Hi there! I’m so excited to be here. Thank
you, Caroline, for the opportunity. This is a perfect distraction in between my
writing time. I’m currently working on the fourth book in my Winters Family
Series. Plus, I’m preparing to rebrand the first three books in that series.
Lots happening. 2017 is off to a perfect start!
Please
tell us about growing up.
I grew up in a very small town in Michigan.
The town is called Freeland and it only has one stop light. When I lived there
we had minimal restaurants, and McDonald’s was the highlight for us all. I
haven’t lived there in over 20 years, and the town has grown so much … lots
more restaurants now, too. My family and I were pretty close, especially my
sister. My Sister and I always did something together, she even let me hang out
with her friends in high school. The highlight of my adolescence is all the
family trips we took in our motorhome. We traveled all over the U.S, and had
many laughs.
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| Terra and her husband |
I’ve been married for 19 years, been with
my best friend for 22 years. We met when I was just 19, crazy how time flies
when you’re having fun. We lived in Tucson, Arizona for 15 years, and now
currently Charlotte, North Carolina. We have three furry babies that make our
life complete (one dog and two cats).
I've never seen a photo of a more contented cat than the tiger one above. Who
are your favorite authors and favorite genres?
That is tricky. I love too many. My
favorite genre is contemporary romance and mystery/thriller, but lately I’m a
huge fan of some non-fiction books, too.
Favorite authors: Susan Mallory, Jill
Shalvis, Bella Andre, Clive Cussler, Steve Barry, Joanna Penn, Tim Grahl, Jeff
Goins, Nick Stephenson, and many more!
I met you on Nick Stephenson's Facebook group. When
you’re not writing, what’s your favorite way to relax and recharge? Hobbies?
Relaxing with my hubby is the best, we love
watching movies, sports, and TV series. I’m also a food blogger
(www.cafeterrablog.com) and love creating new recipes. My husband and I even
create recipes together which is awesome. I also love yoga to recharge after
sitting and writing, or walking my dog to get some story ideas happening.
How
long have you been writing?
My story is unique and long, you can read
about it here
and here.
I definitely didn’t start out with the intent to have a writing career. At 13
while vacationing in New York City, I decided I wanted to be a disc jockey on
the radio in New York. I had that plan all the way up until I met my future
husband. I did get to work as a disc jockey in Michigan, and still have fond
memories of that experience. BUT New York never happened, instead we trekked
all the way to the opposite side of the country. I’m a believer that life takes
you on paths for a reason. Mine led me to this career, and when I hit publish
in November 2014 that changed everything for me. I wouldn’t change anything
about my past, I loved all the adventures. Since November 2014 I have published
six books and have grown so much as an author. I love everything about this
career.
Where
do you prefer to write? Do you need quiet, music, solitude? PC or laptop?
I have a super long list of issues with my
back, so sitting at a desk is no fun. I have a lazy boy and TV tray that is my
writing space (it’s not pretty, but definitely keeps my back happier). I have a
MacBook Air and it’s loaded with so much love. I have my iPad and iPhone synced
up to the drives, so I can access my writing anywhere. Thank goodness for
technology. I actually write better in silence. If my husband is home, I take
my hearing aids out for silence … so he can still watch TV. Having a TV on is
not distracting for me, because when in the zone I don’t even register it’s on.
Are
you a plotter or a panzer?
Answer:
Definitely a panzer. I will write down my thoughts
for a story idea in Evernote. Then just start writing and let it create itself.
Do
you do your research before you begin a new project, or as you go along?
For my last book I did some research
before, and then as I went along. It was a mobster book, and I wanted to try to
keep it as realistic as possible. For my steamy contemporary, no research is
really needed, except for the recipes I create for each book.
Tell
us about your writing schedule. Do you set goals? Do you write daily?
That’s funny you ask that. So, just this
month I am officially able to say, I’m a full-time author entrepreneur. In the
past I would write tons to get a book complete, then just write here and there.
I didn’t have any daily writing habits. Now, this month I’m working on changing
my habits by participating in a 31-day writing challenge. It really is only for
me to get a better habit set in place. My goal is to write daily and to get at
least 1.5k to 3k completed for each session. For goals, I didn’t have any. Now,
I have created a production plan through March 2018, and have already got
myself set to achieve everything on the list. I plan to publish three books and
one short story in 2017. I would love to up that number in 2018, but remember,
I didn’t have a writing background, so I want to make sure I produce solid
content and keep growing. It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon after all.
Tell
us something about yourself that might surprise readers.
I have a severe hearing impairment.
Something that started when I was born and gradually got worse. I was always
nervous to get hearing aids and how people treat me (in school I was teased for
not being able to hear things). Well, in October 2016 I was given the gift of
hearing, thanks to my parents. I love my hearing aids and love listening to all
the beautiful sounds most people take for granted. For 41 years I managed
through life by reading lips, that’s how bad my hearing was. Most didn’t even
know I had an impairment, because I could read lips that good. My parents
taught me when I was born to read their lips when learning to talk.
What
do you hope your writing brings to readers?
Happiness. Excitement. Hunger (since I put
recipes in my books). I write from the heart, which I think most authors do. I
share stories that include things about me, just snippets. So I hope readers
will be able to relate, and find peace and happiness when they finish a book.
My feelings, too. What
advice would you give to unpublished authors?
Well, if you read the blog post I shared up
above about my writing past- I would say, don’t ever listen to bullshit.
Seriously. I let someone tell me I was a poor writer and should find a different
career … AND I believed them for a long time. Overcoming that was a long road,
but now the shining light is reading messages from readers who tell me they
adore my books. The messages I receive from readers warms my heart every day.
If you have a story to tell, tell it. If you’re nervous to publish, STOP, and
just publish the damn thing. Someone out there wants to read your story, trust
me. Oh, and make sure to start building your email list from the very start,
that is the holy grail for authors and building our audience.
Tell
us about your latest release.
My latest release was December 6th- It was
the second book in my romantic suspense series, Torn Pieces. I started writing
contemporary romance that was more on the steamy side. I know I kind of played
it safe and definitely felt too nervous to jump out of my comfort zone. Then my
author friend challenged me to try suspense, so I did. Now, I find my readers
like my suspense maybe more than my other books. I have also fallen in love
with writing suspense, and made TAKE THIS PAIN AWAY more suspenseful and less
on the romance. Now that I ventured out of my comfort zone, there is a serial
killer suspense/thriller series in the works. It does pay to expand your wings
and fly.
TAKE
THIS PAIN AWAY (Torn Pieces: Book Two) Synopsis: Finley
Scott devotes his life to the Emergency Task Force, Toronto, and it's what he
loves. So when being asked to go undercover to protect a woman from the biggest
mob boss Toronto has ever experienced, he doesn't hesitate. Giano Nesta stops
at nothing to get what belongs to him and yet, Finley is ready to be the savior
Letizia will need.
Letizia Magrino lives in St. Cloud, MN, has her own
bakery, and nothing to worry about but a cupcake bake-off she wants to win.
That is, until her life comes crumbling down when a mob boss starts hunting
her. With nowhere to hide at home, she starts running with the help of Finley
and his crew. But too many lies made her distrustful of people around her, so
how can she believe that Finley will protect her no matter what?
With her life turned upside down, can Letizia and
Finley find a way to escape all the horrors-and find the happy ending they
desperately seek?
How
can readers learn more about you?
I’m a marketing nerd, hence why I run three
blogs, ha! You can catch me on social, email, website, wherever you choose.
 |
| Terra Kelly, Author |
Terra loves walking her
dog, snuggling with her two cats, and relaxing with her amazing hubby. A steamy
romance book is never far from her grasp, and 2:00 a.m. seems to be the sweet
spot to finally put a book down and sleep. She laughs loudly, smiles often, is
a bit of a klutz, and tries to always find the positive in everything.
Writing was not on the list
of must-do’s for her career, but she always had stories swirling around her
mind. Now, today she couldn't imagine her life without writing. She enjoys
writing when the mood strikes, and will stay up late to get all her thoughts
out.
When she's not writing,
she’s creating recipes, and learning all about bourbon and wine. Terra has had
a food blog for over six years, at www.cafeterrablog.com.
That’s why you will find serious food love in each of her books. She considers
herself a bourbon and wine lover. Each book will express her love for both
types of alcohol, along with beer thrown in the mix.
She loves hearing from her
readers, please stop by one of her social sites and say hello!
Twitter: www.twitter.com/TerraKellyAuthr
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TerraKellyAuthor
Instagram: www.instagram.com/terrakellyauthor
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/TerraKelly14
Website: www.terrakelly.com
One
more thing: Something to look out for in March
2018, I will be publishing my first cookbook/romance book. The story takes
place at a family wine vineyard, so the recipes will be infused with wine love.
Thank you so much for letting me share a
little about myself today!
2 comments:
Thanks for appearing on the blog, Terra. I enjoyed learning more about you.
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