Interview with Tiffany Nicole Terry
Updated: Feb 2
Happy January, y’all! I hope everyone had a fantastic holiday. Mine was a little crazy but still fun! But what else is to be expected when it comes to dealing with five small children and their mountain of gifts?
Anyway, it’s a new year and a new interview post! Our first author of 2023 is Tiffany Terry! Tiffany writes YA fantasy. Her debut trilogy features three young women who go through an epic, yet difficult journey to find themselves and their strength. Doesn’t that just make you want to run and add this to your TBR? I know it did for me. I love stories with strong women and relatable struggles. If you need another reason just look at the gorgeous covers.
Like any author, Tiffany has an origin story and hers is the sweetest one I think I’ve ever heard. When Tiffany was a child, an author visited her school. The author really inspired Tiffany to write. She helped her by giving her encouragement and tips. Something that has always stayed with Tiffany throughout her life. I told you it was the sweetest story. Tiffany is new to the writing scene, but I can already tell we will see great things from her. Find the links to her work at the end of the interview!
How did you get started on your writing journey?
a. A writer came to my sixth-grade class for a little writing workshop. I was a shy kid, and in my small circle of friends, we called ourselves the outcasts. We didn’t receive a lot of attention in school, but this writer gave me attention after reading things I had written. I felt seen and at her suggestion, started writing poems and journaling in my free time.
b. In high school, I helped kids in English class with writing projects, and I co-led a creative writing group. I started my college journey in English but switched to Professional Writing, where I really grew to love the idea of being an author someday.
c. Instead, I ended up writing for executives in the corporate world. My career as a communications manager has helped me thrive in uncertain times.
What are your writing plans for 2023?
a. Since I have finished my trilogy, I’m in that difficult decision phase where I have too many ideas. I have an urban fantasy, a fairytale retelling, a mermaid story, and even a non-fiction book idea. Hopefully, I can focus more on reading, learning, and outlining my ideas this year.
What inspired your first book?
a. I used to fantasize about escaping my world. I created a new world in my mind throughout high school and college.
b. Over the years, I found out some unsettling truths about my life, and those complex situations found themselves weaved into my story.
c. It wasn’t until I’d gone through a very traumatic divorce, and had two little girls to care for, that I really found my purpose for writing. I want to help young women and teens identify patterns of abuse and neglect in their lives and feel empowered to choose a path different from the one I chose.
Besides writing, what other dreams do you have?
a. I think it would be amazing to travel the country speaking to women about how to survive early corporate life.
b. I’ve talked with a friend about starting a podcast dealing with surviving abusive relationships of all kinds.
c. I also fancy the idea of running a home remodeling company, helping people make their homes more functional for their families.
d. I just read a couple of my children’s books to my daughter’s class, and that got me thinking about that woman who came to my sixth-grade class. It would be cool if I could get out to classrooms and teach kids about the joy of writing.
e. I basically have too many dreams but barely enough time after my day job to just read a few pages and relax.
Your author bio mentions your friends call you TNT. Is there a story behind it?
a. There was another Tiffany in my high school group of friends, so instead of having Tiffany 1 and 2, I went by my initials. Both of us ended up marrying men with the same last name too, so until my divorce, we both had the same first and last name. I think people like saying their friend is TNT, too. 😊
What do you wish someone would’ve told you about the writing profession?
a. I wish I would have started earlier with self-publishing, and not pursued the traditional route.
What is your favorite genre to read?
a. I actually spend a lot of my reading time on non-fiction seeking spiritual guidance, relationship, co-dependency, healing, parenting, and now being a good stepparent.
What are you most proud of in life?
a. I am really proud of the decisions I made years ago to take full custody of my daughters, first and foremost. That bravery set the course for us to all thrive and get to where we are now.
How do you find balance in your life?
a. I don’t think I am doing a good job of balance. Something always suffers. While I worked on my career, my kids and writing suffered. While I wrote my books, my kids suffered (in my mind, but they would say otherwise). And now, building a new life with my new husband, my writing is suffering again. In this new year, I’ll have to really create schedules for myself to give everything in my life planned attention.
i. Career
ii. Health and wellness
iii. Relationship with my new husband
iv. My kids
v. Building new relationships with stepchildren and as a newly formed family, new traditions, clashing personalities
vi. My dogs (very destructive if they are ignored)
vii. Writing books
viii. Reading books
ix. Researching, learning, marketing my books
b. It is a lot to balance, and I don’t have the answers yet.
What is your favorite book you have written so far?
a. The third book in my trilogy, Kingdom of Monsters, is probably my favorite because it closes all the loops, answers all the questions. We finally get to see more of my dragon in the flesh, instead of just the looming spiritual presence. I also just love a good happily ever after, and I think this book does that.
What is something on your bucket list that you haven’t check off yet?
a. I’ve always wanted a cabin in the woods. I want to sit by a big window, watching snow falling, sipping tea while I read or write. That’s the dream. If I have a lake and mountain view, even better.
Do you have any tips for aspiring authors?
a. Join Facebook groups. I have learned so much. And set a goal to hit a certain word count every day before you do anything else.
Author Bio:
Tiffany Nicole Terry (TNT to her friends) is a corporate communications manager by day, a novelist by night, and a mother to two daughters and two dogs every moment in between. A bit of a bohemian nomad, she has lived in every time zone in the continental United States but prefers to live where she can see mountains on the horizon. She is passionate about equality, diversity, and inclusion and believes that the world can be a kinder and more sustainable place. Her books are full of positive empowerment messaging for girls, especially those raised through trauma, neglect, and abuse.
