Tami Dee
January 22, 2007
Tami Dee Tells All
Sloane Taylor: Hi, Tami Dee, welcome aboard. I’m looking forward to chatting with you. Thank you for being here all week.
Tami Dee: I am so happy to be here, Sloane.
ST: Please tell us a little about yourself.
TD: Reading has always been as necessary in my life as breathing air. I have always wanted to write, but until a couple of years ago did not dare to attempt it. I have dyslexia and although it does not affect my ability to read, it has a tremendous effect on my writing abilities. I can spell the same word wrong, six different ways, and often times I will write a sentence completely backwards. When I was in school, dyslexia was more or less unknown to educators. My consistently failing grades were a source of heartache and frustration for my teachers and myself.
My writing takes place after a full time job in the Human Resources Department of a large school district, and between spending time with my husband, three grown daughters, and a one year old granddaughter.
ST: Your current release, UNDER A VIKING MOON, is exciting and very sensual with excellent reviews from the top sites. Please tell us about the book.
TD: UNDER A VIKING MOON is a time travel romantic adventure. It is a story of legends, family, loyalty, responsibility, honor, determination, trust, and betrayal. Leif Nabboddrson, a Norse Jarl living in the year 900, and Katla ‘Kat’ Jonsdottir, a modern young woman who has survived the streets of San Francisco on her own since she was fifteen, are strong characters who each have their own, individual goals and responsibilities, strengths and weaknesses. Their challenge is compelling as they are swept through time. Each has the charge to save the family lines very existence and the only hope either can do so is to destroy what they love the most. Each other.
UNDER A VIKING MOON is a labor of love. I put my whole heart into the writing of this epic love story and to this day I feel close to my hero and heroine.
ST: Tami, you’ve achieved an excellent story and your love for it shines in your writing. How did you come up with the story line?
TD: Where do I come up with all my story lines? In my dreams! I have learned to have a pen and paper close to my night stand so I can scribble my dreams down before I forget them.
ST: That’s a great idea. Thanks for sharing it. Please tell us where everyone can buy UNDER A VIKING MOON.
TD: At Triskelion Publishing, www.triskelionpublishing.net then type in Tami Dee is the search box.
January 23, 2007
The Write Side of Life
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 minutes 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.
January 24, 2007
Author, Author, Tell Us More
ST: Good morning, Tami, welcome back. Let’s learn more about you as an author.
ST: Who or what encouraged you to write erotica?
TD: I have to laugh at this question. My publishing house has given my book’s heat level a two. One being the lowest and five being the highest.
ST: Yes, but UNDER A VIKING MOON is very sensual with excellent sexual tension. So Tami, where do you get the ideas for your novels?
TD: Back to my dreams. For some reason, I seem to dream in plots and story lines.
ST: How do you research your books?
TD: Books and online. I can get lost in the research if I let myself. Even though I write fiction, I like the foundation of my stories to be based on as much fact as I can come up with. I learned so much about Vikings while writing UAVM and I tried to put as many truthful customs and such as I could into my book without making it sound like a history lesson.
ST: Who is your support group?
TD: Triskelion Publishing has several on line support groups. My fellow authors freely give encouragement and support to one another. I also belong to Celtic Hearts Romance Writers, also an amazing, supportive group. And I have two ladies, Paula from Fresno CA and Carole from Atlanta Georgia who have been with me from the beginning. We meet at an on line critique group. They each understand my dyslexia and are willing to check and recheck my chapters for clarity, all the while never taking away from my voice or thoughts. They are great cheerleaders.
ST: Thank you again, Tami, for taking the time from your busy schedule to be here. We’ll see you in the morning.
TD: No problem, Sloane. I’m enjoying myself.
January 25, 2007
The Soft Side of Tami Dee
Hi Everyone, we’re back with Tami Dee for more insight on a writer’s life.
ST: Tami, please describe your writing space.
TD: I have a spare bedroom which is my office. It was my youngest daughter’s room, and is painted in soft colors that we picked out and painted together, so I have good memories and a very nice, peaceful feeling when I am in here. (she just left the nest and we really miss her—oh, why do they have to grow up and get their own lives?)
ST: I know what you mean, but there comes a time. Unfortunately. Tami, what’s your favorite part of writing?
TD: That would be the writing itself.
ST: What do you absolutely hate about being an author?
TD: When I find out, I will let you know. Lol.
ST: Your website is gorgeous. I recommend everyone cruise over to www.tamidee.com and check it out. How did you decide on the content and design?
TD: I have to laugh again. I think that I redesign my web site every couple of months or so. I like my site to reflect me, and I am always changing and growing…
ST: It does reflect you, classy and professional.
TD: Thanks, Sloane, I appreciate your comments and being interviewed.
January 26, 2007
Gazing into the Crystal Ball
ST: Good morning, Tami, and welcome back for your last day. It’s been a good week and thank you for being so frank with us.
ST: What does the future hold for Tami Dee?
TD: I hope that it holds more books being published. Triskelion does at times publish print books. I would truly love to see Under A Viking Moon as a paper back someday.
ST: If you had one wish that would be granted, what would it be?
TD: That I will become an author who is known to give readers memorable stories that will leave them feeling good about themselves, allow them to discover the romance that is likely already in their lives, or, if not, will be soon, and to have a positive outlook of the future and know that their own happy ending will be worth the journey they took to get there.
ST: How did you and Triskelion Publishing come together?
TD: After I completed Under A Viking Moon, I decided to find a publishing house that accepted queries on line (in order to save on postage) and that were in the market for Time Travel romances. Only two publishing houses showed up in my search, Avon (I love Avon books) and Triskelion Publishing (I had never heard of them). I sent out my on line queries and less than two days later, Avon sent a rejection letter via e mail, and Triskelion sent a request for a full!
In less than a week, Triskelion offered me a contract. Needless to say, I accepted. I was worried that without an agent, I would not understand the contract, but after I received it, I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to read. I only had a few questions, which were answered promptly and the rest as they say, is history.
ST: What are you working on for the future?
TD: I am working on a sister book for Under A Viking Moon entitled Dawn of A Viking Sunrise. In this book Rosie, (Kat from UAVM’s best friend), literally falls in love with Leif’s (UAVM’s hero) brother. I am also working on a historical Scottish romance adventure, and am plotting out a mystery which I believe will have a roller derby skater as my heroine…
ST: It sounds like two more books for me to read as soon as they’re released.
TD: I hope you and a lot of other people. lol.
ST: Thank you, Tami, for spending so much time with us. It’s been a great week and I’ve enjoyed learning more about you. The very best to you in the future and please keep us posted on your new releases.
TD: Thank you for inviting me to spend this week with you. I also have had a wonderful time!