It’s the 25th of the month, time for Meet The Author. Here’s one of the three great authors I have lined up for you this month. T. D Edwards all the way from none other than Chi-Town Chicago in the USA. A state I’ve never been to, but heard so much about. T.D Edwards is my first YA author I have featured, I’m wasting no time let’s get into it! Let’s get to know T.D’ Edwards’ style….

Hello nice to meet you! Tell us a bit about you where are you from and other than writing what else do you enjoy?

Hi! I’m from Chicago, IL, and other than writing, I enjoy reading and listening to music. Outside of my writing career, I’m a licensed professional counselor.

Kim: Oh, clever lady. Nice to meet you.

What genre do you enjoy reading?

I enjoy reading paranormal fantasy, suspense, thriller, and horror, and I’m a fan of YA literature.

Kim: Snap, we enjoy the same. You like suspense and thriller, stick around you’re in good company on this blog.

How did publishing your first book change your process of writing?

I published my first book in 2009, and it was a very valuable learning experience, to say the least. At the time, I was so excited to publish that I didn’t spend enough time making sure the book had been edited enough. When I finally realized how much more work should have been put into that book, I took it off the market. I can only hope the only copies around now are owned by forgiving family and friends who can accept that I didn’t know what I was doing back then!

That first book definitely led to a change in my writing process. Not only am I much better at making writing flow more smoothly, but I’m much better at editing now as well. In fact, my favorite part of the writing process has become editing. I think a lot of writers hate editing, but for me, it’s the best part. Giving “birth” to a new book is the hard part; shaping the book into something I’m satisfied with is the rewarding part.

Lastly, I learned a great deal about vanity publishers and the traps they set for inexperienced authors. Needless to say, I’m a lot more careful now!

Kim: *sighes* girl, I feel your pain. Good learning curve though. Yes the first one is like giving birth I’ve said it so many times “slow and painful in places.” But it breaks you in for the next one… just like actual child birth.

So you’ve published a series—what is the series about?

I’m publishing a YA urban fantasy trilogy that has psychological and supernatural elements. The series (Lunacy) follows Kory Diffoten through his turbulent final year of high school, where suspicious events leave him questioning his sanity. As the series progresses, he discovers the truth behind these unusual events, how they involve him, and how they impact the person he is becoming.

What was it like creating back-to-back stories that link?

It’s been fascinating creating a series. Initially, I hadn’t intended on making a series out of Lunacy. However, I kept adding things to the story, and discovering so many twists and turns that I felt it would be too much for one book. So I eventually figured out how to divide it into smaller, more manageable segments.

Although it’s been fun, I think it will be a while before I embark on another series. I’m interested in creating more stand-alone novels. There are so many book series out there these days, especially in YA literature. I find it overwhelming, and a little frustrating, to be honest. My To-Read list has grown out of control! I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve picked up a good book, only to begrudgingly realize it was part of a series and that the additional books would end up on my to-read list indefinitely. I don’t want to create that kind of frustration for readers, and feel a little guilty as it is for doing so with the Lunacy series, especially since my #1 beta read, my sister, was quite vocal about her frustration in realizing Lunacy was a series!

I think good stand-alone books have become undervalued and underappreciated in today’s series-obsessed society.

Kim: Hmm interesting view on this, I have mainly always read stand-alone books the only series I really ever read was Fifty Shades of Grey (don’t judge me, I liked it, leave the poor woman alone so what if her writing is “simple” it was entertaining). 

Have you ever thought about writing in a different genre? If you could, what genre would you like to dabble in?

Yes! I would love to dabble in different genres. In fact, I did just that with the release of my latest novel, The Peculiar Case of the Lakewoods. It is a hybrid of a few genres—mixing in a bit of a detective mystery with a horror story, in a format that is part epistolary novel (i.e. told through letters, diary/journal entries, etc). Needless to say, it was a very ambitious project for me! But I was overall pleased and surprised with the outcome, and I’m eagerly awaiting more feedback on it—whether good or bad.

I’d love to one day write something in the genre of magical-realism because I love how whimsical those stories can be. I’m just waiting for inspiration to strike. Dystopian fiction is another genre I’d like to try someday soon. I’ve had ideas about dystopian-like societies for a while now, so maybe that’s what I will dabble in next. Who knows.

What has been your proudest moment as an author?

For me, the proudest moments are when I get good reviews from someone who isn’t a friend or family member! It makes me feel that perhaps my writing is decent after all. I love writing something that someone else genuinely enjoys.

Kim: *Nods her head*, well done you! And I know the feeling well, it never leaves you. Sometimes it’s hard to believe someone read and enjoyed your creation that much. Good job.

Was there ever a time you wanted to pick up your laptop, and then launch it out the window with frustration?

Only when the Internet is running slow, or my music isn’t playing properly!

Kim: Hmm cool as a cucumber! Nothing fazes you while writing.

Are you a “plotter” or a fly by the seat of your pants, “pantster,” as a writer?

I’m a plotter who usually gets caught off guard and winds of pantsing my way through!

Kim: Thank the Lord, we still exist. Most authors I’ve featured lean towards panster… I blame Stephen King for putting that one out there.

Every writer has a word(s) that they always slip-up on when they write, then slap their forehead when they notice their typo. For me it’s further and farther, exit or exists—but hey, I’m over it now.  Do you have a word(s) that make you go, “Blah, go away! Not another damn typo!”

 I usually get caught-up on “past” and “passed.” And I’m always trying to figure out whether it’s more respectable to use “leaped” or “leapt.” And I thoroughly hate when words literally have two spellings—like “accidentally” and “accidently.”

The English language is so complicated! I’m convinced that anyone claiming to have perfect grammar or perfect mastery of this language is outright lying, or too naïve to know otherwise!

Kim: Sweet baby Jesus… wait, wait there’s two spellings? I better check that out myself! *Avoids eye contact.*

What three tips would you give any aspiring writer?

1). Keep writing.

2). Read a lot, across multiple genres.

3). Learn to distinguish good writing from bad writing.

And for a bonus: Learn, period. As often as you can. Random knowledge can be the key to escaping writer’s block!

Kim: Great advice.

What are you working on now? What will you release next?

Lunacy Shared, Book 2 of the Lunacy series, is my next release. After that, I’ll start preparing Book 3, Lunatic, with the intention (and hope) of releasing it in 2018. Then it will be time to start paying more attention to the various book ideas that have been constantly floating through my head. Hopefully, I can explore them more in depth this year during NaNoWriMo.

So… where can we get your books?

Lunacy’s Core: https://www.amazon.com/Lunacys-Core-T-D-Edwards-ebook/dp/B017ANWY08/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499884912&sr=8-1&keywords=lunacy%27s+core

The Peculiar Case of the Lakewoods: https://www.amazon.com/Peculiar-Case-Lakewoods-T-D-Edwards-ebook/dp/B071VJTWL9/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1499885484&sr=1-1&keywords=the+peculiar+case+of+the+lakewoods

Lunacy Shared (pre-order): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071WQ5Q5G/ref=series_rw_dp_sw

Does a big ego help or hurt writers?

I think big egos hurt in any field. No matter how good you think you are, you could always be better. Anyone who doesn’t accept this is bound to stagnate. As a writer, however, you do need thick skin, because everyone isn’t always going to like what you produce. Plus, it takes a lot of bravery to put something that you’ve worked so hard on out in the open for everyone to critique. There’s a difference between having thick skin and a big ego though. Being a writer requires being brave, but humble.

Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?

Yes! I haven’t gotten many reviews at this point, and fortunately, what I’ve received thus far have been good. I know bad reviews will come eventually though. I think I’m good at distinguishing between when a reviewer is being malicious for the heck of it, and when constructive criticism is being given. So I will try to be mindful of this whenever I inevitably get that first bad review.

Kim: Totally… you can tell a whine and bitch, from the stuff you need to take on board. 

What was your hardest scene to write?

The ending scenes of The Peculiar Case of the Lakewoods comes to mind. I don’t want to give away too much about the book, but I was aiming to write it in a way that allowed the events of the story to be interpreted in two different ways. I never wanted one possibility to overshadow the other because I want readers to decide for themselves which side they believed is accurate. It was a tricky balance to maintain, particularly at the end.

What’s your favourite book and why?

I’m going to cheat and say the whole Harry Potter series, although Deathly Hallows was my favorite of the series since I felt each subsequent book was better than the last.

What attracted you to write in your genre?

Like most authors, I write the kind of things I would like to read.

Do you ever get nervous over how people will view your work?

Definitely! Don’t we all? I’m always torn between desperately wanting people to read my work, but then being positively terrified when I know someone is actually reading my work. It doesn’t quite make sense, but I think that’s just the nature of being an author. We’re strange people.

Kim: It makes a lot of sense! That’s how I felt when I co-wrote Lisa Vanacilli,  in It Was The First Time I Killed A Man.  A lesbian (explicit) serial killer, in an accent so far removed from my own. I had no idea how people would take her even though I love her!

And that’s a wrap people! It’s a pleasure to have so much diversity in Meet The Author. Let’s wish T. D Edwards well with her work. Connect with her below.

 

Life apart from her twin, Matilda, isn’t easy for Charlotte Lakewood. On the other hand, life with Matilda wasn’t exactly easy either. In more ways than the obvious, Charlotte always felt the two of them were too close for comfort, which especially presented problems when she was regularly blamed for her sister’s disturbing antics.

Upon starting college, Charlotte finally feels free from her sister’s clutches. The freedom is short-lived though, when she returns home over summer break only to become the prime suspect in a murder investigation. Even though Charlotte experiences occasional black-outs, she’s sure she would remember if she hurt someone. Hence, she has a terrible feeling Matilda may be the real culprit. The only problem is that Matilda has been dead for nearly three years…

Things quickly spiral out of Charlotte’s control when she is summoned for questioning by Detective Mallone and search warrants lead authorities to some of the most private details of the Lakewood family’s lives through diaries, stolen mail, and notes from the family therapist. With Matilda possibly reaching from beyond the grave and long-lost secrets having troubling consequences, Detective Mallone soon learns that the circumstances surrounding the Lakewood family are just as terrifying as they are peculiar.

Part epistolary novel, The Peculiar Case of the Lakewoods is a psychological and supernatural thriller about a family’s unusual history, the consequences of their darkest secrets, and the lives caught in the chaos.

If you’re an author and you’d like a feature or read and review contact me here.