Paranormal Romance Author

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Tamara Hughes

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All About Tamara Hughes

A small town girl with a big imagination, Tamara Hughes had no idea what to do with her life. After graduating from college, she moved to a big city, started a family and a job, and still struggled to find that creative outlet she craved. An avid reader of romance, she gave writing a try and became hooked on the power of exploring characters, envisioning adventures, and creating worlds. She enjoys stories with interesting twists and heroines who have the grit to surmount any obstacle, all without losing the ability to laugh.

The Goddess of Magic

Release Date:

April 28, 2021

Publisher:

Soul Mate Publishing

Cover Design:

Fiona Jayde

Welcome Tamara to Jeny's TattleTales

Welcome to Jeny's TattleTales on my blog!

Thank you Jeny for having me here!

You're welcome! Let's start with our first question: What was the hardest, most unusual, or interesting part of the story to research?

For this book, I researched my hometown of Stratford, Wisconsin. Although my parents still live there, I moved away right after college. Early on, I decided this book should be set in a tiny rural village (a dairy farming area).

For some reason, having a battle of witches and dragon spirits there appealed to me in a big way.

That said, I did of course take some liberties, so the town of Stratford in the book isn’t exactly the same as the real one.

What blows your skirt up or knocks your socks off, besides family and friends?

I love, Love, LOVE, to watch Asian dramas.

I’m addicted to romances, and I’ve found that not only are there not very many romances made in the United States anymore (except for Hallmark), for the most part, those that are made are very predictable and repetitive.

When I started watching Asian shows, I truly appreciated the innovative, complex storylines they have to offer.

I’ve watched them almost exclusively for a couple of years now, and I’m still discovering stories that have me hooked.

How do you choose the names and physical characteristics of your characters? Do you base them on real people?

The names for my characters either just come to me, or I use baby name sites to look up names that appeal. After I have a name and the type of person they are, I search the internet for faces. I seldom cast celebrities, because I don’t want to be influenced by what I’ve already read about them, but once in a while the look just works and I break that rule.

How would someone benefit from signing up for your newsletter?

In my newsletter, I talk about my life, my family, and my pets. I also give updates on what I’m working on and what sales/contests I’m offering. I occasionally give book recommendations but only for books I’ve personally read and enjoyed. Lastly, I always give a show recommendation. So, if anyone is interested in watching Asian shows, I can certainly give you the lowdown on what I’ve enjoyed and why.

How did your interest in writing originate?

I’ve read romance since I was a teen. I started out reading historicals, then got into paranormal romance. I read one after another, and when I was on leave when my kids were born, each time I wondered if I could write a romance.

I’ve always enjoyed imagining scenes in my head, so I decided to give it a try. I love building worlds and unique situations to plop my characters into just to see what will happen.

Sophie’s choice…Answer honestly which of your books is your favorite? (You can’t say all of them)

I would have to say my favorite would be Bewitching The Beast, the first book in this series. It was my first attempt at writing a paranormal romance, and I loved the story and the characters, particularly Tess, who I found to be really funny and interesting.

It was also the first time that listening to music inspired scenes for me. I would take long walks with a notebook and listen to Evanescence songs. That book just seemed to come naturally for me.

Have you written any other books that are not published?

I actually have two paranormal books that I’ve finished but not yet published.

One of them has a new race of people called Tellurians. They get special abilities from the earth’s telluric current. The government knows about these people and has allowed them to live in peace, or have they? The first book in this series is called Finding Ambrosia.

The second book that’s complete is tentatively called The Keeper’s Touch, and it’s about nymphs who have a symbiotic relationship with nature.

Because of pollution and global warming, nymphs have evolved so they also gain energy from a male counterpart, called a keeper.

Each nymph must start an exchange of energy with her keeper by the time she reaches the age of twenty-one, or she’ll die a painful death.

In The Keeper’s Touch, we begin the story with a nymph who is almost twenty-one and in great pain. Her keeper never searched her out, and she must find him fast. She follows the weak link they share, and finally discovers where he is only to see him in a fistfight. He’s the leader of a street gang, not exactly the mate she’d been hoping for.

The Goddess of Magic Blurb

Socialite Holly Ellison’s best friends are immersed in a fight against evil. They don’t want her involved, but she’s determined to keep them safe. Little do they know she’s the key to everyone’s survival.

Dr. Peter Rennick hears his brother’s rumblings about witches, magic, and dragon spirits possessing people’s bodies only to find out what he’s saying is true. Peter witnessed firsthand the destructive powers of the beast and demands a role in the fight.

When Peter is put in charge of Holly’s safety, the intense attraction between them is a distraction they can’t afford. They must focus on destroying the beast, a powerful spirit that has its sights set squarely on Holly.

Excerpt

I, Holly Ellison, am an idiot.
Grinding her teeth, Holly marched down the hospital hallway, away from the emergency room cubicle where her father was being treated for a broken arm. All this time she’d been working her butt off at her father’s art gallery, and for what? She should have seen her father’s betrayal coming. And in a sense she had. She just hadn’t wanted to believe he thought so little of her. Her throat tightened. They weren’t extremely close, but their relationship was good, wasn’t it?

Her footsteps faltered. She wasn’t being the best daughter. Only hours ago her father had fallen down the staircase in his Upper Manhattan duplex apartment. No, other than a broken arm, he was fine. Besides, he had his newest girlfriend at his side. The same girlfriend who would no doubt soon be his traveling companion. Now that he’d had his epiphany that life was too short to continue to run the Ellison Gallery.

Her blood pressure rose again. But instead of passing the reins onto her, his only daughter, the daughter who had been working for him since high school, the daughter who basically ran the gallery when he was gone, he would hire a “professional” to manage the place. A professional. What was she? A trained monkey?

She pushed open the door to the street and braced herself for the early December nighttime chill.

Sure, she’d never gone to college, but she’d learned on the job. That had to count for something. Her father had given her an office and put her in charge of various aspects of the business. Had that merely been nepotism?

His way of showing affection—a pat on the head and, once in a while, telling her she’d done a good job?

A biting wind hit her, but the cold wasn’t an issue. Not tonight. She was too hot under the collar for the icy temperature to affect her. Maybe she should walk all the way to Tess’s apartment. It might cool her off, so she sounded halfway sane when she vented to her best friend. Best friend? The one who kept secrets from her. Ugh. She should go home. A glass of low-cal wine might help just as well.

She rounded the corner of the building and came face-to-face with a . . . masked man? Holy hell! Holly turned tail but got only two steps away when she was grabbed around the waist from behind. Her heart beating so hard it might leap from her chest and pound on the guy for her, she screamed and twisted in his hold as he stuffed a silver compass into his pocket and dragged her toward a parked car.

“No! Let go!” She lost her purse in the midst of stomping on his feet, kicking his legs, elbowing him anywhere and everywhere. The few times she made contact had little effect. “Help,” she yelled as her attacker opened the car door to the back seat and shoved her inside.

PURCHASE THE GODDESS OF MAGIC> HERE:

Jeny's TattleTales

Dogs or Cats? Cats. We have three. Yes, three.

Number of books you’ve written? Seven published, two waiting to be published, and one in progress.

Name three things you see when you look right.

1. A mound of blankets (I’m sitting on the couch)

2. Papers and a notebook (I don’t have a desk, so I spread out everywhere)

3. A large window to my front yard. (I love to work while being able to see the world outside)

What’s the best swag item you’ve ever seen? Jar openers. So useful!

Who do you think is the most irritating celebrity? Kim Kardashian

What is your most attractive feature? My smile

Cook, baker, or next question? Cook.

Place you’d like to visit: The UK

If a movie was made about your life, who would you want to play you? Amy Poehler. I’m a bit weird and goofy.

What song best sums you up? Weak by AJR

Describe yourself in three words:

1. Clumsy

2. Silly

3. Easy-going

If we were here when the earth began would you be a hunter or a gatherer? Gatherer

Coffee or tea? Coffee, please

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter? Fall

Mac or PC? PC

What is your favorite thing to learn about in your free time? Asian shows

You have a time travel machine. Where and when? To right before my laptop died about a week ago. I would have saved my files!

Are you earth, wind, fire, or water? Earth?

1 thought on “Tamara Hughes”

Tamara Hughes
April 29, 2021 at 1:18 pm

Thanks again for having me on your blog today, Jeny! You have some great interview questions! They were a lot of fun to answer!

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