I want my readers to escape their realities and embark on a journey of self-exploration and love when they delve into my books. I have loved reading fiction, thrillers, and romance for years. Although my original (and still) writing interest was YA and self-help books, I received a surprise text, one Valentine’s Day, and wrote the very first chapter of a romance novel that day. And I became forever inspired to write spicy love stories – with a twist.

My first memories of reading romance was when I was really young and I would sneak and read the Western love stories, my grandmother kept on her bedside table.  Although I didn’t understand half of the words I read at the time, something about those books captured my attention and as I grew older, my love of romance expanded to other genres and I became a fan of anything remotely related to reading such as libraries, bookstores, and the coffee shop around the corner.  I had no idea I would ever write a romance novel and now I have written several with a passion for more.  I love to travel and have lived in several cities, including New Orleans, Washington D.C. and Houston.  I find inspiration for my stories from every place I have had the fortune to visit or inhabit. When I’m not obsessed with my latest characters or managing my own business, I love to spend time with myself, family, and friends doing whatever I can to create daily moments of enjoyment.

Please take a ride with me, Tiye Love, and hold on to your hearts! I invite you to check out my website and join my newsletter at http://www.tiyelovebooks.com, and follow me on FB @Tiye Love Books, and/or on my IG @tiye28always

1) First, I want to thank you for taking the time to do this interview with me!  When did you know that writing is what you were called to do? What is it about being a writer that you love the most? What about being a writer frustrates you the most?

I have written off and on for years, but five years ago I was bitten by the writing bug and published more than two years ago. And now I don’t want to do anything else. What I love most about being a writer is just being able to tell my stories for readers to enjoy. I think what frustrates me most would be not having enough time to write or feeling like I can’t always get my point across.

2) Can you tell us a little about your book(s) and where our readers can find out more about them and you? 

My books are a mixture of contemporary, new adult romance, and erotic and usually with a twist. My stories are emotional, often angsty and always steamy. I’m primarily on Amazon and you can find more about me on my website www.tiyelovebooks.com. You can also join my newsletter on that site and be the first to hear about upcoming projects. I just joined Radish which is a reading app where I already have one story available and plan to continue doing serial stories.

3) Where do you draw your inspiration from for the stories that you manage to weave together and the characters that you create?                                                                                  

Everyday life and experiences. Sometimes something as simple as a statement someone says sets off a chain of events in my head.

4) Do you have a schedule for when you write?  Do you outline your novels?  How long does it generally take you to finish a novel?  What projects are you currently working on?

I now have two to three complete writing days but during the other days of the week I squeeze in time. I don’t always outline. I only do so when I start to lose focus. Depending on the length of the novel as well as time I have to work on a project. Typically, I can do a 35k in a month or so, given that I have a family and I also still work. My latest WIP is The Summer Storm, which is the fourth book in my Love for All Seasons…

5) What’s the first book you ever read that really moved you emotionally?  Who is your favorite author to read?  What book are you currently reading?

Good question. First book probably was when I read the play A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry when I was a child had a major impact on me. I don’t read like I used to because my spare time is writing. But when I did, I loved to read Beverly Jenkins, Eric Jerome Dickey, RM Johnson, E Lynn Harris, and Dianne-McKinney Whetstone.

6) What has been your most significant achievement as a writer thus far? Where do you see yourself within your career in the next five years?

Winning Best New Author for Building Relationships Around Reading an online group and getting rave reviews from Romance in Color. Where do I see myself within my career in the next five years? I’d like to be an accomplished and successful author in several genres including romance, Young Adult and non-fiction/self-help.

7) How have you dealt with rejection within your writing career? What is your advice for other writers to better be able to cope or navigate their way through the publishing process, be it traditional or self-publishing?

Rejection is never easy and I have to remember that everyone has different styles and if your work resonates with at least one person (outside your family, of course) you’ve done your job. Doing research on what’s best for your publishing path is my advice. You have to market and promo your books whether you are in traditional or self-publishing. You’re just more widely distributed and sometimes you’re offered money up front.

8) Do you find it hard to juggle the creative side of being a writer against the business side of being a writer, in terms of marketing and promotion and things of that nature? How hard has it been (or easy) for you to build up your author platform?

OMG! That will be my struggle until I have the coins to have others do it, LOL. It has been hard to build my author platform with such stiff competition but I’m proud to say I have small circle who are already ride or die for Tiye. That makes me smile.

9) So many writers say that they hate reading their own work. Do you ever enjoy reading your own work back to yourself after it’s out there for the rest of the world?

I hope I don’t come across as narcissistic but I love reading my work after it’s done. I will read it on my Kindle once it drops to imagine the reader experience. And sometimes when I go back and reread something I wrote a while ago, I can’t believe I wrote some of those words. It’s like another being inhabited my body for a little while.

10) Do you believe that there is ever a point in life where it’s too late for an aspiring writer to become successful in this industry?  Do you feel a late start would hinder their chances?

I’m a firm believer you are never too old to live your dreams.

11) I feel like writing is a remarkable tool to help people not only express themselves, but also to cope emotionally and mentally.  I know for me I write to be and feel more authentic. What unique quality is there about you, about your art, that you feel represents your authenticity?  How does writing help you to be more empowered in your purpose?

It’s funny you say emotionally and mentally because I write for my sanity. I also write for others’ sanity. My writing is an escape into another world, a healthy coping mechanism if you will. My characters and their various flaws represent my authenticity. Because we have humans are flawed whether we ever acknowledge it or not.