top of page
Search

An Interview with Virginia Author Rebecca Danzenbaker

"Keep writing and revising. And if you’re stuck on something, physically write down the problem and brainstorm solutions on paper (or take a shower). Any draft is better than no draft." -Rebecca Danzenbaker







BL: If your main characters lived in Richmond, what neighborhood would they live in? What shops or museums would they care about their proximity to?

RD: They actually live in Ashburn (the suburbs) and Springfield, VA! Sivon would visit the Smithsonian museum with her Mom and history museums with Vivi and Corah.

BL: What restores your creative spirit?

RD: Quiet time - no music or social media. I’m most creative while driving in silence and showering.

A headshot of the author Rebecca Danzenbaker who is a white woman with curly blonde hair that she is wearing down, it goes just past her shoulders. She's sitting with her chin propped on a fist, where a silver wedding ring is visible. Her eyes are blue and framed by dark lashes, her smile is close lipped, tilted slightly to the right.

BL: Tell us about your origin story. Did you start writing as a child? What intrigued you about writing? Was this story one that you expected to share?

RD: Lifelong reader. My nose was always in a book. I typed a story chapter by chapter when I was in seventh grade and passed it around to my friends. My teacher read it and poked fun at it so I stopped. I hadn’t written anything creatively until Covid hit, and I found myself needing a project to pass the endless hours. I decided it was the perfect opportunity to write that novel I’d been talking about for a decade. Five years later, here she is!


BL: Can you tell us about some 2026 releases that you’re looking forward to?

RD: Stormbreaker by Nisha Tuli, The Darkness Greeted Her by Christina Ferko, Heart’s Gambit by JD Myall.


The cover of the book "Storm Breaker."

 A defiant heiress at an elite academy in a post-eco-apocalyptic Manhattan must survive brutal society trials, conceal a dangerous power, and resist her forbidden connection to a mysterious outsider from a feared rogue faction—or risk bringing the entire system down.




The cover of the book "The Darkness Greeted Her."

In this atmospheric sapphic horror, a troubled teen is sent to a remote therapy camp in the Appalachian wilderness, where she must unravel a mystery of deadly occurrences as she battles harmful visions of her abusive father, sinister motives, and a lurking monster.



The cover of the book "Heart's Gambit."

A thrilling and romantic debut fantasy where competitors from two prominent, time-traveling Black families must fight in a deadly magical duel - and find themselves falling in love.



BL: What are you working on right now?

RD: I’m waiting on feedback for my second novel, which has already been through one round of revisions. In the meantime, I’m brainstorming a new novel, another dystopian romance.


BL: Tell us about some of your favorites.

RD: Drink: Vodka soda with lime or a glass of (French/Oregonian) Pinot Noir.

Authors: I have too many favorite authors to list, but I read almost exclusively YA and Romance. Whether books or movies, they must have happy endings if I’m going to spend my precious free time on them.

Food: Sushi and chocolate (not together). Animal: Dogs. Music: Chill, acoustic artists. And I’ve seen Coldplay in concert 5 or 6 times.

BL: What’s your go-to local bookstore?

RD: Middleburg Books!


BL: What was the publishing process like for you?

RD: It’s a roller coaster! Lots of anxiety followed by wins, which are subsequently followed by disappointments. But I’m having enough fun that it’s worth the downs. And the milestones I don’t hit only shift to the next book. I’m not really one to give up.



BL: Is there anything that you like to share with aspiring authors who are navigating the publishing process or just struggling to even get through their first draft?

RD: Don’t give up!! You’ll never achieve your dreams if you walk away from them. Keep pushing forward. A lot of publishing is out of your control (if you’re traditionally published), so focus on what is. Keep writing and revising. And if you’re stuck on something, physically write down the problem and brainstorm solutions on paper (or take a shower). Any draft is better than no draft.

Rebecca Danzenbaker believes in trusting your gut and chasing your dreams. That probably explains her massive career jumps – from teaching elementary school music, to managing a team of 25 at Congressional Quarterly, to running an award-winning photography business, to writing young adult novels. When she’s not editing words or photos, she’s either reading, hiking, sending memes to friends, volunteering, planning incredibly detailed travel itineraries, being a goofball on social media, or cheering on her husband and two children as they chase their own dreams. Her debut novel, Soulmatch, was an Indie Next pick, a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, and an Amazon Editors’ Top 20 Teen and Young Adult Book of 2025. You can follow along on her journey on Instagram and other social media sites.

This interview with a Virginia author was conducted via email correspondence in anticipation of Rebecca's attendance at our book club. We will be discussing her book SOULMATCH at Abi's Books + Brews on December 13th, 2025 at 5pm. RSVP is free and required to attend. If you are an author interested in being interviewed, please begin by filling out our form.


Comments

bottom of page