JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Brit Sigh, author of Torn In Two
(CreateSpace)
Tatum Soaren is in trouble.
Traumatized by the death of his parents, he spends three years in a psych ward overcoming his state of catatonia where it is discovered that he suffers from dissociative identity disorder—aka multiple personality disorder. One of his personalities is a stone cold killer.
It is only through the dedication of Dr. Tristyn Holmes and her last-ditch efforts to subdue the murderous personality known as Landon deep in his subconscious that Tatum is finally able to live a normal life. But Landon and Tatum share a secret, powerful gift, one that Dr. Holmes suspects but will only become convinced of after it is too late.
Now the head of the psychology department at a major university where Tatum is her pupil and patient, Dr. Holmes’ dead body is discovered in her office. Once again, having a parental figure savagely torn from his life, Tatum is determined to find the killer—and his love interest is there to help.
Landon has other plans, and he has a friend too—and with a washed-up detective at the sad end of a once promising career given one the opportunity for one last, high-profile hurrah, the table is set for a deadly hunt to find a killer before another dead body turns up on campus.
Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the inspiration to write Torn In Two?
Brit Sigh: I grew up reading Mary Higgins-Clark, Agatha Christie and Lois Duncan books. My Mom was always great about encouraging me to read good books growing up. Ever since I read Mary Higgins-Clark’s All Around the Town, I knew that someday I wanted to become a writer.
The idea for Torn in Two came from my parents adopting my little brothers Justin and Austin, they are identical twins. At the time of adoption, they were only about a year and half. They are 8 years old now.
I thought it would be cool to write a story about twin brothers and one of the two being a sociopath, the ultimate good and evil story. Around that same time, I was finishing up a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and was studying Abnormal Psychology.
When we covered Dissociative Identity Disorders, it brought me back to the memories of reading my Favorite Novel, All Around the Town by Mary Higgins-Clark. I knew then and there that I needed to change the twin brothers (one being good and the other being evil) into one person with conflicting personalities fighting for control of the body.
JP: What sets Torn In Two apart from other books in the same genre?
BS: The characters are very real which makes it easy to get into the story along with them. It also makes it that much more frightening because they are everyday people.
Also, I use very vivid descriptions in my writing so that you feel like you’re actually living the story and are in the city of Minneapolis where the book takes place.
JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that led to Torn In Two getting out to the public?
BS: Being very social media savvy. Then from there, know what your target audience is and get the word out through every possible channel.
It is also helpful to get out there and meet, network and support other authors because they can help you build credibility. Especially, if you are promoting their works, they will in turn, return the favor.
JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take you to start and finish Torn In Two?
BS: I definitely don’t write in chronological order. I write out-of-order quite often. Usually I’ll write the first chapter, then the last and then the middle. It just depends on my mood.
With Torn in Two, it was a book that I worked on again, off again for about four to five years. I change the story and character dozens of times until it was exactly how I envisioned it.
Honestly, I think it took me so long to finish it because at the same time I was learning my voice as a writer. Now I am currently writing the sequel, and it is flowing extremely well. I just needed to get over the hump of writing my first book.
JP: What’s next for Brit Sigh?
BS: I am going to continue writing The Files of Tatum Soaren series in which Torn in Two is book one of the series. I am writing book two as we speak, then from there, onto book three. I have hopes of the series running six to ten books in total when I’m finished.
Aside from The Files of Tatum Soaren, I am working on another series that will follow two snarky, but skilled FBI agents through their many dangerous and complex investigations in the Bureau.
http://www.facebook.com/FilesofTatumSoaren
http://twitter.com/great_BRIT_
Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/BritSigh
Tumblr:
http://britsigh.tumblr.com/
Pinterest:
http://pinterest.com/britsigh/
Anyone who is a fan of suspense, adventure, and mystery, and also likes to be at the seat of their pants as they read then Torn in Two is a must-read.
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