Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Say Nothing by T.A. Roth book tour and author interview

Say Nothing… by T.A. Roth 

(Speak #2)
Synopsis:
After years spent harboring a shameful secret, I finally felt…alive, reawakened and brave. Willing to break down my walls and let love in. Let him in.
We had conquered our pasts. The truth had set us free, and we were looking toward our future. Until a crazy twist of fate brought my worst nightmare back into my life.
The voice and soundtrack to every one of my haunting dreams now had a face. One he won’t easily let me forget.
The hits Ben endured on the football field will be nothing compared to the devastating blow his heart will take if he finds out the whole truth. He knows the story, but he doesn’t know the monster. Not like I do.
Just as the wounds of my past had begun to heal, he’s come back to rip them wide open.
Maybe some things are better kept from those we love.
Maybe some secrets are never meant to be told.
Maybe it’s better to Say Nothing…



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Author Interview

Please start by telling us a little about yourself (education, jobs, significant other, children, pets, etc.)

Well, a lot like my character Ari I had no idea what I wanted to do when I graduated from high school. My dad worked for a trade school at the time and I had about 5 choices. So legal secretary it was. I did that for 6 years before I realized that sitting behind a desk getting collect phone calls from weirdos in jail was not something I wanted to do for the rest of my life. (I worked for a criminal defense attorney.) It took me a few months to work up the nerve to put in my two weeks, but once I did, off to beauty school I went. I’ve been doing hair and make-up for the past 16 years. Besides marrying my prom date quitting that job was the best decision I’ve ever made. My husband and I have been together for 23 years and married 16. He is the most patient man I know and my biggest supporter. We have two hilarious children, a 13 year-old son and a 10 year-old daughter. We have a huge gold fish named Goldie and a boxer beagle mix named Penny.

Tell us about your latest New Adult book and what inspired you to write it.

The name of my latest book is called Say Nothing… It is the second book in The Speak Series and is about a hot USC football playing frat boy named Ben, who falls in insta-lust with a shy but smart mouthed girl named Ari. Ari struggles with demons from her past, especially when it comes to trusting men, book two picks up exactly where book one leaves off and has to be read in order. I hate to be so vague but any more detail and I will give too much away.

The New Adult genre is fairly new. What's your definition of it? How does it differ from Young Adult or just regular Adult books? 

My definition of New Adult is a story with characters roughly between the ages of 18-25.  Basically, it’s any story about that time in your life where you’re experiencing some major firsts. Most of the characters are either in or getting ready for college, living on their own for the first time, getting their first real job, or maybe experiencing their first adult relationship. I feel like the characters in young adult are usually in high school or are just about to enter college. Sex in these stories if there is any is hinted at or is more of a fade to black scenario. New Adult gets a little bit more descriptive in their sex scenes. Well at least I do. ;)

Do you belong to any critique groups and/or do you have other people read your work as you're writing it? Who's brutally honest and who's a cheerleader? Which do you prefer? 

I don’t belong to a critique group but I have two people that I trust, read through my work before I send it to the editor. After writing book one I learned that is was better for me to have less cooks in the kitchen. I’m a people pleaser by nature and having too many different opinions will naturally make me want to make everyone happy. When you start doing that your story stops sounding like you. I’m a crazy perfectionist, so unless I’m having trouble with a certain scene I don’t let anyone read while I’m in the process of writing it. It makes my eye all twitchy just thinking about it. LOL!

Both of my critique partners are brutally honest with me. Which is what I prefer, there is a time and place for someone to coddle you. I’d rather them be brutally honest then to get hit with a crappy review. Besides, I know it’s coming from a good place so I don’t take it to heart. On the other hand, I’m not going to lie and say it doesn’t sting sometimes. It’s hard to hear they think something isn’t working when at 1:30am you thought you were “king of the world.” My biggest cheerleaders are my co-workers and family. Most of them do not read regularly, but they made it a point to pick up my books as soon as they came out. They promote me to all of their co-workers and clients. I’m blessed to have them in my life.

What are your all-time favorite authors/books?

There are so many it’s hard to narrow it down.  I’ll name the authors that I one-click without even reading a blurb and my favorites by them. 
·         Beautiful Bastard Series - Christina Lauren
·         Ugly Love & Maybe Someday - Colleen Hoover
·         Black Lies & Girl in 6E - Alessandra Torre
·         Fallen too Far Series and Rosemary Beach Series - Abbi Glines
·         Real - Katy Evans
·         This Man Trilogy - Jodi Ellen Malpas. 
My new guilty pleasure is anything written by Alexa Riley. Their books are quick, over the top, and super steamy.
Do you outline before you write or just dive head-first into a manuscript? Do you maintain a schedule for writing, or is it more haphazard? 

I totally dive head-first into a manuscript. Book one was like a huge Tetris puzzle. I wrote the scenes as they came to me and then pieced them all together. I did better with book two and had more of plan and tried to stick to it but it all went out the window mid-way. I really try to maintain a writing schedule, but with two kids and an ever changing work schedule it’s definitely haphazard. I squeeze in my writing when I can, sometimes it’s in the morning before anyone wakes up, in between clients while their color is processing, and because I’m a night owl late into the night.

Where do you do your best writing? (Ex: desk in your office, public library, under a tree in the park, in front of a Real Housewives TV marathon, etc.) Do you like music or some other background noise, or do you need quiet?

I just moved and am in the process of setting up my office, so I’m crossing my fingers that’s where I’ll be doing my best writing from now on. For now it’s sitting in my big comfy leather recliner in the middle of the living room with my laptop and noise cancelling headphones blasting my favorite playlist. I’m giving an Adele concert as I type this right now, which is annoying the crap out of my husband. LOL!

The second part of the question depends on the mood of the scene. Generally, I need some kind of noise to keep me focused. It’s rare that I need it to be quiet. I’m used to working amongst chaos, I really don’t know any other way.

What are the best and worst parts of writing a book? 

The best part of writing a book is seeing your story come to fruition. There is no better feeling than seeing all of the crazy thoughts and scenarios and people that have been in your head for months, finally come together and getting to type “the end.” The worst part of writing a book is the editing. Going through and reading back all of the genius moments you thought you had and thinking “what is this?” Also, having to be strict with your time and saying no to things so you can get your writing done.

When you're driving and you have a sudden, brilliant idea for the new manuscript you're working on, what do you do? (Ex: pull over and fire up the laptop, keep driving while scribbling on a McDonald's bag, tell Siri, etc.) 

First, I repeat it over and over because I’m a bit like Dory from Finding Nemo and tend to forget if I don’t write it down right away. If I’m on the freeway I’ll record it into my voice memo app on my phone. If I’m driving on the street I’ll wait till I get to a stop light and type it into my notes.

Imagine you have a whole day free for shopping. Where do you go? (Mall, unique boutiques, flea market, antique shops, bookstore, home improvement store, etc.)

Okay, so I’m one of the rare people that hate shopping. I avoid it at all costs. I’ll browse online before having to get something just so that I’m able to go in and grab what I need and leave. There is an exception to that answer, because there are two stores that I can find myself in for hours. I love Target and my new favorite is Hobby Lobby. I literally had to set my timer at Hobby Lobby the other day so I wouldn’t forget to pick up my kids from school. It’s like the Disneyland of home decor.

What are the top 5 titles in your Netflix queue? (Be honest.) Or if you don't have a Netflix queue, which books are on your bedside table? (Again, be honest.)

I have a Netflix account but it’s usually being hijacked by the little one. I have a list of shows I intend to look up and binge watch but lately there hasn’t been any time. I don’t keep paperbacks on my bedside table but I do have a ton on my Kindle, so I’ll give you the names of the last five books I’ve read or am currently reading. I’m currently reading One With You by Sylvia Day. The last four I’ve read are Untouched – Alexa Riley, Sinfully Mine – Kendall Ryan, Confessions Of A Bad Boy – J.D. Hawkins, Porn Star – Laurelin Page and Sierra Simone.

Do you prefer to read ebooks or print?

I used to only read print books and kicked and screamed when my husband surprised me with a Nook. Now, I find myself trying to swipe the pages of paperbacks while reading.

Where is your favorite place in the world? 

I haven’t traveled much but Italy is on my bucket list of places to visit. For now nothing compares to living here in Los Angeles. It’s where everyone I love is, so I’ll take it earthquakes, smog and all.

Do you have any advice for people who want to write a book? 

Just write. Shut that little voice of self-doubt off and just do it. There is no right or wrong way to get to the end of your story. Trust your gut and do what works for you. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Find an author that inspires you and ask away. Everyone you’ve ever read was a newbie author at some point. If you invest in anything, invest in a good cover, editing, and formatting.

AUTHOR BIO:

T.A. Roth is a wife and mother of two funny and crazy kids. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she couldn't imagine living anywhere else. When she's not beautifying clients as a stylist/make-up artist at her day job you can find her reading, fangirling her favorite authors, or singing along to the radio. After getting the opportunity to read the debut novel of a then client now friend something clicked. Her "what the hell" attitude kicked in and a year later, here we are.

Say Something... A new adult romance is her debut novel.

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