Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Tara Chevrestt to our website today.
Tara: Thrilled to be here.
Q1) Can you tell us a little about yourself
Tara: Well, first of all, like the heroine of A Facebook Affair, I’m (hearing impaired) deaf. I prefer to say deaf even though I have a enough hearing left to use a huge hearing aid in one ear because “impaired” implies I need fixing and I don’t feel I do. J I’m a book reviewer, a dog mom, a wife, and an aircraft mechanic. And in the last year, I became an author as well.
Q2) Have you always wanted to be an author?
Tara: Yes. When asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I never said I wanted to be an author, but the idea was always in the back of my mind. I say this because I loved writing. I loved every essay assignment that came my way and I loved it when we had to write stories and make books with illustrations. (I had to stick to horse stories when the tale required illustrating, however, as that was all I could draw, horses and trees. LOL)
Q3) Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing?
Tara: That’s a tough one because I love so many writers. I have been especially inspired by Christina Courtenay (Trade Winds, The Scarlet Kimono). I read her work and liked it so much I contacted her and we became friends and I often bounce my ideas off her and get inspiration and encouragement to continue my pursuits from her. I am also a huge fan of Elizabeth Chadwick, Victoria Hislop, Jodi Compton, and Cecilia Samartin. I hope to write like them one day.
Q4) Can you tell us what a typical writing day for you is like.
Tara: I work full time so I have to cram my writing in when I can, usually on weekends. I have learned not to dare cook anything while writing, however, as I get so into my story that I tend to burn whatever it is. A typical writing day for me is: I waste the first half of the day pretending to be writing but really, I’m browsing goodreads. I finally start writing in the late afternoon and once I get going, before I realize it, the entire house is dark around me. Time just flies.
Q5) Let’s talk about your new book A Facebook Affair. Can you tell us a little about it
Tara: It’s about a hard of hearing woman who is coping with the loss of her mother and is feeling really lonely. She joins Facebook to social network and make friends and looks up a boy she knew from long ago. They begin a messaging romance.. but there are some obstacles that could prevent their relationship from ever becoming more than a Facebook affair.
Q6) How did you come up with the idea for this story?
Tara: I was bored one night and began searching for old friends on Facebook as I had recently joined the website. I actually found a boy I remembered from school and he is drop dead gorgeous now. I’m happily married, but I still appreciate looking at gorgeous men. LOL This book is entirely fiction, but the idea came to my head and I sat down and began writing.
Q7) What is up next for you?
Tara: My historical YA novel, Ride for Rights, is due out in February of 2012 so I will most likely be pretty busy with that. Also have a sequel to that on the back burner.
Q8) What is the best piece of advice you would give to a give to someone who is thinking of becoming an author?
Tara: Write about what you love. If you don’t love what you are writing, your readers aren’t going to love what they are reading.
Q9) What is the next book on your To Read Pile that you are dying to jump into?
Tara: As I answer this question, I’m really excited about Victoria Hislop’s The Thread. It isn’t available in the States yet though.
Q10) Is there anything else you would like to add?
Tara: I hope everyone who reads A Facebook Affair, whether they enjoy the romance aspect of it or not, learns something from it and walks away with a greater understanding of what hard of hearing people have to deal with on an everyday basis. And parents, please, teach your kids about the harmful effects of bullying in school.
Books-n-Kisses: Tara, again thank you so very much for making Books-n-Kisses a stop on your book tour. I have enjoyed learning more about you and your book. I look forward to reading and see what you come up with next.
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