Author Yearbook

AY Talks Back

We were thrilled to have some time to chat with Tara Fox Hall, who is involved in the 2012 Author Yearbook.

Author Yearbook: When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?

Tara Fox Hall: I enjoyed writing in grade school. I won a state school writing contest in 4th grade. My mother encouraged me, and would bring home small, blank, bound books. I’d write in them and illustrate them with crayons. Mostly they were about black unicorns, back then.

Author Yearbook: Out of all your books, which one is your favorite and why?

Tara Fox Hall: I have two actually: Lash (a paranormal action novel coming out in April from Bradley Publishing) and Promise Me (a vampire romantic suspense series beginning in June from Melange Books). Promise Me was the first novel I wrote and I developed a special affinity for the cast of characters, particularly my heroine Sar, and the vampires Devlin and Danial. They’re like old friends now. I’m looking forward to sharing them with readers, as so far my vampires novel excerpts, like Surrender To Me, and The Oath (of Wicked Christmas Wishes) have been well received..

Lash is completely different. It’s more action/suspense with a touch of horror, and the male protagonist is a foul-mouthed reprobate weresnake. It’s not like anything that’s ever been done before. I’m very excited about sharing Lash with readers, but because its so different, I’m nervous, too.

Author Yearbook: Do you have any special things you do when writing? For example, some authors listen to a certain type of music, others drink a glass of wine (some too many glasses), and still others exercise to release that creative spirit. What do you do, if anything?

Tara Fox Hall: The best thing I can do is turn on some white noise, like a fan or a lyric-less music channel/CD, and then start typing away. I usually don’t have any trouble writing once I cut the distractions down.

Author Yearbook: What is your greatest challenge as a writer?

Tara Fox Hall: To get my work out there and get noticed. So many people want to be writers. We’re all voices screaming out in the mass cacaphony to be heard. It’s hard to keep screaming without eventually losing either your voice, or your will to keep going.

Author Yearbook: What is your greatest reward as a writer?

Tara Fox Hall: Being read. Getting an email from a fan telling me that they loved my book or reading a review that said they enjoyed it makes all the struggle worthwhile. Knowing I created something that was important to someone. There is a tremendous feeling of accomplishment in that. Then there’s also seeing the book covers with your name. That never, ever, gets old.

Author Yearbook: What do you do when you aren’t writing? Any hobbies or special interests?

Tara Fox Hall: I like to latchhook rugs of my own design, target shoot, sew cat and dog beds for animal shelters, bake, knit, and review books. I’m an avid fan of old movies, and new ones, especially series on FX and AMC, like Hell on Wheels. I also cut and split all of my own firewood, with a little help from my husband. And I do work part time. My days and nights are pretty full.

Author Yearbook: In keeping with our theme for the 2012 Yearbook of “Then and Now”, what is your favorite childhood memory?

Tara Fox Hall: I had a wonderful childhood. There are so many memories that come to mind it’s hard to choose one. My mom was a teacher, and she had the summers off to spend with me. We’d spend them up at our lake cottage with my maternal grandparents. When I was five or so, she began buying me these Fisher Price action figures. There was a jeep, and a boat with them, and I think a plane, too. This was back before racy figures – I had a scientist, some deep sea divers, an archaeologist, a doctor, and several others. And we’d play on the shore and in the water. The game was called “Adventure.” We’d build a little fake camp and cooking pit out of twigs and pebbles, and shred up plaintain for “Whole Wheat Mash” for the stewpot. The figures were always on some exploratory mission or fighting monsterous wildlife.

Author Yearbook: What are you working on right now? What can we expect to see from you in the future?

Tara Fox Hall: I have the two novels I mention above, Lash and Promise Me, coming out the first part of this year in April and June, respectively. Promise Me will also have regular sequels, the first of which is called Broken Promise. That will publish in late summer/early fall. I’ll also have two stories in the Midnight Thirsts anthology coming out in May 2012 from Melange Books, and my new apocalyptic serial, End of Days, will begin soon in Dark Eclipse Magazine. I have other works in process and under consideration, but those are the only ones finalized right now