Please welcome Terri Herman-Ponce author of In This Life.
Terri will be awarding a digital copy of IN THIS LIFE (Book 1 of the Past Life Series) to a randomly drawn commenter at each stop during the tour, and a Grand Prize of a $50 Amazon gift card to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour.
In This Life, Book 1 in the Past Life Series
by Terri Herman-Ponce
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1.
What elements are necessary components for this genre.
You know, this is a question I’ve thought about for my other books, too. In This Life is suspense, with
paranormal (some might call it metaphysical) elements mixed in with mystery.
And I think there are certain things certain genres have to have. Like,
suspense relies on conflict or fear or anxiety…tension that ramps up page by
page. Something that makes you bite your nails. And mystery involves a puzzle
that has to be solved. And paranormal? I dunno. Sometimes I think there’s some
latitude there as far as what’s considered otherworldly. But in the end, I
think the author has to deliver no matter what the genre. Do that, and you’ve
got readers for life. (and I hope to make some today!)
2.
What expertise did you bring to your writing?
Expertise? Oh man, I’m grinning here because the truth is kind of funny. I took
AP English in high school, which was a great experience, but I’d never really
been interested in English. Or writing. Or anything where I had to put words on
a page. At least, until I became interested in Star Trek: The Next Generation.
That’s when I had this overwhelming desire to write about the characters I
loved in my own way, and when I discovered the world of fanfiction. And that’s
where I met my best friend/beta reader who inspired me to write mainstream, and
that’s what launched my writing career today. I’ve been writing for, oh, about
eighteen years now. And, yikes! Has it really been that long? Wow. So I guess
you could say that Star Trek was the expertise I brought to my writing. How’s
that for an answer?!
3.
What would you want your readers to know about you that might not be
in your bio?
I’ve been asked this in other interviews. And my mood of the day determines my
answer. J So here it goes. I’ve got a phobia about very
long escalators. I’m not afraid of heights, but long elevators? No. No. And NO.
I know there are people behind me when I ride one, but I still feel scared that
I’ll tumble backward and all the way down!
4.
As far as your writing goes, what are your future plans?
I lovelovelove writing the Past Life Series, so my goal is to keep writing it
because the stories (and the characters) keep filling my head. I see so many
possibilities with this series. Suspense. Mystery. Passion. Paranormal. At some
point I’ll branch out into something standalone related, but not yet. I’m
having too much fun with the mystery of reincarnation and the concept of second
chances to stop.
5.
If you could be one of the characters from this book, who would it
be and why?
None of them. Can you believe it? Seriously, I’ve got a major lustfest going
with David Bellotti, the male lead. I mean, he’s total sexy yum to me. But to
be him or one of the characters? Nope. To me, they’re as individual as I am.
6.
Do you belong to a critique group? If so how does this help or
hinder your writing?
Actually, no. My best friend, who I met online through a Star Trek fanfiction
group, also became my beta reader when I started writing fanfiction. And she’s
the best thing that ever happened to me personally and to my writing. I trust
her implicitly and, to tell you the truth, she’s tough on me! But in a good
way. However, I’ve also got a developmental editor tucked away in my back
pocket. You know, just to make sure…
7.
What is the best and worst advice you ever received? (regarding
writing or publishing)
The best advice? 1—write what you’re passionate about. 2—it’s not necessary to
follow every writing rule. 3—except for the important ones. J
The worst advice? Hmm. It’s not so much the worst advice as it is too much
advice. It seems like everyone has thoughts on how a writer should write. Like
writing the whole draft first before you edit. Or outlining first. Or having to
get the first chapter perfect before you move on. But, over time I’ve learned
that I have to write the way that works best for me.
8.
Do you outline your books or just start writing?
Wow. This question so totally fits in with the previous one! I can’t outline.
Ever. I have a general sense of what a chapter or scene needs to be, but that’s
about it. I write like a reader the first time around, but I edit as I do. I
know sort of what the story is about, and have an idea of how it’ll end, but I
have zero idea how I’m going to get there. And that’s what totally jazzes me
when I write. I never know where it’s going to go. And nine times out of ten,
I’ll hear a song that’ll spark an image or dialogue, and snap! I’ve got my
scene bursting to be written. This happens most often with my character David.
(Yeah, I know In This Life is written
in Lottie’s point of view, but David took over right after I typed The End.)
Anyway, because his voice is so strong, and because I love (lust for!) him so
much, the scenes with him are usually the easiest to write. Oh, they still have
to be edited, but they’re the ones that usually flow right out of my head and
through my fingertips and onto the page.
9.
How do you maintain your creativity?
Believe it or not, I play games on my iPhone (can anyone say Candy Crush
addict?). I also love doing Brain Games (check out their website and TV show on
NatGeo—it’s the best), because it helps me find ways of using a different part
of my brain. I need to engage in something that has nothing to do with writing.
And when I do, it feels like I’m giving the creative part of me a rest. Kind of
like putting my right brain’s feet up on the coffee table and taking a nap.
When the ‘nap’ is over, I pick up my writing again.
10. Are your plotting
bunnies angels or demons?
Guess what! I have no idea what a plotting bunny is! So I’m gonna Google
it…hold on please…ohhhhh. So THAT’S a plotting bunny! Oh yeah. I have story
ideas that spark to life in my head and don’t let go very often. And, to me?
Absolute angels! David and Lottie, for example, are major plot bunnies because
I envision them in so many scenarios and situations, many of which never make
it to the page. But, and this is a big but (that sounded funny, didn’t it?),
when I have a David/Lottie scene in my head that fits a story, I absolutely
positively have to run with it. I mean, they’re my life. So, yeah. Angels. All
the way. It’s what keeps my writing motivated and moving.
Anything else you might want to add?
You guys have been great, so THANK YOU for this wonderful opportunity to talk a
little about myself and about In This
Life. I hope your visitors found my interview entertaining because I sure had fun.
Hidden memories.
Buried secrets. Resurrected revenge.
Psychologist
Lottie Morgan knows something is wrong when she relives memories of a lover
she's never had. At first she attributes them to fever-induced dreams. But when
the fever disappears and the visions don’t, Lottie realizes something else is
going on.
Then she meets
Galen. Their first encounter is as intense as it is eye-opening, and his revelation
that they shared a passionate relationship thousands of years ago in ancient
Egypt entices Lottie into wanting to learn more about her past. Her decision,
however, comes at a price. Galen may hold the answers but he could destroy the
devoted, lifelong relationship Lottie has with her current lover, David.
It also could
mean her death—again.
Someone is
protecting millennia-old secrets, determined to keep them buried while exacting
a revenge on Lottie for a mistake made a very long time ago. A mistake she
could be destined to repeat.
Take a trip to
mysterious ancient Egypt, where Lottie becomes caught between two lifetimes,
two men, and long-buried deceptions. Hank Phillippi Ryan, Agatha, Anthony and
Macavity-winning author, calls this paranormal suspense "Inventive,
original and thought-provoking; this mystically romantic mystery will instantly
intrigue."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The restlessness I’d been
feeling surged through me again, stronger this time, and I didn’t like the way
it felt. Something seemed off, and I wasn’t sure if it was with David or with
me. Remnants of last night’s sleep started trickling in, and then a connection
clicked into place.
“I had a dream last night and
I started remembering it in the bathroom.” I closed my eyes, trying to remember
more. “I was in a room with a servant who was waiting on me. She was preparing
me to meet someone. A boyfriend.” No, that wasn’t quite right. “A lover.”
I felt a tingling uneasiness
as I said the word.
“A lover?” David asked.
I opened my eyes, saw
David’s grin and recognized the bait for what it was.
I grinned back. “The lover
wasn’t you.”
His grin widened and then
faded away. “That still doesn’t explain your behavior in the bathroom. You
looked like a statue.”
“I’m tired, David,” I said,
sliding down under the covers. “ The human mind is capable of doing unusual
things when a person is under stress, like when they’re sick, and the gods only
know I’ve been feeling a lot of that these past few days. Forget about it. It’s
not a worry.”
David paused. “Is that your
professional assessment?”
“Yes.”
It looked like David wanted
to say more but he got up and walked to the windows that overlooked the
backyard instead. I wasn’t sure what was going through his mind but I knew him
well enough to know not to pry. It always backfired whenever I did. So I let
him have his moment, toyed with the toast, and then passed on it in favor of
some tea. My cell phone rang as soon as I put the mug on the nightstand, and I
answered it on the second ring.
“Tough night’s sleep,
Lottie?” The voice on the other end was male and one I didn’t recognize. “You
shouldn’t tell your boyfriend about your other lovers. Especially those you
dream about.”
“Who is this?” I asked.
“I’m disappointed you don’t
recognize me.” He laughed, the sound crawling over my skin like a snake over
sand. “I’m the man you dreamed about last night.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Terri
looks for any opportunity to make stuff up. She thinks anything that can’t so
easily be explained is worth an extra look and often makes a great story. She
loves red wine, scotch, sunrises, Ancient Egypt, the beach—and a host of other
stuff that would take too much real estate to talk about. The youngest of five
children, Terri lives with her husband and son on Long Island. And, in her next
life, if she hasn’t moved on to somewhere else, she wants to be an astronomer.
Terri’s fascinated with the night skies almost as much as she’s fascinated with
ancient Egypt.
Terri
is a member of member of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America, and
you can read about her at http://terriponce.com/.
If
you love social media, you can also find Terri on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/Terri.Ponce.Author and on Twitter at
https://twitter.com/TerriPonce. Come visit. She’d love to hear from you!
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