EM: Welcome to My World, Tara. Thank you so much for stopping by to play twenty questions with me :- )
Before we begin, could you tell us a little
about yourself?
TQ: I’m a romance addict
who likes to write bite-sized stories with ample helpings of (occasionally
kinky) sex. At the time this post goes live, I’ll likely be twiddling my thumbs
in a hotel while waiting for our flight to Rome (where all my worldly
possessions should have theoretically arrived).
EM: Are you ready to
play 20 questions? *rubs hands together*
TQ: Bring it on!
Which do
you find harder to write?
1. First person POV or Third?
I’ve never published anything in 1st, if that’s any indication…
I’ve never published anything in 1st, if that’s any indication…
2. As a male or female?
Male. I constantly show portions of dialogue to my husband and ask: “Would a guy say this?” My most recent direct reference to Lembas (the Elvin bread in Lord of the Rings) caused him to roll on the floor with laughter.
Male. I constantly show portions of dialogue to my husband and ask: “Would a guy say this?” My most recent direct reference to Lembas (the Elvin bread in Lord of the Rings) caused him to roll on the floor with laughter.
3. Beginning, middle, or end of the story?
Beginning. Chapter 1 is the most painful part. Once I get over the initial hump, the words tend to flow.
Beginning. Chapter 1 is the most painful part. Once I get over the initial hump, the words tend to flow.
4. Fight scenes or smex scenes?
Fight. Smex comes … umm … naturally.
Fight. Smex comes … umm … naturally.
5. Synopsis or blurb?
Words cannot describe how much I hate synopses.
Words cannot describe how much I hate synopses.
As a
writer, do you prefer:
6. Writing in the morning, afternoon or
evening?
My most productive period seems to be between 9AM and 1PM.
My most productive period seems to be between 9AM and 1PM.
7. Writing with music, or in peace?
In peace. I can live with chirping birds, but that’s about it.
In peace. I can live with chirping birds, but that’s about it.
8. Planning, or Improvising?
Planning. I pre-cast characters and create Scrivener/Storyist outlines. Since I recently wrote three 1-Night Stand stories in a row (all connected to each other), I even created a template.
Planning. I pre-cast characters and create Scrivener/Storyist outlines. Since I recently wrote three 1-Night Stand stories in a row (all connected to each other), I even created a template.
9. Juggling a few projects, or concentrating
on one at a time?
One at a time. Whenever I succumb to the impulse to pursue a side project, I end up trunking one of the two manuscripts.
One at a time. Whenever I succumb to the impulse to pursue a side project, I end up trunking one of the two manuscripts.
10. Sticking to one genre, or exploring many?
Since I’m a staunch believer in happily ever afters, I only write romance. However, I’ve written three contemporary romances, two sci-fi romances, a fantasy romance, and three paranormal romances.
Since I’m a staunch believer in happily ever afters, I only write romance. However, I’ve written three contemporary romances, two sci-fi romances, a fantasy romance, and three paranormal romances.
As a
reader, do you prefer:
11. Story being told from female view or
male?
I prefer a mixture of both.
I prefer a mixture of both.
12. Good guys or bad boys?
Bad boys (perhaps because my real life hero is such a goody-two-shoes).
Bad boys (perhaps because my real life hero is such a goody-two-shoes).
13. Feisty females or fragile damsels?
While I tend to write heroines who save the day (or the hero, as the case may be), I enjoy reading both types. As long as the damsel isn’t too-stupid-to-live, I can find a way to root for her.
While I tend to write heroines who save the day (or the hero, as the case may be), I enjoy reading both types. As long as the damsel isn’t too-stupid-to-live, I can find a way to root for her.
14. Stand alone stories or series?
I’m one of those crazy people who re-reads the entire Psy-Changeling series whenever Nalini Singh is about to release the next installment…
I’m one of those crazy people who re-reads the entire Psy-Changeling series whenever Nalini Singh is about to release the next installment…
15. Quick reads or long stories?
It only now occurs to me that I write quick reads but read longer stories. No idea why.
It only now occurs to me that I write quick reads but read longer stories. No idea why.
16. Romance as a side dish or the main
course?
Main course (but I’ll make exceptions for space operas and high fantasy).
Main course (but I’ll make exceptions for space operas and high fantasy).
17. Erotica or soft romance or something
in-between?
I like reading sexy stories, but it needs to have romantic elements. I usually don’t differentiate between erotic romance and mainstream—the plot and characters matter more than the level of explicitness.
I like reading sexy stories, but it needs to have romantic elements. I usually don’t differentiate between erotic romance and mainstream—the plot and characters matter more than the level of explicitness.
18. More action or humor?
Humor. I expect to giggle at least a couple of times over the course of a book.
Humor. I expect to giggle at least a couple of times over the course of a book.
Just for
fun:
19. Vampires or Angels?
Oh dear… As a staunch Guild Hunter fangirl, I don’t think I can pick between Dmitri and Raphael.
Oh dear… As a staunch Guild Hunter fangirl, I don’t think I can pick between Dmitri and Raphael.
20. Werewolves or Demons?
Werewolves (Kresley Cole’s Lycae, to be specific)
Werewolves (Kresley Cole’s Lycae, to be specific)
What are you currently working on?
I just
contracted three paranormal romances (all part of Decadent’s 1-Night Stand
series), and I should be starting the edits for those later this year. I’m also
in the process of revising a Christmas-themed romantic suspense that’s been
refusing to cooperate ever since I finished the first draft in January.
Do you have a current release?
I might….
Here’s the thing—since the move made Internet access a bit uncertain, I decided
to pre-schedule all my stops for my upcoming release, Operation Owl. To the best of my knowledge (every aspect of the
book is done), it should be available some time in July 2014. In either event,
I’m giving away a $25 gift card to celebrate its completion.
You can find out how to enter on my website: http://www.TaraQuan.com/Owl
OR Here’s the Rafflecopter widget:
And now, a
word from my sponsor…
Operation Owl
Five years
ago, Maya Jain kissed her best friend only to have him run out of her dorm room
and leave the state. When he shows up in Washington, D.C., a wanted fugitive
sought after by every branch of the US government, she can’t bring herself to
ignore his plight. As their physical relationship picks up where it left off,
she decides it’s time to make him see her as more than the bespectacled,
bookish girl he once called “Owl.”
After
being accused of espionage and treason, Zack Strong needs a forensic accountant
to help clear his name. Not knowing who he can trust, this white-hat hacker has
no choice but to ask his former best friend and math tutor for help. Together
they unravel a cyber conspiracy at the Barn, an NSA facility tasked to
intercept electronic communications. But as they traverse the nation’s capital
to avoid capture, Maya insists on letting their simmering sexual tension take
its natural course. Even though he’s never been able to shake the memory of
their one kiss, he refuses to let her give up her life for a man with no
future.
Genre: Contemporary Romantic Comedy,
Multicultural
Excerpt:
Hesitating
at the threshold of stalker-like activity, the logical part of his brain made
one last-ditch attempt to stall his fingers. This wasn’t acceptable behavior,
not by any stretch of the imagination. He should wait and see what happened. If
push came to shove, he could always abandon his post and knock on her door.
But he’d
been sitting there for ages, an abnormal amount of time for anyone to spend in
the bathroom. She could have passed out in there, and then where would they be?
His brain’s paranoid frontal lobe ended up winning the battle. He needed a
quick peek, a brief glance to confirm her location. If the trick gave him a
glimpse of her in the shower, the curtain would obscure his view. If he saw
even a hint of skin, he’d shut the damn feed off. No harm could come of this.
He
accessed her webcam and turned it on. As luck would have it, the computer was
angled at the open bathroom door, the only part of her apartment he couldn’t
see into from the street. With the wall-to-wall mirror completely visible on
screen, it wouldn’t be hard to ascertain her presence. A few keystrokes allowed
him to enhance the high definition feed and zoom in. A light coating of
condensation blurred the reflection by a fraction, but the open doors allowed
most of it to dissipate. The reflected image was clear enough to make out
shapes and colors.
The
footage presented a profile view of Maya lying in a bathtub. Since he could
only make out her face, neck, and left arm, he didn’t see an immediate need to
cease and desist. Her head rested against the tub’s lip, cushioned by her long,
dark hair. With her eyes closed and lips parted, he couldn’t tell if she was
conscious. What if she had slipped in the shower and hit her head?
He cranked
up the microphone’s sensitivity. The great thing about modern-day computers was
their much-improved capability to process audio and video. As soon as she made
a sound or moved, he’d stop watching.
A soft,
throaty moan crackled over the speakers. Her left hand lifted in the air before
clenching over the side of the tub. Her back and neck arched.
“Shit.”
Slapping
down his laptop screen, Zack leaned back against the leather headrest and
massaged his temples. Struggling not to draw any conclusions, he muttered, “Don’t
go there, man. Just don’t go there.”
Where can readers find you on the internet?
My
website, www.taraquan.com, connects to all my social media haunts.
Here are the direct links to save everyone a few clicks.
Globetrotter, lover of languages, and romance
author, Tara Quan has an addiction for crafting tales with a pinch of spice and
a smidgen of kink. Inspired by her travels, Tara enjoys tossing her kick-ass
heroines and alpha males into exotic contemporary locales, fantasy worlds, and
post-apocalyptic futures. Armed with magical powers or conventional weapons,
her characters are guaranteed a suspenseful and sensual ride, as well as their
own happily ever after.
EM: Thank you so much
for joining me!
TQ: Thanks for having me
over!
Thanks for having me over!
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