My Interview with Tina Smith

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 Tisane has a lot of secret issues going on – but all is revealed in WS3 with a bang but even that is superseded by WS4.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!