Obsession by Jennifer L. Armentrout was released last week, and we chatted with her about the new novel, her snarky male characters, and writing kissing scenes.

Obsession is the latest novel from Jennifer L. Armentrout. It takes place in the world of the Lux Series, but it is told from the perspective of an Arum, Hunter. This novel is fantastic for several reasons. First Hunter is as enjoyable as Daemon to read. Second the world of the Arum and Luxen opens up now that you have the perspective of the perceived ‘bad guys.’ The story is filled with tension, and some familiar face from the Lux series make an appearance. Definitely add this to your summer reading pile!

1. In all of your novels you have very snarky, fun dialogue. How do you come up with it? I’m snarky by nature, so I think it just bleeds into my characters. I try to let the dialogue flow naturally because I don’t want it to come across as forced.

2. Your male characters are all pretty amazing and attractive. Is there a base model you start with and then pick different traits to make them each unique? Or do you have some other method for coming up with these addictive characters? I tend to give my male characters attributes and characteristics that I find attractive. I don’t want to spend an entire book writing about someone that I couldn’t possibly be attracted to myself.

3. Each of your stories has a supernatural or alien element. What made you choose these topics and how did you craft the unique back story for each? All of my YA books have a supernatural/paranormal element, but I’ve written contemporary New Adult and Adult books. It has just worked out that my ideas for the Lux series and the Covenant series were better suited for YA and they happened to be centered around aliens and gods. I have another YA series coming out that is about gargoyles and it also just worked better as YA. All of my contemporary ideas have worked better as NA or Adult novels.

4. There are many kissing scenes in your books which one is your favorite? That’s a tough question, but I would have to go with the ‘this is not a kiss’ scene in Wait for You.

5. Let’s play kill (OK maybe just maim; kill is a bit much!) , kiss, marry with Aiden, Daemon, and Hunter. GO! I think at some point I’ve wanted to kill, kiss, or marry all three of them. They have all screwed up in one way or another, definitely been sexy enough to make me want a hot and heavy make out session with them, and shown themselves to be worthy husband material.

6. In Obsession, we are introduced to Hunter, who works for the government. What connections does his world have to the world in the Lux series? I don’t really think of them as two separate worlds because they really intersect. Daemon is a Luxen and Hunter is an Arum, so the point of view is obviously very different from each of them. Daemon views Hunter as the enemy, and Hunter views Daemon as the enemy. But, aside from that, the details of the world are very similar. And, there may even be scenes that crossover in the books.

7. If I asked your teen self what it is she loved about Hunter, what would she say? My teen self was pretty shallow, so I would have been swooning over the 6’6” hottie with the beautiful face, pale blue eyes, wavy black hair, and rock hard abs.

8. What authors had or have had an influence on your as both a reader and writer? I can’t pick just one or two because I think that all of the books that I’ve ever read have influenced me in some way. I’ve always wanted to be a writer, so I would read anything that I could get my hands on. Reading anything, good or bad, is a great way to become a more versed writer.

Fast Five

Sunsets or sunrises? Sunset

Romantic comedy or Action packed movie? Action packed movie

Tea house or coffee shop? Coffee shop

If I could write anywhere in the world I’d want to write while sitting on Jensen Ackles’ lap

Insta love or a slow burning romance? Slow burning romance