Trilina Pucci
Author Interview - Trilina Pucci
Author of One Killer Night
Love is patient.
Love is kind.
Love will stab you from behind.
It’s Halloween night, and out-of-work writer Goldie Monroe’s trip to the drugstore scares up more than the fake blood she’s looking for. It leads to the man of her naughtiest dreams. And in spite of her costume, sparks fly from the moment they meet.
Noah Adler, aspiring sneaker designer, is impossibly gorgeous—like a tatted-up version of Goldie’s favorite blue-eyed vampire. He’s there for candy, but it’s Goldie he can’t resist. When she invites him to her sister’s F/X company bash, he’s all in without a second thought.
The pair’s flirty connection heats up fast, carrying them to electrifying new heights. But after Goldie discovers Noah is hiding a dark secret, it all starts to crumble. Looking for answers about her own past awakens new dangers, and when Goldie and Noah land at a slasher camp for adults, a deadly tragedy threatens to repeat itself. If they can survive this one killer night, they can definitely slay a happily ever after.
Author Interview - Trilina Pucci
Author I draw inspiration from:
I've always been a big fan of Sally Rooney, Normal People being my absolute favorite. I love the way dialogue paints a picture in her books. It's such a tone setter and her specific use of it, the way she draws the reader in and holds you captive is such an incredible masterclass.
Author Interview - Trilina Pucci | Author I Draw Inspiration From
Favorite place to read a book:
I have a comfy couch on a screened in porch. That's my happy place. It manages to stay cool in the summer and in the winter there's a fireplace. I love to snuggle up with a blanket and lose myself in a book for hours. However, usually I get about twenty minutes before I hear, "Mom."
Book character I’d like to be stuck in an elevator with:
Just Like Heaven--author, me...I want to be stuck in an elevator with Calder Wolf (the hero). I literally wrote the perfect man, of you look past all the illegal stuff. Still, he's perfection personified because I based so much of what's good about him around the guy I love the most. So if I have to be stuck with anyone, I'd want it to be the character closest to Mr. Pucci.
Here's how it plays out:
I'm on my phone, not watching the doors, they'd open, he walks in and I don't notice. When I glance up, his back is to me...but it's a nice back, broad so my eyes linger. It's not until the elevator jerks, stalling and scaring the hell out of me that I finally get to see his face. And then all i can think is, "Come on...are you kidding me, universe? I'm stuck in an elevator with the hottest guy I've ever seen and I'm in pajamas...with a food stain on the front of my shirt." But alas, that's exactly what I bring to the table, enthusiastic dipping and penchant for lounge wear. We'd be stuck for a little under an hour, making small talk and me avoiding eye contact. Until the fireman miraculously open the doors, freeing us. We'd part ways, I'd be internally berating myself and thanking god that I didn't make fool of myself but it wouldn't be until I got back into my apartment that he'd knock saying I left something behind. And when I opened the door he'd be holding a piece of paper with his number on it. Because as he'd say, "I can't resist a girl who understands the importance of guacamole." And then we'd live happily ever after.
Or if I was writing realism...the elevator breaks, I have a panic attack. Pass out. Wake up to a hot guy and a fireman and figure out how to turn it into a why-choose romantic suspense. I'd definitely have the guac stain though.
Author Interview - Trilina Pucci | Book Character I’d Like to be Stuck in an Elevator With
The moment I knew I wanted to become an author:
I'll never forget the moment I knew, because there was an actual moment. It was at the end of writing my first book. I'd read once, that finishing a novel is the hardest part, and what also separates a hobby from the job. I understand how that's true, but it underplays the feeling. The sigh your mind makes when your story is done being told. There's this magical little moment when you finish, you just sit there realizing you're done...it's the closest to contentment I've ever come. Because everything that was stored inside of me, bubbling to the surface, screaming in specificity the way it wanted to be told was out. I was empty. And relieved. It was pure magic. And it's never stopped hitting just as hard fifteen books later.
Hardback, paperback, ebook or audiobook:
I love a good hardback, it feels so elegant and smart. Like a classic, even if it's a book about aliens who want to procreate with everyone. But a paperback takes me back to when I'd try and study the covers of pirates on my mom's nightstand. And I love the feel of a paperback, the way my fingers constantly play with edges as I read. I know it's controversial but I dog ear my pages and write in the margins. Ebooks are amazing for people who love technology. That's not me. I get the draw though, the ease of reading it gives. If you don't understand a word you can simply highlight it. There are perks. I'm still on the fence about audiobooks, mainly because I love that when I eyeball read it's a collaborative experience. I want to imagine things my way, and with audio it's more set in stone. However, counter to that as an author, I prefer making the audio, because I get to curate the experience I want the reader to have.
The last book I read:
The Wedding People--Allison Espach. It's my favorite read of this year. Smart, witty and indulgent (in the best way). The character explorations are incredible--they're all flawed and messy, they pull at your heart strings and make you yell at the pages. I absolutely loved it. It's also such a fresh and interesting idea.
Author Interview - Trilina Pucci | The Last Book I Read
Pen & paper or computer:
Computer--kind of. I dictate all my work. So it's me pacing around the room basically acting out a play. Initially, I'll give almost screenplay like direction for the setting or mood and then go fully into the dialogue. But the longer I write the more in depth I get. After I get enough chapters down, I then take a seat and start the clean up. I've found that it's almost like using two different sides of my brain and they create a really complimentary experience.
Book character I think I’d be best friends with:
I'm choosing one of my own characters for this. I'd be best friends with Eleanor from an erotic romcom I wrote called Knot so Lucky. She's the funniest character I've written. All her dialogue felt like stand up comedy. She's also just a blast, who doesn't want a friend who marries an NFL quarterback on a dare and then chases him down in the middle of a game to profess her love.
Author Interview - Trilina Pucci | Book Character I’d be Best Friends With
If I weren’t an author, I’d be a:
This question feels too selfish. I'm living a dream career and before this I was a professional dancer. So I've been awarded two dream jobs in my lifetime. After writing, I'm gonna catch up on sleep.
Favorite decade in fashion history:
The seventies. Who doesn't love a good feather bang and high-waisted jean. I'd basically give anything to be a Charlie's Angel.
Place I’d most like to travel:
I've been a lot of places but Scotland still alludes me. I'm so interested in the history. And the kilts. Kidding...maybe. The culture's just fascinating to me. I mean, who wouldn't want to see the Loch Ness Monster.
My signature drink:
Bourbon and Ginger Ale. It's surprising delicious. The Ginger takes the sting from the Bourbon and makes it smooth as sin.
Favorite artist:
Artist: Basquiat. Musician: Aerosmith, The Cure, Jill Scott.
Number one on my bucket list:
My number one bucket list is to sit on the bleachers for the Thanksgiving Day Parade in NYC. I love parades, like in a way nobody loves them. I wake up at the crack of dawn to ensure I don't miss a moment. My kids think I'm a weirdo and I'm fine with it.
Anything else you'd like to add:
I'm Gemini, so all these answers will be different tomorrow. I literally live my whole life based on a vibe.
Find more from the author:
https://www.instagram.com/authortrilinapucci
https://www.facebook.com/trilinapuccibooks
About Trilina Pucci:
Author Interview with Trilina Pucci
Trilina Pucci, a #1 Amazon and USA TODAY Bestselling Author, is a connoisseur of pop culture and SANPELLEGRINO, but her true passion lies in crafting tantalizing romantic novels that delve into the depths of desire, emotion, and even hearty belly laughs.
When she's not penning steamy love stories, you'll find her indulging in Netflix marathons with her husband, Anthony (Residence is a fan fave), and their three not-so-little ones.
Pucci's journey into the world of writing was born from impulse, a wild hare of a checkmark on her “what now” list, but what began as a petty whim (nobody thought she could do it) has blossomed into a profoundly fulfilling vocation. Now, she can't imagine her life without her beloved characters, devoted readers, and the vibrant reader community that surrounds her.
In every sentence, Pucci embodies a commitment to understanding and exceeding her readers' expectations, delivering narratives that pulse with passion and resonate with raw emotion. Through her words, she invites readers to escape into a realm of romantic escapades, where every encounter is as unforgettable as the last.
