Featured Interview With Teiran Smith
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio. After living in Connecticut and Sandusky, Ohio, my husband and I moved again to Grand Haven, Michigan in January 2014. I am absolutely in love with western Michigan. It is hands down one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. The Grand Haven community is very supportive of the arts which has been incredibly inspiring for me. It inspired me to publish my first novel, Rooter. And I have fallen in love with landscape photography and even dabble in abstract painting.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
Oh my. I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t fascinated with writing and reading. For me, books have always represented hidden treasure. They offer an escape from reality. Reading has an extremely calming effect on me as does writing. I can’t go a single day without one or the other without going through withdrawals.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Another hard question. The first Author I fell in love with was Edgar Allan Poe. I love his work. I’ve read everything he’s written. I remember the first time I came across The Raven in middle school. I was hooked immediately. Then came Shakespeare-my second love followed by Jane Austin.
In recent years I discovered Jamie McGuire. Her book, Beautiful Disaster, resembled that which I write and I became an immediate fan. I also enjoy Colleen Hoover.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
Rooter was a real labor of love for me. I had such a fun time writing it. This was the first book I didn’t follow an outline for. I let the characters lead me and rather than writing the story I wanted to tell, I wrote THEIR story. I fell so in love with Sophie, Rooter, Miranda, Bear, and Ryan that I actually cried when I finished writing it. It felt like saying goodbye to good friends. Halfway through the story I’d already decided it would be a series. I just had to keep going with all of them!
Sophie is a very troubled young woman. She has no family. The only family she ever had was her mother-a drug addict who committed suicide when Sophie was seventeen. So now she lives with her best friend, Miranda, and her brother Mike. All Sophie wants is a normal life with family and love-something she’s never had and something she believes she’ll never have.
Miranda and Mike also recently lost their parents so they’re all kind of grieving their losses together. But Mike’s feelings for Sophie are more than just friendship. He admitted he’s in love with her and when she didn’t reciprocate, he spiraled out of control. Now he’s doing drugs and drinking and has become abusive. The derision between them causes tension between the three of them. Sophie’s infatuation with Rooter, the “vicious criminal” next door only makes matters worse.
When Mike finds Sophie conversing with Rooter, he goes into a jealous rage and attacks both girls. Rooter comes to their defense which only increases Sophie’s interest in him. But he makes it clear that nothing will ever happen between them-he’s a bad guy and she deserves better. But when Sophie gets attacked yet again he comes to her rescue and finally admits that he has feelings for her.
They embark on a passionate romance, but it’s hampered by Rooter’s secrecy, controlling behavior, his crazy, obsessed ex-friend-with-benefits. As much as they care for one another, there just seems to be one obstacle after another. When it seems things can’t get any worse, Sophie is accused of committing a brutal crime against Rooter. Heartbroken, Sophie moves out of the house to put distance between the two of them. But now that she’s separated from Rooter’s watchful eye and protection, Mike decides Sophie needs to pay for breaking his heart.
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I can`t wait to read the rest of this book. I have had the pleasure of reading a few chapter`s before it was published. And this book is like No other! I will be super Excited when it comes out in a hard back cover. I just can`t wait! This book is very refreshing and very interesting. Anyone looking for a book that keep`s you on the edge of your seat and your attention this is IT! Go get it!!! 🙂