**Happy Release Day**
Tierney James is a Solar System Ambassador for NASA’s
Jet Propulsion Lab as well as a formergeography teacher. Besides working on a Native American reservation, floating the Okavango Delta of Botswana, Africa and visiting The Great Wall of China, she has spent time at Space Camp for Educators and volunteering her time for Friends of the Library board. Living in a mining community for many years led to writing the novel, The Rescued Heart, a romantic suspense. Between traveling, gardening and writing, Tierney serves as an officer for Sleuth’s Ink, a mystery writing group. Creating a writing workshop for beginning writers is her latest project.
Looks like you mix adventure and suspense in your personal and professional life. Why write about mining? That doesn’t sound very romantic and this is a romantic suspense novel.
There are a lot of rugged and brilliant men and women out
there in the mining industry that would just take your breath away. Having
lived in several mining communities I’m here to tell you they are what
superheroes are made of. I almost titled the book “Heroes Underneath” because
mining is deep in the earth. The reason I didn’t was because I had already
written An Unlikely Hero (adult/action/adventure) and a children’s book,
There’s a Superhero in the Library. I didn’t want people to think I couldn’t
write about anything but heroes.
Having said that I thought writing a romantic suspense where
mining is the backdrop would intrigue readers. I hoped it would be something
they weren’t familiar with and would want to see how things played out. Mining
is dangerous, exciting and full of cultural experiences like no place else.
Living in mining communities help shape who I am today.
So give us a taste of The Rescued Heart.
My husband
is a mine engineer. He helped me with terms, drawings, info books and general
experiences you might find in lead mining. Even though I’ve been underground it
pays to have an engineer help explain what you’re seeing and how it works. Lead
mining is completely different than coal mining. I’m so glad my husband made me
go underground to see the difference so I wouldn’t be so scared every day when
he went to work. I also took a week long education class The Doe Roe Company
taught in St. Louis to help me experience things like explosives (yes, we blew
something up) and touring other kinds of operations.
Do you ever envision your novel as a movie? If so who would play the handsome Garrett Horton and gruff Big Jim Turnbough?
I do
envision a movie. Garrett would be played by Mark Wahlberg. Jeff Bridges might
be a perfect, cantankerous Big Jim Turnbough. I have a pinterest board with all
kinds of things about mining and the area where this novel took place.
I understand you are a big fan of
book series. Will this be the first in a series for mining stories?
No. There’s
only one. However, there is a prequel I wrote many years before The Rescued
Heart. I might get that out and dust it off. It needs to be completely
rewritten, but I don’t mind doing that when things slow down a bit for me.
Garrett shows up in one part of the book. This story is about his sister. As
far as series goes I have The Enigma Series which is near and dear to my heart.
An Unlikely Hero was the first book. This June 8th, Winds of
Deception will be released and in the fall expect #3 Rooftop Angels to be
completed. In the meantime I’m working on my first urban fantasy. I’m having a
lot of fun writing and researching.
Tell me
three things that might surprise readers if they met you.
Even though
I write about explosives, guns, terrorists and mayhem I’m actually a girlie
girl with tomboy tendencies. I’m not afraid of snakes or lizards, but show me a
hamster or mouse and I’ll go screaming down the street. I love all kinds of
music, especially world music. I especially like Asia music to fall asleep.
Who has had the most influence on you as a writer?
I would have
to say James Rollins, Brad Thor, Daniel Silva, Steve Berry, Nora Roberts and
Sandra Brown. There are many more but they always pop in my head when I write.
Their style and command of tension is inspiring.
How can readers connect with you?
Twitter: TierneyJames1
Other books by Tierney James
Nice interview, Cathrina...a fascinating writer
ReplyDeleteThank you, Linda Kay. I appreciate the kudos!
DeleteGood interview. Best of luck with the new release
ReplyDeleteThanks, Susan Keene. It's nice to have support of other authors.
DeleteI just bought your book, Tierney. Gonna start today while doing the treadmill. Can't wait. Good luck and much success. You're on a roll.
ReplyDeleteComing from you that is a huge compliment! Love your work.
DeleteGreat interview. Looking forward to reading your book.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your support, Janet Gallagher. I hope you enjoy it.
DeleteOh -There’s a Superhero in the Library, is your book? My niece has read this over and over. I recognize the cover! I can't wait to tell her I read about you in an interview.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes with your book!
Wonderful interview... love learning about other authors and what they bring to their stories.
ReplyDeleteGreat interview! The mining setting sounds so wonderfully unique, especially for the romance genre. Best of luck to Tierney with this book!
ReplyDeleteThanks Tierney for making my bio look weak. What an exciting lot of things you've done!
ReplyDelete