TAMI DEE
Welcome Tami Dee! Please tell the clan a little about yourself.
First, let me thank you for choosing me to interview. About me, hmm, I am trying to think of something remarkable and interesting to share… but drawing a blank. lol. Okay, well I am an avid reader, a dreamer, and a born peace maker. I am also a wife, mother, and grandmother. I work full time and write in those rare down times when I have enough mental energy to actually think and be creative.
How long have you been writing, and have you always wanted to be a writer?
I have been really writing for about five years now. As for always wanting to write, yes, I have to say that as a child I had a very active imagination, and would find myself looking at life with a view to narration. Sad to say, although I always wanted to express myself with words, I had/have dyslexia, (before the time when educators knew and understood the condition) and whenever I tried to write, I would become so very frustrated. You can not know how lowering it is to not be able to spell the simplest words or put together a coherent thought. Computers and their spell checks helped greatly, and then realizing that, for a price, I could hire a professional editor to clean up what spell check missed and straighten out my reversed sentences, voila, I could write after all! I know that I was very fortunate to have found a reputable editing company, with very reasonable prices. A multi-published author who works for them was able to fix my story, without taking away from what I wanted to say, or my style of saying it. (Don’t ask me what my style is because I have no clue!)
Why did you decide to write romance novels?
Simply put, because I love, love stories and happy endings.
What type of books do you write?
I write time travel, romantic adventure. There is a level of sensuality in my stories, but nothing graphic. As my H/H come to life in my minds eye, I start to think of them as ‘real’ people and would never intrude on their most intimate moments. On the flip side of romance, I write action/ adventure, but you will never see a curse word in any of my books. (a severed arm or two definitely) Only one reader ever commented on the lack of curse words, and she expressed how surprised she was that for all the rough and tough Vikings doing what it is that Vikings do, she did not miss the curse words at all.
What is your ultimate professional goal as a writer?
It would be great to be in print someday, but I have to say that e books have a definite advantage when it comes to buyer availability. I have readers from all over the world visit my web site and they are able to purchase my book at the click of a button if they choose too. More and more companies are creating hand held reading devices to accommodate E books, so I believe that will help the E writer to be as successful and well known as some of the well known print authors in the industry. Speaking of which, CHRW have some remarkable authors, both E and print.
I do have some news, my June 2009 release, (which is a re-issue) Under A Viking Moon is the first of a four book Mists of Time Viking Series. Book two, Dawn of A Viking Sunrise will be released for the first time in January 2010, book three, Beyond A Viking Horizon in August 2010, and the forth Through A Viking Mist, in March 2011. I am thrilled about the release schedule, and very proud to be on the ground floor of a brand new publishing house, Dessert Breeze Publishing, Inc.
What about your family, do they know not to bother you when you are writing - or are there constant interruptions?
My family has always given me their whole hearted support and the time and quiet I need when I need it. It helps, of course, that my husband has two full time jobs and my kids are all adults now. lol.
How do we find out about you and your books? Do you have a web site or Blog?
My web site is www.tamidee.com I have a Welcome to Arhus page where visitors can find their Viking names and become a part of my little Viking village. I also have a special Greetings page (home page) were I collect, and share, different states and countries, greetings. (That’s a big hint to stop by and say Hi!)
What do you do to relax and recharge your batteries?
Movies, movies, movies. My husband and I absolutely love going to the movies. This May was a great movie month; I think we saw….four movies, still waiting on Transformers! (I get excited just thinking about it.) When we can we take day trips to Half Moon Bay, CA. I write while DH fishes.
Do you have a writing partner to bounce ideas off of?
Sometimes. I come up with most my scenes while at work, and then I have to type it out right away and e mail it home so I don’t loose it.
How do you define the type of writer you are? Do you outline or go with the flow?
Flow; Definitely.
What do you think of critique groups in general?
I was in one once, and out of it I found, and keptJ, two lovely ladies who totally get my dyslexia and offer unselfishly of themselves when I call out to them.
I found the critique group that I was in a mixed bag really. On one hand, it is good to get feed back on your book as you trudge along, but sometimes two many opinions can be very stifling to an authors creativity and self confidence. After all, this business is very subjective, and none of us will please everyone with our stories. My bottom line, I write what I love to read, and hope that the majority of readers will enjoy what I have written.
How important is the happily-ever-after ending?
Absolutely necessary.
Please add any closing thoughts or remarks here.
Thank you again, Lisa, for choosing me to interview, I can’t tell you how much CHRW has meant to me through the years. This is one of the most encouraging loops out there, with members who seem to drop everything in order to send a cyber high five when we post something wonderful, or offer their support and encouragement when we share a disappointment.
And truly, it is an honor to be surrounded by such talented published and unpublished writers. We are a strong clan, and grow stronger each day and each member.
Thanks for your time and insights, Tami Dee, it was a pleasure interviewing you!