Today I thought I’d share with you, dear readers, an interview with one of my dearest friends and author Tamara Monteau. Tamara and I met when we both had books under the now defunct Secret Cravings Publishing umbrella. We became fast friends and have remained such for many years. I felt that it was selfish to hoard her all to myself so, without further ado, ladies and gentlemen, Tamara take it away.
Tamara: Thanks so much for the invite, Tami! I’m always happy to talk about my favorite vampires.
I have a few questions for you that I think my readers wouldn’t love answers to, so here we go:
Tell me a little bit about Haven’s Realm. Where did you get the idea for this wonderful world?
Tamara: It was something that evolved as my stories grew. I began with an obscure–at the time–vampire clan led by a Council and living in a place I called Haven. The culture didn’t completely evolve until I wrote the fifth book in the series, and it was my husband’s suggestion to incorporate the seven Heavenly Virtues that transformed the entire premise on which the Community was built. I was thrown into research, exploring the individual histories of my Council Elders and assigning them the appropriate Virtue. I added the Bargain, an agreement between Community vampires and Higher Powers, making my clan unique, at least as far as I know
How many books do you currently have published?
Tamara: I have two currently on the shelf–Treacherous Destiny, Haven’s Realm 1, and The Darker Path, Haven’s Realm 2. Book three, Dragon Lord, is ready to publish, I just need to finish the cover art and push the button.
Oh, I’m so excited to hear that, it’s been a while since I’ve read that one. How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?
Tamara: Originally, I had six published titles. They all went bye-bye with SCP. Books five and six have been split during the rewrite process, both to separate storylines and expand on them. In total, I have nine completed stories, two currently “in print”. After that, there are at least a dozen folders on my hard drive with story ideas, most with sketches I’ve thrown down, and two that are half-completed works. Haven’s Realm isn’t going to end for a while.
Oh, I’m so happy to hear about that, I’m certainly not ready for it to end! <3
What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
Tamara: I rarely do research ahead of a project, but look for answers to the questions that pop up while I’m writing. Research is conducted primarily online, though sometimes I do still refer to the old and very heavy Encyclopedia Britannica occupying two of my library shelves. Wikipedia is where I usually begin, but I look for more, especially when it comes to myth and legend. I research the history of the vampire involved in order to better develop his or her character. Two of my more notable characters are Jason, famed in Greek culture as the leader of the Argonauts, and Carloman I, former king of the Franks. I’ve delved deep into Greek mythology to pull book four, Haven’s King, together. I’d say book five, Secrets & Promises, took the most time to research, because not only did I have to define the Council, I also had to explore the past of a woman who has been reincarnated dozens of times. I had to build a timeline to match historical events with character lifetimes, just to keep it all square in my head.
That sounds like a dizzying prospect right there. I’m glad you were able to keep everything straight.
What other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer?
Tamara: I don’t know any authors personally, only by their writings. Maggie Shayne and Linda Lael Miller were two in the vampire genre who influenced me to write through their interesting works, and On Writing by Stephen King was the most helpful of all the books I’ve read on the craft. Of course, the editing staff at SCP helped me to better understand the mistakes I was making, though I suppose I have to admit I didn’t really get it until much later. In the rewrites, I’m catching things that should have been caught long ago.
Ok, I can’t handle it anymore… I need an excerpt to share with my readers. They need to be as invested as I am. What will you share with us?
Tamara: All right, here’s a small snippet from The Darker Path. In this scene, Ki’ara has just returned to Colton from an unexpected visit to Haven…
Ki’ara gaped when she saw the beast tethered to the rear of the shop, its presence a sudden reminder of the vision that led her to Earth. She held her breath while Colton vaulted onto the saddle, wondering how those slender legs could possibly bear him. He held a hand for her to join him, and frowned at her reluctance.
“Don’t tell me you’re afraid of horses.”
“Are you sure that animal can carry both of us?”
“I assure you he can.” He leaned down and slipped an arm around her waist, then lifted her across his lap. She thought they’d both be thrown when the horse reared, but he gripped the animal’s midsection with his legs and mastered him with incredible ease. He held her close with one arm while pulling at the reins, turning the horse away from the alley. They rode at a graceful canter along the higher road while the townspeople gaped, and when they reached the north end of town, he gave a shrill whistle, and the horse stretched his legs with a whinny of delight.
He managed the animal using his legs, muscles flexing while he controlled their course, but even while marveling at his expert techniques, she was painfully aware of the way his body moved around her. She tried not to squirm against the tension building in her belly, and endured the ride she might’ve otherwise enjoyed, though the horse’s speed was no match for a ghealo’s.
When he altered course and drove hard through the forest, nervous fright replaced the longing. She tensed and grabbed the pommel, leery of the branches threatening to unseat them both. He pulled to an abrupt halt in a clearing by a cliff, and the horse reared again before settling, voicing the same protest she’d heard once before. Colton lowered her to the ground before dismounting.
The cliff resembled the overlook she’d found at home. Breathless, she stepped to the edge, taking uncomfortable note of the boulder that appeared to have been placed there for sitting. The moon shone on the ocean below, casting a greenish shimmer to the crests and illuminating the foam. The horse whinnied and stamped his hooves before silence interrupted only by the crashing waves settled around her. Confused and disoriented, she backed away from the cliff, and when her heel struck a jutting root, she fell backward into Colton’s arms.
She spun around, sure shock was plain on her face. “What is this place?”
His eyes were dark and unreadable. “Justin and I played here as boys while Mother watched for ships returning to the harbor. I come here sometimes to…reflect.” He turned and paced to the edge of the clearing. “I can understand why you left. You should’ve stayed away.”
“I didn’t run from you in fear, and you should’ve known I’d have to come back. I needed time to…I thought if I stepped back, cleared my head…”
“So you waltzed right into the arms of the Community. You put yourself at great risk, and placed me in a very difficult position.”
“I didn’t realize…I mean I should’ve suspected… You never mentioned other vampires, so I was unprepared. Vincent noticed me because I didn’t know to keep my thoughts guarded.”
He turned, deep sorrow in his eyes. “Leave now, Ki’ara. Take Demon and ride back to town. He knows the way home. Get as far away from me as you can and don’t look back.”
“I can’t.”
“You’ve been with my kind. Surely you know what I’m required to do.”
She drew a breath that hitched. “I know.”
“And still you prefer to stay? Don’t you understand yet that I cannot control what I am? I haven’t been able to…enjoy a woman’s comforts since the night of my transformation. I could kill you without knowing until the deed is done.”
“I’m not defenseless.” She returned attention to Demon, unwilling to face him with her own uncertainties. Stroking the soft nose, she said, “I’ve run out of choices, Colton. Maybe you have the willpower to refuse a love hunt, but I’m not that strong.”
“You’re willing to turn your back on your people for the sake of a man you barely know? What of your responsibilities? What of the heirs you’re supposed to give your world? Can you so easily forget who you are?”
Tears pooled in her eyes. “This isn’t easy for me.”
“Then just…tell me why.”
His pleading tone thickened her throat. “I saw this clearing and your horse the night before the coronation. Reminders glimmered inside the storm that brought me here. For my people, such powerful visions are considered guidance from the Creator.”
“They might also be lies cast by whatever evil your people recognize as His enemy,” he pointed out, his voice tight.
She shook her head. “We believe in no such entity.”
“Then you are deceiving yourselves.”
“The angel who opposed your God fell to this world. Bricians follow a different path, and we adhere to the Creator’s will in all things.” Desperation gave her the courage to turn and face him, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I don’t know how this will affect Bricia or what the future holds, but I’m sure we belong together.” She slipped her arms around his waist. “I’m staying willingly. I won’t leave that way.”
That was AWESOME 🤩! Now, so everyone can go out and buy your awesome books, and fall madly in love, where can we buy them?
Tamara:
Barnes & Noble:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Tamara%20Monteau
I’m also on Smashwords and several library chains.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with my readers? Now’s the time, don’t be shy.
Tamara: I’m the retired mother of four beautiful children and, now, four adorable grandchildren, one I have the privilege of babysitting on a regular basis. Marshall James is our miracle baby, born after thirteen years of painful trial and failure. Watching him being born was a religious experience, and now that he’s six months old, he learns something new almost every day. We have two small poodles, Champaign and Abigail, who keep me company when I’m home alone and provide a most excellent alarm system. In addition to writing, I enjoy playing the piano and engaging in craft activities. My love affair with paper models has evolved into an obsession with 3D printing. I can edit videos, design computer graphics, sew, paint, work ceramics, arrange flowers…there isn’t a craft yet I haven’t loved, but none more profoundly than crafting Haven’s Realm.
Thank you so much Tamara for visiting the blog today, It was such a pleasure getting to know you a little better today. I hope you’ll be back soon.
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