I spoke with Tamara about "Death Whispers," as well as other stuff.
Natalie Wright
(NW): In your novel "Death
Whispers," a young adult novel in the paranormal genre, your protagonist
Caleb Hart is a 14-year-old boy. What
inspired you to write a male main character in the first person?
Tamara Rose Blodgett (TRB): I
was a little intimidated to try third [person] POV with my first novel.
(Actually, “Bloodsingers,” is my first, but will publish in autumn.) Using a
male protagonist was a slick choice for me as I am a mother of four sons...lol!
My youngest is almost fifteen, so I felt pretty confident about delivering
something realistic. To say the dialogue portions, “really flowed,” wouldn't
cover it!
I got over my intimidation and used third with, “The Pearl
Savage.” I was excited to show four different POV's in that work. The narrative
is not so intimate as first, but it lends a degree of depth that is difficult
to obtain in first without effort. In my opinion, the novel predicates the POV.
NW: It seems like most YA books in this
paranormal genre have female main characters.
What has been the reaction of readers to Caleb and his buddies, the
"Js"?
TRB: Readers are diggin' on the J's! Caleb
wants to blend in so bad he can taste it. Readers have liked that Caleb's
familial situation is a positive environment (also atypical in YA Lit), and
root for him because he tries to do the right thing. Everyone seems really
pleased with the dialogue and I'm super-happy about that!
I am not sure that a lot of readers get “fed” the right
“take” on teenage males in a lot of YA literature. Of course, for the writing
of DW, I could only offer what I “knew.”
My sons were the catalyst of what made me get serious about writing DW.
They thought the “soft” males in books with dialogue that didn't “ring” true
was tiresome. They couldn't see themselves in the characterization(s) and
therefore the work didn't resonate fully. Of course, there were a few fave
books that they've enjoyed, but the majority lacked that edge that felt,
“real-male.”
NW: I love your dialogue, especially the banter
between Caleb and his friends Jonesy and John.
Do you have any real life inspirations for your dialogue?
TRB: Thank you Natalie! Ah...see above.
Joking! Seriously, that is all REAL dialogue. I've used things that I've heard
through the years and mixed it all up into a colorful and (hopefully) comedic
mix predicated on each character's personality. I “hear” them in my head (that
sounds so alarming, I know), and intrinsically understand which teen would say
what. It all makes sense. Although I have to admit a profound, “soft spot” for
Jonesy who cannot seem to help himself, regardless of circumstance (he is never
edited in my work...oh my). He is
fearlessly driven and without a filter. His honesty to be who he is, is
fearsome! The diction in this book is regional and there is a lot of slang used
that had to be handled in such a way that would make it understood. So far, I
think the readers are enjoying it as “fresh.”
NW: "Death Whispers" is set in the
future and you introduce some interesting concepts. The gadget that intrigues me the most is the
"pulse" phone where the characters don't have to dial a number or
even touch the screen to get to the speed dials. They just think the person they want to speak
to, the phone pulses them and then they proceed to carry on a conversation
without speaking out loud - only through thought.
What inspired you to create the pulse technology?
TRB: Oh. This is where I'd like to sound really
witty. Huh. Truthfully, the whole concept just came to me out of nowhere. I
will say that teens use of cells had to be incorporated in the book because
it's so critical in their social structure. I saw pulse tech. as the viral
answer to cells in that era of the future.
Once I understood where I was going with it, I did a couple days of
research to get a feel for how viable it would read. Basically, in my thought
process, it is a possible future...a viral future. It is a matter of time
before brain signatures will be tracked, identified, monitored and incorporated
into everyday life. That is how I see it.
In book 2, pulse technology grows and becomes subtly more,
and with it, the downfalls associated with its “completeness” are showcased as
well. Nothing comes without price.
NW: In "Death Whispers," the plot centers
around a pharmaceutical invention that inoculates (not sure that's the right
word for it) babies to turn on? or ramp up? their genes so that when they hit
puberty (at approximately age 12-13), most kids get special abilities and they
get expressed during this time. So
you've got teenagers that are pyromancers and seers and of course necromancers
- like your main character - and other abilities.
TRB: I totally love genetics and know just
enough to be dangerous! The premise revolves around the basis of humans having
genetic markers and some having paranormal ones (all of those as different
[potentially] as say...green eyes). The inoculation allows the markers
potential to manifest. The pharmaceutical moguls were very focused on their
profit margin; not on the consequence of what these powers would mean to the
power structure between adults and teens.
*Feeling very un-witty* again. The best way for me
to describe this is: I get an idea. Then, I mull it over. At some point after
the initial idea, I will get a second idea. They collide and mix together to
make a story. The whole story forms in my head. Then! I must write as quickly
as possible to get it all down. There is no “writer's block,” (thank you God).
I sit down every day, (read the prior days 3K words) and the next scene is
there for me to write. It's like the characters are alive and I just write down
what they're doing/saying. It feels a little like cheating. I don't know how
the process is for other authors at all. My “outline” is a 3x5 card with a few
plot lines I need to remember to write about. One thing that I do keep is my
character list and a few words after each one that identify them to me. That
has been critically important.
NW: In "Death Whispers," the main
character talks about food a lot. Were
you hungry when you wrote it? *chuckle*
Seriously, some books are filled with descriptions of food, others don't
mention it at all. Why was it important
to you to describe and discuss food?
TRB: That's funny that you mention this! Food
is totally important to teen boys (not showing their obsession with it in
this series would be remiss). I can't overstate this enough! Those are
the meals that my family and their friends have enjoyed. Those are meals I made
(written in the book, I thieved liberally from that). Before Caleb has a pet,
gets the girl and the complications start, the rhythm of his home life is an
abiding comfort for him; the meals, the routine. I hoped to establish that for
the reader. I felt Caleb needed a “touchstone” with all the chaos that ensues.
Although important still (food remains important until those boys get out of
their growth spurt!), in book 2, Caleb has other distractions and food runs a
distant third. Of course, he's a bigger kid in DS! Food is still mentioned, of
course. * smiles *
NW: You self-published "Death Whispers"
as well as "The Pearl Savage" (Book 1 of the Savage Series). What
led you to self-publish?
TRB: I did submit DW to a small list of agents
and received mainly rejections but a couple of agents gave me suggestions and
one agent said he'd look at the [full] manuscript after I revised it. That one
comment gave me the confidence that (maybe) my story was good enough to go
forward with on my own. The agents really liked the premise, they thought it
was unique. But, in the end, I was like a lot of Indies. I saw the success of
Hocking, McQuestion and Locke and thought, why not? I am so glad I did! The
potential for people to enjoy your work, artistic control and most importantly,
getting your book in the hands of your readers at your own pace is an absolute
benefit as an Indie. Not so much with traditional publishing. Especially
exciting for someone like myself, who can write a book every three months.
Traditional publishing usually constrains that to a book per year! That used to
drive me bananas waiting for the next release from my fave authors *rolls
eyes*!
NW: Have you seen any downsides or disadvantages
to self-publishing?
TRB: Editing. It is an absolute bear. It is very
difficult to see your own mistakes and they're usually little things, which
make it even harder. I am thankful when a reader mentions an issue, I can go
right to my work and address it immediately. With “Death Speaks,” I was very
fortunate to finally have three Betas to help with that common issue. It's
critical that my reader receives the cleanest copy I am capable of.
NW: What are the upsides of self-publishing for
you?
TRB: Like I touched on above: faster
publication of novels, artistic latitude (I don't think I would have gotten
away with my dialogue in the laundry wash of editors from the Big Six), and
interacting with my readers. I love the relationships I've developed with other
Indies too. They're a great lot! Oh! Better royalties!
NW: Will you continue to self-publish, or are you
still looking for a contract with a traditional publishing house?
TRB: I am open to traditional publishing but
very happy being Indie right now. I don't have an ax to grind, I think a lot of
these hybrids are doing well. (An author that sells their own e-books and a
publishing house sells their paperbacks, for example.)
NW: Do you have a "day job" in addition
to being a writer?
TRB: No. I was a journalist for about four
years, but gave that up almost three years ago. I have been writing fiction
since 2007. I am very fortunate to have a husband who supports me 100%.
NW: What do you like to do in your spare time
when not writing books, blogging, tweeting, facebooking or otherwise managing
your writer empire?
TRB: I am an avid reader and find myself only
finishing about two books per week now that I am writing so much. I love to
garden too and can be found doing that on every sunny day we have here in
Alaska. (Yes, we have daylight for twenty hours right now; insane!). We (the
fam) also watch episodes of whatever caustic show catches our fancy each Sunday
night while porking through an embarrassing amount of treats. I usually do a
fair amount of remodeling at different points of the year. I am an okay finish carpenter.
NW: What are you working on now?
TRB: I am on final edits with “Death Speaks,” and it's in the
hands of my wonderful Betas right now. As soon as DS publishes
mid-month, I will begin a brutal revision on my first novel, “Bloodsingers.” I
wrote that in 2007, then put the manuscript away. When I got the idea for the
Death Series and finished both DW and TPS, I began plans to revise/edit
“Bloodsingers.” I have a projected release of October but it may be earlier if
I can get it put together sooner. “The
Savage Blood,” (book 2) should be something I take up after “Bloodsingers.”
However, if the characters press too firmly inside my head I will be compelled
to begin writing that work at the same time I edit “Bloodsingers.” I am led
about by a ring in my nose because of my own creative processes! Ugh!
NW: When can we expect the next in the Death
series?
TRB: “Death Speaks,” is expected to publish on
or about August 15, 2011. “Death Screams,” (Death Series, Book 3) is expected
to publish late Dec/early January of this year. I foresee five titles total:
“Death Weeps,” Book 4 and “Death Unrequited,” Book 5. Maybe “Death” will go
beyond, but at this time, those are the books that I have plots for in my head.
NW: Can you give us any hints about what's to
come for Caleb?
TRB: In book 2, “Death Speaks,” Caleb and his
fellow AFTD, Tiff Weller, are named “consultants” for the local police in the
hope of finding the killer of the innocents from book one. Everyone is in high
school now and with that comes a greater sense of adulthood looming with regard
to all aspects of maturation. The kids' relationships evolve and become more,
new characters are introduced and loose ends to the minutest detail are wrapped
up. There's [even] more of the following in book 2: romance, zombies, Onyx,
Clyde, action, suspense and several new supporting characters are introduced. I
notched up the comedy too.
Book 3, “Death Screams,” will feature Jeffrey Parker and
Sophie Morris more intimately. And, of course...Jonesy! Jonesy will always have
a starring role...
Tamara Rose Blodgett is a “thinking-out-of-the box” paranormal enthusiast who believes there's a 95% chance zombies do not exist; but loves to write as if they do. I'm from Alaska and have worked as an online journalist in the past. I enjoyed writing, Death Whispers, and am hard at work on book two, Death Speaks, (pub. Aug. 2011). My paranormal romance, The Pearl Savage, published on June 15. In my spare time I'm a [reluctant] serial-re-modeler, project-slave and big time, in-my-pants reader (surprise!). I do a great deal of day-dreaming about impossible scenarios and events, writing books to capture them in stories for you~ Side note: Gnomes should be exterminated.
Here's how to reach Tamara:
*I'd like to take
this opportunity to thank Natalie for graciously allowing me this forum to talk
about my books. I would also thank my readers for taking their time to read my
stories. :)
