Title: Tangled - A Southern Gothic Yarn
Author: Phyllis H. Moore
Release Date: 8th March 2016
BLURB from Goodreads
A southern family saga emerges as Nettie begins a quest to discover who she is. Twenty-one years old and Annette Roberta Randall is searching, looking for herself. The perception and sensitivity she relied on to bolster her through an isolated childhood have disappeared and with them her sense of self. Nettie also seeks the truth, information about her dysfunctional family and the mysteries that whisper to her in their eccentric family home. She receives glimpses in the alcohol induced monologues of her mother, Delores Cecelia, “DeCe”. However, DeCe lost herself long before Nettie was born, and she buried her secrets so deep, even the spirits haunting her cannot unlock her soul. Pup, Nettie’s peculiar uncle, may have witnessed the most recent chaos, but he cannot communicate what he knows for sure. Nettie’s struggles are apparent to her extended family and neighbors, but only she can resolve to overcome the pull of the notorius Kirkland family and Berclaire mansion. The secrets fester and DeCe clings to them like the neglected ivy tendrils on the shadowed side of the mansion. Slowly, the truth will unfold, but will it be enough to free Nettie, or the undoing of her mother, DeCe?
Nettie believed it was possible her grandfather, Old Nate, was responsible for the hauntings at the Berclaire mansion, but the more she learns of her great grandmother, Roberta, she decides he might have been a victim, also. DeCe had been taking pills and drinking alcohol from before the time she was a teenager, attempting to numb herself to her dysfunctional family. Nettie could only guess at a history during her drunken orations about DeCe's childhood. Nettie knows she is the seventh child born to DeCe, the others gone before Nettie was born. Some would filter back into her life, but would they help her learn more about her identity, or bring more pain?
Nettie believed it was possible her grandfather, Old Nate, was responsible for the hauntings at the Berclaire mansion, but the more she learns of her great grandmother, Roberta, she decides he might have been a victim, also. DeCe had been taking pills and drinking alcohol from before the time she was a teenager, attempting to numb herself to her dysfunctional family. Nettie could only guess at a history during her drunken orations about DeCe's childhood. Nettie knows she is the seventh child born to DeCe, the others gone before Nettie was born. Some would filter back into her life, but would they help her learn more about her identity, or bring more pain?
AUTHOR INTERVIEW
What is your
name, where were you born and where do you live now?
Phyllis H. Moore was born in Texas, now 63 years old, she
lives about 15 miles from where she was born, but several places in between.
Did you always
want to be a writer? If not what did you want to be?
No, I was a social worker for thirty years. I have a
masters degree in social work. I retired in 2004 and owned and operated a bed
and breakfast for seven years before retiring again. I didn’t start writing
until about four years ago.
When did you
first consider yourself as a "writer"?
When I started writing, I considered myself a writer, but
I didn’t consider myself an author until I someone else read my writing and
agreed to publish it. That was an essay in an online journal, Fiction Southeast. I was thrilled.
Did it take a
long time to get your first book published?
I waited in the traditional publishing line for a few
months. After not hearing back from an agent, I decided it didn’t have the time
to wait and decided to publish myself last November. I’m not a patient waiter.
Do you work
another job as well as your writing work?
No, I’m retired. All of my productive time is spent
writing and marketing what I write. I hate to say, I have found the marketing
takes more time than the writing.
What is the name
of your latest book, and if you had to summarise it in less than 20 words what
would you say?
Tangled, a Southern Gothic Yarn is a dysfunctional family
saga set in Texas with paranormal leanings. It is a story of survival.
Who is your
publisher? or do you self publish?
Self-publish
Do you have a
"lucky charm" or "lucky routine" you follow when waiting
for your book to be accepted by a publisher?
No
How long does it
usually take you to write a book, from the original idea to finishing writing
it?
About four months.
Which of your
books were easier/harder to write than the others?
Opal’s Story was the
easiest
What can we
expect from you in the future? ie More books of the same genre? Books of
a different genre?
I have a non-fiction book in the works on retirement. I
will probably post it as a give-away or free, and I have a short-story
anthology I plan to release in October, scary stories. I imagine my future
novels will be the same genre.
Do you have
plans for a new book? Is this book part of a series?
My first three novels were a trilogy, The Sabine Trilogy. I enjoyed writing
them, but I don’t know if I will do another series. The novel tells me what to
do.
What genre would
you place your books into?
Women’s literature, southern gothic
What made you
decide to write that genre of book?
I wrote and I learned what the genre was at a writer’s
conference. I didn’t know what tropes I was writing to.
Do you have a
favourite out of the books you have written? If so why is it your favourite?
Probably Tangled,
then Opal’s Story because I love the
characters.
Do you have a
favourite character from your books? and why are they your favourite?
Pup, Francis Nathaniel Kirkland. He’s autistic, so I had
to describe his motions and his thoughts.
If you had to
choose to be one of your characters in your book/books which would you be? and
why?
Mrs. Sophie, because she is unconditionally loving to
everyone.
How long have
you been writing?, and who or what inspired you to write?
Four years. When
I’m not writing I think about writing. It’s an obsession.
Where do you get
your book plot ideas from?What/Who is your inspiration?
Everyday events and conversations inspire me. Since I
have started writing, I pay attention to minute things and listen and ask questions more during
conversations.
Do you have a
certain routine you have for writing? ie You listen to music, sit in a certain
chair?
I don’t listen to music. I usually sit in the same chair
or sofa, unless the weather is nice, I sit on my screened porch.
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, a have a team of beta readers and family that read
and give me feedback. I have to twist arms to get reviews. That’s a challenge.
Do you gift
books to readers to do reviews?
Yes
Do you read all
the reviews of your book/books?
Yes
What was the
toughest/best review you have ever had?
I have liked all of my reviews for different reasons. No
one has been tough on me yet.
Would you ever
ask a reviewer to change their review if it was not all positive about your
book/books?
No.
How do you come
up with the Title and Cover Designs for your book/books?Who designed the Cover
of your books?
I design the covers and then send them to FIVERR for
formatting. My titles are not very deep, I will have to give thought to them in
the future. It’s not intuitive for me.
Do you choose a
title first, or write the book then choose the title?
I write the book and see what happens.
How do you come
up with characters names and place names in your books?
Sometimes they name themselves and I have no idea where
it comes from.
Are character
names and place names decided after their creation? or do you pick a
character/place name and then invent them?
Sometimes I name a character because I like the name,
then change it because the character takes on traits I didn’t expect.
Do you decide on
character traits (ie shy, quiet, tomboy girl) before writing the whole book or
as you go along?
It depends on if the character is the protagonist, or
antagonist and if they are a supporting character, I consider what the
protagonist needs from them, then I either give it to them or withhold, depending
on the drama I need.
Do you basic
plot/plan for your book, before you actually begin writing it out? Or do you
let the writing flow and see where it takes the story?
Let it flow.
How do you
market/promote your books?
Request free reviews and promotions. Sometimes I pay for
Facebook ads. I blog and promote my web site on Facebook. I do a newsletter
release when I have a new book. I’m trying to figure out how to grow my list.
This promotion stuff is all new to me and the most challenging. I do book signings
and have been lucky that several businesses offered to host me. I sell
paperbacks at the signings. I enjoy that because I get face-to-face feedback
from readers.
What do you
think makes a book a really good/bestseller ?
A story with rich characters that readers can relate too
and moves the reader in some way.
Have you ever
suffered from a "writer's block"? What did you do to get past the
"block"?
Never
What do you do
to unwind and relax? Do you have a hobby?
Have a glass of wine with friends. I love the new adult
coloring trend. I garden, love to travel, sew, knit and crochet.
Have you ever
based characters on people you know or based events on things that have
happened to you?
Yes
Are there any
hidden messages or morals contained in your books? (Morals as in like Aesops
Fables type of "The moral of this story is..")
Yes, and sometimes I don’t know they are there until I
have reread for the 10th time. I surprise myself.
Is there a
certain Author that influenced you in writing?
Fannie Flagg, Rebecca Wells, Kathryn Stockett, Rick
Bragg, Jeanette Walls. I like southern stories with flawed characters.
Which format of
book do you prefer, ebook, hardback, or paperback?
Ebook
What is your
favourite book and Why? Have you read it more than once?
Glass Castle, by Jeannette Walls. I have only read once.
Do you think
books transfer to movies well? Which is you favourite/worst book to movie
transfer?
Sometimes. I did not like The Shining. My visions of the hotel was different. I liked Hunger Games.
What are you
currently reading? Are you enjoying it? What format is it?(ebook, hardback or
paperback)
I just finished Secrets
of Hallstead House by Amy Reade on my Kindle. She and I are in a GoodReads
group and I agreed to review her book. It’s good.
Do you think
ebooks will ever totally replace printed books?
I know too many people who still love the smell and feel
of a real book. Ebooks are so handy for travel. You can take as many books as
you want. That’s the beauty of them.
Do you think
children at schools these days are encouraged enough to read? and/or do
Imaginative writing?
Probably not, but I am out of touch with what children do
in school now days.
Did you read a
lot at school and write lots of stories or is being a writer something newer in
your life?
I have always been an avid reader, but writing is a new
thing.
Did you have a
favourite author as a child?
Daphne DeMauier.
Do you have a
treasured book from your childhood? If yes, what is it?
No, not really.
Do you have a
favourite genre of book?
Women’s
Literature
Is there a book
you know you will never read? Or one you tried to read but just couldn't
finish?
I have read
books recently I could not finish. They had not story and flat characters.
Are there any
New Authors you are interested in for us to watch out for? and Why should we
watch out for them?
I just read
Kalidescope Lives by Roji Abraham. I think he’s going places. It was a
collection of short stories and I loved it. Rich characters and settings.
Is there
anything in your book/books you would change now if you could and what would it
be?
No. I can’t
think about that.
What do you
think about book trailers?
Great, but I
can’t think about that for me.
What piece of
advice would you give to a new writer?
Write, and write
some more.
Do you or would
you ever use a pen name?
No
If you could
invite three favourite writers to dinner, who would you invite and enjoy
chatting with?
Maya Angelou
Fannie Flagg
Paulo Cuelho
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