Talkshow Thursday: Meet Author Tracee Garner
Linda: Thanks for
joining me today. Congratulations on the release of your latest novel Fatal
Opposition. This is book three in the Parker family series. Did you
set out to write a series, and where did you find your inspiration for this
story?
Tracee:
Thank YOU so much, Linda, for having me. Regarding my series, I wish I could say yes, yes, I had it all planned out but sadly nope, I didn't. I didn't set out
to write a series. In fact I only recently consciously decided to do a series
and do it right with a story bible readers may often hear writer's talk
about.
I
really try to write standalone's often. Honestly, in my defense however,
I think it can be better for me, at least, that I don't initially set out to
write a series simply because I can be assured with some mind trickery that
this story cannot have a cliffhanger. I personally hate those so I likely
wouldn't do it anyway but if I tell myself that I'm NOT writing a series, it
seems easier for me to wrap up all the loose ends. The other reason I don't
plan or know that I'm writing a series is because some of my readers have told
me that they want to hear "so and so's" story. I'm like, really?
Mouth hanging open, dimpled brow, "You want him (or her)? I hadn't thought
about him or her initially..." and then it begins, that character seems to
pester me and as soon as I start thinking about him/her, they kind of breathe
life and I get the story.
As
far as Fatal Opposition, my inspiration for the story comes from the headlines
often. I'm a news junkie and thus there is always something that I can use
running with the story and my vivid imagination to create a beginning and an
end. This story is about a football career gripping the rails of becoming great
or a path that can also lead the hero, James Parker, awry. James is on the
brink of being the leading QB on a team but he's dogged by his past, his
biological family that he's looking for and digging could bring about shady
characters he wishes he hadn't started looking for at all.
LM: The age old question
for writers – are you a planner or a “pantser,” and what is your favorite part
of the writing process?
Tracee:
Definitely a pantser. In my eight books that I've written, I've plotted
only once. While I got to page 300 fairly quickly with that
"plotting" try, the book has been sitting for almost five years and I
haven't been back to it. So I think plotting hindered my ability to finish so I
haven't plotted since. I will go back and finish the story and you would think
it being so far along would entice me but sadly it doesn't.
My
favorite part is probably the end. It's hardest for me to wrap up all the loose
ends and actually WRITE the end (because I do fret about it being strong enough
sometimes), but it is sheer joy to see the number of pages I've amassed and
realizing again that God has given me all of this.
LM: Research plays a huge
part in any book, and Fatal Opposition has several topics you
probably had to investigate. How did you conduct your research, and was there
anything unusual you found?
Tracee:
I had to research about Football, I do like Football a lot, it's probably the
only sport I really watch for the entire season, but I still didn't know a lot
about it. I also had to research some mental health issues such as dementia and
post-partum depression which James's mother has -which led or caused her to
give him up as a baby. I mostly use internet and libraries, those are favorite
go to sources. What's also wonderful now is the number of blogs that people
have to share and gain support over what they're going through. I don't have
children and so reading about birthing and some post-partum / mental health
accounts added unique perspective and ideas that you don't get from national
medical journals however respected, endorsed and accurate they are, they tell
more of the clinicians approach for other doctors obviously rather than what
someone really experiences. As writing and the internet has evolved, that's an
exciting platform to add to ones research toolbox.
LM: You’ve been
writing for a while. How did you get started as a writer, and how did you
decide to seek publication?
Tracee:
I really wrote out of depression. I should say I asked God in my depression
over poor grades in school to help me, and my exact words were: "give me
something else in case this whole school thing don't work out". School was
not easy for me, UNTIL I started writing. Once I felt I found something I was
good at, I received recognition through winning a contest, I started getting
A's and B's in school when I had been more of a "C-average" type of
student. God really supplied, I entered my first novella I'd ever written into
a national contest, won it and part of the wins were a trip to NYC to get an
award at the luncheon, a 500 dollar advance and publication in the book with
the three finalist. It was awesome and I simply kept going, kept writing and
here I am now.
LM: You live in my old
stomping grounds, the Washington, DC area. What is your favorite thing about
living there?
Tracee:
I love that DC has all of the amenities you like without traveling far. I also
feel we're some of the most progressive. I have a disability and every time I
think about moving further south for the warmth, I feel like as far as my
disability goes, (California would be the best place) I'd be hard pressed to
feel as if I didn't travel a bit backwards and really have to rebuild the
network of support I have here. Attitudes, acceptance, provision and access are
really what keep me in the area and the Kennedy Center and every other live
stage I frequent helps too. I love live theatre and hope to have a full length
play some day. The Motown story will be at Wolf Trap this summer and it will be
my third time seeing it.
LM: Okay, here are some
quickies:
Tracee:
Favorite
color: it changes between red and turquoise
Favorite
vacation spot: home, I'm a staycation advocate
Favorite
movie: Dirty Dancing and Footloose - I love Dancing movies and many musicals.
LM: If you were to cast
any actor (living or dead) to play your two main characters in Fatal
Opposition, who would you select?
I'd actually love an
actual football player to play the part of James, either Russell Wilson from
the Seattle Seahawks or Jordan Reed a tight end from the Washington Redskins
(who the team is loosely based off in Fatal Opposition) only in my book they're
the Washington Rebels of course. LOL
The heroine could be
played by Nia Long who I have watched for quite some time, since she was on my favorite
soap opera Guiding Light more than twenty years ago. She seems nice and happens
to be petite much like Cashell, the character and of course, she's just
beautiful too. Nia Long, for any crime scene show fans, has recently got a
recurring role on NCIS Los Angeles.
LM: What is your
next project?
Tracee: Later this year, I'm planning to release the
start of a new series about the Jameson Family, with four siblings each with
their own book. Two of those in the series are reissues, released in my early
twenties my second and third book in my career. Now the rights have been
reverted back to me from my publisher. I'm finishing the second half of the
series, thus two in the series will be new offerings but everything is new to
someone. The first in the series, Whatever May Come, is about the youngest
daughter, Tisha Jameson who moves to a small town in order to escape her
overbearing family and a scandal that rocked the school where she taught
kindergarteners.
LM: Where can folks
find you on the web?
Twitter
- @Teegarner, and
I've
been giving some awesome live videos around writing tips on my Instagram page
@teegarner, so follow me there and my Facebook pages are
/TraceeLydiaGarner
and
/TeeGarnerWrites
Thanks
so much for the opportunity, Linda!
Great interview!! Love learning more about Tracee . :-)
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