So glad to have Tiff Stockton (her pen name is Amber Stockton) as my guest today. Tiff and I go way back. We first met in the bookstore of the 2004 ACFW conference. Someday I’ll have to relate the “falling off the bench” story, but that’s another blog for another day! Sufficient to say Tiff was poking a camera in my face, exhorting me to “do it again” because she’d missed the shot. But I will tell you that this was the conference she went head over heels for fellow writer Stuart Stockton, and the rest of us watched their romance unfold right before our eyes—material to sigh over for a romance writer!
Tiff has graciously agreed to give away a copy of her book. Leave a comment and be entered in the drawing.
Welcome Tiff. Tell us a little about your latest release, COLONIAL COURTSHIPS.
A Colonial courtship was not in the plan…
The Ingersoll brothers of Connecticut have their futures planned, until the unexpected sends them off course—and straight into the path of love and adventure.
Nathaniel has spent years perfecting his skills as a ship figurehead carver. But when he finds Constance Starling helpless at the hands of a ruthless captain, he knows he must risk his reputation and his future to save her.
Flooding forces merchant trader Jonathan to seek shelter in a local inn…where he meets Clara Preston. Her brother’s growing animosity, however, soon puts Jonathan’s career and his love in jeopardy.
War-wounded Micajah expects nothing more than to settle down to peace after years of fighting on the frontier. Then he finds a young woman and her daughter hiding from an abductor and faces wounds of a different kind.
When Alden is press-ganged into tending an ailing naval captain, he looks for the first opportunity to escape. But one glimpse of the captain’s fetching young niece has him thinking otherwise.
Will unplanned adventure bring about four unexpected courtships in Connecticut?
Every writer has unique ways to approach crafting their stories. Are your stories more character-driven or plot-driven? Definitely character-driven. The plot comes as a result of a basic premise, with the characters being let loose to travel the path they will, changing the specifics of my story while leaving the basic plot in tact.
How much time do you spend getting to know your characters before you actually begin writing the story? – I generally get the basics on them, then work through their backgrounds in the barest of essentials, leaving room for surprises to occur once I get into writing the book. Most call this “intuitive” writing, where you prefer to allow changes in the story based upon the characters’ actions, rather than plotting out the story in detail and never veering off course. For me, it’s more fun to be intuitive, though I do a little plotting as well. All depends on the depth of the book and the needs of the individual story I’m writing.
Some writers love research. Others, not so much. How do you approach research? – I research what I need during a specific time I’ve allotted myself, and it’s usually during the editing phase. During the writing, if there is some specific detail I need, I make a note in that place in the manuscript and know I need to return. Then, I work through the book and make note of what information I need to research, and do it. Do I go off on rabbit trails when I discover something that catches my attention? Of course! And I have to reign myself in to refocus back on my story at hand. *grins* But you can bet I bookmark that surprise site for later perusal.
They say to write what you know, but sometimes we’d rather forget what we know! Have you ever drawn upon your own gut-wrenching life experiences and injected them into your characters’ lives? – Actually, I have yet to inject the gut-wrenching aspects of my life, though there are other emotional experiences I’ve infused into my stories. I suppose I’m merely waiting for the right story and the right time to truly become transparent and travel that deeply emotional rollercoaster. I’m one who has put up a wall where my deep emotions are concerned. I breeze through life each day, holding those emotions at bay and brushing them off with a whimsical “deal with it” response. But I know there will come a day when I am forced to face those gut-wrenching issues, and I’ll be sure to have plenty of tissues at the ready for the writing of those stories.
(Connie here: We’ve all been there. Better make it a couple of boxes of tissues!)
Do your characters ever take over your story and do things you hadn’t planned? – All the time. And it’s great! *grins*
Do you have a favorite character? – Yes, and his name is Andrew Bradenton, from Stealing Hearts, book 2 in my Brandywine Brides series. Of course, Gustaf Hanssen holds a very special place in my heart as well. He was the first hero I wrote that ended up in my first published novel, Promises Promises. But back to Andrew. He is the self-assured and confident kind of guy with a rascal side that both infuriates you and makes you smile. You root for him while also rolling your eyes at some of his antics. And the cover designer for that book nailed him in how he was depicted. Definitely a favorite.
How do you work through writer’s block? – Honestly? I don’t believe in it. If I’m stuck and the words aren’t flowing for the scene I’m writing, I stop and move to another scene. My time is precious with two little ones at home underfoot, so I can’t afford to stop writing and find another activity to get the juices flowing again. I am also not able to stop writing and simply come back to it later. So, I write my books out of order, then go back through the editing phase and piece it all together.
(Connie here: Sounds like you’re a busy mom who has learned how to make the most of the scraps of time allotted for writing!)
Sometimes “The End” are the most difficult words to write. Do you drag your feet, reluctant to say goodbye to your characters, or do you sprint to the finish line? – I’m the sprinting toward the finish line, anxious to be done, dancing with delight that I’m finished, and looking forward to the next book kind of gal. I haven’t yet dragged my feet or been reluctant or even ended up gasping as I finished. Now, I *have* been exhausted after pulling an all-nighter to finish 4 days ahead of deadline, but that was physical exhaustion, not emotional.
Writers conferences offer incredible opportunities. How do conferences help you grow? What do you seek to learn? How do you give back and share what you’ve learned with less experienced writers? – I attend to build upon my craft and discover the different ways others have of developing plot, characterization, story, etc., plus tips and techniques on marketing. As for giving, I spend a lot of time around the appointments area, encouraging and praying with conferees who are shaking or nervous about their appointments with an editor or agent. God has blessed me with the ability to be cool under pressure, so I try to share some of that with those who think they’re going to pass out in the middle of their appointment or blow it altogether. Several conferences have also asked me to speak and become part of the faculty, so I present workshops on topics such as dialogue, social media, making time to write, and how to get published. I’m currently assembling a workshop or continuing session on personality and spiritual gifts and how they impact a writer’s writing, with a bonus segment on how the personality and spiritual gifts of characters affect the story. We’ll see what happens with that one.
(Connie here: Sounds intriguing. Let me know where you’re going to present that workshop. I’d like to sit in.)
What is your most memorable writer’s conference? – Denver ACFW, 2004, the one where I met the man I’d eventually marry. You can read our “fairytale” here: http://amberstockton.blogspot.com/2007/08/wedding-day-story.html.
(Connie here: I kinda thought so!)
Now here is a tidbit a lot of folks don’t know about Tiff: She never attends a conference without these…
Tiffany Amber Stockton has been crafting and embellishing stories since childhood. Today, she is an award-winning best-selling author, speaker, and virtual assistant who lives with her husband and fellow author, Stuart Vaughn Stockton, in Colorado. They have a daughter and a son, and an Aussie/retriever mix named Roxie. She has sold 13 books so far with more on the horizon. Three of her novels have won annual reader’s choice awards, and in 2009, she was voted #1 favorite new author for Barbour’s Heartsong Presents book club. Read more about her at her web site: www.amberstockton.com.
Look for Tiff on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AmberStocktonAuthor and on Twitter at
www.twitter.com/AmberStockton
Thanks for a great interview, Tiff. I’m sure readers are going to want to get their hands on a copy of COLONIAL COURTSHIPS.
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