T.K.Harris-Interview and Giveaway with the Author

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: T.K. Harris, who currently lives in Colorado, is a Solutions Architect, teacher, and full-time mother. She has been a story teller since she could talk and has had several short stories purchased by professional magazines such as Woman’s World. She is excited that her first novel – Phantom Dreams – has now been published.

You can follow TK Harris at : Website

 LET’S GET STARTED

TRC: Hi Tamara and welcome to The Reading Café. Congratulations on the release of PHANTOM DREAMS.

TK: Thank you and thank you for having me.

TRC: We would like to start with some background information. Would you please tell us something about yourself?

TK: Well, like my profile says, I’ve lead a sort of gypsy life as a military brat. I’ve grown up in several different countries and later gone back to work and live in many more. I’m a Gemini through and through, constantly running from project to project and usually lacking in any sort of consistent focus. Of course focus with work and two children isn’t exactly easy though is it?

TRC: Many authors, like yourself, developed their interest in writing at an early age. What or who was the catalyst that sparked your interest?

TK: My mom tells me I started telling stories the moment I could talk and writing as soon as I could “spell”. I constantly dream up stories and scenarious day and night. Its like an ongoing series of movies in my head. I had several stories and poems “published” in school news papers, even in college. But, I didn’t sell my first story until I was in my late twenties. The feeling I got when someone not only wanted my story but was willing to pay for it, is just indescribable. I keep the first dollar I made from that and the story framed on my wall. This and the framed check from another story I sold to Woman’s World, help keep me going when I start to doubt myself. They are my inspiration to take all those voices and stories in my head and put them to paper.

TRC: What challenges have you faced as an author?

TK: Besides focus? I’m sorry, what was the question? Just kidding. First, it was switching from short stories to novels. There is a very big difference in the skills needed to write a very good short story that conveys maximum meaning in a minimum amount of words and the skills needed to turn a story into a full length novel. The second challenge, was in trying to do the necessary research to make a story have enough details without over researching, which is just a good way to procrastinate.

TRC: What would you say is the biggest misconception about writing/authors?

TK: That writers are a certain “type” of person. I think there are so many images of writers (and other artists) being this flaky, bohemian type of person. You know, very “artsy”. But I’ve met alot of different writers, who would never strike you as a typical aukthor until you got to know them. Me? I’m a very logical person. I’ve spent 20 years in IT. No one would look at me and think “oh she’s a writer”.

TRC: PHANTOM DREAMS is your July 2012 release. Would you please tell us about the premise?

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TK: Sure. The prologue starts out from the perspective of the killer. Very quickly you realize, he’s a little, well, crazy. Next you get to meet Jack. A recently wounded FBI agent and long time serial killer hunter who has seen too much. And then there is Kathy. At night she dreams of women dying and the nightmares are getting worse. And all three are on a collision course.

The FBI and Agent Jack play a major role in this particular storyline. Have you considered writing a mystery/suspense series focusing on Jack, Kathy etc and the FBI? I’ve had a few people ask me that now. And whether or not I was going to include Margo (Kathy’s best friend) or give her, her own main role. Truthfully, I never really considered it. I have a few books from different genres I’m excited to continue fleshing out first. But who knows?

TRC: If you could virtually cast PHANTOM DREAMS with which models and actor would you cast the main characters of the storyline?

TK: I am really stumped with this one! Maybe your audience could help with this question. How about you? Who would you cast?

TRC: Hey, We’re asking the questions *giggling*

TRC: What challenges or difficulties did you face writing Phantom Dream? E.g. research, logistics, publishing etc?

TK:  1) Making myself finish the editing. Going back and acknowledging the holes and the failing or missing scenes and just knuckleing down and finishing. 2) Marketing. OMG. I remember reading John Grisham say that writing his first book A Time to Kill was waaaay easier than the marketing that followed. And boy was he right. Even in today’s age of online advertising, its still a difficult and time consuming process.

TRC: What 5 things would you like to accomplish in the next 10 years?

TK: 1) Publish two more books
2) Finally get to Egypt
3) Take my kids on a few trips out of the country
4) Pay off my bills!
5) Sell more books! 🙂

TRC: Many authors bounce ideas with family and friends. With whom do you bounce ideas and why?

TK: I bounced a few off of my ex-husband and a few off of friends and family. But, for the most part, I haven’t found that one person to bounce ideas off of about my books. So I do a lot of talking to myself. I get a quite a few strange looks but not as many now that wireless head sets are common. Now I just plug my headset in when I’m walking around talking to myself and no one seems to notice.

TRC: Writer’s block is a very real phenomenon for many authors. How do you handle the pressure and anxiety of writer’s block?

TK: 3 x 5 notecards and just keep writing. I can’t tell you how much those 3 x 5 notecards plastered to my bedroom wall kept me motivated. If only because they taunted me night after night to get my butt in gear and finish the book. But they also helped me keep things in order. Its amazing how many times I forgot what Kathy’s age was or Jack’s height or which girl died before the other and where.

TRC: On what are you currently working?

TK: Right now, I promised myself I’d spend 3 solid months focused on getting the word out about Phantom Dreams. After that, I’ll jump back to one of three books I’ve already started writing. I just can’t seem to decide which one I want to focus on. Maybe I’ll hold a contest on Facebook to help me decide!

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

TK: I would like to say to all of those people who doubt they can do this, stop doubting. If you write, you are a writer. All it takes is consistency (keep writing muse or no muse), a willingless to take and use constructive critisim, and the ability to ignore everyone – no matter how well meaning – if they say you can’t do something. Because only you can stop yourself from making it happen.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food – Pretty much anything.

Favorite Dessert – Chocolate. With some chocolate on top and a side of chocolate.

Favorite TV Show – Bones

Favorite Movie – Oh this is a tough one. I’m a Sci-Fi geek so there was Terminator II and then Fifth Element. Besides that, every Pride and Prejudice movie I can get my hands on. I have no idea why. I love Jane Austen though.

Last Movie You Saw – Hotel Transylvania. It was pretty funny.

Dark or Milk Chocolate – Dark

Do you have any pets? Two cats and two kids. The cat’s are at least trainable. 🙂

TRC: Thank you Tamara for answering our questions. Congratulations on the release of PHANTOM DREAMS. We wish you all the best.

TK: Thank you so much for having me!

TK Harris is offering a GIVEAWAY ecopy of PHANTOM DREAMS to one lucky member at The Reading Cafe.

1. You must must a member at The Reading Cafe to qualify. If you are not a member, please register using the log-in at the top of the page or by using one of the social log-ins.

2. If you are using a social log-in such as Twitter or Facebook, please post your email address along with your comment as Twitter etc does not allow for email address.

3. Giveaway open internationally.

4. Giveaway runs from December 15 to 18, 2012