Hello all! Today I have a special guest, good friend, and all around awesome person and writer--
USA Today Bestselling Author Tameri Etherton!
First off, it's her book birthday today! Happy Birthday Dragon Mage!
Links:
Secondly, leave a comment or question for Tameri and one person will be selected to win an e-copy of the first book in her epic fantasy series--The Stones of Resurrection! (Name will be drawn on March 12th-- check back here!)
Without further ado, here's Tameri!:
Thank you so
much for having me on your blog today! I’m excited to share with your readers a
little about me and my books.
Q: How long ago did you start writing, why, and what was your first attempt?
A: I wrote my
first short story a long, long time ago. The physical paper it’s on is lost
now, but I remember most of the story and, shocker, it was a fantasy tale about
children living in a magical forest. We camped a lot as kids and I used to tell
these fantastic tales around the campfire. I really wish I’d written those
down! Some of them were epic. Who knows? Maybe they’re coming out now in my
books.
I didn’t get
serious about writing and finishing a book until around 2007. My life until
then had revolved around my family’s schedule and I suddenly had time free to
do whatever I wanted. I gotta tell you, I was bereft for about two months. For
over a decade, I’d been ‘Mrs. Tameri’ at my kids’ schools and I wasn’t sure who
I was anymore. It was liberating and terrifying. Then, a little voice whispered
in the back of my mind, reminding me how much I loved writing, that now was my
time.
I had a story
in my head that wouldn’t go away—about a young woman raised on Earth, but born
on another planet. She insisted I tell her tale and that’s how the Song of the
Swords series began. Taryn went through many iterations before I got it right,
but The Stones of Resurrection was my first attempt at a novel and I’m super
proud of that book and the entire series. I want to live in their world forever.
Q: Panster or
plotter? What attributes do you like of both?
A: This is
where I’d label my relationship as complicated. J I’m a bit of both. I have half a dozen
craft books on plotting, and I’m still looking for the perfect system for ME,
but mostly I dream my scenes, then write them. The way my brain is wired, this
is what works best. Of course, it’s a great excuse for a nap! But really,
that’s what I do. Every night before I sleep, I imagine the scenes I want to
write the next day. I’ll go over them until I have it just so, then I sit down
and write. When I’m having a huge word count day and I’m in the flow, I don’t
need to dream the scenes, they just spill out, but if I’m having trouble with
the plot or a character, I’ll take a walk or a nap, and just mull over
everything I need to sort out. Sometimes it works, sometimes I’m left a
frustrated puddle of goo. Hence, the complicated relationship with plotting and
pantsing.
Q: Character
first, or plot? How do your stories come about?
A: It depends!
Sometimes, like with Taryn and the epic fantasy series, I know the character
first. But with Dragon Mage, I knew the story first. I’ve become a bit of a
cover hoarder and find huge inspiration from having a cover already made before
I start the book. I’m the absolute worst at trying to tell a designer what to
have on the cover because how do you distill a 500 page book into one image?
I also get ideas
from eavesdropping. Or just sitting quietly and observing. I might be walking
through the park and see an interesting crag like I did for Fatal Assassin, and
imagine what it would be like to escape from the castle by having to run down
that crag and into the park. Then, I ask myself a ton of ‘what if’ questions.
What if a girl
was raised an orphan because the king slaughtered her parents? What if it
wasn’t just her parents he killed, but all the mages, and all the dragons? Who
would raise her? How would that affect her world view? Her relationships? Could
she ever forgive the king? What if the king’s son was her best friend and she
never knew it was his father who killed her family? Would she still be his
friend when she learns the truth?
What if
questions are my favorite! I let my mind run amok with different scenarios.
Which, actually, kind of goes to the plotting question. All these wild ideas
are actually part of my planning process. They feed into each other as the book
goes along.
Q: Any genre or
sub-genre that you haven’t tried yet, but want to?
A: Yes! SO
many. I have two historical story ideas I want to write. One is set in the
court of Queen Elizabeth I (my absolute favorite woman in history). Since I
love writing magic and elves and fae so much, it won’t be historically
accurate. Wouldn’t it be totally kickass for Queen Elizabeth to have a dragon?
Or, what if she’s actually the faerie queen from Spencer’s epic poem. As in, a
real faerie? I love that idea!
The other
historical idea involves Richard III and the princes in the tower. I’ve always
been fascinated with that mystery and would love to write a sort of mystery
fantasy. We’ll see!
Another genre
I’m keen to try is space opera. My husband is currently writing sci-fi and
we’re going to write a book together either at the end of this year, or the
beginning of 2021. There can be dragons in space, right? I hope so!
Q: If you could
have dinner with ONE of your characters in Dragon Mage, who would it be, and
how would it go down?
A: Just one? Oh
man. It would probably be Danteneux or Cassia. I love these characters so much
and need to know more of their stories! They’ll probably both get their own
series (or one together… hmmm) because I can’t stop thinking about them.
How would
dinner go down?
Well, Dante
would try to seduce me all night because he loves the ladies and can’t help himself.
We’d probably end the evening onboard his ship—definitely not in his bed, rather,
we’d be sailing somewhere foreign because, at the time, we thought it was a
good idea. I’d then spend the next six months learning to be a pirate because
he’d refuse to take me home.
Cassia would
absolutely drink me under the table (not hard to do, I’m a lightweight), and
then after regaling me with tales that I wouldn’t completely understand, she
would insist on taking me through portals to show me other worlds. I guess it’s
something she does often because why not?
With either of
these two, I’d be hard pressed to not laugh too much, drink too much, or to
know precisely what’s going on. They’re the kind of friend that is always
trouble, but in the best sort of way.
Q: Can you
share a snippet of Dragon Mage?
A: Of course! In this scene, Amaleigh is
wearing a magical mask to disguise her identity so that she’s not recognized
because there’s a death warrant out for her. Returning to the palace is a huge
risk for her and discretion is key.
The very air surrounding them altered with an unseen tension.
Then her brain processed
Cassia’s words. She glanced up to see Gwilym standing not more than three feet
from her. Excitement whipped through her blood, but she clamped it down. It
wouldn’t do to burst into tears at seeing her only childhood friend. Time
froze, as if nothing had changed. He looked exactly as she remembered him—dark
curls framed a ruggedly handsome face, but the mischief she recalled in his
deep-blue eyes was no longer there. Neither was any sort of recognition. Of
course not; she had made sure she didn’t look like herself. Still, a bitter
pang throbbed in her heart. A pain she didn’t quite understand.
The whole point of a
disguise was not to be recognized, and yet, she’d hoped he’d see through the
mask and know it was her. She’d hoped their years of friendship meant as much
to him as they did her. But he smiled genially without a hint that he knew it
was his friend.
Also missing was any sign of
being tortured. Not a scratch marred his perfect complexion. Unlike in the
vision she saw while casting. Which could only mean the prince hadn’t sent it,
so did she imagine it? Was it a trick of her magic, playing out her worst
fears? Had her guilt built to such a degree that she saw things that weren’t real?
Seeing Gwilym unhurt
should’ve been a relief, but instead it ratcheted her anxiety. The nagging in
her mind screeched that something was off. It went beyond Cassia’s pretense and
Gwilym not recognizing her. Whatever the hell was going on here, she was determined
more than ever to find out.
She dropped into a curtsey
that would’ve made King Heshen pleased and rose at the same time as Cassia.
“Cassia, darling, who is
your friend?” Gwilym regarded them both with curiosity and for a moment, the
princess faltered.
The carefree, chatty girl
was gone, replaced with a meek little thing.
“Your Highness,” Amaleigh
cut in before Cassia could speak. “I am delighted to find you in good health.
When last we spoke, you were under a bit of duress. It’s been awhile, but you
helped me at a time when I needed it most, and I have come to return the favor.
How may I be of service to you, my lord?” She swept the floor in a second
curtsey and hoped Gwilym understood her veiled meaning.
“Forgive my memory, kind
lady. Although I don’t recall the specifics, I cannot turn away someone who has
offered to repay a debt. I would be honored if you would grace our home with
your presence.”
Despite his words, the way
he peered at her, as if trying to see beyond the mask, robbed her of any sense
of security.
“She’s called Erma, Your
Highness,” Cassia offered.
“Erma Kielder.” Amaleigh
hoped using the name of his most favored dog as a surname would garner some
sort of reaction. None came. Even if Gwilym didn’t recognize her, surely he
knew the name of his pet. Unless…unless he’d been tortured to forget his past.
Was it possible? Or, more likely, he purposefully pretended not to know her and
her worst fears were true—it had been a trap to lure her out of hiding. Her
heart hammered in her chest loud enough to drown out Cassia’s twittering.
“Well met this day, Erma
Kielder.” A sardonic grin twisted his lips, sending panicked jabs through her
gut. He took her hand in his and raised it to his lips. His eyes never left
hers and she repressed a squirm.
Even though he followed
protocol, something about his intensity sent a warning through her mind. Not
only did he not behave like the friend she remembered, his scent and touch
weren’t the same. The firm grip he had on her fingertips wasn’t princely, but controlling.
As if he meant it as a silent threat.
It was possible Gwilym had
changed in the years she was gone, but to this extent? They knew each other,
for dox sake. Had lain beneath the stars and shared their deepest secrets and
fears with each other. She refused to believe the man she knew had become this
stranger.
Whatever game he was playing, Amaleigh
knew one thing for sure—the man standing before her who looked so much like her
childhood friend, either had changed a great deal since she last saw him, or he
was not her Gwilym.
Thank you for coming on my blog today! Folks, go check out Dragon Mage and the rest of her amazing books! Don't forget to comment below for a
chance to win an e-copy of The Stones of Resurrection
The Stones of
Resurrection link:
BIO:
Tameri Etherton is a USA Today Bestselling and
award-winning author of dangerous fantasy and magical ever afters. As a born
storyteller, Tameri grew up inventing fictional worlds where the impossible was
possible. It's been said she leaves a trail of glitter in her wake as she
creates new adventures for her kickass heroines, and the rogues who steal their
hearts.
She lives an enchanted life with her her very own prince charming and their
mischievous dragon Lady Dazzleton.
