I am pleased to welcome back to Writer Chat Wednesday one of my favorite YA Indie authors, Tamara Rose Blodgett. Tamara is a wife, mother and busy author, prodigious in the extreme! Listen in as I chat with Tamara to see what she's been up to:
Natalie Wright (NW): Do you have any news to share about your work?
Tamara Rose Blodgett (TRB): Oh my, yes! Most recently,
my first book in the Blood Series was released, with plans for book #2 to
publish before the end of the year. Little known fact: it was actually the
first book I'd ever written (in 2007) and after extensive editing, it was a
full-circle, warm fuzzy to finally get it
in the hands of my readers :)
NW: That's awesome! And is another example of the kind of freedom and flexibility we have as independently published authors. What books have you
published so far?
DEATH WHISPERS (#1) March
31, 2011
DEATH SPEAKS (#2) Sep. 1,
2011
DEATH SCREAMS (#3) Jan. 13,
2012
THE PEARL SAVAGE (#1) Jun.
15, 2011
THE SAVAGE BLOOD (#2) Thanksgiving
2011
BLOOD SINGERS (#1) March 9,
2012
THE SAVAGE VENGEANCE (#3)
*Releasing Mar. 31.
NW: What was the inspiration for your books?
TRB: The Death Series is an easy
one. I had four kids that loved zombies
but felt like boys weren't being betrayed in YA accurately. I thought to
myself, “Huh... I can do that!” And I did.
In the Savage Series, I had
a couple of ideas that collided together to create a a story about a princess
who hails from the future but lives and old-fashioned existence. Her life is
rife with challenges that belie what most would assume to be an easy lifestyle.
It is an epic fantasy with great Alpha males and dark undertones.
The Blood Series is about a
special sub-species of humans that balance the food load for vampires and offer
genetic properties which allow the werewolves to become moonless changers. The
MC, Julia, has what they need but her resolve for personal liberty puts a major
crimp in their plans.
NW: What genre do you write in?
TRB: I'm of that “new breed” of
authors that are putting out mixed-genre books. Mine are mainly comprised of
the following genres within the YA/YA mature umbrella: futuristic science
fiction, paranormal romance, urban fantasy/fantasy and action. I usually have a
thread of intrigue running through all my works. I wouldn't say that I'm a
“mystery” writer by any stretch but I definitely believe in intrigue for those
“ah-huh!” moments/revelations.
NW:What works in progress do you have?
TRB: I just finished writing book
#3 in the Savage Series, THE SAVAGE VENGEANCE. It is currently being edited and
I will do a final edit/read through in about a week (for release on Mar. 31). I
'm currently writing book #4 of the Death Series, DEATH WEEPS, for release in
May. I will begin writing both BLOOD SONG (#2) and Savage (#4) after April
1. I have an exciting new series (my
fourth) planned that will have a blurb
and cover reveal within a month. I'm nuts over it and have to hold myself back
from beginning work on it right this second!
 |
| LOVE this Cover! |
NW: Which character from your books do you like most
/ are most like?
TRB: I love Jonesy from the Death
Series and Gramps. People that are brave and candid. Jonesy is that way because
he doesn't know any better but Gramps is purposeful with who he is. That's its
own kind of bravery.
I love Clara so much in Savage!
She is intrinsically good. She just wishes to do the right thing, it's by
default, she doesn't deliberate about her actions. I shouldn't admit this but
it was really fun to write the “bad” people in that series, it was definitely a
love-hate thing. ;)
Julia in SINGERS is great
because her freedom is precious. She's not really blown away that she's
“special.” To her, she just wants to reclaim the life that was stolen from her.
When she comes to terms that she can't, the axis of her world gets turned upside
down and she has to cope with the cards she's been dealt. Love her resolve, her
unwavering bravery in the face of no hope.
I'm not like anyone in the
series. Although, snippets of my humor bleed through....
NW: I love Jonesy too - he's funny. You have a knack for capturing teen dialogue in a much more realistic way than most.
If you walked through a portal to dimension
without books, what three books do you want to take with you?
TRB: Well, right now I'm nuts
over Beautiful Disaster, by Jamie McGuire. I love Stephen King (The
Master) and think The Stand would have to come. And since I love to
laugh, I'm going to take @hit My Dad Says as well. And that is a grotesquely small list! Haha~
NW:Who is your favorite author and why?
TRB: Stephen King, for having the
cajones to write “real” and with just the brand of humor I like in
combination with the fragility of humanity as an appetizer.
NW: How long have you been a writer?
TRB: I'd like to say forever, but
that's not exactly accurate! I had a
moment in junior high when I realized that I could write a story. That
self-awareness, the realization... never left me and when I began this odyssey,
it gave me the spark that eventually ignited into a career.
NW: What is your favorite part of the writing
process?
TRB: When I'm in the middle of a
day dreaming fugue and an idea strikes me between the eyes and I know
that it is my next book. I sit up straight in my chair or in the middle of some
random store and get chills. SO normal!
Lol!
NW: What is your favorite movie – the one you can
watch over and over again?
TRB: The Last of the Mohicans.
Wow~
NW: What is your favorite band or musical performer?
TRB: I have a ton that I like but
right now I'm diggin' on Parabelle.
NW: What do you hope readers will take with them
from your writing?
TRB: I'm hoping they receive the
same sense of escapism I do from the creation of it all. For me, when I'm
writing, it's like that great book you can't wait to read when you're done with
your chores... so, it doesn't feel like work, not really. Pure entertainment
would be a great bonus as well. I'd like to take the time to thank Natalie, for
offering to do this and my amazing readers for supporting me by purchasing my
work. Thanks for reading my stories!
NW: And Thank You Tamara for writing them! If you enjoy reading about teens with paranormal abilities and like realistic dialogue, check out Tamara's books.
You can connect with Tamara here:
Author Page on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Tamara-Rose-Blodgett/e/B004UNVT8K
Some of my titles are available on Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/search?query=tamara+rose+blodgett
As always, comments are welcome. Have you read any of Tamara's books? If so, share with us your favorite book or character. Or just say "hi."
The book covers are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI agree Emma. Thanks for taking a look.
DeleteThank you so much for hosting this guest spot in my honor Natalie, you're so awesome! =)
ReplyDelete@Emma... thanks for the compliment! The Death Series covers are mainly the work of a Czech Republic photographic artist... the cover reveal for book #4 of the Savage Series will be appearing on my blog on Friday the 13th (my lucky day!). Take care~