Twice Upon A Time Blog Tour: Interview with Tarran Jones

CONTRARY to the title of this anthology, working with such a talented cast of writers is an opportunity that usually comes once in a lifetime. From best-selling to greenhorn, independent or traditionally-published, the authors in this anthology span all ranges in addition to spanning the globe—from England to Australia and all over the United States. I've had the privilege of getting to know each and every one of them, and they have become a part of my extended family. I've even caught a glimpse of a secret side of them that only another writer...editor...is privy to witness through their words.

Through this series of posts, I plan on introducing you to my new family through a mini-interview of each. You may not get a chance to see their secret side, but you'll get a sneak-peek into their minds, their passions and inspirations, and what made them the writers they are today.

..The Mini Interview..

1. At what age did you start writing?

I started writing at about age five. My first short story was about a white sports car with black velvet seats.

2. Which book introduced you to Speculative Fiction?

I would have to say there were two books that introduced me to Speculative Fiction: The Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis and The Neverending Story by Michael Ende. These two books changed my world.

3. Do you have an all-time favorite book? What about it makes it your favorite?

I have a wide range of favourite books that I read. If I had to choose one, it would be Tamora Pierce's world of Tortall, especially her Song of the Lioness Quartet. Alanna: The First Adventure is the first book in that series. I love the threads of magic, life, and love that are woven throughout the series; I loved the characters, too, whom we get to see grow and develop.

4. Which author and/or book inspired you to start writing?

C.S. Lewis, Michael Ende, and Tamora Pierce. I loved these authors' worlds, and I wanted to create worlds just like them, filled with so much life and soul.

5. What would you say is the most important lesson all writers should learn?

Never give up! Writing is a hard business with constant rejection. Develop a hard skin, suck it up, and learn from it. Choose your Beta Readers with care, as you will want the truth and not fluff.

6. Of the entire publishing process, which would you say is the most difficult aspect to endure?

The waiting. That is the hardest part for me. All you can do is try not to stress and keep writing.

7. If applicable, did you have a favorite character (to write) from your story? If so, what sets them apart from the others?

I loved writing Sigrun. She rose from being a scared little girl to the formidable woman who eventually gets justice.

8. On what projects are you currently working?

I have a full-length fantasy manuscript, Stones of Power, which has been picked up by Satalyte Publishing. I also have a few other short stories submitted to various magazines and collections.

Read Tarran's story, All That Glitters, in your very own copy of Twice Upon A Time today!

..About the Author..

TARRAN JONES works at Collins Booksellers Edwardstown. She lives in Adelaide, Australia with her partner and young daughter. Tarran has been in the book industry selling other people’s books for over 10 years and thought it was about time she started thinking about her own. She has finished her first novel, Stones of Power, and is now writing the second. Tarran has previously written articles, reviews, and blog posts for her bookstore’s blog and has written a great many short stories and one unpublished novella. She has had three short stories published online and was a finalist in the Australian Literature Review short story competition for one of her works. She loves writing all kinds of speculative fiction and thinks that it fires up the imagination. Gardening is one of Tarran’s passions and when she isn’t writing she can be found out in the vegetable garden talking to the plants.

..Connect with the Author..