1. When did you first decide to become a writer? Or was it a case of the writing calling you?
I think it was more of a calling. The voices inside my head demand to be listened to. I have always written--dramas, poetry, songs, and stories. I never thought of doing it for a profession although when I directed, I used plays I had written. I do not think we choose to stay awake evenings and block ourselves away from the world, it is something that just happens to us and we must create.
2. In what kind of surroundings do you feel that you do your best writing?
Silence. Utter Silence. I write best when I am alone, in the house…locked in my car… I feel guilty when I am around other people and feel divided. When I need inspiration for a certain mood I will sometimes play music to have my muse play in my head like a movie but when I write I love the song of silence.
3. What genre of book do you yourself read? Any particular authors? Why them?
There are too many great ones out there to just name a few. I would feel guilty about the many I left out!
4. Do you work with an outline, or just write?
Both. For this trilogy I had the whole 3 books mapped out however I allowed it to evolve. I have alternate endings mapped out so my characters have room to play and help me decide the ending. I think it is important to know where you are going, but sometimes you have to throw caution to the wind and allow your muse to run free and naked and freak the hell out of you!
5. What do you think makes a good story?
I think there is a difference in a great story and a great novel. A story can be driven by the events but in a novel if you don’t care about the people also, people will never finish it. I think it really depends on what you are writing and your audience. I personally like layers. I don’t like things that are one dimensional. I like it when you can go back and reread something and say OMG now I get that!
6. What is your favorite genre to write?
I am a hopeless romantic. I would say Romance. I still await my prince charming!
7.How do you come up with your characters?
Often they have some quality of someone I know. It can be a small detail that I run with, or it can be the frame of who they are. Often stuff plays in my head like movies. I think that is why I liked theater so much.
8. How long does it take to think up the characters?
They pop out. I think that is what is helpful about basing aspects on people who you know, you know how they will react. I have watched people all my life. It is kinda a hobby, not stalker like…well maybe, evil laugh…
9. Are your characters based on real life people?
Many of them.
10. Is it scary putting your work out there?
Yes it is. But the reality is not everyone is going to like our work. As long as we don’t let that bother us, it is fine. To me it has been amazing getting fan messages from around the world. Readers have no idea what a simple message telling authors how much they loved this or that really touches an author. It makes my week! I have spoken to women who have finally had the courage to leave an abusive relationship contact me and I have had single mothers contact me. I feel honored.
11. If you ever get negative reviews, how do you deal with them?
I can lie to you…but I think it because we are human it will always bother us. I do love it when someone PM me and tells me something. I had an ebook out and someone said they thought I said “I am” too much, that I should have said I’m. So when I went over the book for print I changed that. Things that make me grow as an author I like. I like feedback. I remember I got a review saying Nicole was one of the most naïve hardheaded characters she had ever read about. It was a 4 star review, she loved the book but thought Nicole was stupid~and sometimes she was,she was being honest. Another review said that Nicole was one of the most courageous women she had ever read about. Not everyone will agree. And not everyone will like your work and it is okay. I guess the best thing when you get a bad review is to read a good one.
12. Do you have any advice for other up-and-coming authors such as yourself?
Just do it! Write for you! Enjoy and let go. I would never try and get your first draft perfect. The first draft is for exploration of your theme and characters. Just as any relationship it takes time to know them. Get down the ideas, the story, and let your pen/keyboard take you away. Once you have a rough draft then you can begin to perfect it. Some people spend so much time on the perfect first chapter and then finish the book and have to cut it. The other thing is follow your heart, I was told by so many people what I was doing was crazy. If I had listened, I wouldn’t have had half of my experiences and that is what defines me! I was told by many people that my trilogy wasn’t a romance because it didn’t follow some formula. I didn’t want to write to a formula. I wanted to tell the story. Yes, sometimes it is important to listen to feedback, but it is your story and YOU are the creator. Enjoy! And edits, some people hate them, I love them because it helps me grow as an author, but most of all...I get to spend more time with my characters. Stop looking at the blank page and CREATE!
13. As a fairly new author can you name a few people that have been the most help in getting your book/s published and how they did that?
To be honest, I didn’t have much help in the getting my book published. My daughter was really supportive and told me I should pursue it and she had faith in me and my Beta readers were amazing! I can’t begin to say how important and treasured they are. When I decided to go indie however, I was on my own. I didn’t know anyone who had done it before. I had to learn everything about the publishing world from scratch and put on a million different hats. Everything has been an experiment. And I have made a bunch of mistakes, but that is how we grow right? For me the hardest thing was learning this whole new world while trying to write and be a mom. For my first book my editor, Sandra Urdall, my cover artist Su from Earthy Charms and layout designer Benjamin Carrancho from Damonza’s Awesome Book Layouts were wonderful. And for my second book I thank Su and Benjamin again and my new editor for this book Gale Deitch. I have to give a huge shout out to my facebook family! Amazing! And Bloggers, I can’t say how much my facebook family and bloggers have meant to me and of course my Beta Readers for Obsession were absolutely wonderful!
13. Is there anyone in particular that you are most grateful to and wish to share something about them?
There is no way for me to express the love, the pride, the respect, and the pure joy, I have in my daughters. They are my life. They have given my life meaning and given me hope in dark times. We have this thing called “coffee time” talks! (Which is any hour of the day, and sometimes doesn’t involve coffee-the only thing important is that we are together.) We sit together discussing our dreams, our aspirations, and solve the world’s problems. People have asked how we have gone through all we have and never gone through therapy. I truly believe it is because of the support we have for one another. We talk to each other, it is honest, pure and insightful and always encouraging.
Watching my daughters Rochelle and Martina grow has been such an honor. I am so proud of who they are and all they strive for. They are my best friends. They are my life. I am most grateful for my angels!
15. Please leave links to where you can purchase your books and your website or blog.
Website http://www.tiffanycarmouche.com/
Author Page http://www.facebook.com/TiffanyCarmoucheAuthor?ref=hlFacebook
Twitter https://twitter.com/tiffcarmouche
The Impostor http://tinyurl.com/cabmnc9
Amazon ebook http://tinyurl.com/dyooebc
Barnes and Noble ebook http://tinyurl.com/cf2vvbt
Paperback http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOaIExYG5YQ
Fan made trailer http://www.facebook.com/TheImpostorFanClub?ref=hl
Fan Club http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15747559-the-impostor-a-love-story
Goodreads The Impostor
Obsession and Sacrifice Release Date February 11th 2013
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Obsession-Sacrifice-Love-Story-by-Tiffany-Carmouche/510398818990960?ref=hl
Obsession fan page http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16228823-obsession-and-sacrifice
Goodreads http://www.tiffanycarmouche.com/#!buy-now/c1j7z
Buy the books info
It’s been an honor Tiffany Carmouche having you as a guest on here. We hope that you do very well in your career and your upcoming books take off! Faellin Angels Realm LP wants to thank you for your time today! ~ Christina Worrell (Author & Publisher)
