Meet T.J. Kline, author of The Cowboy and the Angel.
T. J. Kline was raised competing in rodeos and Rodeo Queen competitions since the age of 14 and has thorough knowledge of the sport as well as the culture involved. She has written several articles about rodeo for small periodicals, as well as a more recent how-to article for RevWriter, and has published a nonfiction health book and two inspirational fiction titles under the name Tina Klinesmith. She is also an avid reader and book reviewer for both Tyndale and Multnomah. In her spare time, she can be found laughing hysterically with her husband, children, and their menagerie of pets in Northern California.
Find TJ at:
First off, can you tell us a bit about you?
I’m a wife to the best husband in the entire world and the mom to three crazy teenagers. I’m also the fur-mom to three very spoiled dogs (a cocker spaniel, a basset hound and a golden retriever), three equally spoiled cats and, as of last week, TWO horses. When I’m not writing, I love camping, fishing, indulging in my coffee or Chipotle addictions and watching past Supernatural or Survivor seasons. I also enjoy long walks on the beach. *wink*
Did you always want to be a writer?
Absolutely, 100%, without a doubt dreamed of being a writer since I was very young. However, I never thought I could make it a reality and pursued other careers instead like horse training, personal training, kickboxing instructor and insurance adjuster.
What kind of writer are you? Panster or Plotter?
I used to be a Pantser but I’ve since learned the value in plotting out the basic skeleton before writing. When I was a Pantser, I would write fast but sporadically, when the inspiration would strike and often deleted most of what I wrote. Now that I plot, I write slightly slower but far less is deleted so I finish novels 3-4x as quickly with less editing needed.
Where do your ideas come from?
I’m not sure about other authors but mine come from the magical leprechaun I keep in my basement. In reality, most of my ideas come from experiences – either mine or someone I know- and the world around me. My mind is constantly in “what if” mode. The entire time I’m answering questions for this interview, I’m thinking, “What if a person interviewed a romance author but was pretending to be an interviewer and stalking the author? Then, what if, their publicist found out and hired a body guard against their desires?” And so on…It goes like that with everything and any situation. While it can get exhausting (it’s actually how I get to sleep at night, thinking of plot ideas) it’s exhilarating as well. I’m never bored and always need a pen and paper (or my smartphone) handy to jot down ideas I want to pursue.
A la Twitter style, can you describe your book (or series) in 140 characters or less.
Angela needs the scoop of her career but Derek is out to stop her from ruining his family’s business – if only he can keep his hands off her.
What are some of your favorite kinds of stories to read?
There isn’t a lot I won’t read but my favorite is any sort of western romance, contemporary or historical. I’ve always been fascinated with the Old West, horses, Native Americans, and the culture that goes along with them. That includes small town rural as well. Right now I’m finishing up one of Candis Terry’s Sweet Series (and love them).
Do you have a favorite book and if so what is it?
Oh my, that’s like asking which of my children is my favorite! I literally have thousands of books in my house and several thousand on my Kindle. I know my Bible is the most well-worn book in my house but I don’t think I could actually pick one favorite. I love reading everything.
What are the scenes that are the hardest for you to write?
It’s odd for a romance writer to say but the sex scenes are the most difficult from me. There are only so many ways to describe emotions and feelings, as well as parts, and I hate (I mean HATE) repeating any sort of description from book to book. I also don’t want it to seem cliché so I try to have fun where I can without distracting from the plot.
If you could have dinner with any three authors, who would you choose and why?
At this point in my career, I would choose to have dinner with three of my closest author friends: Cody Gary, AL Parks and Candis Terry. While I would love to meet other best-selling authors and pick their brains, I love talking shop and having fun at the same time and these three ladies know how to do exactly that.
Last question, are you working on anything right now?
I just finished a novella that will be part of the Rodeo series (releasing early 2015) and I’m starting a new series. It will also be a small town contemporary series of three siblings and their cousin and will have what my readers have come to expect from me – feisty heroines, strong male leads and lots of fun between them.
What question have you always wanted to ask a writer (especially a romance writer) but you were too afraid to ask? I promise I’ll answer ;)
Reporter Angela McCallister needs the scoop of her career in order to save her father from his bad decisions that have depleted their savings. When the chance to spend a week at the Findley Brothers ranch arises, she sees a chance to get a behind-the-scenes scoop on rodeo. That certainly doesn’t include kissing the devastatingly handsome and charming cowboy, Derek Chandler, who insists on calling her angel.
Derek has a rodeo to run and a chip on his shoulder. He has no time for the fiery woman who is clearly hiding something. But for some reason he can’t keep his hands off of her. Their connection is instant and explosive but Angela’s secrets could threaten his family and Derek needs to prove that he’s not the irresponsible kid brother anymore.
When the rodeo dust has settled, will the Cowboy and his Angel allow themselves to give in to the attraction that threatens to consume them both?
Purchase: | Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iTunes |
Check out what's up for grabs.
Up For Grabs:
- 2 eBook copies of Rodeo Queen
To Enter:
- Please answer TJ's question: What question have you always wanted to ask a writer (especially a romance writer) but you were too afraid to ask?
- Please fill out the Rafflecopter form.
Good Luck!
Special thanks to T.J. Kline + Tasty Book Tours for sponsoring this tour-wide giveaway.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Hmm, I'd like to know where writers get their inspiration for the stories that they write or how they get through the inevitable writer's blocks that occur. Thanks for the giveaway! :-)
ReplyDeleteMrsMac,
ReplyDeleteI answered your question but for some reason it's not showing? For inspiration, I look to my daily life and everything gives me ideas. I usually start with a specific character, then put them into a plot that will challenge them. Add in a few twists and some secondary characters and I go to work. As far as writer's block, I don't really get it much because I stay too busy to think about what I'm writing. As long as I just keep putting words on the page, I can't get stuck for long.