Featured Interview With Tash McAdam
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I’m 26 now, and I work full time as an English Language Teacher, which is pretty fun, most of the time. I get some hilarious anecdotes to work into my books, so it’s definitely good for inspiration. I was born in the hilly sheepland of Wales, but left when I was eighteen. Since then I’ve travelled every continent except Antarctica, and have lived in South Korea and Chile. I now live in Vancouver, Canada, with my partner. I miss my family, but Canada is way cooler than the UK! I like reading, writing, dancing, juggling, dreaming about zombies, doing ridiculous things in the name of research (ask me about the time I set my shoes on fire) and doing karate, (I have a couple of black belts, which definitely helps with realistic fight scenes and injuries)
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
When I was a kid, the only time I was sitting still was when I was reading. I actually can’t remember a single occasion in my childhood without knowing what I was reading at the time. I didn’t start writing until I was about 8, when I realised in order for my favourite book to exist, I had to write it. That venture was not terribly successful, but I’m working on it. As an adult I realise I will never write the ‘perfect’ book, but I’m giving it a try, focussing only on things I love in books, (even if I love to hate them, like character death) and avoiding the things that irritate me. I now keep a running list of ‘stuff that’s annoys me’ in books I’m reading, for example; unnecessary exposition, insta-love, unrealistic love triangles, nobody dying even if it’s a war, twists for the sake of twists, names that tell me who someone is going to be, etc.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I love to read scifi and fantasy, but I’ll read almost anything as long as the voice of the writer grabs me. If I feel like I can predict what will happen, or there is an insta-love connection, I am OUT. I’m pretty well-rounded, shelf-wise. Historical fiction is probably my least favourite genre.
My favourite writer is Brent Weeks, who is an absolute inspiration, I am in love with his books (both universes!), and he actually is one of the reasons I started working on my new series, because I wanted to invent a new kind of magic, as I was so impressed with his! I also love Michael Grant, Robert Muchamore, Robin Hobb, Charlie Higson, Cory Doctorow and Rick Riordan.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
SLAM, A Psionics Novella. (35 000 words. $1)
Telepaths, torture, mindwipes … the Institute has it all, and they use each of their brainwashed children as weapons, the way they see fit. To control society, repress its people. To make certain that they stay in power, no matter the cost. Serena’s baby brother Damon is one of those children, and these days he’s so altered that he doesn’t even recognize her.
When it comes to getting Damon away from those who kidnapped him, there’s nothing Serena won’t do. Even if she has to kill him to save him. First, though, she must prove to her father that she has what it takes to be a soldier against the insidious threat of the Institute. Her first mission has to be perfect.
But with inaccurate intelligence, unexpected storms, and Gav Belias, people’s hero of the Watch, on the prowl, will she even survive? If she doesn’t succeed, they’ll never let her go after her brother.
And that would be unthinkable, when it was her fault that he was taken in the first place.
Slam is my first work with Glass House Press, and serves as a prequel to the series The Psionics, with the first book, Maelstrom, due in 2015.
It’s a charity release, and all proceeds will be donated to SDDAS Spirit Fund, a nonprofit society dedicated to giving homeless animals the medical care they need. For more information, visit their website at sddac.com/donations.asp.
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