Interview with Penelope Bloom, Author of Sincerely, Up Yours

What’s the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Sincerely, Up Yours?

Everybody has had to work for somebody they can’t stand, and I think that relatability really makes it easy to jump in and enjoy a story like this. Plus, it’s much more fun when that person you can’t stand to work for happens to be frustratingly attractive and the chemistry is off the charts. It just makes for a great, fun recipe. I wanted a book I’d have a blast writing, because I think the story comes out strongest when I’m having fun.

What’s your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

I actually love to read fantasy books in my spare time. I read a lot of romance, but it’s really hard not to feel like I’m reading for research or for business when I’m reading the same kind of stories I write.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

I’m a huge Lucy Score fan, so her next Knockemout book is definitely on my list. I also read pretty much anything Melanie Harlow puts out and I haven’t read her latest yet, so that one, too!

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

It was probably one of the earliest scenes when Darcy and Dominic first clash in the office. He’s ready to set the tone right with his new employees and sort of establish dominance, but she can’t keep her mouth shut during a meeting and winds up getting yanked into his office. They have a shouting match once they’re alone, and the mixture of chemistry and open anger/hatred felt like it really came alive on the page, which is a rewarding feeling as an author. At times it can feel like I’m forcing the dialogue, but in some magic moments it does feel like it takes on life of its own, and that was definitely one of those moments.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

Hmm, it’s not exactly a habit. But my mini Aussie likes to thump herself down on the air vent right behind my office chair when I write. The bad news is she frequently has bad gas, and she puts her butt right on the vent. The moment she lets one go, it gets vaporized and delivered to my nose at full force. She’s super cute, though, so I wouldn’t have it any other way!

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

I think my philosophy as a writer is that I want to always keep learning and trying to grow. In my hobbies and personal life, I know I feel most alive and satisfied when I’m improving and learning a new skill. Writing is one of those skills you can never fully master, so I try to embrace that and enjoy the endless pursuit of getting better. Sometimes it may only be improvement by a small margin, but the important thing is to keep trying to grow and improve. Otherwise, what’s the point?

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

I think I’d want them to remember how things aren’t always what they seem. Sometimes the people you think you’ll hate end up being the ones you love, or a situation that seems like the worst ends up being the best thing that ever happened to you. It can be a really liberating thing to believe, and I feel like that’s a theme I come back to in a lot of my stories.

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