INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR TARYN STEELE

 

 

WHAT’S YOUR NAME AND WHAT GENRE WOULD YOU CONSIDER YOUR BOOKS TO BE?

My name is Taryn Steele and I write contemporary romance books.

 

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR BOOK. HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THAT (STORY, ANGLE, IDEA)?

I just released a summer novella in June titled What If. The idea came from a recurring dream I kept having. Prior to that I wrote The Enough Series. Those three books are from events that happened in my life.

 

 

HOW DID YOU GET INTERESTED IN WRITING THIS PARTICULAR GENRE?

I felt as though the events that happened and the age bracket fit most in the contemporary romance genre.

 

WHAT KIND OF RESEARCH DID YOU DO FOR THIS BOOK?

For The Enough Series the only real research that I need to do was for some locations that I changed basing it in another state from where I actually grew up.

For What If I had to do research on surfing lingo, hospital lingo and locations (mostly beaches) in Florida.

 

CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT YOUR SERIES?

The Enough Series is based on events in my life. It starts with a young female who has a horrible relationship with her family, an abusive boyfriend, meets a new guy, his mother is a bitch, marriage, and … if I tell you more ti will give all of good stuff away (LOL).

 

 

WAS IT ALWAYS MEANT TO BE A SERIES?

Yes

 

WHAT’S A TYPICAL WORKING DAY LIKE FOR YOU? WHEN AND WHERE DO YOU WRITE? DO YOU SET A DAILY WRITING GOAL?

I have a full time job at a police department, so I am up early for that. When I come home I am helping my daughter with her homework, while doing laundry, cooking dinner, paying bills, cleaning up all at the same time. I generally don’t get a chance to start writing until 8pm at the earliest and I cut myself off at 11pm because I am up at 5am for work and I can’t function on less than 6 hours of sleep like I used to when I was only 21.

 

DO YOU HAVE A NEW BOOK IN THE MAKING AND IF SO, WHAT’S THE NAME OF YOUR UPCOMING BOOK?

I do! As of right now it is called A Perfect 12 (You never know, it could change).

 

HOW IMPORTANT ARE CHARACTER NAMES TO YOU IN YOUR BOOKS? IS THERE A SPECIAL MEANING TO ANY OF THE NAMES?

Names are important to me. I’ve changed secondary characters name half way through writing a book. The main characters names I like to have something with meaning or something fun and unique.

 

 

WHERE DO YOUR IDEAS COME FROM?

Real life events or dreams I’ve had in the past.

 

IS THERE A GENRE THAT YOU’VE BEEN WANTING TO EXPERIMENT WITH?

I’ve always wanted to write a children’s book!

 

WHAT IS THE HARDEST PART OF WRITING FOR YOU?

For me it’s trying to not have a similar story line to anyone else, and that is easier said than done because there are so many great stories out there. The other hard part is finding the time to write.

 

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF BOOK TRAILERS? DO YOU HAVE A TRAILER OR DO YOU INTEND TO CREATE ONE FOR YOUR OWN BOOK?

A Facebook group made a trailer for book one in The Enough Series, Good Enough which I loved. A fan made a trailer for What If which I also loved. I think they are great. It’s like a mini movie.

 

 

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE YOUR BEST BEST ACCOMPLISHMENT?

Aside from my daughter, the bravery of telling my story in The Enough Series.

 

WHAT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT BEING AN AUTHOR?

Meeting the fans at signings.

 

WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 10 YEARS?

No clue! I don’t know where I see myself in ten months. Ha!

 

HAVE YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO WRITE?

No

 

 

WHAT WRITING ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR ASPIRING AUTHORS?

Write a little bit everyday, even if it’s only one hundred words, and don’t give up. Never give up!

 

IF YOU DIDN’T LIKE WRITING BOOKS, OR WEREN’T ANY GOOD AT IT, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO FOR A LIVING?

Well I already have a full time job but if I wasn’t writing I would have a house full of foster dogs!

 

DO YOU READ REVIEWS OF YOUR BOOK(S)? DO YOU RESPOND TO THEM, GOOD OR BAD? HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THE BAD?

Yes I do. If someone is insanely rude I ignore it. I did get a one star review on Amazon for Good Enough because it ended in a cliffhanger.

 

 

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON NOW.

A standalone book titled A Perfect 12

 

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO WRITE IN YOUR GENRE?

I can relate to it.

 

WHERE DID YOUR LOVE OF BOOKS COME FROM?

When I was child I couldn’t get enough of mysteries. In my college years I was obsessed with psychology books. In my twenties if was all about romance. It just kept going and going.

 

DO YOU HAVE ANY FAVORITE AUTHORS OR FAVORITE BOOKS?

Oh yes, EK Blair and Audrey Carlan!

 

 

OF ALL THE CHARACTERS YOU HAVE CREATED, WHICH IF YOUR FAVORITE AND WHY?

Hillary from The Enough Series, because she is based on me.

 

DOES WRITING ENERGIZE OR EXHAUST YOU?

A little of both, it depends on the time of day and what scene I am writing.

 

DO YOU TRY TO BE MORE ORIGINAL OR TO DELIVER TO READERS WHAT THEY WANT?

A little of both

 

WHAT OTHER AUTHORS ARE YOU FRIENDS WITH, AND HOW DO THEY HELP YOU BECOME A BETTER WRITER.

I have messaged authors Lexi Buchanan, Shawnte Borris and Yolanda Olson for advice. It’s great to be able to turn to someone who understands your struggle and can help you in whatever way they can.

 

 

WHERE CAN YOUR FANS FIND YOU AND FOLLOW?

Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorTarynS

Twitter: www.twitter.com/AuthorTarynS

Instagram: http://www.instagram.authortarynsteele

 

 

Thank you for taking the time to do this interview.