My name is Tara Elizabeth and I was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana. I moved away to go to college at LSU in Baton Rouge, lived in Houston briefly, and then returned to Lake Charles after my first child was born.
Did you always want to be a writer? If not
what did you want to be?
I’ve always wanted to be an artist; I just
wasn’t sure what kind until recently. Writing is an amazingly fulfilling form
of art.
Do you work another job as well as your
writing work?
Yes, I am also a
freelance graphic designer and a stay-at-home Mom.
Zoo is a
fast-paced, Young Adult/Sci-Fi novel with a splash of romance and a hint of
sarcasm.
Who is your publisher? or do you self
publish?
I self-publish.
How long does it usually take you to write
a book, from the original idea to finishing writing it?
It usually takes me
about 9 months to finish writing and editing a book. I am only able to work
during my children’s naptime. I wish I could work faster because I have so many
ideas.
Which of your books were easier/harder to
write than the others?
Emma, the main
character in Zoo, was easier to write
because she is from 2013. She thinks and speaks like we do. She was a fun
character to write. However, the book as a whole had a lot of challenges. There
are characters from different times and cultures.
What can we expect from you in the future?
ie More books of the same genre? Books of a different genre?
I think I will stick with Dystopia and
Sci-Fi for Young Adults. This is the genre that interests me the most. I have
lots of ideas for new stories.
Do you have plans for a new book? Is this
book part of a series?
I am currently writing DENOUNCED (EXALTED: Book 2). There will also be a third and final
book in the EXALTED series (no title
yet). I have plans for a book called Rebel,
which will be Volume 2 of The Enclosure Chronicles. It will follow
Kansas’ story. Lots of exciting things to come!
Do you have a favourite character from your
books? and why are they your favourite?
My favorite character
is Mena from EXALTED. She is a strong,
young woman that makes her own decisions.
If you had to choose to be one of your
characters in your book/books which would you be? and why?
I would choose to be
Mena from EXALTED. I envy her
strength, both physically and mentally.
Do you have anybody read your books and
give you reviews before you officially release them?ie. Your partner, children,
friends, reviewers you know?
Yes! I have as many
people as I can read them before they are released. Spouse, friends, parents,
and my editor.
Do you gift books to readers to do reviews?
Absolutely! I love to
gifts ebooks to people that enjoy my work. I want to thank them in some way for
their support. Sometimes, I randomly pick people that like the same genre. I
want to know what they think of my work.
Do you read all the reviews of your
book/books?
Yes. I try to read all
of my reviews. Of course, I love positive feedback, but constructive, negative
reviews are also good to read. They can help me improve my craft.
What was the toughest/best review you have
ever had?
Great reviews are when
someone really gets the character you’ve written. One reviewer on GoodReads
said, “Tara Elizabeth was able to perfectly capture a teenage girl thrown
from an easy existence into this strange society where humans are kept in
captivity (and I would know since I'm Emma's age and I definitely would have
reacted the way she did).” I love this! Thank you, reviewer!
Would you ever ask a reviewer to change
their review if it was not all positive about your book/books?
No, never.
How do you come up with the Title and Cover
Designs for your book/books?Who designed the Cover of your books?
Titles are usually very
easy for me. They are always an important element in the book itself. I design
all of my own book covers. I also have a side business providing book covers
for indie authors. I love to design.
Do you choose a title first, or write the
book then choose the title?
The title comes after
the idea for the book, but not necessarily after the book is written.
Have you ever suffered from a
"writer's block"? What did you do to get past the "block"?
Yes. When this happens,
I go back to some of my reviews and remind myself that people are waiting for
the next book.
Is there a certain Author that influenced
you in writing?
Amanda Hocking really influenced me the
most. She got me started. Her story is inspiring. Well done, Miss Hocking!
What is your favourite book and Why?
Have you read it more than once?
My favorite book is The Host by Stephenie Meyer. I have read
it three times.
Do you think children at schools these days
are encouraged enough to read? and/or do Imaginative writing?
I think they are
encourage to read, but I do not think they are encouraged enough to do any
imaginative writing. I know that I was never asked to write an essay or short
story that I created while in school.
The Giving Tree by Shel
Silverstein. My grandmother would read this to me all the time.
Are there any New Authors you are
interested in for us to watch out for? and Why should we watch out for them?
If you are into Romance
look out for Taylor Anne. She is a new author that shows great promise. Her
first book will be released late April 2013. It is called Heat Flash.
What do you think about book trailers?
I think they are lots
of fun! I wish I had one or two.
What piece of advice would you give to a
new writer?
Just write. If you have
a story, get it on paper or in a computer. Worry about all the other stuff
later.
Where can readers follow you?
https://twitter.com/A_TaraElizabeth (I have to admit that I am not a big
Twitter person. It stressed me out. LOL!)
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