Interview with A.J. Tupps

What genre do you write and why?
This book is Young Adult Fantasy.  I love escaping reality into fantasy worlds. 

Tell us about your latest book.
Shadow Tears is the first book in a series.  In this book you meet Selena Goodwin who discovers more about her heritage than she ever wanted.  She has special abilities that are fascinating while others are frightening to her.  All her beliefs are tested when she finds out that the mortal rules don’t apply to everybody or everything.  Her knowledge of the supernatural and myths might become her only means to survive.  She must accept who she is meant to be. 

Being thrust into a world full of secrets, danger, and a family she didn’t know existed is overwhelming, not to mention a responsibility.  Luckily she still has the love and support of her adoptive father who had known all along who she is meant to be.  To make things worse she discovers her very existence is threatened by an unknown enemy.  The normal obstacles of being a teenager are hard enough.  Now she has to learn how to live a lie while falling in love and accepting her life as it was meant to be.  High school is supposed to be the best years of your life. 

Selena must rely on strangers who she is not sure are reliable.  The only person she can rely on must stand between her and the possibility of death.  Selena faces these realms with reality always reminding her she is fallible.  Yet she can overcome anything with the love of her family and friends. 

What marketing methods are you using to promote your book? 
Halo Publishing, Int. (which is my publisher) has been great with helping with my marketing. They sent out press releases once my book was ready to debut. I’m currently doing a virtual book tour. I also use social media such as Twitter and Facebook to share any news about my book and updates on my writing.

What formats is the book available in?
Shadow TEARS is available in both print and eBook.

Who are your favourite authors?
If you are talking growing up I loved every book I could get my hands on.  I spent large amounts of time in the library reading The Hardy Boys by Franklin W. Dixon and Robert Lois Stevenson Treasure Island.  If I had to pick between the two hands down it would be Treasure Island.  I know it is traditional but there are so many versions.  The one I have has the part where Jim sneaks back on the ship and is pierced through his shoulder and pinned to the mast.  In some versions they don’t have that part.  As I grew up I fell in love with Hannah Howell.  To this day I read everything she puts out. 

Where can a reader purchase your book?
Shadow Tears is now available on the Halo Publishing website, Amazon.com, Kindle, Barnes and Noble, Nook, Bowker Books, Ingram Distributing, B. Dalton, and many more
                                                      
What is your work in progress? Tell us about it.
I am working on the whole series but the main project now is Book 2.  This is a small peek.
I will start editing book two after the Christmas Holiday.  This Christmas will be a similar holiday to the one when Shadow Tears began since my husband has had a reoccurrence of his cancer.  I will keep working on it so we can get in to your hands. 

Book 2 Shadow -------- tba
Selena, Matthew barely survived their first encounter with their Shadow enemies.  They were shoved into what Shadows term as a vortex to stabilize their Shadow genes from disintegrating into nothingness.  Afterwards they are delivered from the vortex into the arms of Shep and Victor.  The children will need time to heal while they enjoy their first Christmas together with their friends and family in the Shadow Realm.  During the next several months Selena and Matthew will discover their rich heritage, visit the main Capitol of the Shadow Realm, Troy.  The Shadow Realm is just like Jared’s journals had described. 

A new year looms on the horizon as does the enemy.  Shep and Billy expect this year to be more challenging since the enemy is aware Selena exists.  They are fairly certain none of the enemy returned home to report what they had found, so hopefully Selena will remain safe for now.  That poor child has no idea what her first steps back onto these grounds have announced.  The sisters of fate seem to be untwining their twine.  May Zeus deliver them all from Cronos.

Who or what inspired you to become a writer?

Stories from my imagination have always been a part of me.  I love storytelling and have practiced my entire life.  Since I was young I have written stories.  I can see my growth but there are three stories that I return to all the time.  The Shadow one is my favorite.  This particular series plays with one’s natural fears and made for some great times with my children.  However, when my husband’s illness took control of our life I invented this whole world with the help of my children.  I wanted my children to be able to face anything sent their way.  No illness would be allowed to steal our joy of life.  So I used things I saw that influenced those around me and put a paranormal spin to them.  Selena faces things that the average teenager and young adult faces while the adults face their own dilemmas.  This may be a sci-fi fantasy book but there are life lessons.  No problem is small to the person going through the event but they can be overcomed.

When you’re not writing, how do you spend your time?

I love being with family.  It doesn’t matter what we are doing as long as we are enjoying each other’s company.  I do love hiking and swimming. 



0 Comments

I love to hear from you. So feel free to comment, but keep in mind the basics of blog etiquette — no spam, no profanity, no slander, etc.

Thanks for being an active part of the Writers and Authors community.