A Conversation with Tamara Siler Jones

The March book for the Mindbridge Book Group was Tamara Siler Jones' Ghosts in the Snow. Tammy was kind enough to answer questions for our group, and here's the interview. Find out more about Tammy and her writing at her website.

1. How long have you been writing?

I've been writing professionally since I sold Ghosts in the Snow in 2003. However, I've been writing regularly since I was seven or eight, so that'd be about 1972, and wrote my first novel when I was 14 (1978 or 1979)

2. Tell us the story of how Dubric came to print.

I've had the universe Dubric exists in for a long, long time, maybe 25-30 years, and he was actually a pretty minor character in the whole epic thing. Anyway, I got an idea that Dubric needed to solve a serial crime. Dubric has a rather long life, so then I decided that it needed to be during the courtship of Risley and Nella. That gave me the time and place and other characters present, as well as the political and socioeconomic realities in play. Once those things were settled. i just stated writing and the novel became its own force, its own entity. So here we are.

3. Are you planning any more Dubric Byerly mysteries?

Yes. I'm planing on about seven books in the series, total.

4. What sorts of stories are you working now?

A bunch! I have the fourth Dubric novel (Stain of Corruption) a SF Horror (SPORE), a couple of mainstream thrillers (as yet untitled) and a YA first person story with a working title of 'Paul' that will almost certainly be called something totally different. I have no idea where it's going but I really like its voice and structure.

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Originally published at Writer Tamago. You can comment here or there.

Brainstorming Trollish Motivations

Today's writing session was about trying to make good gumbo. I worked on some notes about antagonists and character conflicts, and I will probably do that tomorrow. I finished my book on Scandinavian folktales, and I referenced some Norwegian names.

By the way, Norwegian names!

My favorite note for tonight: BAD TROLL HAG WITCH!

I'm also floating the idea in my subconscious that mebbe Old Nick Scratch should be in the stories...because his legends are boss!

***

You say you want more folklore?

Let's talk about

Magic Shot: Magic that is sent in the form of vapor or a swarm from far away to hit a target.

Finn Shot: The same, except sent by a Finn, whom everyone know is an eerie or suspicious outsider, and therefore suspect.

Elf Shot: The same, except sent by one of the invisibles (the name for the supernatural Scandinavian creatures.)

Next time, and I kid you not, the politics/folklore of milk!

Catherine

Originally published at Writer Tamago. You can comment here or there.