Writer’s Window: Tamara Leigh

I’ve known Tamara Leigh for five or six years now, ever since she started attending the Middle Tennessee Christian Writers meetings when we were first getting organized. Since I was teaching every month about some topic to do with either the craft of writing or the publishing industry, having Tammy there made me feel like the biggest fraud in the world—here I was, an unpublished writer, talking to other (mostly) unpublished writers, and there was Tammy, sitting there with multiple published books under her belt listening to me just like everyone else. Both Tammy and her books have been a major blessing to me over the years, and though she’s not one to toot her own horn, in addition to being multi-published, she’s multi-award winning, also!

Tamara has generously offered to give away a signed copy of her latest book, Nowhere, Carolina, Book 2 of the Southern Discomfort series. The winner will be drawn from the comments on this post on Tuesday night (7/20/10) at 10 p.m. and announced on Open Mic Wednesday (7/21/10).

Nowhere, Carolina
Book 2 of the Southern Discomfort Series

Maggie Pickwick is a lifetime away from her days as head cheerleader and the mistakes she made in high school. Twelve years later, this single mom has traded pompoms for an auctioneer’s gavel, popularity for peace and quiet, and strives to be a good example for her daughter Devyn. She’s keeping it together just fine, too—until an old flame moves back to her little North Carolina town.

Renowned artist Reece Thorpe wants nothing to do with Maggie—not after what she did to him in high school—but he might also be Devyn’s father. Fed by her own pride and fear for her daughter’s happiness, Maggie finds herself on a slippery slope of white lies as she attempts to convince Reece that she’s changed. But the truth has a way of making itself known, and now Maggie’s past and present mistakes could ruin her chance at love.

What do you like best about being a writer?

For me, one of the best things about being a writer is the ability to set my own work hours (now that the kids are in school), but the very best thing is that, in sharing my inspirational stories, I get to pass on the hope that is found in God’s love.

What do you like least about being a writer?

The role of the published writer has changed since I was first published in 1994. Now the writer is often expected to participate heavily in the marketing of her/his book and that can be a big order unless the writer is outgoing, single, without children, prolific, and doesn’t report to a regular job. So, no, I don’t much care for the marketing end of writing.

Pop, Soda, or Coke? What do you call it, and what’s your favorite variety?

I call it soda pop, and it rarely passes my lips—can’t take the calories and can’t stand the taste of diet. If I’m going for carbonated, I’m all in for club soda with a squeeze of lemon or lime.

Describe your favorite pair of shoes

No shoes, actually. Unless there’s a chance of frozen toes, I’m barefoot all the way. And, yes, I go through a lot of Burt’s Bees coconut foot cream.

What’s the most fun/interesting/crazy/scary/unique hands-on research you’ve done for a book?

The most interesting research I’ve done was for the medieval romances I wrote for the secular market in the 1990s. The medieval way of life is so different from what we know—and intriguing. It’s overly romanticized, but one good sigh deserves another.

Candles. We all have them. But do you burn them? What scents are your favorite?

My favorite candle is of the Citronella persuasion. I know, they can be pretty lemon-y potent, but they’re good at keeping the buggies away. And do those buggies like me!

Have you ever re-gifted something someone’s given you?

I have re-gifted, and I don’t see anything wrong with it. From time to time, a person gives a gift that doesn’t fit the receiver or it’s something the receiver already has. Rather than risk offense (can’t imagine asking for the receipt), the gift goes on my shelf in hopes of one day finding a perfect (or at least good) home. A word of warning: label the gift to make sure it isn’t re-gifted to the original giver. Not good.

If you were to write a novel about what your life would have been like if you’d become what you wanted to be at eight years old, what kind of character would the story be about?

Why, Tamara Leigh would be happily married, a mother, and a writer! And there you go.

What makes you happy?

Harmony makes me very happy. Some people thrive on conflict and argument, but not me. I had plenty of that growing up.

What makes you nervous?

Umm…disharmony. It can reduce my fingernails to nubs in a matter of minutes (even with nasty no-bite polish).

What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever received?

Hmm…don’t quit your day job? No, more like: write every day. And I do, for the most part, excepting weekends. It keeps me in the groove and my story flowing.

What’s your biggest dream for the future?

My biggest dream is for my husband and me to see our sons grow into godly men.

Tell us about what you’re currently writing (or your newest release, or both).

In May, the second book in my Southern Discomfort series, Nowhere, Carolina, was released. At the moment, I’m awaiting edits for the third book in the series, Restless in Carolina, and working up a new proposal.

Where can people find out more about you/connect with you online?

You can find me at: www.tamaraleigh.com (oh, and I’m finally on Facebook!)

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Tamara Leigh is the bestselling author of more than a dozen novels, including Leaving Carolina, Faking Grace, Perfecting Kate, and award-winning Splitting Harriet. A former speech and language pathologist in the public school system, Tamara published her first novel in 1994, and she made her inspirational chick-lit debut in 2006 with Stealing Adda.

Beginning her career writing medieval romances for HarperCollins and Dorchester, she infused her growing Christian beliefs into her writing. But though her novels earned awards and were national bestsellers, she knew her stories were lacking. After struggling with the certainty her writing was not honoring God as it should, she made the decision to write books that not only reveal Christianity to non-believers, but serve as an inspiration for those who have accepted Christ as their Savior. Her inspirational romances are peopled with characters in varying stages of Christian faith, from mature believers to new believers to non-believers on the threshold of awakening.

Tamara enjoys time with her family, reading, and—of course—writing. She lives near Nashville, Tennessee with her husband and two sons.