Tamara Shoemaker's Blog

Dearest Tim,

This is Tama of the past, eight and a half years past, in fact. Right now, we’re struggling through the throes of raising young children, coordinating preschool/kindergarten/second grade homework, dealing with reading/mathematics challenges, running the kids to gymnastics/karate/soccer, cavorting in all the fun and joy and frustration that goes into juggling the schedules of young children.

It blows my mind that when you read this, we’ll be swimming in the challenges of helping our children through high school, begin looking at colleges, making major life decisions, teaching them to drive, of all things.

I DON’T call shotgun.

I just wanted to say that there is no one I’d rather live through these years with than you. I have no idea what curve balls life will throw at us in the next while, but I know that we will handle them because that’s what we do. We promised that day in May 2004 to love each other through it all, in sickness and in health, for better or for worse.

I can see you read this, even now, years before you do, and I see the half-smile on your face, hear the thoughts in your head–that’s my dear, cheesy wife–and watch you process it all. You may have a few more gray hairs now; that’s okay, I do, too. We may still live in the same house and have the same jobs and do all the same routines, but deep down, we’re a lot farther on our journey, you and I.

Sometimes, it’s felt like the kids have taken over our lives (and in some ways, they have–three children running around takes up a LOT of time), but it’s the back-and-forth day-to-day living with each other that really counts in the long run.

In ten years, will we hold hands? Will we look at each other’s faces that show a few more lines than they did and remember what it was like twenty years ago when we said our vows? Will you still tickle me to make me laugh, and hug me when I cry?

I’ve been told many times that love is a choice. I expect that there will be a few or many times in the years between the time I’ve written this letter and the time you read it where I’ll have had the choice to either give up or continue on.

I will always choose to go on–with you. I will always see you, first and foremost, as the man I fell in love with, slowly, over Skip-bo and late-night music and movies and sand volleyball and day-old baked goods. Then I will always see you as the father of my children, the man who wishes to live a life, holy and pure, before God, an instrument of peace to others, a leader who trains his offspring to also love God. And then, I will always see you as my life partner, working through each challenge, every day, as we face it together.

Happy twentieth year of doing life with you.

Your wife of the past, who looks to the future, and loves you in both.

[image error]If you follow me–at all–you’ll know Emily June Street and I have not only an intense and amazing working relationship, but a close friendship as well. You may or may not be aware, but we’ve never met in person. She lives on the West Coast, I live on the East Coast, and 2,800+ miles separate us. However, we will fix this little detail when we attend the Writer’s Digest Conference together in New York City in August 2017. Can you imagine how excited I am?!

Emily June Street is the author of six novels: The Gantean, The Cedna, Sterling, Mage and Source, Secret Room, and The Velocipede Races. She has degrees in psychology and library science, but she divides her time between teaching Pilates and exploring alternate worlds in writing. She founded Luminous Creatures Press with Beth Deitchman in 2013.

Look for the next installment in the Tales of Blood & Light series, Light and Shadow, in 2018!
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Thanks for stopping by my website, Emily! Now let’s dive into some questions:

TS: Mage and Source is book four in your Tales of Blood & Light series, but for those who may not have read the foregoing books, could you give us a three sentence summary of the novel?

EJS: Magic is dead. The only hope for restoring it lies in the hands of a talented ex-mage and an enemy spy thrown together by fate and unexpected love. But an eastern foe seeks to destroy them both before they can uncover the true path back to magic..

[image error]TS: I’ve only written, at the longest, trilogy arcs–three books that had to make sense from page one of the first book to the last page of the third book. Tales of Blood & Light is projected to be a whopping seven-book series. For lack of better wording, how in the world did you do it–keep everything organized, not drop plot threads, and maintain a solid story structure (one George R.R. Martin could certainly learn from you!)?
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EJS: Well, Tales of Blood and Light began as one book, The Gantean, no plans for any others in a series. Then I decided I needed a Book Two to tell the “villain’s” point of view from The Gantean, so I wrote The Cedna. Then I realized I needed to resolve the cataclysmic disaster that ends The Cedna’s story, and so I planned a book three, which was going to be Tianiq, Leila’s missing daughter’s story. Then I wrote a “companion book” called Night Queen, which was sort of a prequel to the planned trilogy set in the Lethemia world. Then I decided I didn’t like book three, Tianiq’s book, and wanted to revise entirely. Fortunately this was early on, well before I ever put out The Gantean, so I was able to revise all three books to adjust for this.
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But then I decided to write Sterling’s story, which came out very easily, and felt like a natural next step after the Cedna’s book. Only after writing Sterling did I decide to sit down and formally examine what I was trying to do with this series. That was when I finally realized I was telling a story about the fall and return of magic in this world, an apocalypse and a restoration. I was able to tease out from the exiting stories that I’d set up these seven stones (the Ophirae) that were vital to the return of magic, and thus, I could have seven books, each essentially describing a romantic relationship and the re-awakening of one of the seven stones needed to restore magic to this world. So, that’s when I finally realized I needed seven books. I tore apart everything and rewrote parts of all the books, dismantled the book Night Queen and turned it into Mage and Source, and now here I am with a completely pantsed seven-book series in the works!

So the answer lurking within all those words is…there was no planning, and what someone should learn from my experience is: this is not the best approach to writing a seven-book series!

Fortunately, I have a pretty good memory, which helps me keep track of the logistics of the story arc—that and a whole bunch of slips of paper and several maps. I also try to 1) trust in my subconscious to unearth the threads of the story that need to be unearthed; 2) keep track of essential facts with lots of folders and post-its (I like to have important information and details on paper rather than on the computer, as I like spreading out my papers on the floor and getting a big overall picture every now and again); and 3) endless reworking and rewriting.

In retrospect, this is a very labor-intensive way to write books, definitely not for people who don’t like the slog of rewrites and massive amounts of editing. Be a planner if you want a streamlined process! I’ve gone the planned route for other books, and it is much easier and it involves a lot less rewriting. That said, I do enjoy the endless managed chaos of my Tales of Blood & Light process. There’s something deeply satisfying about pantsing a story. It feels organic and sometimes you surprise yourself with connections and storylines you’d never have planned.

.TS: Laith fascinates me in this book. His chemistry with Elena is undeniable. Tell me, did you use a blueprint for either character (Laith or Elena)–someone in “our world” who was your inspiration for creating either of them in Lethemia’s world? If so, who? What were the standout characteristics that you tried to translate over? If not, what famous person or character in this world might be most like Laith and/or Elena, and in what ways?
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[image error]EJS: I rarely model my characters after real people, honestly. I suppose my characters are creations “borged” from a multitude of people I’ve known, some I might not even remember, and also from parts of myself that don’t see the light of day. Laith does share some character features with my husband, Brady, namely being obsessed with his own interests and being fairly impervious to the negative opinions of others. Brady also tends to do what Brady wants, just like Laith. My husband, however, is a quiet man, and Laith is a huge talker. I have reams and reams of cut pages of Laith, just telling his stories. For a while he really wanted his own book all to himself, but he just rambled on and on.
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I had no particular model for Elena, although no doubt her perfectionistic tendencies and her favoring of reason over emotion come straight from me. I certainly haven’t used any famous person’s personality to shape either character; again, that’s just not my style.

I have done the Myers-Briggs Personality test for most of my characters. Laith is an ENTP and Elena is an ISTJ—very opposite types, but united by that thinking element. (Note: I am an INTJ, and I think my strongest domain is that T, that “thinking” quality. I find it very hard to write “F”s, or feeling types, because my brain just doesn’t work that way. I think so far only Sterling and Erich have been “feeling” types, and often I really had to pause and think to myself…what would someone entirely led by their feelings do in this situation? In some ways I think “F”s are easier for people to relate to, because that “T” quality can be very idiosyncratic, following a logic that isn’t always readily apparent, whereas everyone understands the basic human emotions and can relate to them immediately.

Appearance-wise Laith might look like a cross between Aiden Turner and Riz Ahmed, but taller than either of them, and Elena might look like Li Bingbing.

TS: You’ve told me that, according to many of your test readers, Costas Galatien, King of Lethemia, is not one of your more popular characters. Having read the books, though, I really dig the guy. He’s certainly a layered character with lots of depth. Where and how was he born in your mind? What went into his development? How did you pull off his tortured, wise, just, angsty, disciplined, and–dare I say it–dreamy layers? Asking for a friend.

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Allison K. García is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a passion for writing. Latina at heart, Allison has absorbed the love and culture of her friends, family, and hermanos en Cristo and has used her experiences to cast a glimpse into the journey of undocumented Christians.
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1.) In two and a half sentences, give us the book summary. I shall be strict and exacting.

Today, my second completed trilogy hits the virtual shelves at the ‘Zon, and I am so, so thrilled about that! Unleash the Inferno, while arguably the hardest-to-write book I’ve released yet, is probably the most satisfying as well. I love how all the loose ends wrapped up, and in a trilogy with an enormous ensemble cast, that was a difficult thing.

Anyway, if you love epic fantasies and medieval settings and dragons and political intrigue and romance and Lord of the Rings-esque battles, you’ll enjoy this one! I hope it occupies a space on your Kindle shelf (or, if you’re like me, your REAL shelf that you have to dust every now and then).

Once you’ve read it, tell your friends! Hop on Amazon and leave a review, even a one-liner! I depend on those reviews for sales, and they’re super hard to get (because who has time to leave a review?). But I hope, if I ask pretty please with a fruit-or-candy-of-your-choice on top, that you’ll at least consider it.

[image error]Taryn and I have been writerly sisters-at-heart for quite a while now, ever since she tore apart my Mark of Four in its draft stage at our critique group (with some GREAT suggestions I incorporated into the final product), and ever since I got a chance to peek at an early version of Hex Breaker.

I was so excited when Taryn hired me to edit for her, because not only did I get to PEEK at Hex Breaker, but I got to revel in it. It was so much fun going on this quest with Taryn’s Fenearen characters and watching them grow. So now that Taryn is releasing Hex Breaker to the world for you all to enjoy, too, I jumped at the chance to interview her so you could see some of the thoughts behind this book.

1.) Hardest question first: In three sentences, give us a summary of this 150,000 word book (hahaha!).

Challenge accepted!

When a peace treaty goes awry, an innocent man is cursed to a horrific fate and a nation faces extinction. A young woman away from her home and family for the first time undertakes a perilous quest to break the curse while her people fight to save their country. Featuring: wolf-shifters, demi-gods, prophetic dreams, the undead, epic battles, and a gigantic sea monster.

Editor’s Note: Well done! I’m impressed!

[image error]I “met” Mark A. King on the Flash! Friday weekly flash fiction contest, and quickly came to look forward to the pieces of writing he submitted each week. He had (has) a way with words that sort of wrapped around my imagination, and it was a treat to get to co-judge with him for the same contest for a few months.

Since those days, Mark has started the Flashdogs, a group of writers with some awe-inspiring skills, as well as published several anthologies of flash fiction. Just this month, he’s released his very first novel, Metropolitan Dreams, and I’m thrilled to be able to share it with you.

Mark is stopping by my website to say hello and intrigue you with his plans for post-apocalyptic world restructure. Just because a genie is involved doesn’t mean it’s easy…

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1.) Go ahead and sum up Metropolitan Dreams for us in three sentences (because that’s always fun).
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In the aftermath of a violent crime we follow the connected stories of an injured nightclub bouncer, an ageing crime-lord, a conflicted police hacker, a traumatised Tube-driver, and a vulnerable twelve-year-old girl as they fight for survival, purpose, and redemption in the fractured city of London. Along the journey we discover lost rivers, abandoned underground stations, mysterious forces, and angels (perhaps).
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2.) What first pulled the idea for Met Dreams into your head? Where did you find the seed of your idea, and what made it grow into what you now have on your pages? Ten years down the road, when you’ve made your millions and have topped every international best-seller list, what will you look back on as being the inspiration that began this adventure?

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I’ve always had a fascination with major cities–how they can be tourist friendly during the day and turn into completely different places at night. There are so many things hidden in places and within people. I wanted to set the tale in London, not just because it was where I was raised, but also because there have been so many fantastic SF/Fantasy stories based in the city that I felt like I owed it to myself to start there. Many of the ideas were formed or experimented with in flash fiction competitions, and a significant number of ideas can have their history traced back to Flash! Friday (which my fellow judge and kind host today knows only too well) or The Angry Hourglass. It is fair to say that these competitions were like fuel that fired the engine of story creation. I’m so very thankful to Rebekah Postupak who dedicated so much of her time and energy to the community. There were many fine writers there, too, who not only inspired with their writing, but also their spirit and encouragement, for example Tamara Shoemaker.

I sent out my very first newsletter last week, and in that newsletter, I gave away not one, not two, but THREE whole books to one lucky recipient on my newsletter list. Want to join? Message me with your email and I’ll add you!

Newsletter recipients will be the first to get news about prizes, discounts, and giveaways, so sign up if you haven’t already!

Today, Colin U. is the lucky winner of my YA post-apocalyptic trilogy, Guardian of the Vale (a series very near and dear to my heart). Congratulations, Colin! I hope you enjoy the books! Feel free to leave reviews on the sites of your choice and to recommend the books to others!

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Did you know that for independently published authors, word-of-mouth is still the best way to reach others? It’s how I found all my favorite stories–from people who knew my tastes and recommended books to me.

It’s hard to believe that the day is finally here when I have an entire trilogy–Book One, Book Two, and Book Three–in all its page-filled glory sitting on my shelf with the name Tamara Shoemaker on it.

I started writing the first book, Mark of Four, back in 2013. I let it sit for a while, polished it, sent it through the agent-submission rodeo, took it back, polished it again, professionally edited it, and finally put it on the market in November 2015. I put the second book on the market in March 2016, and now, book three is here in October 2016!! An entire trilogy in under a year!

Details. I’m so excited about this book; it’s my favorite of all the ones I’ve written! Why? ‘Cause cool magic. And battles. And bad guys. And action. And swoon-worthy heroes. And romance. And loyalty. And friendship. And good things. And hard things. And more.

Check Guardian of the Vale out for yourself! I’d love to see this book shoot up on Amazon’s ranking system on release day.

PalidensReviews on Twitter reviewed Embrace the Fire, and I just love what she had to say about it! This little jewel especially: “I was a little concerned that book two would follow the path that so many second books do, of just being a “filler” for the conclusion. Not so!!! Embrace the Fire contains it’s own surprises and twists that I promise you, you didn’t see coming. And the ending???? I cannot believe that it is true. I won’t. I will hope and dream and…..okay, seriously, it better not end this way!!! I need book three!”

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Okay, I must admit, I finished reading this book very quickly but I got busy and forgot to publish the review. Sorry!

Embrace the Heart (Heart of the Dragon book 2) is AMAZING! Seriously, I loved the first book and I was a little concerned that book two would follow the path that so many second books do, of just being a “filler” for the conclusion. Not so!!! Embrace the Heart contains it’s own surprises and twists that I promise you, you didn’t see coming. And the ending???? I cannot believe that it is true. I won’t. I will hope and dream and…..okay, seriously, it better not end this way!!! I need book three!

Be warned, if you haven’t read book 1, there are spoilers ahead.

Kinna is determined to rescue her brother, but she also feels the growing need to start a revolution.

Of course, she is betrothed…

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PalidensReviews offered a FANTASTIC review of the first book in my Heart of a Dragon trilogy, Kindle the Flame. I love it so very much. Check out the review, and then click on the link at the bottom to grab your copy![image error]

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Wow! Tamara Shoemaker has done it again!

I saw that Tamara Shoemaker had a new series out, a fantasy series at that, and I decided I had to give it a try. From the first page, I was hooked! I have read other books by this author and loved them, but I wasn’t too sure about her writing in the fantasy genre. Let me say, I am speechless! This book is amazing! I stayed up very late and read until I couldn’t hold my eyes open anymore. Without further ado, let’s get to the story.

The story is told from four different persons POV. First is Kinna, a member of the Pixiedimn, who’s assigned Pixie, unfortunately, detests her. Kinna is facing the Trials and is dreading what is going to happen if her Pixie does not behave. But Kinna’s story is just beginning, and her Pixie is the least of…

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