I’d like to introduce you to the twenty-fifth interviewee in my ‘Meet the Author’ series. She is Tina Brown/T. M. Brown.

QUESTION: Hi, Tina! Welcome to Susan Finlay Writes blog site. Can you tell us a bit about your background as a writer?

ANSWER: Only recently have I accepted the title of author. “A Life Not My Own” is my first work to be published. To be quite honest, it’s also my first attempt at writing in book format.

QUESTION: Your memoir, “A Life Not My Own”, was published in December, 2012, by AuthorHouse. Can you tell us a bit about your book? What inspired you to write it?

ANSWER: I just couldn’t escape my past. I wanted a better life. So..I start writing my thoughts down on paper as a diary (Classic Psychology 101). I began to consider changing my diary’s format into manuscrpt form in the hopes that one day it might become a book that I’d share with friends and family.

I wanted to move forward in my life and maybe share my story with others who might benefit from knowing that they were not alone in similar life’s struggle.

QUESTION: You’re working on another project, “Struggles of the Women Folk”. How many do you expect to write? Can you tell us about the second book?

ANSWER: This book is loosely based on conversations that my grandmother and I have had over the years. I’ve thread these pieces of information to create the fictional storyline. “Struggles of the Women Folk” has a similar writing style as A Life Not My Own. I’m very excited about the emotional response I anticipate my readers will experience.

QUESTION: How are your books relevant in today’s society? Do you see your books as motivational?

ANSWER: Struggle is Struggle! “A Life Not My Own” depicts the positive and negative impacts of struggle. Struggle comes in different forms, but in the end..it’s all relative. Struggle will always be relevant to society..past, present and future. I hope that my words will motivate readers to embrace their potential to overcome adversity, recognizing that all things are possible through perserverance and God’s direction.

QUESTION: You are highly educated, and you speak several languages. Can you tell us about your background? Do you travel a lot? Do you speak at conferences, or plan to in the future?

ANSWER: When I was a child, my grandmother would say, “education is something that can never be taken away from you”. She was so right. The gift to be able to acquire knowledge has been the one true constant in my life! I have a BA in Psychology, MS in Systems Engineering, and completed multiple Army courses. I also speak just enough French, German and Spanish to enable me to shop. These achievements have enabled me to have a full and diversely rich life.

My day job requires that I travel and sometimes speak at conferences. I am currently looking for opportunites to do the same to showcase my books and spread the message of encouragement to their readers.

QUESTION: What has your experience with your publisher been like? Is it everything you’d hoped for?

ANSWER: So far, I can’t complain. Of course, there are aspects related to publishing a book (the importance of having a good editor and pricing your book properly) that are only discovered as one goes through the process. Hindsight is 20/20!

QUESTION: How does it feel to be a published author? How are you dealing with marketing and advertising?

ANSWER: It’s really surreal to be a published author. Less than six months ago, I would not have thought it possible.

QUESTION: What is your favorite or least favorite part of writing?

ANSWER: I hate it that I can’t type fast enuogh to get the words out of my head. I love dicovering the characters and the story line…

QUESTION: If you could meet any book character or famous person, who would it be, and what would you do with them?

ANSWER: I’m more interested in “real people” than the famous ones. I’m interested in people who live normal lives and find a way to overcome life’s challenges. I’m that person who cries at the end of all the Rocky movies.

QUESTION: Is there anyone in your life who has inspired you and/or motivated you?

ANSWER: There’s been too many to list. Some that really come to mind are my grandmother, my children Michael and Melissa, friends and family. But then, there are those few who had a negative impact on my life for a short period of time. In the end, these people motivated me to do better and to rise above the pain, heartache and disappointment I experienced during my interactions with them. I won’t call them out by name. 😉

QUESTION: What books are you currently reading?

ANSWER: I’ve met some really good authors in the last few months. So I’m reading their books. Short list:
• “No Turning Back” – Carolyn T Holmes-Hood
• “Damaged Girls II” – Janice Ross
• “Tabernacle in the Wilderness, As It Relates to Jesus” – Edith Lazenby
• “A River Runs Forward” – Selena Haskins

QUESTION: Please list any websites or social media links for yourself or your book. Thanks!

ANSWER:

http://askdavid.com/reviews/book/memoirs/4917
http://author-tmbrown-com.webs.com/
Amazon–http://www.amazon.com/Life-Not-My-Own/dp/1477295690/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1367707278&sr=1-1&keywords=a+life+not+my+own
http://www.amazon.com/Life-Not-My-Own-ebook/dp/B00ANF7KLE/ref=sr_1_1_title_1_kin?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1367707349&sr=1-1&keywords=a+life+not+my+own