An Interview with Reconstructed Author, Tasha Black

Here at Lily Cahill, we recently stumbled upon a superhero romance novel called “Reconstructed,” by Tasha Black. We were so excited to see another superhero romance out there we couldn’t help but fangirl all over the place and email Tasha immediately.

Reconstructed: Building a Hero (Book 1): (A Billionaire Superhero Romance)

“Reconstructed,” by Tasha Black

While reading the novel, not only were we totally hooked, but we also couldn’t help but feel like kindred spirits. West is an over-privileged playboy and Cordelia is a hard working woman whose sister is the most important person in the world to her. They reminded us of Clayton and Cora, the main characters in our first book “Sparked,” and we fell deeply in love.

Tasha was gracious enough to answer some questions from her newest fangirls.

Lily Cahill: What drew you to exploring superhero romance? (By the way, I love the series title, Building a Hero)

Tasha Black: Thanks for the compliment about the title! My personal favorite is the tagline: Some heroes aren’t born… They’re built.

LC: We love that too!

TB: I’ve always loved to watch superhero movies with Mr. Black. While he enjoys the action, I admire Christian Bale or Robert Downey, Jr. And I wonder … what would it be like to be Pepper Potts? Or one of Batman’s arm candy girls? Would a wealthy businessman by day and muscle-bound hero by night necessarily make a crummy boyfriend? Or might he be loyal, protective, and passionate?

And what about those powers? Would he hurt you with them? Or would he be dynamite in the sack? Would his powers and good deeds spur you on to be your best self? Or would they make you feel pedestrian and inadequate?

And what if you had known him before he was a superhero? Would you still believe in him?

Writing this book allowed me to play with all kinds of answers to these questions, as well as, let’s face it, some steaminess!

LC: Was it difficult to switch gears into superheroes after writing shifters? What do you think the main differences are in dealing with those two types of characters?

TB: I’ve always loved superhero stories, so in a way it was like coming home. That being said, yes, I definitely had to get my head in the game in order to set the stage for a different kind of story.

My shifters are born into their abilities, so there is no “origin story” for them. Shifters are drawn by instinct and often make decisions that seem to be almost fated. On the other hand, superheroes are new to the game and they generally make decisions that are based on data and their own nebulous sense of right and wrong–consequently they tend to make more interesting and spectacular mistakes!

At the end of the day though, it’s all about the characters, getting to know them inside and out and then putting them into impossible situations to see what they’ll do. That’s what all writers love to do, I think.

LC: If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

TB: Holy crap, I have been waiting all my life for someone to ask me this! Is the follow-up question: “Do you want your power right now?”