Isabelle Peterson is a Chicago suburbs girl living in
Connecticut enjoying days in New York City. Her Dream Series was never intended
to exist. Thanks to a couple authors who dared her to a write book (when she
typically wrote screenplays), we got the book Ditching the Dream, which then
evolved into the Dream Series. This first book didn't take more than 8 months
to complete the dare from rough draft to published, with several times rescuing
the draft from the Deleted file.
With the Dream Series, a collection of 6 books, now complete and available, Isabelle is now working on several standalone novels to be released over the next couple of years.
With the Dream Series, a collection of 6 books, now complete and available, Isabelle is now working on several standalone novels to be released over the next couple of years.
Where are you from?
Connecticut, by way of Chicagoland suburbs, then a stint in
Rochester, NY, and a couple of years in Kalamazoo, MI. In the midst of
all that I did live in São Paolo Brazil for a year. Not sure where we’ll retire…
I’m hoping for Wine Country California.
Tell us your latest news?
Our youngest child is graduating high school & off to
College in August. We’ll be Empty Nesters! Yup! Does this make me sad?
Hell no! I’m congratulating the heck out of myself. There was a time when I
legit thought she’d never graduate (for some very dark reasons)
Instead, she’s alive and well & EAGER to go and grow! Her older brother is
thriving away at college and Hubby and I couldn’t be prouder. We did a good job!
OH! Do you mean “author-y” news? Well - I have a 2nd
chance thriller/suspense romance coming out this summer, and in late fall,
another MM Romance (friends-to-
When and why did you begin writing?
I started (and still am) with screenplays. My first one was
called Opposites Attract - inspired by the 1987 hit by Paula Abdul. I took my
love for feature length films and (because my parents wouldn’t support a degree
in film) embarked on a degree in Advertising Design and Illustration at a
community college to parlay that into a Marketing Degree & make 30 second
movies (i.e. commercials). Long story short - the Advertising World isn’t for
me. Then - Life: Husband, kids, dog, and jobs. Of course - when there’s a
passion in you, it can’t be extinguished. So I returned to screenplay writing
about 12 years ago…and 4 years ago was dared to write my first novel. It was
much harder than one might think coming off a discipline of writing screenplays
where “less is more” and “show don’t tell” reign supreme. Anyway - that dare turned
into a 6 book series and a standalone. I have 5 more standalone books lined up
to release over the next couple of years. And yes - I’m still doing
screenplays. I couple for myself, a project for Germany, and an adaptation for
a NYT/USA Best Selling series.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
After I hit “PUBLISH” on Amazon. I’d done something many
never have.
What inspired you to write your first book?
I was having a rough week feeling unappreciated by my
family. Kids and husband leaving messes when I’d just cleaned the kitchen or
what-have-you, or advice gone unheeded. I had 2 authors pushing me to write a
novel and baiting me with: “What would you write?” and I blurted “Leaving my
family and seeing if they appreciate me.” Of course, the story turned out far
racier than anything I would have done - LOL
Do you have a specific writing style?
I like to write 1st person with Dual POV - get into the
heads of both Main Characters. I’m told my writing reads almost like a
screenplay… No surprise there. Haha
How did you come up with the title?
Well, Ditching the Dream - which was the first of the Dream
Series - was about (as the tag line suggests) “What happens if the dream isn’t
all you hoped it would be?” - and what is your dream?
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to
grasp?
It’s better to be wanted than needed.
How much of the book is realistic?
I think a fair amount. My characters have money, but aren't
billionaires. They struggle with real insecurities. I like to work in real life
events from national events to sports scores and news. But it is fiction - so…
Yeah.
Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your
own life?
Yep. Not all mine - but many of my friends as well. (their
events used with permission, of course.) Most is just my wild, crazy
imagination.
What books have most influenced your life most?
Can I be wimpy here and say “too many to count?” My first
memory of reading a non-picture book was Betsy & Billy by Carolyn Haywood.
I actually bought a copy online recently. Such great memories. But of course
there are the classics: Anne of Green Gables and Pride and Prejudice and The
Scarlet Letter. My list wouldn’t be complete unless I add Fifty Shades of Grey
and my introduction of female driven MM Romance (Try by Ella Frank).
If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a
mentor?
J.K. Rowling - I love her story of perseverance.
What book are you reading now?
I just finished Hot Head by Damon Suede (a friends-to-lovers
MM Romance). Picking up A Second Daniel (In the Den of the English Lion -
Book 1) by Neal Roberts (a historical mystery thriller with some romance)
I met these two authors a couple weeks at a writers
conference in Long Island.
What are your current projects?
~ Elle’s Heat (a 2nd chance, suspense romance)
~ Beau Tyed (a friends to lovers MM romance)
~ Win for Love (a rags to riches romance)
~ Juniper Court Series (5 neighbors on Juniper Ct. each with
a story to tell)
~ Penny’s Path (keeping this one heavily underwraps b/c it’s
THAT unique)
~ co-authoring a city-girl/country boy story with Elizabeth
York
Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of
family members.
Fifi Flowers, Beverley Hollowed, Rachael Duncan & Mary
Warburton keep me going daily (all author people). Non-author people - Sharilyn
D, Sydney H., Ashley G, and Susan P are amazing fans I work hard for.
Fifi: Awww, thx for putting me your list… love supporting
you.
Do you see writing as a career?
Honestly - no. I didn’t really believe in myself. I thought
I’d get raked over the coals with my first novel. Little did I know how much it
would touch readers.
If you had to do it all over again, would you change
anything in your latest book?
Yes. I’d take the time and dig deeper. Alas, I listened to
the pressure of readers wanting the book - so, I got shined up as much as I
did.
Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
Just writing… I’m always making up stories about people. Maybe
even you! LOL
Can you share a little of your current work with us?
Elle Van der Berg arrives home to her Greenwich Village home
to find that her husband of 12 years has been murdered. The first detective on
the scene is her high school sweetheart, the one who broke her heart during
their first year separated at different colleges.
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your
writing?
Keeping distractions at bay. I have wicked ADD and social
media is the flame for “my moth.”
Who is your favorite author and what is it that really
strikes you about their work?
I couldn’t possibly pick a favorite - I enjoy many authors
for different reasons. Funny, clever, imaginative…
Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)?
I was doing author signings, but they are very expensive and
distracting to the writing process, so I’ve begged off those for now…I’ll do a
couple a year, but not the 5 and 6 I have been doing.
Who designed the covers?
I do my own now. I actually did my first 6 as well, but
handed over my design to a proper cover artist for sizing and promo pieces
until I figured out my graphics design software.
What was the hardest part of writing your book?
Keeping it real. And focusing to get it done. Some books
tend to “write themselves” while others require discipline.
Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was
it?
I learned to appreciate myself and require more (to not be
taken for granted)
Do you have any advice for other writers?
Just write. I the story speaks to you it will speak to a
reader. You don’t have to - and you WON’T appeal to all readers.
“You can please some of the people all of the time, you can
please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the
people all of the time.” ― John Lydgate
Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your
readers?
I love you and thanks for trusting me to entertain you for a
while.
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Thank you to Isabelle for doing an interview with me
Be sure to follow her on social media
