Topic: Author Interview
Tawny Taylor the person:
1. What three words do you think describe you as a human being?
Creative, persistent, ambitious
2. How do you think others would describe you?
Kind, caring, non-judgmental
3. Please tell us what you are most passionate about outside of writing.
My family.
4. Do you have any pets? If so, introduce us to them.
A guinea pig named Puffy. He is a new member of our family J
5. What is your most precious memory?
Dancing with my husband on our wedding night. We got married in Las Vegas, and my hubby *hates* dancing. We stumbled upon a big band performance in our hotel (Glenn Miller Orchestra), and I gleefully dragged the poor guy out onto the dance floor. The band leader caught sight of us in our wedding clothes, and congratulated us. The entire room cheered as we swayed to Moonlight Serenade. It was sooooo romantic, even though they all danced circles around us.
6. What is your most embarrassing memory?
I went to my daughter's performance one summer at one of our local universities. The university is small and private, the summer camp my daughter was attending, expensive. My daughter went on a scholarship. We lived in a very different part of town, in a working class neighborhood. It was obvious we weren't like everyone else.
I was in the school's theater, with the theater-type of seats that flip up. It was early, before the performance started, and I had to stand to help one of my smaller children. I sat down, forgetting the seat had flipped up, and landed on my butt. Everyone stared. My face just about blistered, it got so hot.
7. If you weren't a writer, what would you be doing with your life?
Spending all my time slaying dust bunnies and collecting the many dozens of socks that are hiding throughout my house. Both the dust bunnies and runaway socks are quite happy that I'm too busy to be bothered.
8. In two paragraphs or less write your obituary.
Tawny Taylor, loving mother and wife. Tawny lived for her family and loved all forms of art-music, writing, painting, dance. She will always be remembered for giving plenty of hugs to friends and family...and wearing peacock feathers on her butt at the Romantic Times conventions.
Tawny Taylor the writer:
9. Can you describe the time you realized you were indeed a "real" writer?
When I typed the words, The End, the very first time. I'd done it-written a book! Four hundred pages. I was a real writer. Sadly, I'd written four hundred pages of dreck, but that doesn't make me any less a writer.
10. What is going on with your writing these days?
After writing for publication for six and a half years, I am still thrilled every morning when I sit down to write. I'm so very glad I can say that. When I started writing, I wasn't sure I'd have the endurance it takes to make it in publishing.
At the moment, I'm working on a contemporary novella for Ellora's Cave. Masters of Illusion will release in July, as part of EC's Ruby series. After I finish that project up, there are several others I want to tackle. It's hard to decide which to dig into next.
11. What are your future goals for your writing?
My main goal is to work on my storytelling, learn to craft the kind of complex stories I ache to write. It's frustrating as an artist when your ability doesn't quite allow you to create the story/painting/whatever you envision in your head. Career-wise, I want to continue to build my name and reach new readers.
12. Can you describe a typical writing day for you?
I start writing the minute my kids are out the door for school in the morning. I still have one small child at home, so my writing time is interrupted throughout the day with the usual preschool-child-at-home stuff, like oh...making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, extracting foreign objects from a nostril, and cleaning permanent marker off a certain blue-eyed little face.
I usually start the day with blogging, posting on my fave forum (Romance Divas), and once the just-woken-up bleariness has cleared from my vision, I sit down for some serious writing. I stop at lunch and pick up again in the early afternoon, stopping for the day at around 3:30pm. In that handful of hours, I can usually get ten new pages written.
As hard as I try, it's pretty much impossible to stick with the routine on weekends or when the other the kids (7 year old and 9 year old) are home from school.
13. Why do you write?
First, because the income I generate from my writing helps pay the bills. I won't deny the fact that I view my writing as a career and as a business.
Second, because it is a suitable (meaning, healthy) outlet for my OCD.
14. What writer most inspires you? Why?
Honestly, I can't name only one writer. I'm inspired by everything I read. From the talented authors who write for Ellora's Cave. And from the many gifted storytellers who are published by smaller epublishers up to the largest NY houses.
15. How do you define your writing?
I would define my writing as "evolving". As I read, and learn, and explore, my writing has changed. My voice is still very similar to what it was years ago, but the themes and fantasies my stories touch upon have shifted. The later stories are darker, more intense and more emotionally charged.
16. In one sentence-what do you want people to say about your writing in fifty years?
These are all such good (and tough) questions.
I guess what I'd want people to say is that my writing gave them a break from the stresses of their everyday life, or provided a glimpse into a world they hadn't known existed. They look to my books as a way to vicariously live an erotic fantasy they might never experience any other way.
Tawny Taylor the details:
17. Can you tell us where to find more information on you? Website? Blog?
Website: http://www.tawnytaylor.com/
Blog: tawnytaylor.blogspot.com
18. Is there a place where readers can reach you?
tawnytaylor@sbcglobal.net
19. Can you list all your book titles so people can look for them?
I have quite a few books published. I'm not sure you'd want me to list all of them here. My most recent releases:
Paperback: IMMORTAL SECRETS (Ellora's Cave), REAL VAMPS DON'T DRINK O-NEG (Kensington), SEX AND THE SINGLE GHOST (Kensington) and DARK MASTER (Kensington) is releasing at the end of April.
Ebooks: CARNAL HUNGER (Ellora's Cave), WICKED NIGHTS (Changeling Press) and DOUBLE TAKE (Ellora's Cave) is releasing the first week of March.
I also have ebooks published by Echelon Press (CARIBBEAN HEAT) and Samhain Publishing (DIRTY LITTLE LIES).
20. For new readers-what can they expect when they read your book(s)?
My earlier books were sassy and sexy, fun and light. My more recent books are increasingly edgier with more BDSM and ménage elements.
In conclusion:
21. Take as much space as necessary to speak to our readers-what would you like them to know about you and your writing?
I guess I'd just like them/you to know that I'm just me-a down-to-earth mom who gets silly-happy every time a reader emails her, and cherishes every kind word spoken to her. Please, feel free to email me anytime, if you have a comment, a question, or just want to talk about sewing. I'd be thrilled to hear from you.
Thank you for reading!
