Dishing it up with Suzanne Tyrpak

Today, I have the pleasure of chatting with Suzanne Tyrpak. Suzanne ran away from New York a long time ago to live in Colorado. Her debut novel is Vestal Virgin, suspense set in ancient Rome, available as a trade paperback and in all e-formats. Her collection of nine short stories Dating My Vibrator (and other true fiction) is available on Kindle, Nook and Smashwords. J.A. Konrath calls it, “Pure comedic brilliance.” Her short story Downhill was first published in Arts Perspective Magazine. Rock Bottom is published in the Mota 9: Addiction anthology, available on Kindle. Her short story Ghost Plane was published by CrimeSpree Magazine. Venus Faded appears in the anthology Pronto! Writings from Rome (Triple Tree Publishing, 2002) along with notable authors including: Dorothy Allison, Elizabeth Engstrom, Terry Brooks and John Saul. Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers awarded her first prize in the Colorado Gold Writing Contest, and Maui Writers awarded her third prize in the Rupert Hughes writing competition.


Suzanne: Hi J.E. Thanks for inviting me to post.

JET: Can you tell us a little about Vestal Virgin?

Suzanne: Vestal Virgin is suspense set in ancient Rome. Vestal Virgins were the most powerful women in Rome. Unlike other women, they were permitted to own property, and they were well educated.

My protagonist, Elissa Rubria Honoria is a Vestal Virgin--priestess of the sacred flame, and a visionary. Vestals are sacrosanct, sworn to chastity on penalty of death, but the emperor, Nero, holds himself above the law. He pursues Elissa, engaging her in a deadly game of wits and sexuality. Or is Elissa really the pursuer? She stumbles on dark secrets. No longer trusting Roman gods, she follows a new god, Jesus of Nazareth, jeopardizing her life and the future of The Roman

JET: What drew you to writing comedy and conversely, historical thrillers?

Suzanne: I’ve been fascinated by women’s roles in history all my life—my major in college was Greek theater and ancient religions. Also, I love to travel. In fact, I work for an airline. Setting stories in ancient times is a natural for me.

Dating, after nineteen years of marriage, was not a natural. At first it was an adventure, but ultimately it turned into torture. Since I didn’t want my life to play out like a horror story, I decided to write humorous short stories about dating, divorce and desperation. I figured, if nothing else, I could make myself and others laugh. So I wrote Dating My Vibrator (and other true fiction).

I like the contrast. My voice in the short stories is very contemporary—a very different voice than the historical suspense novels I write. I used to be an actress, so that may explain the split. Otherwise, I defer you to my therapist.

JET: What’s been your most challenging hurdle on the road to publication?

Suzanne: Getting published. I’ve had two agents, won awards, had editors tell me they like my work, but no one was willing to take the risk. I am soooo relieved to have stopped writing query letters. I really hated seeing though self-addressed, stamped, rejection letters. Is there some other industry where you actually pay for stamps so you can be rejected?

JET: What was your favorite moment in the journey?

Suzanne: Having readers read my books and respond is great. I also love meeting other writers—hanging out and talking about writing. My fellow writers have sustained me.

JET: Which authors had the most influence over you growing up?

Suzanne: I’m still growing up. Wonderful writers who have touched my life include: Terry Brooks, Elizabeth Engstrom, Tess Gerritsen, John Saul, Blake Crouch, Eldon Thompson, Tory Hartmann—and now, many writers I’ve met on Kindleboards including L.C. Evans, Barbara Silkstone, Claire Farrell and Thea Atkinson.

JET: When did you know you wanted to take the plunge into the writing world?

Suzanne: In sixth grade I knew I’d be a writer some day. But first I had to be a dancer, then an actress, and finally a writer. What can I say? I was a weird kid. I’ve also worked in radio, marketing, and I’ve been a professional psychic.

JET: What’s the craziest thing you’ve done in the name of book research? Most interesting fact you uncovered?

Suzanne: Going into Cheops, the large pyramid in Cairo, at about 2am—finding the King’s chamber and lying in the sarcophagus, while other people chanted around me. We were told, by the bus driver, that the entire pyramid was vibrating with sound.

JET: Of all the novels and stories you’ve written - which one is your favorite? Why?

Suzanne: Vestal Virgin—because it’s published! The others aren’t, which means I can keep changing them. I’m may bring some of them out. Right now I’m working on Agathon’s Daughter, suspense set in ancient Athens. So, of course, I’m currently in love with that story too.

JET: Any advice (from a writer’s standpoint) for the novices out there?

Suzanne: What Terry Brooks always says: Write, write, write. Read, read, read. Write, write, write. Repeat. And don’t be afraid to self-publish. The industry has changed tremendously in the last year, and the stigma regarding self-publishing is fast fading. This is a great time to be a writer.

JET: All right - now that I’ve hammered you with the big questions, let’s tackle my favorite (and geeky) quick ten. . . starting with: Paper or Plastic?

Suzanne: Plastic, but I reuse it and recycle.

JET: Steak or Tofu?

Suzanne: Both.

JET: Beach or Mountains?

Suzanne: Beach. But I live in the mountains.

JET: Country or Rock-n-Roll?

Suzanne: Definitely Rock-n-Roll

JET: Leather or Lace?

Suzanne: I like the combination.

JET: Angels or Demons?

Suzanne: Angels. Although, according to Jewish mysticism, the Satan is an angel who confronts you when you’re off the path. (Demons are a dime a dozen.)

JET: Paper or Digital?

Suzanne: Both.

JET: Silent Film Classics or Cheesy B Rated Horror?

Suzanne: Classics.

JET: Twilight or True Blood

Suzanne: Neither.

JET: Coffee or Tea?

Suzanne: Like them both, but have to have coffee!

JET: Thank you for indulging me. Before we wrap this up, can you tell us what you're working on now? What's next?

Suzanne: As I mentioned, I’m working on another novel, Agathon’s Daughter, suspense in ancient Athens. It will be coming out late fall. I’m also putting together another small collection of short stories—not humor, weird. Ghost Plane and Other Disturbing Tales will be coming out this fall.

Thank you so much for taking the time to chat on my blog. Folks, you can find out more about Suzanne Tyrpak and her work at the following places: (Please supply a list of the URLs you’d like listed in the blog)

Blog “Who’s Imagining All This?” http://ghostplanestory.blogspot.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Suzanne-Tyrpak/144232238928903

Amazon Author Page http://www.amazon.com/Suzanne-Tyrpak/e/B003ZTP0J4/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1


Next week, I’ve got June releases from my Backspace brethren and my fellow Kindle authors. I will also announce the winners of my Hunting Season Blog tour! Thank you all for swinging in. Don’t forget to comment here!

Until next time,

Ciao

JET

Friday Fun with Jeremy Shipp!

Today on my blog, I have the distinct pleasure of having Jeremy C. Shipp as my guest. He’s an author of Bizzaro, horror, dark fantasy and magic realism and was nominated for a Bram Stoker award for his latest novel, CURSED. While preparing for the forthcoming collapse of civilization, Jeremy enjoys living in southern California in a moderately haunted Victorian farmhouse with his wife, Lisa, and their legion of yard gnomes.


So without further adieu. . .

[JET] One of the first things that intrigued me about you is that your profile states you live in a moderately haunted Victorian farmhouse. Can you define moderately haunted?

[Jeremy] We do have ghosts, but they’re rather lazy. They don’t help out with the housework, and they don’t even scare me most of the time. Once, one of them made an old doll rise out of a mound of ash in the attic, but lately, they’re about as frightening as Chilly Willy.


[JET] Paper or Plastic?

[Jeremy] Little Jackie Paper would obliterate Little Jackie Plastic in a battle to the death. First of all, Little Jackie Plastic can’t move. But more importantly, Jackie Paper has a dragon on his side. A dragon who knows kung fu.


[JET] Steak or Tofu?

[Jeremy] I’m vegan, but I don’t eat much tofu. I do enjoy a nice Smurf steak from time to time. You see, Smurfs cells contain chlorophyll, so they’re actually plants.


[JET] Beach or Mountains?

[Jeremy] I prefer the mountains, but only because sea monsters don’t like me. Because I keep tickling them.


[JET] Country or Rock-n-Roll?

[Jeremy] I like Rock-n-Roll, and I like rocks that roll. If Sisyphus hears that I feel that way, he’ll probably roll in his grave.


[JET] Classics or Modern?

[Jeremy] I prefer the classic Strawberry Shortcake characters to the modern versions.


[JET] Vamps or Wolves?

[Jeremy] Vampiric wolves are the best, because they have two sets of fangs.


[JET] Zombies or Demons?

[Jeremy] Demon babies are much cuter than zombie babies. Demon babies only drink the blood of the cutest baby animals, which increases their adorableness by up to 230%.



[JET] How cool was it to be nominated for the Bram Stoker Award?

[Jeremy] Being nominated was slinkster cool. I was shocked, and honored, and I peed a little in my pants.



[JET] Would you mind telling us about your latest project?

[Jeremy] My newest short story collection, Fungus of the Heart, is coming out later this year. I’m also working on a short film, a comic book series, a screenplay based on Cursed, some short stories, and I’m writing a new novel about a weird, loving married couple who set out to save the world.

Thank you!!!

[JET] Thank you very much for such an entertaining morning! Folks, you can find out more about Jeremy and his writing at http://jeremycshipp.com/

He is on Twitter and Facebook too!

JETaylor on writing Survival Games . . .

Now that Survival Games is going to see the light of day, I can share some of the more amusing stories relating to explaining the plot to folks like my family and my co-workers.

This was the first book I wrote when my family gave me carte-blanc to go for it and I'll tell you - after 20 years of not writing, the words sailed out. It took me less than a month to get the story on paper - of course after that it took two and a half years to refine it to what will be published - but the original book spilled out like a levy crumbling under a flood. And when I was done, I looked at what I created and had a 'holy shit' moment.

The book is dark and twisted, intense and graphic and I didn't realize I had that level of darkness in me - and the first draft of this book was much harsher than what will be in print in July - but regardless, I figured I'd better get over the WASP-bred embarrassment of creating something so controversial and steamy.

So I asked my father to read it.

Yes, my father.

Well, I'm sure I shocked the hell out of him but he didn't say much regarding how he felt about his little girl writing erotica or such a horrific tale. The one thing he did say is that it had a lot of sex - but he amended that by saying the subject matter warranted it and considering the plot line, he thought it was appropriate and not gratuitous. Overall he liked the story.

So after the slightly awkward conversation, he asked if I was done with the second book yet. He wanted to read that too - wanted to know what happened to the characters from the first book and as any writer knows, this is the best feeling in the world.

Ok - so I tested the waters with a co-worker and I'll tell you, the looks she gave me after she started the book - it was all I could do not to laugh every time I saw her. And then one day she asked a priceless question - she asked if I could teach her to dance because my main character in the book knows how to dance.

I did laugh then, because I have no rhythm what-so-ever. Two left feet and then some. And she thought there was reality based in the book. The only shred of “me” in the book is the fact that my favorite color is described. That’s where reality ends; the rest is just a figment of my imagination and a reflection of my nightmares.

I said, "Oh honey, the book is FICTION - I can't dance."

Needless to say she was both embarrassed and relieved.

The next slightly awkward moment was right after I announced to my co-workers that I got a publishing contract. It was one of those not so politically correct moments. Most of my co-workers know I’ve got an unpublished FBI agent series, but most of them didn't know about the erotica, so well, you can imagine the raised eyebrows.

My boss had announced to a group - did you know JET got a publishing contract? And of course, someone asked what type of book.

“It’s an Erotic Thriller.”

"Oh neurotic thriller? Like something by Woody Allen?"

I laughed and said "No - EROTIC thriller, like something by Jackie Collins." Bad example - but all it was all I could think of at the moment and while I turned about five shades of red - my co-worker tripled that. To lighten the shocked silence I added. “But I'm the one who’s neurotic."

So after tackling my parents and my co-workers, I feel confident I’ll be able to speak coherently and not turn sixty shades of red when I participate in a panel called "You write your mother with that pen?" at the Backspace Conference in New York City in May about incorporating sex scenes into your novels.

Anybody else have some fun stories about explaining their novels to friends and family? I’d love to hear them.