Tuesdays with Taryn
S.J. McMillan
Please answer the
following questions:
What book(s) most
influenced you as a writer?
My love of reading
started in high school. I read a lot of YA horror like R.L Stine, L.J. Smith,
Christopher Pike, etc. After high school, I started reading a lot of romance,
any kind of romance. It is probably the combination of the genres that
influenced me to write urban fantasy. I like the suspense of the horror genre
and the emotional drama of romances.
What book do you read
over and over again?
I have several that
I have read many times. I’ve read the original Vampire Diaries series 3 or 4
times. I’ve read a book titled Waters Dark & Deep (by Jean Favors) many
times as well. There are also a couple of romance writer, Lynsay Sands, book
I’ve read a few times. I’m a book hoarder. If I loved the book, I never get rid
of it in case I decide to pick it up and enjoy it again.
Tuesday Trio-
1)
Movie-
Victor/Victoria
2)
Music-
It’s a 3 way tie between Paramore, Flyleaf, & Evanescence
3)
Decadent
Dessert- Anything chocolate
What’s the most
interesting or bizarre bit of trivia you’ve learned from researching for a
novel?
Because the ancient civilization is from an actual city in
Mexico, I had to research the city and the time period of 700 A.D. The mystery
surrounding the construction of and demise of the city of Teotihuacán is
interesting to me. There is still some much to learn. My hope is to one day
travel to see the city first hand.
Novel on your Nightstand:
Who/what are you
currently reading?
I’m so far behind
on my reading these days. The book anxiously awaiting my attention is Catching
Fire by Suzanne Collins (yep, the 2nd book in the Hunger Games
trilogy, that’s how far behind I am).
Whom would you cast
as your Hero & Heroine if your book became a movie?
I would cast
Christian Serratos for Katalina. Most will probably know her from the Twilight
Saga movies. She played the human Angela.
I would cast Alex Meraz for Tristan’s
part. He was also in the Twilight Saga movies as one of the wolf pack.
Blurb
700A.D. Teotihuacán, Mexico – The High Priest believed
himself to be as powerful as the gods. He set a plague on the city as a
demonstration of his power. The Gods took pity on the remaining loyal
congregation. They granted each survivor immortality and an extraordinary ability.
Three loyal survivors were given a mission of great importance: train the lone
human descendant of their civilization to stop the evil priest from damning the
rest of humanity.
2012 A.D. San Diego, California – The time has come to
finally make Katalina Deckard aware of her destiny. Her life has been a
constant struggle since the loss of her parents when she was young. But has it
prepared her to save the world? Can her friends, who have survived so long,
convince her she has what it takes to accept the mantle of Redeemer?
Author Bio
I play many roles in life, as we all do. I’m a wife to a
supportive husband, a mother to three young rascals, and an administrative
assistant during the work week to name a few. Now I am finally getting to add
published author to my list.
I started writing poetry in high school. I enjoy poetry and
still write a poem whenever inspiration hits me. I love to read, especially
paranormal romances and urban fantasies. The love of reading spawned the urge
to try writing a novel of my own.
One of my favorite parts of writing a book is creating the
characters. I immerse myself into their lives. I laugh when they laugh, cry
when they cry. I cheer them on in their triumphs and encourage them in their
struggles.
I have also come to enjoy writing fight scenes. Don’t laugh,
but my husband (the wonderful man that he is) will act them out with me so I
know exactly how I need to show it to the reader. Call us crazy, but it is
really fun to act out a scene using a broom handle as a spear and a foam
baseball bat as an axe.
