I would like to welcome T.L Shreffler the wonderful author of The 'Wolves of Black River' series and 'Sora's Quest' (Cat's Eye #1) to our blog. A big thank-you for taking the time to talk to me and for giving me the opportunity to read and enjoy your work.
Jane
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Q:- I love the ‘Wolves of Black River’ series … How long do I have to wait before book 3 ‘Dawn of the wolf’ is released?
T.L I'm planning on releasing it definitely by the end of this year! I've discovered halfway through writing the manuscript that I really don't like one of the main characters, and now I need to go back and change him. I'm so ADD when it comes to writing, it's a wonder I've finished so many manuscripts....
Q:- There are a few pretty explicit sex scenes in some of your books…. Do you find it embarrassing when close friends and relatives read them?
T.L Friends, not so embarrassed... my best friend is actually really into BDSM clubs and we've gone to a few together. I usually get really embarrassed when my boyfriend tries to read my books and I've forbidden him from sharing them with his family! I've had to rescue the books from his reading pile on several occasions. HE WILL NEVER KNOW MY SECRET.
Q:- Just out of curiosity…(I’m asking this question to 10 authors to see how many say yes!!) If I asked you to include the phrase ‘A day without sunshine is like, you know, night.’ somewhere in your next novel would you?
T.L Done and done!
Q:- It happens to all writers at some point in their career, so how do you react when you read a negative review of your work?
T.L I kiss the reviewer on the mouth! To be honest, I've never received a completely negative review of anything I've written. I took 4 years of writing workshops as an English major and I have a very, very tough skin. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and as writers, we have to remember -- most people have very bad taste and really like to hear themselves talk. If they don't like your blood-sweat-and-tears-on-paper, don't take it personally! In fact, it's really good to stop seeing your writing as an extension of yourself, and start looking at it as a cold, hard craft. Good writing is about 25% passion and 75% hard-won skill.
Q:- I noticed all your books are only available in ebook format. Do you intend to have print versions available in the future?
T.L I will most likely offer print versions through Createspace at some point in the future. My first edition of Cat's Eye, a YA Fantasy, can still be found in print, but it has been retired so there won't be any new copies available. Seeing as I'm barred from most booksellers (as an indie author), I don't really see the point right now. I'm trying to build some name recognition first.
T.L Cat's Eye, hands down. I finished the book at 13 and it was 800 pages long. Since then I've rewritten it, edited it, self-published it at 16, failed at promoting it, got entangled in a college program, and now am re-releasing it as a trilogy on Kindle. I actually have readers who've stayed with me since I first started posting Cat's Eye on the internet -- that's ten years now! I'm very, very fortunate for their encouragement (and nerdy fandom.)
Q:- If you had no choice but to kill off one of your main characters which one of these would it hurt you most to lose and why?
a) Sirus
b )Crash
c) Gareth
T.L It would hurt me the most to lose Crash... He was my first badboy and my dream-guy since I first started writing. I also think he is a much more developed character than Gareth or Sirus. I've lived with Crash in my head for 10 years now and I think his character reflects that. As the series progresses, you see his hardness, his softness, his confidence and self doubt, his subtle change from a guilt-ridden assassin to a reformed man. Sirus and Gareth are just eye candy in comparison.
Q:- Dean Koontz writes a ‘dog’ into almost if not everyone of his books. Is there any one thing you have included in all of your books? If so what is it and why?
T.L "Wolves" always somehow pop up in my books... it's purely unintentional. Other than writing a werewolf series, I have the "Wolfy" race in Cat's Eye, and in another trilogy I've written, I have a huntsman called "The Wolf." When I was younger I was obsessed with wolves and I know all sorts of random facts about their pack life, different species and mannerisms. Dork!
Q:- Moral Dilemma question :- You live in a post apocalyptic regime where you are held in controlled camps. As punishment for trying to escape your son is about to be hanged and you have been ordered to pull the lever. If you refuse alongside your son three innocent people will also be hanged. What would you do?
T.L Honestly... I would die before killing my own son... I think that's something that women and mothers can imagine very easily. It wouldn't be so hard. I would either kill myself before hanging him or die along with him. There wouldn't be any point to living without him!
Q:- What is the craziest question you have ever been asked in an interview?
T.L Definitely the apocalyptic regime question above. Most interviews are like "When did you start writing?" or "How many cats do you own? (1)."
Where to find T.L.Shreffler and her books:-
On Amazon.com
Awesome interview, Theresa!:)
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