I did an interview with Tina Smith as part of her Goddessfish Blog Tour.
Hi Tina and thank you for doing an interview on my blog as part of your tour.
1) What inspired you to write Wolf
Sirens Forbidden and Fever?
A lot of things, a love of the
books White Fang and Call of the Wild, a love of paranormal and a fascination
with wolves. As well as Artemis, because she kicks butt. I wanted a heroine
with a backbone and a chip on her shoulder and Lila was born. She is dynamic
and grows on a journey throughout the books.
2) When did you begin writing?
I never really thought of
myself as a writer but as a child I rewrote fairy tales and as a teenager and
preteen I started keeping diaries and writing poetry. I suppose on some level I
knew I would be a good writer, I just had to live a little first and (wink)
fill the well with pain, so that I could open up a vein.
3) Have you always wanted to be a
writer?
I have the temperament of a
writer and I suppose it was buried in there, so on some level yes...
4) While writing what item(s)
can't you live without?
My computer. It’s good to have
a notebook with ideas and I like quiet time. But I can write under any
conditions I just need to get into the zone and have at least a pen.
5) Who are some of your favourite
authors and have they inspired your writing in any way?
Maggie Stiefvater, Jeffry
Eugendes and even Stephanie Meyer. I think good writers use their own unique
voice but certainly it contains the sounds of all things that have touched me
in some way. The Virgin Suicides was dreamy and it just flowed like Jeffry
wrote it while he channelled the characters world, I love that. In Fever when I
wrote the back-story to the pack I felt like maybe I did something inspired by
that.
6) What is the easiest part of a
book to write for you? And hardest?
It’s all much of a muchness, it
depends on my mood. I write what I am inspired to write; it’s the editing
that’s hard. Writing the part about Tisane and Lila in Fever was slightly more
challenging. Tisane has a lot of secret issues going on – but all is revealed
in WS3 with a bang but even that is superseded by WS4.
7) How long each day/week do you
dedicate to writing?
Hours and hours. As much time
as I can (which is often too much time and to the detriment of other things).I
take mini breaks if I’m tired or coming to a halt, then I think about things
and jump straight back on it. Straight after work I usually write into the
night and eat at the computer.
8) What do you do when you’re not
writing?
I’m a mother, employee and
student and a lot of the time I am doing what that entails. Scrubbing toilets,
cooking, serving customers, walking my dog and reading notes. I’m everywhere
and nowhere all the time.
9) Are you reading anything at the
moment? What type of book's do you like to read most?
Vain by Fischer Amelie, and I
am starting Raven Boys but I like paranormal and young adult. At the moment I
am busy with interviews and touring and writing and study and cleaning my damn
house.
10) Is there any author you would
like to work with if you could?
Maybe Maggie Stiefvater. I
loved her Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy. She seems like a real character. I
like to laugh with my critique partner, Sally, and anyone who makes it fun is
cool.
11) How do you come up with your
story ideas?
I use everything as
inspiration. Movies of all kinds and television, other books. I love to watch
documentaries and see real people talk about their lives. Lady Boys in Malaysia
to Gaol shows like Lock Down(that’s the Australian spelling, Queens English Gaol, I am Aussie).
12) When writing about something
you don't know about how do you get your information?
I write only what I know, I use
everything at my disposal, the internet is a great tool when used correctly –
sometimes you have to think outside the box, I watch doco’s and people. I am
even interested in star signs. Cop shows. But at the moment I study Clinical
medicine and that details symptoms of drug use and things of that nature and I
use that information. I relate or I learn,that’s probably why it took me so
long to actually decide writing’s what I wanted to do, I had to develop more
empathy. I learnt to shoot for Wolf Sirens and I taught myself about Tarot
cards. Though I plan on taking a course on it, when I am finished my study.
13) What advice would you give to
someone who 'ran out of creativity' while writing?
Take a walk, watch a movie, go
out with friends and if you’re really stuck forget about it. It’s Murphy’s law.
Just get off the computer! Then you will be struck by lightning.
14) Do you have anything specific
you would like to say to your readers?
Discuss Lila’s motivations with your
friends and fellow readers – go online, join Goodreads and discuss, argue and
debate! Review me please! Are you a Reid or a Sky fan? Did you want more
description when Lila and Reid had sex, did you know what would happen? Did you
hate Lila’s selfishness? Contact me on my author’s facebook page and twitter I would love
to hear from you.
15 And finally how can readers get copies
of your books?
Online direct from outskirts
press and all major online retailers, book stores in Adelaide South Aust. –
such as The Book Boys and Dymocks West Lakes and Dillons books. The ebooks are
on smashwords, and on amazon in ebook and paperback.
Thanks
for the interview!
World Book Nights spotlight this week is:
