JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Tia McCollors, author of The Last Woman Standing
(Moody Publishers)
The man. His woman. His ex-wife. After being married to their careers instead of each other for ten years, “Ace” and Lynette Bowers ended their marriage. But four years later, it seems their love never ended – to both of their surprises and denial.
Sheila Rushmore is Ace’s current girlfriend and a woman who is used to getting what she wants – except Ace’s commitment to marriage. When Sheila realizes Lynette may be the cause, she launches a plan to play the hand of God, instead of allowing Him to bring the love all three of them desire.
Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write The Last Woman Standing?
Tia McCollors: I can’t remember the exact moment when the idea for this book came to mind. One day, I was thinking about what would happen if a divorced couple fell in love again – or actually realized that they hadn’t fallen out of love in the first place! One of my girlfriends is a divorcee, but balked at the idea of reuniting with her ex-husband – even though her parents were previously divorced and are very happily remarried!
A match was tossed into the flames of the idea after the dance ministry at my church performed a liturgical piece that told a story about a husband and wife being restored after an adulterous affair. Although that’s not what happens in The Last Woman Standing, it still dealt with the concept of the possibility of restoring a marriage. Throw a girlfriend into the life of the ex-husband, and there is sure to be a little drama.
JP: What sets The Last Woman Standing apart from other novels featuring a torrid love triangle?
TM: Torrid love triangle?! Well I wouldn’t exactly call it that! LOL! I think it’s a love triangle but not in the traditional sense of the phrase. The attractions are beyond the physical…that’s what makes it different.
Both women in the book (Sheila, the current girlfriend and Lynette, the ex-wife) love Ace (the man in the middle) in their own way. They’ve both built memories with him at separate times in his life, and Ace has sincere respect and love for each of the women.
JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to The Last Woman Standing getting out to the public?
TM: Getting your books in the hands of the readers is what I call a brick-by-brick process. Authors must capitalize on their networks, existing relationships and the social rings that the Internet now provides. Authors need to do things like the blog tours, e-newsletters/blasts, radio shows, etc.
Since The Last Woman Standing is my fourth novel, I’m adding new bricks on top of my current readership. My faithful readers are my biggest resource because they spread the word faster than any other viral marketing tactic! Those are just two quick suggestions from the sea of marketing and promo ideas.
JP: What did you learn from The Truth About Love and A Heart of Devotion that made The Last Woman Standing a better book?
TM: As far as it relates to the writing process, I believe I learned how to move a story along faster and keep the reader involved. It’s my goal to become a strong writer with each book, and I believe that I’ve achieved that so far. Of course on the marketing end, I’ve learned how to touch base with new readers and keep relationships with my established readers.
JP: What’s next for Tia McCollors?
TM: Another book of course! The question hanging over my head that needs to be answered is, “What’s the next book going to be about?” In the meantime, I’ll be brushing up on my writing skills, devouring craft books, and catching up on the to-be-read stack of books that I’m going to read purely for entertainment.
Also, I hope to connect with readers who enjoy inspirational reads at the Faith and Fiction Conference 2009 in Orlando, Florida, July 16-19. I’m one of this year’s featured authors and I can’t wait to get there!
http://www.tiamccollors.com/
http://www.myspace.com/TiaWrites
http://www.shoutlife.com/tiawrites/
http://www.tiaspen.blogspot.com/
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