About Tara Fox Hal:
Tara Fox Hall’s writing credits include nonfiction, erotica, horror, suspense, action-adventure, children’s stories, and contemporary and historical paranormal romance. She is the author of the paranormal historical thriller-fantasy Lash series, the transgender contemporary erotic Grow A Pair series, the paranormal romantic suspense Unhallowed Love series and the paranormal romantic drama Promise Me series. Tara divides her free time unequally between writing novels and short stories, chainsawing firewood, caring for stray animals, sewing cat and dog beds for donation to animal shelters, and target practice.
What inspires you to write?
I wanted to write a book for my mother and was determined to have vampires in it, as well as a little romance (this was back in 2006, when she had a pretty bad health scare). She hated vampire books, and isn’t into romances. So Promise Me Book #1 evolved, which was vampire romantic suspense with a good deal of action. I had to make the characters likeable and believable enough that someone who wasn’t into paranormal would still be captivated. My horror fiction is inspired by real-life nightmares, of which I still have a more than my fair share.
What authors do you read when you aren’t writing?
Stephen King, Tammy Hoag, Jenny Twist. Paul Rickman is the one I've read the most work by in the last few years, he's my current favorite.
Tell us about your writing process.
I'm a seat of the pants writer, though I jot notes all the time on little scraps of paper for plots and dialogue. I've tried for years to write everyday and can't do it, so I do my best work under a deadline and just have to let everything else slide. Characters evolve by their actions and what I imagine them saying as the work progresses, and what I think would be believable, based on people I have met or read about (or overheard in person) in my lifetime. Watch what you're saying in restaurants and stores, lol!
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
My characters tell me who they are, and where they are willing to go. Sometimes I'm proud of them (like Sarelle or Elle or Theoron) or , other times I would have liked them to use better judgement or show restraint (like Lash or Devlin or Debbie). The best character is one that runs the gamut and makes me feel both ways, because they are the most real. Perfect, beautiful characters who have millions of dollars and are able to do everything they aspire to with little struggle are pretty boring to me.
What advice would you give other writers?
Please….edit your work, and have someone you aren't related to do it who isn't afraid to give you an honest opinion. Realize this isn't a glamorous or appreciated job for 99% of us, so expect the brick wall. If you really have something to say…don't give up.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I tried finding an agent back in 2007-2009, and couldn't, so I began submitting online, and to small presses. I had a bunch of disappointments before signing on with Melange Books, whom I still publish with. I strongly recommend them to any aspiring writers who publish books they currently have a call out for (see their website). I have worked with a few other small presses; some did nothing for me except waste my time, others tried very hard but went out of business in a few years. So now I self-publish or publish online whatever Melange isn't interested in contracting (like Deep Breaths: Tales of Hope and Inspiration, and my children's stories)
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I think its changed radically just in the decade I've been writing, and it will change still more. The hard part isn't to publish anymore, its to get your book to stand out in the slew of others out there (and there are TONS publishing all the time online).
What genres do you write?: fantasy, transgender, nonfiction, erotica, horror, suspense, action-adventure, children’s stories, and contemporary and historical paranormal romance, suspense
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print, Audiobook
Website(s)
Tara Fox Hal Home Page Link
Link To Tara Fox Hal Page On Amazon
Link to Author Page on Melange Books
Your Social Media Links
Goodreads
Facebook
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All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit to allow you the reader to hear the author in their own voice.
