Q&A: Penelope Sky, Author of 'The Butcher'

We chat with author Penelope Sky about The Butcher, which sees a steamy one-night stand with Paris’s most dangerous crime lord turn one woman’s life upside down . . . but is it for the better?

Hi, Penelope! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

HI! I’m a New York Times bestselling author of mafia romance, dark romance, and organized crime. I love writing about very dangerous men that aren’t dangerous to the women they love. Instead of writing dangerous criminal kingpins that refuse to commit or express their feelings, my leading men are the ones that want to commit. And it’s so much fun to see how that pans out!

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

Ever since I was little, I would read anything I could get my hands on. The genre was irrelevant. I once read a trilogy of books that I loved, but I didn’t like the ending, so I actually rewrote the second half of the last book so I could read that version instead when I would do a reread. At the time I didn’t think that was odd, somehow, but now I understand I was always meant to be a writer.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

The first book you ever remember reading: Goosebumps
The one that made you want to become an author: The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini
The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet

**Your latest novel, The Butcher, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?**

He falls first dark romance

What can readers expect?

Readers can expect an intense alpha that runs a secret society in Paris that protects the innocent civilians by policing the criminal syndicates while they conduct their business under his laws. He’s a great anti-hero, because while he protects innocent people, he’s also a bad guy that will kill the hardest criminals who choose to disobey him. And when he meets Fleur, he’s the one that’s all in from the start.

**Where did the inspiration for The Butcher come from?**

When I was in Paris, I noticed Napoloeon’s mark along the Seine, and I was impressed by the fact the memory of his reign continued on. It gave me the idea of the French Emperors, the secret society of the French Republic. Crime in Paris has run rampant over the last decade, decimating tourism and their global economy. So President Martin recruits Bastien, a former hitman, to reduce the crime in the city and get those syndicates to behave. It works, and now Bastien polices these gangs and collects tariffs from their profits to be used by the French Republic. It’s a dangerous job—and there’s only one man up to the task.

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

I loved writing the FMC, Fleur. She’s in the process of leaving her husband because he cheated, and while she decides whether she should stay and make it work, she meets Bastien. Bastien is absolutely enamored by her, and he’s the voice of reason. He says, “You’re too beautiful to put up with this BLEEP.” He reminds her what she’s worth, that she doesn’t have to settle with someone that fumbled her. And he would never fumble her.

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Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?

I write every series to a single album, and sometimes it’s hard to find just the perfect artist and music to capture a story I haven’t actually written yet.

What’s next for you?

I’m currently working on a new project for Montlake Publishing, The Greek Republic. The story of the republic continues in a new place. After the success of the Roman Republic, I thought I would explore Greece next!