Meet Daphne Parker

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Daphne Parker. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Daphne below.

Hi Daphne, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.

I don’t believe you ever truly “overcome” imposter syndrome. Instead, you learn how to manage it, how to quiet the voice that says you’re not enough. For me, a little self-doubt keeps me grounded. It pushes me to keep growing, to never settle. But I’ve also learned that comparison is the fastest way to stifle your own creativity. The more we measure ourselves against others, the more we lose sight of what makes our voice unique. Staying connected to why I started writing in the first place. That’s what keeps me going, even on the hard days.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I create worlds and people—but I suppose my official title is author. I’ve been writing since I was old enough to hold a pen, and it’s the one thing that has always felt right. When I’m writing, I never feel like I should be doing anything else.

I don’t confine myself to a single genre. I write the kinds of stories I’d want to read. Some days, that means an edge-of-your-seat thriller. Other days, it’s a soft, sweeping romance. But no matter the genre, all my stories share a common thread: slow-burn, emotionally charged, character-driven plots. I want my readers to not just witness the journey, but feel it. If they walk away carrying the emotions my characters endured, then I’ve done my job.

My latest novel, Somewhere Without You, has been described as “beautifully tragic” and “deeply moving.” One reader said it “healed parts of her she hadn’t even realized were still broken.” And for me, that’s what makes this work so meaningful. To know that something I created can help someone feel seen, understood, or just a little less alone.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back, I’d say the three most impactful qualities on my journey have been resilience, empathy, and a willingness to learn.

Resilience has carried me through countless moments of self-doubt, rejection, and creative burnout. This path isn’t always easy, and there were times I questioned if I was good enough. But resilience reminded me to keep showing up anyway. For those just starting out, remember that failure isn’t the end. It’s part of the process. The key is to keep writing, even when it’s hard.

Empathy has shaped the way I create characters and tell stories. Being able to step into someone else’s experience, to feel their emotions as if they were my own, allows me to write with depth and authenticity. If you want to improve in this area, read widely—especially outside your comfort zone, and pay close attention to the world around you. Everyone has a story. You just have to listen.

And finally, the willingness to learn. I didn’t come into this knowing everything, and I still don’t. But I’ve remained curious and open to growth. Whether that’s through reading different books, getting feedback, or simply reflecting on what works and what doesn’t. For anyone just beginning, give yourself permission to be a student of the craft. You don’t have to be perfect—you just have to be willing to learn.

If you lead with heart, stay hungry for growth, and keep writing through the messy middle, you’ll get where you’re meant to go.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

When I start to feel overwhelmed, I take a step back and turn to something else I love. I’m a deeply creative person—not just in my writing, but in how I live my life. Creativity grounds me. It reminds me who I am beneath the deadlines, drafts, and pressure. Writing a novel is a massive undertaking, and there are days it feels like too much. On those days, I’ve learned to give myself permission to pause.

Sometimes that means painting rocks, flipping old furniture into something new, or sketching just for the joy of it. It’s not about being productive—it’s about feeding the part of me that creates without expectation. Stepping away doesn’t mean giving up. It means refueling. And often, it’s in those quiet, restorative moments that clarity and inspiration return.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.daphneparkerbooks.com
• Instagram: @daphneparkerbooks