Featured Interview With Tiara J. Brown
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Hi! My name is Tiara J. Brown and I am a young adult, fantasy writer. I grew up in the Bedford, Ohio. I attended Ohio University and graduated with a degree in Digital Media. I lived in Los Angeles, California for about 4 years after college in pursuit of a media career. However, I decided that L.A. was not for me and I moved back to Northeast, Ohio (where I live now).
Other than being a writer, I am also a dancer. I have been swing dancing on and off for over 10 years. Two years ago, I learned the tango. I have never competed in a competition. However, I have done two showcases; one in swing dancing and the other in the tango. Now, I’m learning ballet. I adore ballet. It is great exercise and it makes me feel very graceful and elegant. I also love to hike. I have gone on hiking trips to places like Hocking Hills, Ohio. I am a baker. The sweet tooth is real! And, I am a huge history nerd. History was one of my favorite subjects in school. I still love reading and learning about it, today.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I have always been a storyteller. The first story that I ever wrote was either when I was
6 or 7 years old about a little girl shrinking to the size of a bee and sneaking into a
beehive. However, it wasn’t until I was 12 years old, when I consistently began writing stories down and sharing them with my friends that I knew that I wanted to grow up to be a writer.
As far as my fascination with books, although I liked telling stories at the age of 6 or 7, I wasn’t an avid reader until I was 10 years old. The books that I had read prior were always for school and I didn’t like them. I didn’t connect with the stories or the characters in them. However, all of that changed when I read, Jeremy Thatcher: The Dragon Hatcher. It was a book that was in my school library. It was the first story that I truly fell in love with and sparked my fascination with fantasy books and fantasy storytelling, in general.
I believe that book is why I am a fantasy writer today.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favorite genre to read is young adult, fantasy. It is the genre that my imagination gravitates to. I love the enemies to lovers trope and the discovery of a new world and/or new love. There is a beautiful innocence in a lot of characters in young adult novels and as the reader or writer, we witness how these characters are sometimes tragically ripped away from that innocence. I think the
symbolism of that can sometimes be true to real life, which makes it so captivating.
Currently, my favorite authors to read are Stephanie Garber and J.K. Rowlings.
Stephanie Garber wrote the Caraval trilogy and its spin-off trilogy, Once Upon A Broken Heart. The trilogies truly capture the imagination and the imagery of a suspenseful modern-day fairy-tale, that you can’t put down. There is so much to learn from Stephanie on writing engaging character interactions and dynamics, as well as crazy twists and turns that you truly do not expect.
In regards to J.K. Rowlings, I still love the Harry Potter series and she is one of the authors who inspires me due to the world that she created in the series. There is so much
symbolism and depth to her characters, the story, and the world-building of the franchise
that she created.
Also, there is a lot to learn from her in the art of writing. One of the challenges in writing
fantasy is to not info dump, which is hard because you have to explain the rules of the
world and the magic system without boring the reader. Harry Potter is mostly set at
Hogwarts, a school where she can info dump, but make it come across as natural
because it is a school setting. Genius!
I am also inspired by two other writers.
William Shakespeare. Macbeth is one of my favorite plays and Shakespeare
really nailed the descent into madness with Lady Macbeth and writing compelling people
in all his works. Not to mention, his skill at word play. There is a reason why we still use
his phrases in pop-culture today. “Double double toil and trouble.” – Macbeth. “A rose by
any other name still smells as sweet.” – Romeo and Juliet. And a reason why we still
make movies inspired by Shakespeare like She’s the Man (Twelfth Night) and 10 Things
I Hate About You (The Taming of the Shrew).
And, Charles Dickens. A Tale of Two Cities is a phenomenal story filled with love and
tragedy. It is set during the French Revolution (a very crazy and volatile time in history).
Already a suspenseful backdrop and then you add on complex characters, unrequited
love, but sacrifice so your unrequited love can be happy, and an amazing villain
reveal/plot twist. It has everything. All in the dangerous midst of chaos, looming death,
and hope!
There is so much to learn from all of these writers. They inspire me so much on
world-building, characterizations, and the overall art of storytelling.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
The Tales of Alexandria Stecklar: The Locket is a young adult, fantasy book about a telekinetic, 15-year old girl named Alexandria (Alex) who lives underground with her family during a time of on
again/off again war between her kind, other psychics and magical sorcerers. Alex longs to see the outside world, but feels trapped in her underground home. One day, she is separated from her family above ground and thrusted into the Land of the Sorcerers. She must make it home safely, lest she be captured, or killed or worse!
Will Alex return, safely? Or will someone else get to her first?
It is a fantastical story set in a world of magic versus technology, adventure, first love, family bonds, and a twist that changes everything.
“Hatred. War. Death. Pain. No matter how hard we try, it seems as if man cannot escape these casualties, and no matter how hard I try, neither can I.”
Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles