Interview with R.L. Mathewson, Author of Another Christmas from Hell

What’s the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Another Christmas from Hell?

For the past two years, I’ve been dying to write another Christmas story, but I was always trying to catch up on a series or couldn’t come up with anything that really caught my attention until finally, this past year, I had an “Ah-ha!” moment with Bryce James from the Neighbor from Hell series. I let the story play out and I decided that it was definitely the story I wanted to write.

I wrote another book years ago, A Christmas from Hell, and I loved the book and decided that the Bradford family definitely deserved an encore. I loved this concept, a brooding, stubborn man in denial, determined to do whatever it took to avoid the one woman that could bring him to his knees during the holidays. I had a lot of fun writing this book, seeing how far I could push him with all the things that he hated about Christmas.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Another Christmas from Hell, what would they be?

Come Undone by Duran Duran, Bad Habits Ed Sheeran, Bloodstream Ed Sheeran, Adore You Harry Styles, Watermelon Sugar Harry Styles, Sweetest Sin by Jessica Simpson AND of course, All I Want for Christmas by Mariah Carey and Justin Bieber.

What’s your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

Regency Romance. I’m just a sucker for a historical romance taking place in nineteenth century England.

No and… yes, I had the chance to write a historical book years ago. It was Truce: The Historical Neighbor from Hell. I took a different approach to it than what is the norm. I wrote with my same writing style, keeping the descriptions low and just focused on the story. It was probably one of the most difficult books that I’ve ever written, but it’s definitely a favorite of mine.

I will say that whatever I’m writing at the moment is usually my favorite genre to write. I work between paranormal and contemporary. Right now, I’m working on the next Neighbor from Hell novel and the next YA Neighbor from Hell novel, so contemporary romance is my favorite… at least until January when I go back to paranormal romance.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

I know this is wrong on so many levels because I’m an author, but I don’t have anything on my TBR right now. I’ve been so busy with kids and work that I haven’t had a chance in a very long time to read anything new for pleasure. When I need an escape, I normally hit my favorites, Lothaire by Kresley Cole and Lady Rogue by Suzanne Enoch.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

Probably when Bryce confronts Cayley about her crush and she brings him to his knees.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

A baseball hat. For years, it was my Yankees baseball cap in honor of Haley in Playing for Keeps, but over the years, I’ve gone through several of them, a few got destroyed, one got stolen, and I have no idea what happened to my last one. So now I wear this really comfortable baseball cap that a marketing company sent me as a sample and I love it, but I’ll most likely find another Yankees hat soon because it always worked well for me.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

“Your goals don’t give a f#ck about your excuses.” It pretty much puts everything into perspective for me. Another one is, “This too shall pass” when I’m struggling.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

All the reasons Another Christmas from Hell made them smile.

R.L. Mathewson is the author of the new book Another Christmas from Hell

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