Interview

Hi Teirney and welcome. I am so glad you could join us here at RomanceJunkies. To start, will you please tell us a little bit about your current projects?

 

Hello, all! Well, currently I’m working on four different stories. I haven’t been able to commit to one because they’re all appealing to me. I’m trying my hand at romantic suspense with something I’m calling LUST AND LIES, another project that would be considered sweet romance which I’ve tentatively titled LOVE CHILD. The other two are both erotic romance, one called KILLING INNOCENCE and then a sequel book to IVORY’S ADDICTION, called LOVING LUKE.

 

When first beginning a new project, how do you begin? Are you an outliner? Do you know the names of your characters right away?

 

I always start with the heroine’s name. Once I know hers and basically her hero’s then I can begin writing the story. I don’t outline. I’m not very good at it, because when I begin a story, I don’t always know where the details emerge. If I’m lucky, I’ll know the ending and how I want it to go, but the rest is a surprise, even to me.

 

Since you already have a great love of history, research must an enjoyable part of your writing. What research methods do you use?

 

I try to stick to my realm of knowledge. Sometimes I click on internet sites and I get carried away with reading about interesting topics. Wikipedia always gets me in trouble. I can lose hours when all I intended to do was look up the meaning of something.

 

It is a dream come true when a writer makes their first sale. What were you doing when you found out about yours? Did you do anything special to celebrate?

 

Well, I was cleaning. I had stopped to take a break because my husband surprised me by coming home early, and while I was listening to him tell me about his day, I checked my email. To my surprise, I saw the confirmation email and the offer of a contract with Amira Press. I thought I was seeing things, so I called my husband in to make sure I wasn’t going cross eyed. He confirmed it. I danced around, cried a little and then I put my vacuum away. I hate doing it and I celebrated by treating myself to a reprieve from the darn thing.

 

What do you like best, and least, about writing?

 

Hmmm…I like creating best. I just love learning the characters and the twists and turns. I love feeling the keyboard beneath my fingers, typing out what my mind is coming up with. It’s like discovering magic is real and unicorns really do exist.

 

What do I like least? Editing! I’ve been putting off an editing job on my second WIP, AXEL’S OBSESSION, since I got pregnant. That was eight months ago. I figure when the baby is born, and I have no energy to write anything new, I’ll edit that sucker and finally submit it to my publisher.

 

What is your favorite way to unwind after a long and busy day? 

 

I enjoy a glass of wine (pre-pregnancy) and since I’m barred from that at the moment, I take a hot salt bath with my favorite bath salts. There’s nothing like ‘washing’ the day away.

 

If your fairy godmother waved her wand and whisked you away to the location of your choice, which place would you choose, and why? 

 

Iraq..and I know that sounds weird, it’s not where a lot of people would choose, but my husband just started a year-long tour and I miss him. I’d want to go see him, make sure that he’s okay.

 

Do you have any “hidden” talents?

 

Not that I can think of. I’m pretty good at those game machines where you have the claw to get stuffed animals out. I’m also addicted to them, so it’s either a talent or lots of practice, but I win every time. In fact, last time I played, I got two animals for the price of one.

 

How did you and your husband meet?  What was the one thing about him that made you know he was “the one”? 

 

We were both stationed in Hawaii. He actually lived right above me for months, but we barely saw each other, and maybe spoke in passing. It was St. Patrick’s Day and everybody was gathered on the second floor for a party. We just started talking, and when he smacked my bum, (don’t think I’m crazy) I knew he was special. Not a lot of guys are confident enough without being cocky to do something like that.  Once we picked the same movie to watch the next day, I was a goner.

 

What is the best way to spend a quiet evening at home? 

 

If I’m with my husband, watching movies and eating take out. We love to get Japanese food. Since I’ll be spending the next year home alone, I’ll probably either write when I can or get the latest reads. I love curling up on the couch with a good book.

 

How do you describe Teirney Medeiros?  How does Teirney Medeiros’  husband describe her?

 

Uh, well, I would describe myself as quiet, shy and socially inept.  My husband might have more adjectives, and not all of them flattering, no I’m just kidding. I think Sean would say that I’m quiet and shy, but easy to get along with once I get to know you. He’d also probably say I’m a bit of a ditz. I’d have to agree (on occasion). I do have my moments.

 

MORE FUN…

 

Who is the person who has had the biggest influence on your life? Whom will you pass this “influence” on to?

 

Well, my Great Grandmother probably the biggest influence on my life. She was everything that a person could possibly want to be, and as a woman, she was just that much  more inspirational. She was the sweetest, kindest, toughest woman I knew, and I hope someday my grandchildren will look at me the same way I looked up to her. She was always the one person I could go to and know that I wouldn’t be judged, scolded or given the ‘I’m disappointed’ look. She was just love. Pure and simple. If I can pass it onto anyone, it will be the next generation.

 

When you're at home relaxing, are you a fuzzy slipper or bare-feet kind of person?

 

Oh, I’m barefoot all the way. I hate shoes. In fact, I hate shoes so much that I wear flip-flops in the wintertime. I hate socks too. My toesies need to be free to breathe.

 

Name the one thing you could not live without. 

 

Object wise? I think I’d go crazy without a connection to the outside world, so the Internet. I live in a secluded farmhouse in GA, so, the Internet is often my communication with the outside world.

 

What is your favorite expression? What is the one expression you wish you could stop saying?

 

Darn it! (I have butterfingers more often than not, so I’m always dropping things.) And the one I wish I could stop saying so much? It’s not an expression so much as it’s a name, Sponge Bob Square Pants. I get the theme song stuck in my head.

 

And lastly, no interview of a writer would be complete without this question:  what is your favorite comfort food?

Hmmm, comfort food? Although I can’t eat it right now, I love Ahi Sashimi…I could eat that all day, every day.  There is nothing better than that, not even chocolate.

By Brooke Wills

Romance Junkies Publishing Editor

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