Interview with Tiffany Carmuche

First, tell us a little bit about you! 

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

My imagination began with my mom on the playground. I wrote my first novel when I was in 5^th grade-I had an amazing teacher who inspired me and my father was a children’s book author. When I was a teenager, I was really into poetry and lyrics but once I grew older, I didn’t write for years. I don’t know when it was that I let that side of me die, but it died along with my passion for dance and music and so many things. When I wrote again, I realized what a big part of me had been missing. I think I was born a writer…but I didn’t realize until now that it is something I never want to let go of again.

What inspired you to write this book?

I hadn’t written in years and was convinced to do the Nano challenge. Because I was crazy busy, I made a personal goal of 10,000 words and thought even that was a stretch. I had no idea what to write about. I decided to write about an experience I had while I was in Alaska and trusted the wrong person. He had been stalking me for months and I had no idea. I found out he was wanted for murder in Florida and I did have to switch cars with someone to avoid being followed and have people hid me until I was safe. I thought my experience may make a good story. The novel began as a suspense novel,  but then I wrote a scene about one of the bands that was playing in the club and Dylan was created. I fell in love with him. He started flirting with Nicole and soon my suspense novel became a romance novel. I had to cut a bunch of scenes because my 10,000 words in a month was over 130,000 and my novel had became a trilogy. (Now the trilogy is a series… lol ) That damn muse!

How did you come up with the title?

Because the original story was based on this guy that totally fooled me into thinking he was a friend, it was easy to come up with the title The Impostor. I added A Love Story because it is just as much a love story as it is a suspense series. I wanted people to have an idea what they were getting when they bought the book.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Yes, so many. The series is layered with messages. I like layers. J In the first book, I think the main messages are 1. To be careful who you trust. (Don’t be naïve like me. I have put myself in some dangerous situations because I assume everyone is good. ) 2. No matter how many times you get knocked down, you need to get back up. You are stronger than you realize. 3. Don’t lose yourself for anyone and 4. There is a life after abuse.

How much of the book is realistic?

A large portion of the first book is based on my experiences in Alaska.

Are you working on a new project? 

I am currently writing the 3^rd and 4^th book in the series. My muse is teasing me with the fouth book but I really need to work on the third. I wrote some of the other projects at the end of the interview.

Do you see writing as a career?

I don’t think I will ever have just one career. There are too many aspects of me to focus on only one. But yes, I would love to see this as a successful career.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

For me final edits are my biggest nightmare. Auto spell check and stupid mistakes that my mind just fixes and editors totally miss. I hired editors, really good ones, but it is hard to find those stupid errors when you have over 100,000 words.  

And time! Yes, time. I wish I could lock myself in a cabin in the woods with no bills and be able to focus on writing. Finding time in your crazy schedule to write is challenging.

Who designed the covers?

Su from Earthly Charms. I love her. She takes my ideas and finds a way to make them beautiful.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Write! Study your craft. Don’t be too proud to ask for help. If you are anything like me, you will try to figure it all out by yourself and you will waste so much time. I spent a whole weekend going through my novel and changing David’s name to Bradley because I couldn’t have two main guys whose name began with a “D”. Someone came over for something and said why didn’t you use Find/Replace? So when I changed Julie’s name to Emily, I used find/replace and it took me two seconds! Two seconds! I had wasted a beautiful spring weekend for something that could have taken two seconds!  There are ALWAYS people who know more than you. Take Hope, for instance.  My first novel was published 6^th months ago. I was chatting with some people online and she was talking about all of these things I didn’t do and had never heard of before. She was an angel and gave me all kinds of advice. Always be willing to learn in writing, in marketing…in life. 

I hear you are bringing teens to Puerto Rico to serve the less fortunate. What can we do to help?

I have two projects I am working on right now besides my Alaska Series and would love your help. (Either in the projects or in spreading the word about them)

As some of you know, one of my passions is service. For over 10 years I have tried to take some of my vacation time to make a difference to people in need. I love to take teens to let them experience serving the marginalized and opening their eyes to different cultures. I was considering doing an auction to help raise money for the teenagers to be able to go. Would any of you wonderful Authors or Bloggers be interested in donating things for it? I have never done an auction...does anyone want to help :) Email or PM me :) Thank you! We will be going to volunteer at Casa Julia-a home for abused woman and Children and a homeless outreach community. 

And what is the other project you are working on right now that my readers may be able to help you with. Can you tell us a little about that as well?

Out of the Shadows is a project I am working on. As many of you know, I, like Nicole in The Alaska Series, escaped an abusive relationship to begin again. 

Yes, I NEED YOU! I am looking for people who have been through a physically, or mentally abusive relationship and survived. The book will be compiled of our stories. I feel if we can give even one person the courage to leave and break free of the cycle of abuse, we will have succeeded.

If you or anyone you know would like to be a part of this project, please contact me at tiffanycarmouche @ ymail.com
I will be accepting submissions through April. (You can remain anonymous if needed)
Submissions can be: 
*Poetry
*A chapter ~Your story (A paragraph -5 pages)
*Quotes from you on hope or overcoming obstacles
*Pictures, photography or drawings (black and white)
*Submissions can be from an adult or child’s point of view
*If you would prefer interview questions, I can send them instead/as well.

Out of the Shadows will be used to give hope to people who are afraid to leave or have begun their journey out of the shadows and into the light. All the money will go to help provide service to victims of abuse.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

I would love to say thank you! I could not do this without you. I love to hear from you. You have no idea how much it means to hear your feedback on my books. I can’t believe I have fans all over the world. Thank you for reading the books, for recommending them and spreading the word about them, for reviewing them, for sharing my post, for the awesome graphics and videos you have made…for everything! I really can’t do this without you. I don’t have a big publishing company behind me pushing my books. It is all word of mouth. You are truly treasured! Please keep in touch. I love hearing from you!

Links to stalk me but NOT if you are a serial killer please.

Facebook Author Page

lFan Club (Facebook) 

Goodreads The Impostor

Obsession and Sacrifice (Goodreads) 

Obsession and Sacrifice Fan Page 

Tiffany's Website

Tiffany's Twitter 

Buy Links   UK and US

 The Imposter (Amazon ebook)          

 The Imposter (B&N)   

The Imposter (Paperback)      

Obsession and Sacrifice (Amazon ebook)   

 Obsession and Sacrifice (B&N ebook)      

UK LINKS

The Imposter (UK Paperback)          

The Imposter (UK)     ebook

Obsession and Sacrifice (UK Amazon)               

When Tiffany Carmouché is not writing romance novels, you can find her sculpting, traveling, teaching, singing, dancing, escaping in music or enjoying her family.

From skydiving in Alaska to scuba diving in Hawaii, Carmouché has traveled the worlds seeking adventure. These include riding camels in Africa, swimming under the stars in Puerto Rico, dancing salsa in Ecuador, and walking the cobblestone roads of Assisi, Italy. She has found fulfillment working with the disabled and orphans in Argentina, and Mexico. Her most cherished moments, however, have been watching her two beautiful daughters grow and strive to accomplish their own dreams.

  Despite all of these amazing experiences, she has survived many struggles. There was a time she felt defeated, but now she is recommitted to savoring experiences both in the novels she writes and in the life she lives each day. Her secret hope is that anyone who is struggling will realize there is a light at the end of the tunnel and no matter how hard the fight, no matter how many times they have been knocked down, it is always worth staggering up to their feet and learning to breathe again. 

Awesome coverart: 

I've read both these books and am anxiously awaiting the third in the series. Post below to win a copy of the first in the series, THE IMPOSTER.  A winner will be chosen using Random.org on 6/15. 

Holding the Link (Prophecy Series Book Two) is now LIVE on Amazon

Hey All

Long time since I've posted. I've been going like a crazy person trying to get Holding the Link finished and put up for sale. Yesterday, I finally got the book edits completed and it's not LIVE on Amazon.

If by chance, you have not read Linked, just leave me a comment with an email address by Wednesday,  5/29, and I'll send you a copy in your preferred format!

If you're on my newsletter list already, you've received notification of the release already :)  Don't forget, those on my newsletter list are entered in a free drawing automatically!  The winner for May's Newsletter is: Vampire Mistress! Congrats. You receive one of my backlist books! Just let me know which one you want.

Here's a teaser for Chapter One.....

Cole stood at the single window in his living room, staring out into the night. The streets were still busy with cars, despite the late hour. All in a hurry to be somewhere, he was sure, but for now, they were stuck on the roads, following like ants in a trail as they mindlessly headed wherever. He hated the city.

 Streaks of light filled the night sky with the threat of the promised storm. It fit his mood perfectly. He turned away from the depressing view and paced around his lonely apartment, a scowl darkening his face as he drove his hands into his pockets, fists clenched. He had yet to figure out why Lana insisted on keeping her apartment instead of moving in with him.

While he realized they’d only known each other a short time—a little more than a month—they were meant for each other. She was the mother of his unborn son. What is she waiting for? What was it going to take for her to believe that he wasn’t going anywhere? This was the first night they’d actually spent apart. He didn’t like it one little bit. 

This new feeling of loneliness unsettled him and wasn’t something he was accustomed to. As a shifter, he’d always been fine with nothing but his own company. It wasn’t as if he had a lot in common with the majority of people. But Lana was different—she understood him—and he understood her. Or thought he had. Until tonight.

A deadline. 

A deadline on a website she could just as easily have worked on here at his place. He’d already set her up a computer system in the home office he never used. And, of course, he’d have been glad to stay at her place if she really wanted to work from her own desk in her own apartment. 

He had to admit her place was quite a bit cheerier. His living room sported nothing but an old gray couch, a second-hand coffee table and a big-screen television on the wall. The television almost brought a grin. Lana hadn’t been able to resist teasing him about his ‘man cave’ television.

The almost-grin faded before it could fully form. He wondered if there was something going on with her that he didn’t know about. She’d seemed a bit distant for the last few days and that thought terrified the living hell out of him. He’d sensed that something was bothering her, though she hadn’t said anything.

There was no way he could even imagine being without her now—even when she did things like this that infuriated him. She and their unborn child had become his life. She’d already agreed to marry him—though he wasn’t sure he’d actually have accepted a refusal. They were meant to be together and they both knew it.

A big part of him was damn tempted to get dressed and go to her place. It was barely eleven—he doubted she’d be sleeping yet. That was one of the things they had in common: they were both night owls.

It was one of only a hundred ways they were so well matched. 

He looked down at the phone sitting on the coffee table with another glare and picked it up. He punched in the speed-dial for her cell.

Lana sat at her desk looking outside. She’d put her desk here in front of the window because it made her monotonous computer work more enjoyable when she could look out and see the real world out there. The streaks of lightning in the sky were becoming more frequent, though she couldn’t hear the thunder yet—the storm was still a ways off. She rubbed her arms against a slight chill and wondered why she had been so darn determined to be home alone tonight. It seemed strange not to be either at Cole’s place, or at him being at hers.

She sighed. Part of her was terrified at how quickly he’d become so important to her. They’d come together so fast—a matter of days. Who in the world developed any kind of lasting relationship when they’d only known each other a short time before becoming so close? A big part of her wondered if they’d grown so close because of the circumstance of their meeting. She’d heard someone in her apartment—rather her dead mother had warned her someone was inside—and Cole had literally come riding to the rescue. They’d barely been apart since.

A month.

For almost a solid month, they’d been with each other. Self-employed, her career allowed her to work anywhere, and he hadn’t had any cases in his detective business. She still believed he was waiting to be sure the danger that had brought them together was over. She’d had the same thought herself, though there was nothing she could put her finger on to make her think it might not be. There hadn’t been more dreams or incidents that would make her unsure—but something didn’t seem finished. It was a vague, persistent feeling that she simply could not shake.

There was still the voice in her head that told her this relationship had happened too fast, too. Lana had always been one to listen to her own subconscious. Something wasn’t right—she just didn’t know what.

She glanced down at the computer monitor on her laptop. It was barely eleven, and she was more than a little surprised that he hadn’t called her since she’d insisted she needed to get a job done. It was true—she did have a website due, but she could have easily done it at his place. Or he could have come home with her.

Cole was not happy that she wouldn’t move in with him. She just wasn’t ready. It was too damn fast. What if he realized he’d made a mistake later? What if he later realized that only the danger they’d faced together had brought them together or that there was really no substance beyond that? How could they not have become close quickly when they’d fought an ancient evil shapeshifter together?

When the sound of You’re the One That I Want filled the living room, she couldn’t help but smile. Cole had, of course, put it on there himself. She picked up the phone on the third ring. “Hi,” she said softly.

“Whacha doin’? Did I wake you?” Cole asked.

Lana almost sighed. Just his voice, with that barely there Southern drawl, was enough to make her heart beat a little faster. Every once in a while, the Georgia in him came out.

She flicked the button to save the very little work she’d accomplished over the last two hours and swiveled in her chair away from the computer. She tugged on a curl that hung over her shoulder. “No, I was awake. Just working,” she lied. She wasn’t working—she was moping, but she didn’t want to admit that. 

“Guess you don’t want me to come over?”

Lana didn’t answer immediately. The thing was—she did want him to come. “Do you want to?” she finally said. 

“Now, that’s a silly question if I ever heard one.” His voice was laced with humor and just a touch of exasperation.

She had to chuckle at that, and her heart lifted. “Then come,” she said simply. 

“Be there in twenty,” Cole replied quickly, his voice pleased.

“I’ll be waiting,” Lana said and disconnected the call. 

Okay, so she was a wimp. She couldn’t seem even to spend one night away from him. What did that say about her? But then, she reminded herself, he’d called her, hadn’t he? 

When the phone rang again, she frowned. The caller came up as ‘Blocked’, which made her nervous. Her hand shook as she pushed the button to accept the call. “Yes?” Calls this time of night were never ‘good’ news.

There was a long silence. Lana was just about to hang up, thinking it was a wrong number, despite the prickle of unease that sent a chill up her spine, when she heard a distorted, mechanical voice. “You’re dead.”

Lana instinctively looked at her window, then the door. “Who is this?” she demanded, her tone stiff. “What do you want?”

“You’ll find out soon enough, bitch. You’re dead,” the voice threatened.

Before she could comment, the call ended. She started at the phone for a long moment, panic filling her. She clasped the phone so tightly that her knuckles turned white. Quickly, she raced around the apartment and checked the door and all the windows—they were all locked. She was safe. Cole would be here in just a few minutes. She wondered if she should tell him. It might have just been a crank call. The world was filled with sickos that delighted in causing fear.

She’d almost convinced herself that that was what it was when the phone rang again. ‘Blocked’ was once more the caller’s ID. “Leave me alone!” she all but yelled when she answered. 

“Do you think a locked door or window will keep you safe?”

The voice was the same. It sounded like he must be close, though. How else would he know she’d just checked all the doors and windows? For the first time, she wished she owned a gun. It hadn’t occurred to her to get one, but now she seriously considered it. Or maybe a huge dog. “Who are you?”

“Your death.”

If she hadn’t been so terrified, she’d have rolled her eyes at that statement. She felt her skin grow cold as goose flesh covered her arms. “Go to hell,” she said, disconnecting the call. She wasn’t going to answer it again. There was no way either she or Cole could trace the calls—and the cops hadn’t believed her about her mother. She didn’t think the police would believe her this time, either. 

She decided she wasn’t going to tell Cole. He’d overreact and either want her to move in with him, or he’d insist on staying with her. Not that she minded that, but she didn’t want it to be out of his sense of protectiveness. He had an innate protective nature that sometimes annoyed her, but it humbled her, too.

There was absolutely no doubt in her mind he’d give up his life to protect her. She wasn’t going to let that happen.

And the link for the book is here...

For now, it's exclusively on Amazon and free to borrow on Amazon Prime