Phoenix Entertainment and Development

Phoenix Entertainment and Development

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

TJ West Interview/Blog Tour


Purple Rain Blog Tour

Title: Purple Rain

By: TJ West

Blog Tour: September 12th – 18th

Hosted By: Author Sandra Love

 
 
 
Let’s get to know you a little more.  Tell us a about yourself.
 I'm a stay at home mother of two kids - Joey almost 15 and Raquel 12. I have been married for 15 yrs. I volunteer within my kids schools, being on the PTSA (Parent Teacher Student Asso.).. Being there for my kids is my life. My son has High Functioning Autism which makes me his biggest advocate in life. 
I  am a big fan of TV! I watch so many shows that it's hard to keep track. Yes I'm pathetic ha ha!  My favorite show is Scandal. My sister and I have melt downs and heart attacks watching that show, it's ridiculous!
What inspired you to write?
 I believe, in today's world, technology is amazing. So many indie authors are now finally coming out and are able to publish their books without using a big publisher. Anyone can write a book and sell. I think that's what did it for me. I have always loved to write, but hadn't done it for so long until last summer. Stories come easily inside my wacko brain that I am able to make up a plot within a few minutes. That's what inspired me, seeing all my favorite indie authors doing something that wasn't possible ten years ago. 
Tell me a little about Purple Rain
“Purple Rain” Book 2 in The Rain Series.. It's about a single mom who is a waitress and works daily to make a good living for her son. She has no room in her life for dead beat boyfriends, so she continues to work hard and makes the best of things. In comes a very angry, jackass of a man who rocks her world. Their relationship is hot, heated and passionate.
How did you come up with the story? I came up with the story from my last book. I wanted to base it off of someone from November Rain and chose Sandy. I then had to think quickly on what kind of man would come into her life and I thought of someone entirely different than my first male character, Matt Cooper. Again, it doesn't take me very long to create a story. My brain is always on story mode, always thinking up crazy plots and different characters. I drive myself crazy because I love making up stories.. It's how to put it down on paper (or laptop) that makes it interesting and challenging.
 
Tell me about your main character.  Who is he/she, what makes them special to you?
 It's about a very independent single mom, Sandy, who has a son who has High Functioning Austim. She is someone who thinks of her son first and foremost and just wants whats best for him. That is including NOT choosing the wrong guy. She is a tough cookie who stands by her word until Quinn comes crashing through. Quinn is an Asshole at first. He's badass, and has a major chip on his shoulder with a troubling past. Meeting Sandy and her son, Joey, eventually breaks down that wall he has built for so many years.
What makes Sandy special to me? She deals with a child who has autism, just like myself. So I put a lot of myself in her.  Quinn is nothing but a soft, lonely man on the inside that you just want to wrap him up and never let him go. These two are special and I love their relationship.
 
Who has been your greatest writing inspiration?
So far, my son, Joey. He gave me such inspiration in Purple Rain that I asked him to write a poem for me. I put that in the book which he loved seeing. I put a lot of his personality in Sandy's son, Joey.
Now a little more about you:
 
If you were stranded on a desert island, what three items would you bring (excluding family, laptop, or writing utensils)?
 1.  I would definitely bring my lip balm; my lips get so dry that I am constanly reaplying. 2. my nook--gotta have my reading buddy with me. 3. suntan lotion. I don't want to get sunburned do I?
We find out the world is going to end tomorrow.  How do you live your last day?
This is a tough question. I think anyone in their right mind would spend the last day with their loved ones. That, for me, would be my family (kids, husband, sister ect) We would be huddled, reminiscing good times and have a good cry about the last day. How sad does this sound? LOL.
 
If we were to make a movie of your life.  Who would play the part of you?
I'd pick Kristen Bell
 
Tell us 5 random things about yourself.
 1. I'm an early bird by nature 2. Ice cream is my downfall 3. I loved giving birth to my two kids and want to become a doula someday 4. I am strong headed. 5. Sometimes I have no filter that gets me in to trouble... It sucks but true.
 
What are the three places you have always wanted to visit but have not yet?
 Austrailia, Ireland, England
 
 
Okay, crystal ball time.  Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years?
This is a true toughy as well - I hope by then I have written tons of books, hopefully on the bestseller list.. And I hope to be traveling to many different places.
 
Do you have any questions for me?
 How many books do you manage to read in a month? You do so many reviews I am curious.
It depends on the length of the books I’m reading and how busy I am. Sometimes I can get through four or five a month, but there are times where I’m lucky if I can get through one.
 
Where can our readers find you?  (Please provide links for everything Twitter, Facebook, Blog, Website etc).
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorTJWest
         Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NovRainSeries?ref=bookmarks
         Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8024842.T_J_West
I am going to try to get a Website going, but now for now I have a blog: http://authortjwest.blogspot.com/
         Google+: https://plus.google.com/+TiffanySalcedoTJWest/posts
 

 
 
 
 
 Purple Rain

Sandy Brooks was a single mom who was raising a young boy with High Functioning Autism. She left her home state, Seattle, Washington and moved to sunny San Diego, California to start a new life for her and her son, Joey. She was determined to make it on her own with the goal of keeping her son happy and well cared for. She may have dated a few men in her days, but wasn’t out to have a man take over her life. She couldn’t trust her relationships to last, because Joey’s feelings were at stake. No one would hurt him. He was her life and was the most important person in it - Until the day she met Quinn Baker - the man who would rock her world. 

Quinn Baker was a quiet, maddening loner. Having a past that has haunted him for 17 years he was in no shape to take over his Father’s restaurant, Reds. So much pain and anger was still implanted inside his heart, he wasn’t sure coming back to San Diego would make things better. Not feeling love or compassion for many years he never would have thought Sandy would be the one who would take over his mind, body and soul. Along with Sandy would be her son, Joey - a boy who would give him a reason to love again

Links:



 

First Book in the Series!

November Rain

Marty Mayfield fell in love at the tender age of 16 to Matt Cooper. He was her world until the day he left to go into the Air Force. From many letters she had written and mailed, responses from Matt never came. Her world felt destroyed and lonely. After graduating high school she moved to Paris and lived there for 12 years. During her years of living there she met the man she thought could replace Matt. Turned out her years in Paris brought nothing but pain, loss and suffering.
Making a fresh start from her wounded past she makes her way to San Diego, California where she ends up finding the one person who had always made her feel whole. Will she be able to get past her scars and give Matt her whole heart again? Will she be able to forgive him for leaving her hopeless? Denying her love for him will be a struggle, sexually and emotionally.

Matt Cooper was the black sheep of his family. He wanted nothing more than to play music and live outside his father’s influence within the Air Force. Having no other choice, he took that road and left the one girl who loved him unconditionally. Regretting his decision for not writing Marty back, he continued to serve his country. Years later, after retiring, he started living his dream in San Diego, but the loneliness was always there. His heart had always been with Marty. He couldn’t get past the thought of ever living without her. Feeling like he came out of years of a coma she enters his life again. He felt his love for her immediately and more stronger than ever. Getting her to trust him again will be a battle, but he was never going to give up. He was determined to keep her in his life forever.

Links:



 


About the Author!

It's very simple: I'm a Stay at home Mom of two awesome kids. My son is in High School and my daughter is in Middle School - Been married for 15yrs ...
I'm a very involved parent who has been on the schools PTA's, PTSA's for many many years and have always enjoyed being their advocate!
Reading is my ULTIMATE favorite thing to do and writing has always been a secret passion of mine. Until recently I've been able to reach for the stars and write a simple story and make it into something I never thought I could ever do.

I love TV - lots and lots of TV! I watch many shows! I love movies, hanging with my awesome friends - bookclubs, cocktail nights...And I love being with my sister and family..

 

Follow TJ




 

1 comment:

  1. What a very nice interview, Andrew and wonderful to get to know a new to me author. Congratulations on your books.

    ReplyDelete