Interview With Author Tami Jo Rasmussen

Today, we would like to introduce our blogging community to a Sweet, vibrant woman & local writer and neighbor of ours: Tami Jo Rasmussen. Tami, is actually a part of the small group of local writers in Franklin, North Carolina who help and encourage each other while bringing light to the Art community by supporting the Arts. (Macon County Area Authors Co-Op) 😉  We had the pleasure of meeting her a while back and getting to know her at a local book event where we all had individual tables set up.

I was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska in 1959. I have lived in Western North Carolina and Franklin for the last 25 years. I am a registered nurse and after working for many decades in healthcare, I’ve taken some time off to pursue a life-long passion…writing. You see how fragile life is when you have a career that immerses you in life and death circumstances; time is not promised. My children are grown and successful in their lives so, for me it was the right time to fulfill my dream. It was surely scary to take the chance! I saw a lot of eyebrows raised when I took the plunge but I am surrounded by a supportive family and friends.

Located in the Southern Appalachian Mountains of Franklin, North Carolina, Murmur is the Narrative of a horrific murder and the shocking history threatening a way of life in the remote location of White Rock Mountain and Hickory Gap. Murder, mystery, great fear and loss cloak this isolated mountain community. Murmur is about the mountain folks who live here and their perseverance during the tumultuous 1970’s. Without electricity, telephone service or running water Sonny Branch is in her element. Resisting modern amenities and lifestyle, she is a strong and capable mountain woman. Love and despair brings Sonny Branch to her knees when outsiders threaten the kinship for all of the colorful characters living in this small mountain commune.

(INM)Tami, tell our blogging community a little bit about this main character, Sonny Branch and how you breathed life into her.

(TJR) Sonny Branch is a compilation and tribute to the strong mountain women that I have met over time living and working in our beautiful mountain town. Sonny is a 40 something in transition and struggling to find her identity in the 1960’s and 70’s.  Living remotely is hard work and the creature comforts she took for granted growing up are gone, but the solace and beauty of her cabin and White Rock Mountain become a way of life that finally makes sense to her.

(INM) Love us some Strong Southern Female characters.

(INM) So, we have to tell you that we love the fact that Murmur takes place in our Smoky Mountains and even better, in our lovely town of Franklin. What was it like writing about the town you’re  we’re from?

(TJR) Murmur is dedicated to my dear friend and neighbor Dawn Lynn. A few days before Christmas in 2008, Dawn went missing. After an exhaustive search, she was found dead at the bottom of a ravine next to her house.  The temperature that day was the coldest in years.  Dawn, a frail older lady, was not able to climb up the steep embankment and sadly froze to death. That whole night and the days that followed were surreal and Murmur is a fictional tale loosely based on her tragic death in her hometown of Franklin, North Carolina.

(INM) Can’t wait to delve into this story. So tell us Tami, is Murmur your first book or do you have more published?

(TJR)  Murmur is the first in a trilogy of fictional novellas set to be released.  The Sonny Branch series will continue with “Still Cove” due to launch in 2015.

(INM) Fantastic!! Tami, your cover is quite beautiful we we’re wondering who did your book cover art?

(TJR) Tate Publishing provided me with a terrific graphic designer by the name of Rolly Galon.  After working closely together and several back and forths, I think Rolly perfectly captured the look and mood of the book that I was going for.

(INM) Tami, Murmur is a Murder Mystery/Action Adventure; is this the type of genre(s) that you prefer to write or do you cross genres or keep that open when writing?

(TJR) The genre found me. I never pictured writing a murder mystery, but the true life story of Dawn Lynn was so compelling that it took on a life of its own.  I had to pen it to paper.

(INM) Tami, you have such a bubbly personality and are always smiling but as you already know, Inion & I tend to write dark and prefer dark stories. What was it like for you to write something as dark as murder?
(TJR)  I love creating something dark and the tremendous artistic freedom that comes with it. We have all faced demons in our lives and I am able to channel and quiet my own through writing.

(INM) Tami, what are you currently working on and what can we expect from you in the future?

(TJR) I am currently working on Still Cove, the second in the Sonny Branch series of novellas.  Many people have asked why I chose to write novellas versus novels? It was actually a deliberate choice of style. Novellas have been around for hundreds of years. The series is an open ended story that I get to create as I go along. The same characters and location with a new murder and mystery will be the feature of each new novella. Also, I love the idea that it can be read quickly and I hope the length appeals to a very busy audience.

(INM) What writers are your favorite and why?

(TJR) Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird was one of my very first influences.

(TJR) John Steinbeck is my absolute favorite author. I love how he masters the story of the human condition in such great detail.  The Grapes of Wrath, in my opinion, is the best book ever written, and Of Mice and Men is second best.

(INM) It’s been a privilege and pleasure to interview you Tami and we know we’re going to enjoy your book, Murmur. We look forward to more of your stories and can’t wait to see you at the Summer Festival of the Arts, in Franklin, North Carolina on July 12^th

(TJR) Thank you ladies it has been my pleasure. The festival is going to be great and a terrific way to spotlight all the amazing artisans of Franklin.

 

For any who would love to check out Tami’s book, Murmur or connect with Tami online just check out below:

Tate Publishing: https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-62746-871-8

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Murmur-Tami-Rasmussen-ebook/dp/B00JG0RWGU

Barnes & Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murmur-tami-rasmussen/1116794728?ean=9781629027425

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1762600852&fref=ts&ref=br_tf

https://twitter.com/Tami_Rasmussen

Macon County Area Author Co-op:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/570042989673175/

Horror Fiction Writer Shaun Michael O’Neal

Today we are so excited to introduce our second male author on Two Voices….One Thought, this one much different from the last, as his work is Fiction. Shaun Michael O’Neal.

Shaun just so happens to hail from the State that Inion & I have been in love with all our lives, Washington: The Magical Northwest Pacific with its Emerald Green Forests. We shall take a moment to rear our ugly head of jealousy!

Okay…all done, now onto the artist.

We first met Shaun Michael O’Neal on Facebook, which is why we love networking, as it opens so many doors to artists that we might’ve never known. What made us instantly like Shaun, was his incredible sweet spirit, love for the Artistic community and……….

Yes, we’re going to say it; because you know we love, love, love DARK THINGS! We just recently picked up Shaun’s book: The Evil In The Dark and it’s sitting in our kindle begging to be read.

Last time we caught up with Shaun, he was trying get his book publically banned by the Roman Catholic Church. 😉 So, let’s give Shaun Michael O’Neal a big welcome!!

(INM)  Hi Shaun, how are you doing? We’re so happy to have you here on Two Voices….One Thought!

(SMO) Thank you! It’s a pleasure to be here.

(INM) Let’s start this interview off with a little personal info. How long have you been writing and what made you want to become a writer?

(SMO) I would like to answer the second part first. I have been writing since High school. But even that was not the start. When I was 7 I was writing and preforming for the rest of the kids. I turned the garage into a stage.  A rope with an old blanket draped over it was my curtain. It was so much fun.

(INM) Now that’s how to get that imagination in gear! Shaun you live in Washington, so ya know we got to hit you up about this! What’s it like writing in what we believe to be the most magical place on earth? And please be nice and try not to wreck our dream!!! Lmao

              

 

(SMO) I must first say I was raised in Southern California; Fountain Valley 5 miles from the water and Huntington Beach, to be exact. I have been here 10 years and still not used to the rain. But looking out every day and seeing a forest, I live right on the edge of one, is pure beauty.

(INM) Can you feel the mental darts we’re throwing at you? We’ll behave now!

Shaun, we recently purchased your book: The Evil In The Dark, tell us what to expect from this read without giving any spoilers away!

(SMO) In a nut shell, I have a couple doing what they are told to do by their church. They live their faith. They never stop to question it. That’s not allowed. Along the way an unusual and supernatural plot unfolds that cause them to question everything. Friends are dragged in as well. Where it goes, you have to read it to find out.  I will say… it gets twisted!

(INM) Oh yeah….this sounds right up our demented alley!  Shaun, is this book the genre you prefer to write or do you cross genres when writing?

(SMO) This is a classic horror story and genre I love. It allows me to say so much without sounding to weird. I hope.

(INM) Yep, we jumped into that same genre so as to appear normal as well! Lol 😉

Shaun, the main character(s) of your book, Mark & Jesse are these based on someone personal or are these strictly fictitious characters?

(SMO) Mark and Jesse are completely fictitious. I did put a lot of my myself in one character and I won’t say who, not yet! The name, Mark is from a friend of mine. I was the best man at his wedding. Jesse: I always type to music. The song Jessie’s girl from Rick Springfield was playing. The name Jesse just felt right. So I used it.

(INM) Yeah, we’re the same way, listening to music when writing. Now, the backdrop to this book seems to be religious. The ongoing battle of good vs evil (a favorite of Inion N. Mathair’s as you well know.)

                 

Many readers find religious based books to be heavy reads, with content sometimes to dark or too intense to follow. What set’s your book apart from the other religious books out there?

(SMO) I have to admit. I did quote the old Catholic bible a few times. It’s key to the story. But it’s not done in the manner most people would think. The supernatural aspect keeps it from being as dark and heavy as it could be.

(INM) Nice balance our friend! Shaun, what was the initial spark that inspired this book and how long did it take you to write it?

(SMO) Back in the late 80’s one of the gentleman I was working for was one of the librarians for the OTO. ( Ordo Templi Orientis ) or in English, ‘Order of Oriental Templars. He himself a bishop in The Gnostic Catholic Church. He shared with me many very old Sacred text. I was hungry to learn. He was happy to teach. It was years after I got the idea for the book. I started outlining it in 2000. I tossed around many plots until I found one that worked and had my voice. I started writing it in 2009. I completed it on February 6 2010 and I was on real writers high. A few days later I was in an accident at work and was really hurt, so I put it away. From my bed with a laptop I started to search for an agent. 100 rejections, (no one would ever read it) and 4 major surgeries later and still no agent.  I decided to publish it myself.  It was not an easy decision; but it was the right one at the time.

(INM) Shaun, give us two writers that you admire and who have influenced your writing?

                       

(SMO) Wow, only two? Well, J. R. R. Tolkien. The next Rod Serling, wrote more for the screen and theatre but I always loved what he did. Holding a mirror up to the world and showing its problems. I have to add Edger Alan Poe. With that said I have taken a lesson from many of the greats. H.G. Wells and Hemingway. I just couldn’t do two sorry about that.

(INM) Well, you know we’ll let that slide when you start throwing names around with that kinda weight! Lol 😉 Shaun, this is such a silly question, but a favorite one of Inion N. Mathair as we believe that a truly great book, will have a flavorful villain that will keep your attention! So, who is your all- time favorite literary villain?

                   

(SMO) That is a very tough question. I like my villains rich in character; the king that if just one thing was different in their lives, they might have been seen as the good guy. Of course pure evil without apologies is good as well. An example of this would be Cardinal Richelieu from, The Three Musketeers.

(INM) Shaun, another silly question: If you we’re stranded on a deserted Island and could only have ONE book….which one would you request?

(SMO) I would like a book on boat and raft building!

             

(INM) Well, we jumped into that one head first! 😀  Now, we have it on good authority, that you have a bit of a, Ahem (they clear their throats) how shall we put it…………dislike? Nope! Not strong enough. Ahem; uncomfortable? Nope wrong word! HATRED? Ahh yes, Hatred, that’ll work! Whoop there it is! So what about this hatred for clowns! Okay, just know that anything you say on Two Voices….One Thought, will strictly be between the interviewee and us! No one else will hear, you have our word!

            

(SMO) Clowns are Evil! Really, I have never liked clowns. They have always seemed dark and unnatural, John Wayne Gacy Jr. notwithstanding. My latest clown came courtesy of a nightmare. If a nightmare is bad enough to wake me up screaming, I write the nightmare down for further stories.  Such is the case with my latest loathing of clowns.

          

(INM) Okay, one last question before we let you go. Shaun what can we expect from, that brilliant,dark mind of yours in the future?

(SMO) I have completed and have in edit now: 2 85k word stories. In these stories, I use supernatural creatures; some trying to maintain their humanity; others shunning it.  It’s filled with magic, very old Gods from different times and places. Love, blood, passion, pain, death, resurrection and a lead character struggling to deal with it all. The working title is, “The Blood Spot” I have another in edit with a working title of, “Cross roads” one novella and two shorts, all dealing with change. Again all these are dreams. Of course Garden Of shadows is out now. Would you believe I have a book of poetry? It’s not horror. That one… I’ll tell you about later.

(SMO) In closing, I would like to once again thank the both of you. You have helped me, taught me and been a friend. I can’t tell you how much that means to me.

(INM) We blush, smile and send lots of:

                         

Garden of Shadows

Shaun’s book links:

THE EVIL IN THE DARK / AMAZON

http://www.amazon.com/Evil-Dark-Shaun-ONeal-ebook/dp/B00DCCPRFG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1399331159&sr=8-2&keywords=Shaun+Michael+O%27Neal+book

GARDEN OF SHADOWS / AMAZON

http://www.amazon.com/Garden-Shadows-Shaun-ONeal-ebook/dp/B00IRMN730/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1399331159&sr=8-1&keywords=Shaun+Michael+O%27Neal+book

Synopsis for: The Evil In The Dark:  An ancient evil besets a young couple. Seeking help and spiritual guidance from the old Catholic priest they have grown up with and trust implicitly. Mark and Jesse are propelled into a world of secrets and truth. With the help of Father Pat, they enter a realm hidden in plain sight. One that will shake the very foundations of their faiths and lives. A world of truths, lies and obfuscation. The price they pay if they fail? Only their lives and souls.

Synopsis for:  Garden of Shadows:  A compilation of short stories from Horror Master Shaun Michael O’Neal author of “The Evil In The Dark” Now offers you 13 Tales of Terror sure to keep you up or give you nightmares!

SHAUN’S NETWORK PAGES: (get to know the man):  http://www.shaunoneal.ocm

https://www.facebook.com/shaunmichael.oneal?fref=ts

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shaunshaunonealcom/322406061144066

https://twitter.com/AuthorShaun

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18088496-the-evil-in-the-dark?from_search=true

Shaun, we can’t tell you, what a pleasure it was to host you here on Two Voices….One Thought. You’ve been such a great friend to us! We wish you the greatest success with your books and we encourage all of you, our friends, when you have your “Must-Read” list down, to tag on Shaun’s book as he is a truly brilliant writer and wonderful human being!! We will also be leaving some links where you can friend Shaun on line and get to know him better!!

If you’d like to purchase “The Evil In The Dark” just head on over to Amazon and the link we’re leaving below and grab your copy of Shaun’s book. Also while you’re there, check out Shaun’s other book:

 

 

 

 

The Writing Process Blog Tour

Thanks to our kickass blogging sisters, Patti Hall

And Sandy Ramsey, we have now officially been passed the torch of ‘My Writing Process Blog Tour’.

We are honored they would choose us; especially given we are such huge fans of their blogs. All of Patti’s breathtaking photos of the picturesque Pacific Northwest. And when Sandy’s serious topics aren’t warming your heart or challenging your mind, her funny posts are making you laugh your ass off. So, if you’re not familiar with these ladies then head on over to their blogs: MOTHER OF IMPERFECTION:  http://motherofimperfection.com/  & THE WRITE PLACE: http://1writeplace.com/

We have to admit, though, we we’re hesitant about relaying the daunting task of our “writing process” to our readers. ‘Two Voices… One Thought’ is, after all, a rather precarious notion and one not easily digested. The technical aspect of writing novels has already been explained in our interview on Arlene Lugo’s Writing Pieces of Me, but we will go through the process once again for those of you that haven’t read it.

 

It’s the creation phase that’s a bit tricky and a phase we refer to as our ‘pretend-time’. So let us begin with the four questions:

1. What are we working on?

Sigh* Mathair and I have been vacillating over this question. We had originally started our editing break to work on our third novel, which is the first in our third, YA fiction series, New Salem Chronicles: The 13 Reapers, but have concluded that it’s far too great a project to squeeze into a Summer Break. So, we’ve put away Sara and the children of The Mildred Pierce Academy to focus on the second installment of our first published novel, The Perfect 7; Book #2: The Crazy 8

2.   How does our work differ from others of its genre?

Inion N. Mathair’s signature cliffhanger endings have always made us stand out in some way. Whether you love or hate it, many readers have come to us over our chapter endings and/or book endings. We also try to infuse a fair amount of reality into our fiction stories, where the lines of fantasy and reality blur and readers dare to consider “Could this really happen?”.

 

3.  Why do we write what we do?

There can be so many responses to this particular question. We write…. because it’s a form of self-expression, because it’s all we’ve ever known, because it helps us work through our problems. And though writing has become cathartic for Inion N. Mathair and we’ve both made no qualms that we were destined for this eccentric path, Inion N. Mathair writes because the voices in our heads tell us to. *If you’re a writer, you’re probably laughing your ass off right now and empathizing with this mother-daughter writing duo. If you’re not a writer, I’m sure you’re probably wondering what the hell you’ve wandered into and how the hell you can get back before things get weird. But just wait… we get weirder.

It all started with a voice and not a tiny, insignificant one by any means. For those of you that have read The Perfect 7, you know that Kevin Yager’s mouth is anything but tiny and insignificant. It was two in the morning and Mathair was plagued by a belligerent, egotistical seventeen year old with a story to tell. Once she could quiet him for a moment, she came to me with the seed, planted it in my brain and the two of us haven’t been able to shut that scrawny, delinquent up since. That is but one of our many voices. Others include a shy, yet independent teenage girl who’s a modern day Nancy Drew; a fiery, travelling teacher with a heart of gold and a bewitching secret; and the dozens of other voices from our short stories and poems. So, you ask why we write and we tell you, “We write because the voices tell us to.”

4. How does your writing process work?

Now, here’s the sticky wicket. Though we are two voices and one thought, an idea will originate in only one of our heads. There’ve been times the voices have turned to Mathair and times they’ve come to me, but the real intricacies don’t begin until the two of us have joined forces. After that, we play pretend. We talk out the story, (always making sure to stay true to the voice of the MC), and make sure to cover any and all twists and turns the plot might take. Now, we approach things logistically. We loosely blueprint the entire novel and/or series, assign chapters per our strengths and weaknesses, then come together and form a cohesive story. Though it may sound crazy for us it’s become a way of life and all very ritualistic and necessary to get to the story.

And now comes the passing of the torch.

Mathair and I pride ourselves on being fans of writers, first and foremost, which is why we dedicate much of our time to the promotion of fellow authors. We’ve posted interviews and have many upcoming author interviews over the next few months, not to mention the bloggers that we’ve shared on multiple social networking sites. This is by far our favorite part of the Writing Process Blogging Tour… sending much love and support. 😉

Our first nominee happens to be one of the first bloggers we connected with after the conception of Two Voices, One Thought, the wonderfully talented, Catherine M. Johnson. Catherine’s imaginative poems, whimsical illustrations and colorful blog sucks readers in and has them coming back for more. Not to mention, Catherine is one of the most supportive authors and bloggers, constantly spotlighting other poets, authors and illustrators. You can find her here, http://catherinemjohnson.wordpress.com/ which is her blog and on Amazon.com alongside her brilliant poetry collections.

The next nominee is a standout blogger/writer with a warm spirit and a beautiful heart, Coleen Patrick. She’s without a doubt, one of the kindest people we’ve met through this crazy blogosphere. Coleen has an effortless way of making you feel right at home on her blog, http://coleenpatrick.com/ Mathair is currently reading her novel, Come Back To Me, and can’t put it down; (even though we’re supposed to be editing! I’m always catching her on her laptop’s Kindle.)

Linda Rue Quinn is our final nominee. She’s an author from our neck of the woods (Western North Carolina) and has some serious Southern Sass. She’s a mutli-talented author with edgy novels and a collection of poetry Mathair and I are dying to get our hands on. She is also a loyal supporter of local artists and has organized multiple events for authors in our area. We are so grateful to be able to call her a true friend. http://authorlindaruequinn.com/

Make sure to check out these wonderful ladies. Trust us when we say, you won’t be disappointed. We hope you have a safe/fun Summer Break; as for Inion N. Mathair, we will keep churning out stories and playing pretend.