Welcome to my stop on the Tea and Primroses tour...I've got the author, Tess Thompson here for an interview. You'll also find some information about her book, and I'm sharing my review! Please say hi and let us know what you think!
Hi Tess, and welcome to my blog! Thanks for taking the time to answer my inquiring questions :)
Tell me about yourself, and your writing.
I live in a suburb east of Seattle and am the single mother of two girls, 7 and 11.
I write women’s fiction with a little suspense/mystery and a little romance. I grew
up in a small town in Oregon and can’t seem to stop writing about small towns.
How long have you been writing? How many published books do you have, and
what genres?
I’ve been writing since my early twenties. I studied theatre at USC and originally
focused on playwriting but switched to novels when I was 38, promising myself I
would finish my first one by the time I turned 40. I had young children at the time,
which made writing difficult but I made my goal, which resulted in Riversong, my
first Nook and Kindle bestseller.
Do you write in multiple genres or just one? If just one, do you ever consider
straying outside your genre?
My published work is all in the same genre, however, I have an historical fiction
series that we may put out at the end of this year. I am drawn to historical stories
but they take a lot longer to write because of the research aspect. However, I
plan to do both going forward.
Are you a plotter or do you write from the seat of your pants?
I’m a combination of the two. I usually have the major story points plotted out but
not enough that the characters can’t influence the story when they decide they
want to. The manuscript I’m currently writing I have not figured everything out yet
but I know there will be a moment when everything falls into place.
What is a typical writing day like for you?
Usually I write five to six days a week, roughly from 10 in the morning until 2
or 3 in the afternoon, depending on how much I get done and if I have other
commitments related to the children or the business side of my work. When I’m
writing a first draft I try to do 2500 words a day before I quit. Sometimes I do a
little less, sometimes a little more. I find that once I have the plot figured out, the
writing goes much faster.
Who do you love to read? Favorite authors, favorite books?
Like my musical taste, my reading taste is all over the place. I like the classics,
contemporary fiction, especially if the characters are interesting, suspense,
romance, and anything else I can get my hands on. In the last ten years, I read
what my children read, obviously, and am amazed at the talented authors who
write for children and young adults. I recently I read the Hunger Games trilogy
with my daughter, a new novel called “The Maids Version” by Daniel Woodrell
and I’m on the second chapter of Wally Lamb’s, “We Are Water”.
What is something you'd like to accomplish in your writing career next year?
I want to get four books out this year. If I stick to my rather ambitious schedule, I
think I can do it.
If you could have one paranormal ability, what would it be?
Breathing under water. I love the water and would love to be able to swim around
in the tropical waters without having to worry about scuba gear. That said, I’m
afraid of sharks so that might not work out for me.
If you could keep a mythical/ paranormal creature as a pet, what would you
have?
This is a paranormal creature of my own imagination but I’d love to have a talking
dog.
Tell us a little about your latest release.
My latest release is “Tea and Primroses”, which is the follow-up to “Caramel and
Magnolias”.
Nothing is as it seemed in calm, quaint Legley Bay.
Famous novelist Constance Mansfield lived a seemingly straightforward – if
private – and somewhat predictable life. Friends, beloved daughter Sutton, a
beautiful home, and all the success an author could wish for. A perfect life….but
was it?
When a hit and run accident suddenly takes her mother’s life, Sutton finds hidden
secrets with her heartbreak. Emotional walls she assumed Constance had built
to protect her privacy may have been to protect something – or someone – else
entirely. Family and friends return home for support, including her own lost-love,
Declan. He’s the first thing she craves to help her cope with her loss and the
questions she’s left with, but he’s also the last person she wants to see. Will he
be able to put down roots at last?
Can the loss of true love be the making of a life, or is it destined to be the
undoing of everything? When money, power and love combine across time,
anything is possible.
What is something that you absolutely can't live without? (Other than family
members)
Music.
Could you ever co author a book with someone? If so, who would you choose,
and what would you write?
I don’t think so. One of the reasons I like writing novels is that I get to do it alone,
without anyone trying to convince me to do it their way. That sounds bad, but
in my defense, one of my weaknesses is that I’m extremely conflict adverse.
Therefore, I can’t see working well with someone without being unduly convinced
to do it their way and losing my own voice entirely.
If you could spend a day with anyone from history, dead or alive, who would it be,
and what would you do? What would you ask them?
Eleanor Roosevelt. I admire her very much and would love to ask her how she
was able to assert her influence in a time when women were mostly told to stay
in the parlor or the kitchen. Understanding how and why she did what she did
would hopefully inspire me to be braver in my own life.
What are some of your other hobbies outside of writing?
I like to cook and am interested in good wine. I love movies and reading,
obviously, good television and watching football. I’m an exercise fiend.
If you were on the staff to have a book adapted to movie, what would you pick?
Actually, the novel, “The Maid’s Version” I mentioned previously, would make
a great movie, although I wouldn’t envy the writer who had to adapt it to a
screenplay.
What is a talent you wish you had, but don't?
Singing.
Favorite color?
Blue.
Weather: Hot or cold?
Hot if I’m near water. Other than that, cold.
Favorite place to read?
My bed.
Favorite meal
Coq au vin.
Favorite non-alcoholic drink.
Herbal tea. I drink it by the gallons when I write.
If you could travel anywhere and do anything, no limits or money holding you
back, where would you go?
I would travel all over Europe, no question!
Tea
and Primroses
.jpg)
Legley
Bay Collection Book Two
By:
Tess Thompson
Blurb
Nothing
is as it seemed in calm, quaint Legley Bay.
Famous
novelist, Constance (last name) lived a seemingly straightforward –
if private – and somewhat predictable life. Friends, beloved
daughter Sutton, a beautiful home, and all the success an author
could wish for. A perfect life….but was it?
When a
hit and run accident suddenly takes her mother’s life, Sutton finds
hidden secrets with her heartbreak. Emotional walls she assumed
Constance had built to protect her privacy may have been to protect
something – or someone – else entirely. Family and friends return
home for support, including her own lost-love, Declan. He’s the
first thing she craves to help her cope with her loss and the
questions she’s left with, but he’s also the last person she
wants to see. Will he be able to put down roots at last?
Can
the loss of true love be the making of a life or is it destined to be
the undoing of everything? When money, power and love combine across
time, anything is possible.
Buy
Links
Review Rating: 4 LIGHTNING BOLTS
Review: Tea and Primroses starts off with an emotional punch almost immediately. The story delves into relationships, secrets, and hidden truths when Sutton learns of her mother's death. But, it's so much more than that. There are too many secrets hidden and things to learn. Sutton's struggles with the loss of her mother and then the things she learns takes the reader on an engaging, emotional journey that took me in the most unexpected places.
At times, there were so many characters at once, I was a little lost, but they really bring so much to the story. Everyone has things they want to learn, or are holding back and I wanted to learn some of their motives.
This story kept me turning the pages. The writing is beautiful, filled with emotions and at times, haunted me (In a good way) This is a wonderful novel that I enjoyed. I've never read a book by this author before, but I'll surely be on the look out for others. If you're looking for a novel that has it all: Mystery, emotion, romance, and relationships that focus on love and truth, then Tea and Primroses is just right!
Author
Info
Tess
Thompson is a novelist and playwright with a BFA in Drama from the
University of Southern California. In 2011, she released her first
novel, Riversong, which subsequently became a bestseller.
Like the characters in Tea and Primroses, Tess is from a small town in Oregon. She currently lives in a suburb of Seattle, Washington with her two young daughters, Emerson and Ella, where she is inspired daily by the view of the Cascade Mountains from her home office window.
Like the characters in Tea and Primroses, Tess is from a small town in Oregon. She currently lives in a suburb of Seattle, Washington with her two young daughters, Emerson and Ella, where she is inspired daily by the view of the Cascade Mountains from her home office window.
Author
Links
Thank you for sharing!
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