1. First, introduce yourself a bit. What is your name (or pen name) and where are you from?
Hello! My name is T. R. Hamby and I am from Florida.
2. Next, tell us a bit about your most recent work. Is this your first published book? What is it about and what genre would you classify it as?
My most recent book is the final instalment in a three-part series (the Banished series) about angels being sent down by God to kill evil humans. Things get complicated when they team up and fall in love with human women. I would call it fantasy with a romantic twist.
3. Tell us a bit about your main character; what are they like, how did they come about, and what are some of their strengths and weaknesses?
Multiple characters take the spotlight in my series, but the original story centres around Mel, one of God’s first created angels, who can manipulate fire and kill humans by overwhelming them with fear and dread. He is a suave character with a bit of a temper, who was banished to earth for falling in love with God’s first created woman.
4. What was your hardest scene to write in this (or any) book?
My hardest scene was the epilogue of the final book, tying up all the loose ends. It’s hard to say goodbye to your characters, and it was hard to give a sense of finality to the scene, as the first two books both ended in cliff-hangers.
5. Did you go the traditional route when publishing your book or did you choose to self-publish?
I chose to self-publish because I find the traditional route too slow, and I wanted more control over my work. This way I can market it myself and interact with everyone in the writing community.
6. What would you say is the most difficult part of your writing journey and what advice would you give to other writers?
The most difficult part is when getting stuck. You have the urge to write but can’t seem to get anything good down. Usually when this happens, I try writing from another character’s point of view, or I pace around the room trying to come up with ideas. Sometimes taking a break helps too. My advice would be to never stop writing; even if there are a few parts that are shaky, they’ll help you move on to better scenes and better writing.
7. Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?
I have my books in the Banished series that are connected, but my other works I prefer stand alone. There’s The Chatter, a Victorian era thriller, and Bright Land, a modern romance.
8. What are some of your favourite authors and books and what inspired you to become a writer in the first place?
I’ve always enjoyed telling stories, even when I was too young to read or write, so you could say my inspiration comes from within. J. K. Rowling was a huge inspiration for me as a kid; I’ve read her Harry Potter series so many times that I’ve practically memorized it. Her writing style is simple but intriguing, and draws the reader in. I was very inspired by this style and consider my own writing style to be similar.
9. What would you say has been the best way to market your books?
Social media, especially Twitter, has been the best way to market. Making connections with others in the online writing community has helped immensely, and we all work to boost each other’s work.
10. Are there any tropes, clichés, or writing styles that you dislike and, if so, what are they and why?
Poor spelling and grammar are definitely a pet peeve. I also have trouble connecting with a book with characters that are bland or unbelievable. Characters make the story, and if they’re not relatable then the story loses my interest.
11. Do you read reviews of your book and, if so, how do you handle negative feedback?
I do read reviews, and I’m very grateful for them! If I get a negative review I try to take it in stride and learn from it. We can’t all have the same opinion, and there could be a lesson to learn from someone’s negative comments.
12. What are some of your quirks as a writer? Do you like to plot everything out or do you prefer to just “wing it” and see where the story takes you? Do you listen to music when writing and, if so, what do you listen to?
I don’t listen to music because it distracts me. I like things quiet while I write! Some of my quirks are that I’m always writing on the couch in the living room and I pace around the room tossing a ball when I get stuck. I talk to myself a lot, and sometimes to my dog and cat, too. They never respond.
13. What is the best advice you’ve ever had when it comes to writing and what advice would you give to new writers?
The best advice I’ve ever gotten is to never stop writing. Of course, sometimes you need a break, but in general, keep writing something. Anything to keep that creative mind going. It’ll help you when it’s time to write that book. That’s what I would tell any new writer is to always write and expand your work. Even if it isn’t your best, you can always improve it later.
14. What’s next for you? Are you currently working on any new books or stories?
I am working on a few stories at the moment. A couple romances and one period piece in the 18th century. We’ll see where it goes! I need to pick one to focus on the most.
15. Finally, feel free to plug your social media, website, and links to Amazon, GoodReads, and other relevant sites below, and detail any current offers available for your book/s:
You can find my books on Amazon, free on Kindle Unlimited. They are also available as paperback books!
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