Pastime With Books: Questions & Answers with T.G. Ayer

What books did you love growing up?

Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden and the Hardy Boys of course; Anne of Green Gables, Little Women, The Lord of the Rings Series.

Who is your favorite author?

It’s a tie- Stephen King, Deant Koontz and Marion Zimmer Bradley

What book genre of books do you adore?

Paranormal, fantasy and horror but I read everything – as long as the book holds my attention for the first ten pages I’ll read it.

How do you write – lap top, pen, paper, in bed, at a desk?

It depends on where I am and what I have available. If I’m caught out its pen and notebook that I always have in my handbag. Mostly its my PC during the day, and my iPad at night if I’m writing in bed. If I do get away for the weekend or am away from the house for a few days it’s the laptop.

How often do you write? And when do you write?

I try to write every day. I think creativity in writing is like a muscle and if you stop using it it tends to get lazy. I try to do 3k a day and sometimes when I do want to push I do 5k a day. It’s a rush and can sometimes get crazy if I have edits happening at the same time but I love it more so because I hate the feeling when I can barely write 500 words in a day. Then I feel a little useless because I know I can do more.

I usually write first thing in the morning until lunchtime and sometimes I may come back to write a little more late at night when the household is asleep.

Do you find the time to read?

As a writer you must find time to read. I think reading is inspiration and most writers need the creative input of reading to boost their own creativity. At least it works that way for me. I find I’m most prolific in terms of plotting and writing when I make the time to read.

What inspires you to write and why?

Everything inspires me, especially people and culture. I’ve always been fascinated with the way the mind works so that’s something that I question a lot when I’m working on a project.

What genre are you most comfortable writing?

Definitely paranormal/fantasy. I love mythology and fables. I love the mystery of the possibility of the impossible.

How did you come up with the title?

The Hand of Kali series is a Trilogy based on the three key elements of the Goddess Kali- Fire, Blood and Time. I’d played with different names but in the end I liked the simplicity of the three powers.

Can you tell us about your main character?

In FIRE (the Hand of Kali #1) Maya Rao just wants to be normal, the all-American girl. She’s tired of being different and just wants to fit in. What she doesn’t know is that she is the furthest from normal that she could possibly be.

Who designed the cover?

My cover artist Eduardo Priego

Why did you choose to write this particular book?

I’d written Norse mythology for my first YA so I thought I would play around with a different mythology and chose Indian because as far as I know it has never been done this way before in YA

Will you write others in this same genre?

Yes, definitely. I love writing YA and I especially love mythology. I already have a few stories to look at in terms of what’s next on my project list

Can we expect any more books from you in the future?

Definitely. There is no reason to stop writing.

Dead Chaos – book 3 in the Valkyrie series will be out end of Sep 2013

Blood and Time – books 2 & 3 in the Kali series will be out Dec 2013 and mid 2014

Lost Soul and Second Chance – books 2 & 3 in the Darkworld series will be out late 2013 and mid 2014

Have you started another book yet?

I’ve started Lost Soul- #2 in my Darkworld series and I’ve outlined the plot for Blood, the second book in my Hand of Kali series and I’m looking forward to finalising that and getting on to writing it as soon as Lost Soul is written.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Hopefully still writing and still loving it as much as I do now.

What are your current writing projects now?

Right now I am putting the final touches to the edits of Dead Chaos, the last book in my Young Adult Valkyrie series. We’re looking at a release end of September. I’m also chugging my way through the word count for Lost Soul the second book in my New Adult Urban Fantasy series. I should have this written and ready for revisions by the end of September.

Are you reading any interesting books at the moment?

Shadows by Ilsa J. Bick, Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas, The Killing Place by Tess Gerritsen, and Game of Thrones by GRR Martin

What contributes to making a writer successful?

If you apply yourself, set your goals, write those books and don’t be afraid of hard work success is waiting for you. And working at you craft is so very important. Writers are learning all the time, be open to learning new ways, new styles, new tricks. If you are happy to continue learning and being a better writer then you are on your way. It’s just a matter of working hard and writing well.

What do you do to unwind and relax?

A glass of wine and a good book at the end of the day, or dinner and a movie with DH to make it more special.