The Write Side of Life
January 23, 2007 | Interviews
Here we are at day two, time to learn more about Tami, so cozy up to your monitor and read on.
ST: What made you decide to be a writer?
TD: Story lines, plots, and romantic adventures would constantly circle around in my head, just bursting to get out, but the fear of failure and embarrassment over spelling and grammar keep my imagination imprisoned in my head.
I couldn’t stand it anymore so one day I just sat down and started writing a book.
ST: How long have you been writing?
TD: About three years now.
ST: Do you find writing to be fulfilling?
TD: Absolutely.
ST: And in what way?
TD: No matter what obstacles my hero and heroine come up against, I know that they will have a happy ending. And, to me, a happy ending is what makes the getting there worth while.
ST: What’s a normal day like for you?
TD: Monday through Friday I wake up at six am; it takes me approximately four minuets to get ready for work (I could kiss the feet of whoever invented permanent makeup) I am at work by seven am, home by four pm. My co workers are always teasing me that I am spoiled rotten because I have three grown daughters who take care of the house and errands while I am at work, (in between their own day jobs) then they take care of me after I get home. LOL. I can’t remember the last time I washed a dish or even saw the washing machine… I’m really glad I was a nice mom to them when they were little, they love me a lot and are sweet enough to tell me every day and show it.
And then there is my darling husband, who I convinced early on in our marriage that American wives don’t cook—he believed me until around year ten when my best friend spilt the beans on that one, but by then, we had already established our routines… thirteen years later, were still holding with him as the chief cook in the family. Okay, I guess that the girls at work are right, I am spoilt rotten.
ST: You are fortunate. Is there a chance your family would adopt me? (Tami shakes her head.) I didn’t think so.
With your busy life how do you find time to write?
TD: My darling husband has two full time jobs (I know, I know, but he likes to cook, really) so I do my evening writing on the nights that he works both jobs. The nights that he is home I do the doting wife thing which gives me the pleasure of hanging out with him, and the added bones of gathering male insight and thinking patterns and practical application of romantic scenes. (he understands how important my research is—)
He is a great guy and is bugging the daylights out of me to write a story that he dreamed up one night. (A really cool mystery involving twin brothers.)
ST: Are there any quirks you have or do before or while you’re writing?
TD: I don’t think so.
ST: Anything you’d like to add?
TD: To all of you in cyberspace, please feel free to ask any questions. I’m happy to answer.
Thanks, Tami, for hanging out with us today. I’m looking forward to tomorrow. See you all in the morning with more from Tami.
Happy Writing,
Sloane
Who are some of your favorite writers? And are you like Sloane where you write one genre but read a completely different one?
On January 23rd, 2007 at 6:30 pmTami, describe your favorite type of heroine and your favorite type of hero to write about.
On January 23rd, 2007 at 7:08 pmDoes your husband have a younger brother or nephew with the same kinda attitude, I have a daughter.
Gabrina, my favorite writers? Oh my, there are so many! I love Lynn Kurland and Lois Greiman. Julie Garwood, Sandra Hill, Theresa Medeiros. Christina Dodd, our host, Sloane Taylor and of course Jessica Dee just off the top of my head.
I read many different types of books; I would love to write a mystery someday.
Thanks for asking.
On January 23rd, 2007 at 8:17 pmYasmine, I like a heroine who has a life before love. She is self sufficient, yet smart enough to know and accept help when it is offered. She needs to respect herself enough not to equate physical attraction as necessarily love.
My hero is a man who is strong minded and loyal, respectful to all who are around him. One who loves completely and honestly and is not afraid to show his feelings.
As for younger brothers, well, they are just as sweet, the youngest is 23 years old, he is the father of two small boys, six months and three years old, he is a nurse in the day time, then completely takes over the care of his children while his wife goes to school and works every evening. Tell your daughter to hang in there and to not settle, there are great young men out there who know the meaning of love and responsibility—seek him out and then give as good as she gets, it’s a recipe for happiness. Key to finding the right guy—Take your time, be friends first.—No rushing. No hurry.
Thanks for the questions!
On January 23rd, 2007 at 8:18 pmYes, that’s what I’ve told her, Tami. Enjoy but as my mother told me, I’d like to be a grandmother before I’m too old to enjoy my grandchildren. However it still took me 8 years to find Mr. Right (I was having too much fun)
Do you try to include some type of lesson for men and women in your stories to learn about getting along? If so, what lessons?
On January 23rd, 2007 at 8:23 pmOh, my one and only granddaughter is thirteen months old and I have to say that she is the light of my life. Being a grandmother is sooooo much easier than being a mom! Lol. And when I watch my daughter with her daughter, the tenderness and calmness with which she showers onto her child, it makes me want to cry.
Lessons? Well, I had not really thought that I did, but with your question I can see that I do include some lessons. One, and it’s a big one for me, (the mother of three daughters) is that my hero and heroine are married, somehow, someway, before they have ‘physical relations.’
On January 23rd, 2007 at 9:00 pmHow do you organize all of your book materials? I am a completely disorganized writer who could use some helpful hints. Thanks.
On January 23rd, 2007 at 11:52 pmHi Melissa, Organize? Gosh, if you come across any helpful hints, send them my way!
I am sooo un organized, I have notes, plot notes, scene thoughts, external dialogue, internal dialogue — all written down on what ever scrap of paper is handy at the time, someone’s old gum wrapper, candy wrappers, paper napkins, Post Its of every size. The best notes that I have are the ones that I e mail myself from work, I tell you, that was a brainstorm of monumental proportions and made my life so much easer.
I do have three ring binders that I put all my downloaded research into. One for Viking material, another one for Scottish info, ect. and I have a world map handy so when I need someone to take a trip somewhere, there is a good chance that I will have them in the right ocean or at least heading in the right direction.
What do you write? I would love to see some of your work.
On January 24th, 2007 at 1:05 amThanks for the question, sorry I not to helpful here…