Interview with YA Fantasy Author Tiffany Lovering
A little about you, first. Do you have any hidden talents?
TL: I am 30 years old and a single mom of a beautiful 9 year old daughter, Alli. I started writing when I was her age but didn’t start taking it seriously until she begged me to publish the things I had been working on. Before that, writing was simply a way of keeping the stories I loved to tell myself.
As far as hidden talents, I know how to play trombone quite well. It was a passion in high school but it’s still something I love to do. Of course now, I don’t have much time to play.
[image error] Tell us about Alone — what themes does it tackle?
TL: Alone is a YA book which takes you on a journey of healing for a 23 year old girl, Willow, struggling with cutting. Through her art, she finds a way to tackle the things that have destroyed her soul for too many years. Cutting has caused her to become isolated and although she is a successful artist in her town of New Jollie, she still feels incredibly alone.
Is there anything you want readers to take away from your writing?
TL: Cutting is a personal journey that usually leads to disaster unless you tackle it head on. For some people, that means years of therapy, but Willow never felt comfortable with going that route. What I would like for my readers to take away from Alone is a better understanding of cutting. Also, impossible as it may seem, cutting is something that can be conquered through pure will and a better understanding of who you are.
Which other indie authors do you recommend or admire?
TL: Well, she’s no longer an indie author for the most part, but Karen McQuestion is a huge inspiration. She was one of the first indie authors on Kindle who managed to turn writing into a full time career. That in itself is an amazing accomplishment, but I think she’s done it with such grace. I’ve had the honor of speaking with her and it’s obvious that she wasn’t in search of fame, she just loves to write and is grateful that people like reading her work. Her writing always has a clear direction and she has memorable characters that can make a lasting impact on a reader.
Lastly, what question should we have asked you, and why?
TL: I think I should have been asked what inspires me as a writer.
Alone and my Tamporlea Trilogy were both inspired by photographs. There’s a saying: “A picture is worth a thousand words.” I have just used that saying and stretched the thousand words to several thousand. I love looking at a photo and imagining my own story attached to it.
About Tiffany Lovering
Tiffany Lovering is a life-long upstate New York resident and spends most of her time devoted to her daughter, Allison’s activities. In between going to soccer practice, recitals, and spending way too much time on Facebook, she writes young adult fantasies and paranormal romance. You can find all of Tiffany’s book on Amazon.
