in the small things. Grand gestures are all well and good. But I think it’s the daily effort of simply showing up that really builds a relationship, like scraping the ice off your loved one’s car, staying up too late to listen to their bad day, remembering their important dates. Some of my favorite moments in life are when love is front and center in an everyday, small way. It’s fun to write about!
LB: That’s sweet (and very true)! Tell us a little about your brainstorming process.
AP: Creativity is everywhere – that’s what makes it so fun! I’ve had ideas from scrolling Facebook (the 1950s dating experiment in Book Smart), overhearing my husband’s lectures to his anatomy students (Ivy’s synesthesia in Smart Move), feeding my neighbor’s cat (my next book – coming soon!), and washing dishes (my current work in progress, also coming soon). Sometimes a little scene pops into my head and it sits for a long time before I find a story that fits. The wait is always worth it! After I have the main idea and a few scenes or a sense of the characters, I’ll make an outline. I used to do outlines on sticky notes. Now I use Excel so I can access the story from anywhere, anytime. My outlines are pretty detailed, going scene by scene with word counts because I struggle with pacing, but I always stay flexible as I go. If the story or characters need a change, then it’s worth adjusting my outline.
LB: I know what you mean about sometimes needing to let an idea simmer on the backburner until it comes together. Since you and your husband recently had your first baby (congratulations!), who is well on her way to becoming a toddler, it’s probably good you transitioned from sticky note outlines to a digital outline 😉 With a baby, you probably feel like you could use another set of arms and triple the sleep you’re getting. In your very limited spare time, you still choose to write. Can you tell us a little about why you love writing?
AP: Thank you! Yes, I’m still writing when I can, which is a challenge but definitely worth it. My love of writing is actually a love of stories, which started before I could even read. I grew up spending hours listening to my grandpa tell stories that he made up on the fly. He made it fun! I loved the entertainment, and I loved thinking about the world differently. I couldn’t get enough of his stories, so when I learned to read and write, I quickly began filling notebooks with little ideas or entire books. Writing is how I process, relax, and have fun – on the days I don’t get to write, I feel a little less myself. Maybe that’s why it feels important to me to keep writing even while trying to figure out baby life: I want to show up as the best person I can be for my baby girl, and for me, part of that means writing.
LB: Writing is such a great way to decompress! Where can readers find you?
AP: I’m most active on Facebook, Instagram, and my newsletter. I’d love to stay in touch!
LB: I know you need to get back to your daughter, but thank you for making time for this fun conversation! Readers, get a sneak peek at the first chapters of Amanda’s books here.
AP: Thank you for the interview!
Hi, I’m Amanda, author of closed-door romantic comedies full of heart, humor, and happily ever afters!
I’m an indie author based just outside Louisville, Kentucky, where I live with my husband in a charmingly chaotic fixer-upper (or so we tell ourselves!). By day, I work as a freelancer. By night, I write sweet, closed-door romance novels that blend laugh-out-loud moments, swoony slow burns, and lovable, quirky side characters.
When I’m not writing heartwarming romantic comedies with a clean and cozy vibe, you can usually find me reading anything I can get my hands on, planning my next trip (real or imaginary), or pretending I like running more than I actually do.
I believe feel-good fiction can be just fun, flirty, and fulfilling without the steam, and I love connecting with fellow readers who are looking for books that bring comfort, laughter, and hope.
We both read this! Great interview!
Grandpa will be so very proud of you being a published author. 😀💕💕💕