Tell us about yourself.:
Hey there, I'm Paula, a 46-year-old author of children's books. When I'm not busy writing stories, I juggle my roles as a wife, a mother, and an implementation specialist.

Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?:
I hail from Rockland County, NY, which is situated right outside the bustling city of NYC. It was during my time there that I discovered my love for writing stories.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don't think I've got any weird writing habits. I just write, and when I feel stuck or overwhelmed, I take a break for a day or even a week to clear my head. Then I jump back in and keep going.

What authors have influenced you?
I hail from Rockland County, NY, which is situated right outside the bustling city of NYC. It was during my time there that I discovered my love for writing stories.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just keep going! Whether you sell one book or a hundred, never give up on writing. Your stories are important, and I promise that someone out there will connect with what you have to say.

What is the best advice you have ever been given?
The best piece of advice I ever gave was to my boys, and it was simply this: follow your dreams, no matter what. Don't wait for the perfect moment; just go ahead and do it.

What are you reading now?
Steve Furtick, Sun Stand Still

What’s your biggest weakness?
I believe that my biggest weakness is self-doubt.

What is your favorite book of all time?
The Autobiography of Malcolm X

When you’re not writing, how do you like to spend your time?
When I'm not writing, you can find me hanging out with my husband, watching an old '80s movie, or listening to some hip-hop.

Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
The very first books that had an impact on me were the Baby-Sitters Club series. I was obsessed with those books, and they inspired me to become a writer. Ann Martin was the first author I was introduced to who made me think, "This is what I want to do."

What has inspired you and your writing style?
My writing style is heavily influenced by my personal experiences. I take fragments of my childhood and reimagine them the way I wish they had played out. In that sense, my writing is very intimate, as it allows me to rewrite parts of my life that I may have missed out on due to my shyness or insecurities.

What are you working on now?
At the moment, I'm busy writing the second book of the Peyton's Journeys series, which is set to release on June 4th! I'm excited to share that I've infused one of my passions, hip hop, into this book. It's very special to me, and I can't wait for readers to experience it.

What is your favorite method for promoting your work?
Social media has been a game-changer for me! Not only does it provide a platform to market my books, but it's also a great way to connect with other authors, particularly black authors like myself. Through social media, I've been able to form valuable connections and expand my network in ways that I never thought possible.

What’s next for you as a writer?
The sky's the limit! I'm eager to discover everything that God has in store for me on this journey as an author.

How well do you work under pressure?
I believe that I work fairly well under pressure. Sometimes I perform even better when things get hectic than when they're calm.

How do you decide what tone to use with a particular piece of writing?
Given that I write for the age group of 4-8, I always aim to maintain an engaging tone in my work. I try to avoid being too formal or using language that children might not relate to. It's important to me to remember that, even though I'm an adult, I'm writing for the little ones, so my stories must be told in a way that they can understand.

If you could share one thing with your fans, what would that be?
While I may not have a huge fan base at the moment (but that will change soon, I am claiming!), To my current fans, I appreciate you more than words can say!

Paula Banks’s Author Websites and Profiles
Website
Amazon Profile

Paula Banks’s Social Media Links
Instagram