Hello one and
all! How are you today? I'm back and hope everyone is doing well and happy!
It’s so great to be with all of you again. Welcome back to my writing blog page
where I try to share whatever I think may interest you. Of course, by now you
all know how very much I love promoting other authors. Today I interview a
fellow writer. With me this time is Multi-published author Tierney James, as
she discusses writing and her current book, Rooftop Angels, which was released on June 7, 2016 from Paperback
Press.
Author Tierney James
Tierney has been
in education for over thirty years. She recently stopped teaching World
Geography for a nearby college to pursue her writing career. Creating a
workshop for beginning writers, speaking at schools and serving as an officer
in the writing group Sleuths’ Ink, are some of the work she does when not
writing. With the creation of Winds of Deception, Tierney is working with one
of the crew members of USS Liberty in hopes of obtaining the Medal of Honor for
him. She is also working with Mission K9 Rescue to create a children’s book
about four-footed soldiers that save lives.
Besides serving
as a Solar System Ambassador for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab and attending Space
Camp for Educators, Tierney has traveled across the world. From the Great Wall
of China to floating the Okavango Delta of Botswana, Africa, she ties her
unique experiences into other writing projects such as the action thriller, An
Unlikely Hero, the first in the Enigma Series. Winds of Deception is the second
in that series. Living on a Native American reservation and in a mining town
for many years fuels the kind of characters she never tires of creating.
Besides teaching
and writing, Tierney enjoys family, gardening, reading and music. Other
pursuits involve learning Hebrew in hopes of incorporating the knowledge in a
future Enigma Series. She likes to research and sometimes that has involved
learning new skills, such as being certified with various weapons.
She has settled
in the beautiful Ozarks, but there’s never a dull moment in Tierney’s life. And
that is just the way she likes it. "Life is an adventure! Embrace
it," is her motto. You can find her on Facebook as Tierney James. Her
website is http://www.tierneyjames.com
Welcome Tierney!
Thanks so much for joining us here. You’ve lead such an interesting and
well-traveled life. I’m fascinated by it all. Shall we begin to learn more
about you and your writing?
SJ: I couldn’t help noticing that you
have written a number of suspense novels as well as children’s books. That is
quite a varied experience. Can you tell us a little bit of how your ideas
evolved?
Tierney: Because of living in a mining
community for so many years I had access to incredible knowledge from
engineers, geologists and hard rock miners. The stories of life and survival
are amazing and touched my heart enough to write The Rescued Heart, about a
mine rescue team.
Tierney's newest novel now available.
SJ: Please tell us about your newest
release, Rooftop Angels. I
understand it is set in Afghanistan.
Tierney: When Tessa Scott wakes with
blood on her hands in a rat infested shack in Afghanistan, she discovers six
orphan girls and the Undersecretary of State counting on her for protection.
Confused at how she got there or why a smoldering Black Hawk helicopter has
crashed outside the village, forces her into yet another adventure of cat and
mouse with the Taliban who intend to kidnap them. With the help of a Kyrgyz
tribesman and his men, they elude the danger only to discover their protection
comes at a price which involves marriage to the leader. An unexpected chance at
new love outweighs the secret Tessa must now carry forever. Meanwhile Captain
Hunter, an Enigma agent, desperately searches for her before she disappears on
the rooftop of the world. A race against time and ruthless drug lords, who work
with the U.S. government, create obstacles which change Tessa’s life in a way
she never expected.
SJ: Wow! That is some plot Tierney!
Now, we have to know. How extensive was your research for each one of your
books? How much fact and fiction do you roll into each one?
Tierney: Each of the books in the Enigma Series requires a great deal of
research. Because I love geography and geopolitical conflict, it becomes a
labor of love. I’ve interviewed a survivor of the USS Liberty which is the
stage for Winds of Deception, studied
isotopes and collected books on Afghanistan. I’ve even watched buzkashi
tournaments on YouTube which were outlawed by the Taliban.
SJ: If you could turn one of your books
into a film, which one would you choose and why?
Tierney: I guess it would have to be An Unlikely Hero because that is where
it all began, both as the story begins to unfold into a series and me as a
writer. I call it my baby.
SJ: Where do you get your inspiration
and ideas from, especially in Rooftop
Angels? Why set it in Afghanistan?
Tierney: Like many writers I tend to
read and watch movies that are in my thriller/suspense genre. But for Rooftop
Angels it started with an article in National Geographic. There was an
article about the Rooftop of the World in the Wakhan in Northern Afghanistan.
I’ve probably read that article fifteen times. I’ve watched videos on YouTube
and devoured everything I could find on the Kyrgyz people of this area. I’m
smitten.
SJ: What do you love most about being
a writer? Least?
Tierney: The part I love most is being
able to create new worlds and characters that speak to me. Going to writing
conferences and writing groups keep me grounded. It’s great to make new friends
who are so encouraging. My least favorite is marketing, trying to find a
publisher and all the hoops you have to jump through to get attention. But even
that I don’t mind. It’s just my least favorite part.
SJ:
What writer inspired you most and how?
Tierney: I think James Rollins inspired
me the most as to his style of writing. Vince Flynn inspired me as to the
stories he told. Mixing geopolitical conflict and science together forced me to
admit I had a story inside me too.
SJ: If you could give just one piece of
important writing advice to an aspiring writer, what would it be?
Tierney: You must write every single
day to be a writer. Find authors you love and read everything they’ve written.
Then find someone else. Learn your craft through reading and writing.
SJ: What is a favorite book you
enjoyed reading and would recommend without hesitation? Why?
Tierney: Amazonia by James Rollins
because it uses science and geography to put you on a roller coaster ride that
will leave you breathless. I feel my heart quicken just thinking about it.
SJ: In closing, and without giving too
much away, do you have any more projects in the immediate future? We’d love to
hear about it.
Tierney: My first romantic paranormal
thriller comes out July 16th from Black Opal Books. It was so much fun to write
because it was based on a piece of classical music. My husband heard the story
of The Devil’s Trill from NPR one day and said I should write a story about
that. Well boy did I open a can of research worms. Dance of the Devil’s Trill
has plenty of action, suspense and corruption, not to mention evil and angelic
forces. I’m also working on my first science fiction romantic thriller
involving a parallel universe and a terrorist threat.
Ooh, Tierney that
sounds so intriguing. I
don’t know about you, readers, but can’t wait to read it and see what you put to paper. Thanks,
Tierney for allowing use to take some time out of your busy schedule and
interview you about your writing and your latest novel, Rooftop Angels. It’s been a
pleasure and so fascinating speaking with you. Do keep writing and keep those stories coming.
Readers, take
note you may purchase a copy of any of Tierney’s books at on-line book stores:
Amazon, Barnes and Nobles and from all major and Indie US book stores.
But before we go,
it wouldn’t be fair if we didn’t share an excerpt from Rooftop Angels:
Foothills of the Pamir
Mountains in Afghanistan
Her sense of smell forced her to wrinkle her nose at the
same time her throbbing head begged her to be still. Then, as she ignored the
warning, a sharp jab of pain traveled up to her hip. The floor where she sat
felt like compacted dirt. Even in the dim light seeping through the ragged
covering over the window, she understood this place meant danger. But where was
she? How had she gotten here? Why were her hands tied with something like
baling twine? Her face felt puffy as if she suffered from allergies, or had she
been crying? The taste of salt coated her tongue. Dry, cracked lips needed
moisture.
Who were the small people cowering along the wall near her?
A small child rested her head on the edge of her shoulder. She flinched away in
panic as the downward movement landed the child in her lap. The little one
offered up a sleepy grin at her before snuggling back against her shoulder.
The child had light-colored eyes with skin neither tan nor
white but something in between, as if she spent a great deal of time outdoors.
She smelled liked boiled onions or was it cabbage? The overpowering scent of
wood smoke confused her ability to piece together the events leading to this
point in time.
Panic raced through her body as her heart accelerated. Even
though her arms and legs felt cold, sweat beaded up across her neck and
forehead. A sticky substance covered her hands. Lifting them up into the
ribbons of light, she squinted to see her palms.
Blood. Her hands were covered in blood. Whose blood? Her
body ached. She rubbed her hands up and down, over and over against the torn
robe she wore. The fibers, rough and shaggy, pulled the blood from her hands as
she worked to be free of the dried substance. The child’s head grew heavy
against her shoulder. She wanted to check herself for open wounds. Would she
find more blood? I need to get up and move. She nudged the child to push her
back against the wall made of mud bricks.
Standing with a grunt and the grace of an eighty-year-old
woman, she staggered up. She bit her bottom lip so hard the taste of salt and
blood seeped onto her parched tongue. An awkward attempt to feel her body for
open wounds with tied hands helped her realize the bindings remained loose but
she still couldn’t wiggle free of them.
Her hands trembled against her body locating a number of
bruises but no wounds. She stretched out her arms then rolled her shoulders.
The movement helped her to relax. A step on weak legs propelled her forward
faster than she intended. The pain now resembled stiffness rather than an
injury.
Something skittered across the floor. Mice. She sucked in
her breath and fell back against a table propped up by a cardboard box. It
flipped over with her weight against it. She cried out as someone touched her
neck. The sudden movement caused her to jerk away and lose her balance.
Outstretched hands pulled her back to steady feet.
A reflex to fight kicked in, and she rammed a shoulder into
the man who stood no taller than her. He looked like a young oak tree, strong
and unmoving despite her attempt to escape. Instead of retaliating, the young
man chuckled and grabbed her by the twine around her wrists. He pointed toward
the door and added a tug indicating she needed to follow him outside. She dug
in her heels to no avail. The next jerk sent her staggering into his back as he
led her outside into the light of day.
The burst of brightness forced her head down. Seeing that
she wore what looked like combat boots, the fleeting thought, they’re not even
cute, popped into her head. The cool wind created shivers as she cocked her
head to the side to glimpse the surroundings. A scarf slipped off her head onto
the ground. With the sound of excited voices of men, she stole a glance to see
what had gotten them wound up. They pointed at her face then at their own eyes
and hair. Their black garb and headdress told her she wasn’t in Kansas anymore,
as the saying went. Lumbering yaks swaying their heads and the stomp of
restless horses added to the confusion as to her location.
Self-conscious, she touched her hair, and realized strands
twisted free from a loose ponytail. The curls blew across her face as she
pushed them back with unsteady hands. She remained clueless as to the reason
her appearance caused such excitement. A fleeting thought her mascara smeared
on what felt like a puffy face caused her to swipe at her cheeks. The young man
who had dragged her outside wore a pillbox-like hat. He stormed up to her and
cupped her chin in his hand and squeezed. She guessed he might be seventeen or
eighteen, just a kid.
She took a step forward and rammed her knee into his groin.
He collapsed on the ground with the rest of his sketchy friends laughing.
Several others stepped forward then back, followed by mocking her actions. The
young man on the ground moaned as he staggered to his feet then held himself.
The defense move felt familiar, as if she’d used it a number of times. Had she
done it wrong? The kid acted like she’d given him a swat on the rump.
A step back landed her against a bigger man. She spun around
and stepped away. He wore a brown fur hat with flaps drooping over his ears and
a stained, ragged scarf wrapped around his temples. A tattered ski mask covered
his nose, but the other openings revealed almond-shaped eyes. From the large
openings, it couldn’t offer much warmth. His exposed mouth was wide with full,
thick lips that turned down in an impatient frown.
Startled, she took another step away but tangled her foot in
her robe and landed her on the ground. The man’s solemn glare bore down on her
as he reached to grab her by the arm and lifted with an unexpected gentleness.
The strength in his hands reminded her of someone else, but she couldn’t
remember who. Someone tall and menacing walked through a hazy memory. That
memory carried a weapon, military issued. Why she knew such a thing remained a
mystery. Then the shadowy image vanished. The man in the brown hat watched her
with interest, not lust, which both alarmed and comforted her. She spotted a
dagger sheathed at his waist and wondered for a split second what he used it
for since she noticed a smear of blood on the handle.
For more about Tierney
and her writing, remember to check out her website at:
Or at one of her other social media links:
Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Tierney-James/e/B00C1FB19Q/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1465672628&sr=1-2-ent
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/ptierneyjames/boards
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/ptierneyjames/boards
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/TierneyJames1
Regards,
S. J. Francis
Advocate for the underdog, and cat, et al.
In Shattered Lies:
“Good and bad, it's All about Family."
Now available from Black Opal Books, on-line and indie booksellers.
My Black Opal
Books Author Page:
My web page: http://www.sjfranciswriter.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sjfrancis419
A Book Review 4 U: http://abookreview4u.blogspot.com
A Consumer's View: http://aconsumersview.blogspot.com
One for the Animals: http://onefortheanimals.blogspot.com
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/sjfrancis419/
And now for some
legal stuff: Copyright 2015 by S.J. Francis. Opinions expressed here are solely
those of the author, S. J. Francis and the guest author and are meant to
entertain, inform and enlighten, and intend to offend no one.
