Spotlight Interview with Author Tabitha R. Pike

Q1: Thanks for participating in our Authors.com Spotlight Interview series Tabitha! Please introduce yourself and your book to help our readers get to know you.

A: I want to thank you for this wonderful opportunity. My name is Tabitha R. Pike. I write supernatural/Paranormal/ Romance and Fantasy novels for both teens and adults. I am the author of “Dream: The Linking Stones”, “Dragon Tears: The Legacy” along with “The Burning Bush” and “Soulful Ink”. I also work part time in education working with Middle and High school students.

Q2: Please explain how you came to be a writer, what inspired you to write your book(s) and how long it took.

A: I have always loved to write, even as a young child. I always wrote for myself, it was a personal ventilation system for me. When I met and fell deeply in love with my husband, he began reading some of my work. He looked at me and said, “You need to be published. So I gave it a try.

Q3: What did you enjoy most about creating this book?

A: I enjoyed being able to poetic express myself in “The Burning Bush” and “Soulful Ink”. In “Dream: The Linking Stones” I enjoyed weaving mine and my husband’s heritage into the story. (Cherokee and Scottish). As for “Dragon Tears: The Legacy” I enjoyed writing this book just for my children. It was hard work but fun. “People of the Dark” is my most extraordinary write so far. It is in the editing process write now. I will be sending it off to the publisher as soon as it is cleaned up a bit. I wanted to write a novel based on my thoughts. “You know, If I could be a superhero kind of thing.” Alaya the main character in this book is a 18 year old with a IQ of 230. She is a heroine. I love her character and can relate to her so much. I inspired myself by writing a dream of mine. I just love this book.

Q4: What facets of your life, both personal and professional, are woven into your book, if any?

A. “Dream: The Linking Stones” has many hidden secrets of my life, my beliefs and my spirit written within the pages. I even used some names of friends, family and loved ones in this book.

Q5. How did you get published?

A. I queried hundreds upon hundreds of agents, and got turned down by nearly all of them. I also queried hundreds upon hundreds of publishers. I published my poetry through Publish America because no one wanted to publish poetry. I self published and self marketed my other books. It is hard work, but they have sold well. I own all the rights to my books this way, and that is the way I like it.

Q6: Did you have any surprises or hiccups along the way during the book writing and/or publishing process?

A. Not really, just one I can think of. I didn’t because I done a lot of research before I jumped into it.

Q7: What one thing did you wish you'd known before you started this project?

A. I wish I had gotten some people to review my book before I sent it to publication, so I could have published my book with a few great reviews. I always read reviews on a book before I read it.

Q8: You're a fly on the wall when readers are discussing your book. What would you hope to hear them say about it?

A. I would love to hear them talk about how the story sucked them into the pages and they felt like they were one of the characters in the book. That is always a great thing to hear, it just does something to a writer that makes them want to write more.

Q9: Tell us one thing about you that most people don't know or would surprise them.

A. I am crazy. Well, at least they think I am sometime. I’m convinced my neighbors are the true Illuminati, Aka: People of the Dark, and Aka: child of the Phoenix with supernatural powers. There isn’t much people don’t know about me. I have a personal blog and website, besides my Official website for my fans and readers. It is called “Raise the White Flag: Surrendering Tabitha”. If there is something you don’t know, and would like to know I will do my best to answer it and post it to my blog.

Q10: What single piece of advice would you give new authors?

A. Never give up on your dreams, get a great editor to proofread your work. Do a lot of research, and get some people to review your work. It helps.

Q11: Share a short summary of a typical day in your life with us please.

A.  Well, I wake up, get my husband  off to work, my teenage boys off to school. Drink a lot of coffee, write, email, query, set up or update websites, cook, clean, shower, write, eat, drink a lot of coffee, Work, Work, and Work and spend time with my family. Go to bed and wake up and do it all over again. This is a typical Mon- Friday work day for me. The weekends are a different story.  

Q12: Describe where you do most of your writing. What would I see if I was sitting beside you?

A. If you was sitting beside me you could look out the window and see the sun, a beautiful Japanese weeping willow tree, my large but great German Shepherd Samson, guarding the yard, and my garden. If you look behind you, you can see my bedroom. I have a home office which is located in my bedroom; I leave the door open so I can see my bed and dresser. I don't like being in rooms with closed doors unless I am getting ready to sleep. Don't ask me why, I just don't. That is where I do most of my writing.

Q13: What's your motto or favorite quote you like to live by?

A.  By the fire of life you are refined, but by your faith you are defined. Life is an art, so paint it bright.  (This is my own quote. I wrote it myself.) 

Q14: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us in closing such as your website, an imminent book launch or what you're working on presently?

A. http://.tabithapike.net “The Official Website and http://tabithapike.com “Raise the White Flag: Surrendering Tabitha” (Personal journal)

I have just finished “People of the Dark” which is I think my best work yet. It is in editing process now, getting reviews and soon on to the publishers. I have started working on “Vision: The Linking Stones” book 2, sequel to “Dream”. I have written 14 chapters so far. Hopefully it will be done by Fall.

Authors.com profile: http://www.authors.com/profile/TabithaRPike

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