Interview with author Maya Hughes

1 – Have you always wanted to be a writer?

Not always, but I have always been an avid reader. When my mom went shopping in the mall, I was camped out at the bookstore, sitting on the floor and reading while I waited.

2 – When you start a book series – do you know the couples who will appear in the following books? Do you know what the plot will be?

Usually, I do know the characters who will appear. My stories always start with the characters and then I decide which journey I’d like them to go on. As I write more, I get to know things better and hear their voices more clearly, but I generally know a basic outline of who they’ll be. Their plot is sometimes flipped on me and takes longer to figure out.

3 – Did you write a book and decide not to publish it?

I have written books I haven’t published in the past. It was when I was first starting out and still trying to find my voice. I may publish it someday, but I’m not sure.

4 – Is there a topic you will never write about? If so, what is it?

I can’t think of any topic that’s completely off limits. As I get to know my characters, I get to know who they are and their struggles, but I still stick to my own style.

5 – By what do you choose a cover for a book?

I try to find a cover that will be eye-catching and convey some part of the story.

6 – Where did you get the inspiration for the stories?

I get my inspiration from so many different places. Songs, conversations I overhead, an article I read or a show I watch might inspire me and create a whole new world.

7 – Who is your favorite couple you wrote about?

My favorite couple is a hard one! I love them all so much and I’m definitely in love with them when I write them, but two couples I feel hit me the hardest were Berk and Jules and Bay and Dare. Those two have stuck with me the longest and I think about them often.

8 – How long does it take you to write one book?

I wish that was an easy answer or I had a set process and schedule. Some books may take six weeks to write while others might be three to four months.

9 – What is your favorite genre to read?

Romance! I was an avid romance reader long before I started writing. I tend to read romance exclusively with some non-fiction books thrown in.

10 – If you could turn one of your books into a movie – which book would you choose?

I think I would choose the Falling trilogy. Dare and Bay’s story would be an amazing series and I’d love to see them brought to life on the screen. If it had to be one book, then I’d choose The Perfect First.