This month I wanted to start something different by not only showcasing author's in the spotlight but celebrating them and there works. April's author is the one and only Tamyara Brown who wrote one of my favorite books of last year. (If you haven't yet you can see the review by clicking on Book Reviews. It's under December 2014) For this discussion I wanted to have a good old fashion book conversation with the author. My goal was to dig into the author's motivation and inspiration.
Priscilla Danita: Let's start with the beginning of the book. The first few pages of Blue's Treasure let the reader know that this is going to be an emotionally charged book. Was it like that for you writing it?
Tamyara Brown: Yes, I found myself crying because I could feel his pain, his emotion and the hurt watching your mother being run down by a drunk driver. Writing for me is an emotional journey because I become connected to the character's emotion as I am creating them. If I don't cry my reader won't so I knew that I had to feel his pain in order for my reader to feel it.
Priscilla Danita: Treasure's character goes through a lot. Part of me believed that you made her experience a lot of the trials as a way to contrast the characters while another part of me wanted to believe that this was your way of shedding light on a serious situation. Was one, both or non of these true for you when you created her character.
Tamyara Brown: It was both in writing this I wanted to show domestic violence happens to women regardless of class, race and economical situation. I wanted to show that getting out of domestic violence isn't as easy at it seems.She was powerless as most victims of domestic violence are and the fact that she is a social worker who was embarrass to seek help.
Priscilla Danita: I tried to put myself in Treasure's shoes time and time again. The story is written in a way that the characters come alive. Still I wanted to believe that this was all a work of your over active imagination. Would you have done the things that she did to protect those that you loved?
Tamyara Brown: It is a work of fiction but a lot of it is relatable to me. I have gone out of my way to save the man I love. Treasure's love for Blue is unconditional and her love for her husband is out of feeling obligated. I've been in that position of protecting the one I love and the one I felt obligated to protect.
Priscilla Danita: Let's talk about Blue for a moment. What was your inspiration behind his character?
Tamyara Brown: Harper Blue is modeled after my love Loyd. He is currently incarcerated. Loyd gives the type of love and loyalty. When he was free he protected me, supported me and never gave up on me. Blue's thinking was inspired by Loyd and the way he dealt with life's situation was him all the way.
Priscilla Danita: I must say that I really loved his character. Regardless of what happened to him he still let his heart lead him. It was kinda romantic in a hard core way. Are you a hopeless romantic at heart?
Tamyara Brown: I am a hopeless romantic and it is so funny because I kept thinking I hope I don't make him too mushy. I wanted to show the heart of him but not let him lose his toughness.
Priscilla Danita: When it comes to creating a well balanced story you did that by including some supporting characters. The shock value for them isn't any more subtle then the things that happen to Blue and Treasure. Who was your favorite supporting character to write and why?
Tamyara Brown: Harper Bluesman Sr. was my favorite character he was tough, he was street smart but a survivor. He understood what it took to be a man but most of all a great father. He filled Blue with the tools to become a man, he gave the risks as well as the consequences of life.
Priscilla Danita: What's your favorite part of the book?
Tamyara Brown: My favorite part of the book was when Blue confronts Treasure about snitching on him and why she never wrote him. It was getting to the bottom of it. The thick of what tore their relationship apart.
Priscilla Danita: Thank you so much for taking the time to visit Priscilla's Bookshelf today. It was eye opening experience. This talk really helped bring more life into such wonderfully crafted characters.
***You can click on the picture to be taking to the Amazon Purchase Page***
***If you have any questions for the author you can find her contact information under the author spotlight tab or comment below***
Priscilla Danita: Let's start with the beginning of the book. The first few pages of Blue's Treasure let the reader know that this is going to be an emotionally charged book. Was it like that for you writing it?
Tamyara Brown: Yes, I found myself crying because I could feel his pain, his emotion and the hurt watching your mother being run down by a drunk driver. Writing for me is an emotional journey because I become connected to the character's emotion as I am creating them. If I don't cry my reader won't so I knew that I had to feel his pain in order for my reader to feel it.
Priscilla Danita: Treasure's character goes through a lot. Part of me believed that you made her experience a lot of the trials as a way to contrast the characters while another part of me wanted to believe that this was your way of shedding light on a serious situation. Was one, both or non of these true for you when you created her character.
Tamyara Brown: It was both in writing this I wanted to show domestic violence happens to women regardless of class, race and economical situation. I wanted to show that getting out of domestic violence isn't as easy at it seems.She was powerless as most victims of domestic violence are and the fact that she is a social worker who was embarrass to seek help.
Priscilla Danita: I tried to put myself in Treasure's shoes time and time again. The story is written in a way that the characters come alive. Still I wanted to believe that this was all a work of your over active imagination. Would you have done the things that she did to protect those that you loved?
Tamyara Brown: It is a work of fiction but a lot of it is relatable to me. I have gone out of my way to save the man I love. Treasure's love for Blue is unconditional and her love for her husband is out of feeling obligated. I've been in that position of protecting the one I love and the one I felt obligated to protect.
Priscilla Danita: Let's talk about Blue for a moment. What was your inspiration behind his character?
Tamyara Brown: Harper Blue is modeled after my love Loyd. He is currently incarcerated. Loyd gives the type of love and loyalty. When he was free he protected me, supported me and never gave up on me. Blue's thinking was inspired by Loyd and the way he dealt with life's situation was him all the way.
Priscilla Danita: I must say that I really loved his character. Regardless of what happened to him he still let his heart lead him. It was kinda romantic in a hard core way. Are you a hopeless romantic at heart?
Tamyara Brown: I am a hopeless romantic and it is so funny because I kept thinking I hope I don't make him too mushy. I wanted to show the heart of him but not let him lose his toughness.
Priscilla Danita: When it comes to creating a well balanced story you did that by including some supporting characters. The shock value for them isn't any more subtle then the things that happen to Blue and Treasure. Who was your favorite supporting character to write and why?
Tamyara Brown: Harper Bluesman Sr. was my favorite character he was tough, he was street smart but a survivor. He understood what it took to be a man but most of all a great father. He filled Blue with the tools to become a man, he gave the risks as well as the consequences of life.
Priscilla Danita: What's your favorite part of the book?
Tamyara Brown: My favorite part of the book was when Blue confronts Treasure about snitching on him and why she never wrote him. It was getting to the bottom of it. The thick of what tore their relationship apart.
Priscilla Danita: Thank you so much for taking the time to visit Priscilla's Bookshelf today. It was eye opening experience. This talk really helped bring more life into such wonderfully crafted characters.
***You can click on the picture to be taking to the Amazon Purchase Page***
***If you have any questions for the author you can find her contact information under the author spotlight tab or comment below***