Not long ago, I conducted an interview with novelist Tabitha WInters. tabitha writes psychological thrillers and has garnered rave reviews on her first two novels, DISSONANCE and DECEPTION, along with her short stories.
Here then is that interview.
1.
Let’s begin with a bit of back story about Tabitha Winters. In your daily life,
you are a licensed mental health counselor. What part of your education made
you decide to go into that as a career?
I was working in a halfway house and as part of my case management work
ended up handling a lot of traumatized people. I
found the link between addiction and trauma fascinating and started doing my
own study of various techniques to aid with their recovery; the staff therapist
received positive feedback from some of the clients and she encouraged me to
move onto graduate school.
2. Recent interview, you made mention that you are a very
religious person. Is this something which has been deeply held since you were
young or something that has gained prominence in your life since your career
began? And how does your strong faith play a role in your writing and your
process?
I was blessed to have a Nana who was a very religious person and taught
me an appreciation for faith in all things: positives, negatives, and
especially our duty to do good in the world. Our
higher power was actively trying to help us if we would just allow it.
My work is informed by that every day. I
have a strong belief that you ‘hate the sin but not the sinner’ and I believe
everyone deserves love and peace. If
we can love the least of us, we can love all of us. PS,
I believe spirituality is a very unique and individual experience, and that’s
why I have Renault go to Sacre Couer Basilica, where people really do pray
twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, for everyone everywhere. Imagine if we all held that
level of kindness! We’d
have a much better world.
Renault explores a lot of religious themes; his relationship to his
Higher Power is extremely important to him as he tries to atone for his past. I like his quiet reflection
and how he handles his daily struggles with an eye toward his faith, especially
in regard to what his programming has taught him and what he knows is right in
his heart. He feels he
doesn’t deserve forgiveness but seeks it anyway, and that’s inspiring to me. When we do right for a
reward, it’s a different feeling than when you simply do right.
3. Moving to your writing career. What was it that made you
decide you wanted to be an author? When did you first have those aspirations:
youth, teen, college or beyond? Or have you always had a voice in your head
wanting to get you to create stories? Is that, in itself, its own type of
therapy for you?
I found my love for writing in third grade: my teacher would tell us a
story and act it out, then we’d spend the afternoon finishing the story. It was amazing and
exhilarating to be lost in this magical world, and I’ve been writing on and off
ever since. I never
considered it would become anything more than a way to entertain myself, so I
feel very blessed to share it. I
like a book that gives me a sense of belonging, and the SPKS have a bizarre
family where they love each other unconditionally, warts and all, finding peace
in their pain.
I find the act of writing really reflective, and it can be cathartic to
try to solve a problem I may be unable to remedy in actual life. I get very emotionally
invested in the characters, so I do have to be mindful of that as well.
4. As an author, which novelists act your inspiration? Who
are the people you look up to when you are in writing mode? Do they all manage
to become part of your writing experience or do you also have works and authors
you read purely for pleasure? Who is foremost amongst those?
I am inspired by almost everything I read. I
know a certain author *ahem* who is uniquely inspiring. Your
tenacity, your commitment to storytelling, and your rich writing style helped
me to feel like it might be worthwhile to actually try to write a fictional
book. If I hadn’t met
you, I would not have published Dissonance in
the first place. It
has been illuminating having someone who understands not just the process but
what it’s like to cerate a magical world from scratch.
I read based on my mood, and I’m always down for trying a new author or
a new idea. I
especially enjoy reading something that challenges me or informs me. Nabokov is my current
addiction, but give me a pulp detective novel and I’m good. Likewise, Claremont’s X-Men
run is always stellar and I love Calvin
and Hobbes always.
5. DISSONANCE: where did the original idea for that novel original from and at one point did it become more of a reality as opposed to a germ of an idea? Did you originally plan for this to be a series or simply a one-off? And where did the idea for the title come from?
This book came from watching a patient struggle with feeling unseen by
modern media in regard to the dissociation they experience in regard to their
trauma. I started out
writing a little short story and then added to it, little by little. Eventually I had a whole
novel! The title comes
from the psychological term for the discomfort experienced when one’s actions
don’t match their beliefs (essentially). The
novel explores this, as many of the characters behave in ways that are counter
to how they want to represent themselves: we have snarky therapists, poetic
assassins, felonious ethics professors, criminal
cops. Each book deals
with a psych concept and explores how the symptoms impact people.
I never expected this to be a series, but your encouragement along with feedback from others made me believe this might have potential to be something more. I can’t thank you enough for your kindness and inspiration, and if this is only read by one person and it helps them to feel seen, I think it’s worth it.
6. Regarding the plot: did you know early on in the writing
process the direction it would ultimately take? Did you plot out a bunch of
story ideas and then throw them together to see what made sense? And how often
do you come up with an idea and either walk away from it completely or file it
for later use?
For Dissonance I had
no idea where it was going to go: I would write small interactions and then see
how they could flow together. Once
I had the characters fleshed out, they started to talk to me more (I am a
licensed professional, I swear I’m not insane 😉). Anything I pulled ends up
in a separate file, and once it was complete I had enough for two more books!
I am kind of wacky, so I write stuff daily but a lot of it has no home. This is why I have a large
arc mapped out: I have fifteen books with specific pieces I want in each as
well as where the arcs will resolve. I
think I’m a bit strange in that way, but yeah, I’m that guy who already knows
how Marcus selects a Christmas tree because I already wrote it. I like to know the
characters inside and out so their actions feel authentic to where they are in
their evolution.
7. What is your usual writing ritual like? Is there a certain
place that you do that and
that is your strict ‘writing place’ or does that matter? What is the space
like? Candles? Music? Beverage? Anything else to get you into that creative
space?
I wish I was cool like that! Four
days a week I write at my walking desk on a treadmill for 90 minutes. The other days I try to get
in at least 30 minutes at my laptop with my dog taking a nap on the couch or at
my big computer in my office during lunch. When
my social media director gives me a deadline, she locks me away with a big jug
of water and a granola bar!
8. Once you have a germ of an idea for a story, what is your
creative planning process like? Do you have your rough ideas plotted out
or do you do a lot of stream of consciousness writing or a combination of both?
And what do you start with first: developing sketches of your characters or
concentrating on the plot and then placing your creations into this world?
I do a lot of Jello work: just fling it at the tree and see what sticks. Right now, I am killing
myself with the third book: I have three completed versions and I can’t decide
which one to go with! That
says to me I haven’t found the
one yet, so I guess some more flirting with the plot is in order.
I absolutely develop the main characters first, and when I get a fun
character idea I’ll play with them until I can decide if they are important to
the plot or just another imaginary friend to keep me company. If they are the latter,
they go in a file to add back in later. I
have a wild anthropology professor and an assassin that keep getting bumped but
I just know they have a place.
9. One of the more interesting parts of the novel is the
flashbacks Ellie experiences, as the reader must mentally construct those
memories together as they appear from recent events to more distant ones . How
did you come up with the idea of having those dropped infrequently throughout
the book and utilizing this storytelling device?
I work with trauma daily, so I help patients navigate the strangeness
of having realities that conflict and remembrance that simply interrupt daily
life. I wanted the
reader to get a glimpse of that so they could really understand Ellie’s
struggles and how hard she is trying to keep it together. In grad school we had to do
an experiment where we were made to experience the stimuli a schizophrenic
contends with in their daily life, and it really stayed with me: I could weep
for how difficult it was just to hold a single thought. My
hope is that sharing Ellie’s story can enlighten us all to be a little kinder
to each other’s journeys, especially those that are invisible to the outside
world.
10. DISSONANCE introduces a cadre of interesting characters, all of whom, just
like real people, have their nuances, quirks, and drama. Which ones are the
most enjoyable to write and which ones are the most difficult and why? And is
it your perception that all of these people are broken to some degree; some
more than others?
Marcus, by and large, is my absolute favorite to write. He is just a gem, and he can be so out there! I love writing his dialogue because despite his daffiness there’s always something more to it: he always knows the end game and he’s much smarter than he looks.
Ellie’s trauma is really tough to write, and I have to take breaks at
times. She breaks my
heart, really, because she just wants to have a good life and keeps getting
caught up in these awful things. One
fan asked me, ‘Does Ellie know what you’re doing to her?’ and that really made me think:
her journey is really explosive, painful, and beautiful, and I promise I have
her best interests at heart, always.
Gérard
also breaks my heart: he’s this sweet, poetic guy who was made into a killing
machine. No wonder
he’s got so many problems! I
really enjoy documenting his internal demons, because I work a lot with
addiction and I think it’s important to validate that experience and how hard
it is to make those changes.
My
belief is that the characters are just like us: perfectly imperfect. We’re all broken, and we
heal and grow from those breaks. Like
Marcus says, I love tacos and they fall apart, so why not me?
11. Many authors draw from real life interactions and often combine elements
from those people into a character or characters? Is this how you work or is
everybody in your universe totally sprung forth from your exceptionally vivid
imagination? Are any of your characters an amalgam or people you have
interacted with, past or present?
A lot of characters grow from people I
admire; Ash is based on you! I
usually ask someone if it’s okay to incorporate certain aspects into
characters, but it changes how I utilize them as I can’t do anything against
them! I will say that
the main characters are all based on clinical experiences or dreams I have had. You’re going to laugh, but
I know exactly how Renault speaks; I know what Marcus’s lopsided grin looks
like, and what shade of red Ellie’s hair is (ginger). I
see them clearly when I write and I try to make them as vibrant as possible.
12. Moving on to DECEPTION: it picks up not long after DISSONANCE ends, working
to resolve plot threads from that first novel. It certainly ups the
action and paints some pretty grisly images along the way, while almost
immediately thrusting your characters into it. Was this a conscious decision on
your part or did that happen organically? Was this always your plan or was
there another way you had considered going
Dissonance was
always meant to lay the groundwork so that Deception could
really start with a bang. I
always like to reward the reader by having themes that carry throughout the
novels along with little Easter eggs. I
write the novels concurrently so I can make sure things agree and I sometimes
make sweeping changes that impact a whole set of books!
13. DECEPTION ends with not one, but two cliffhangers (SPOILER!). Was that
always your plan or were you thinking about wrapping up this one case and
starting anew with the third novel in the series? And can we expect it with
more books in the series or do you see that practice changing?
I definitely wanted the first cliffhanger,
but the second just kind of happened (cue shot of many important novelists
rolling over in their graves). I
love a cliffhanger: I love knowing that I can come back to this space I love. I have a special place in
my heart for the serial thriller, and I like a series where I can follow many
different characters. My
books are about people; the crimes are just a delightful side quest.
14. Your use of various Pop Culture references punctuates both novels in the
form of dialogue from various characters. And they arrive sometimes at the most
opportune time. What inspires you to dig deep into those references; some of
which are pretty obscure and especially diverse?
I try to take the temperature of the novel
often; when things get too deep, I throw in some Marcus-style foolishness to
right the ship. I keep
track of those little snippets on my phone, and I pop them in when needed. My brain is just a bunch of
monkeys playing poker with Old Maid cards.
15. As both an author and a professional, is there a point where one persona
fades and the other comes into play? Is there a point where Tabitha the
professional goes to sleep for the day and Tabitha the author comes out to
play? Or does Tabitha the author come out at unusual moments during an average
day and want to inspire you?
I try to keep the two separate, a la Clark
Kent/Superman; gotta keep ‘em
separated! But
they do bleed in sometimes, and when I write really traumatic prose I put my
therapist hat on to make sure it’s authentic and not exploitive or hurtful to
the reader.
16. How much of your work, if any, gets inspired by dreams you may have had?
Does a dream play out in a way that makes you think you could manipulate that
into a storyline or a character? And, if so, how often does that occur?
My dreams are waaaay too
vivid. I wake up with
entire storylines in my head; the Hall of Mirrors sequence in Deception came in a dream and was
added right before publication. A lot of the time I will get
that weird inspiration and I will rewrite everything to fit it.
17. Is there a point that you write your story and you are done with it or do
you always second guess yourself; wondering if the plot works or if you could
have done something different? Do you sometimes think about what you’ve
written and believe you could have done it better? Is any book every really
done in your mind?
I feel like the first two were definitely
finished when they went to press; I write really fast, so I will finish up the
main part of the novel, return with character stuff, and then I let it cook for
a bit. I start work on
the next book or some of Dame Magherita’s stuff, then I’ll revisit and things
will start to crackle again. That
usually happens a few times before I have what I consider the final cut. Then I edit it twice on my
computer; once that’s good I print it and edit it again. Then
we’re done done 😊
18. After a day of your regular work and/or your writing stints, how does
Tabitha Winters unwind? Or does the urge to create always sit in your psyche to
a degree?
On a really tough day I just want to go
home and veg, but if I can catch a second win I will write.
19. While you have embraced the psychological thriller, do you ever see the
possibility of dipping your toes into a different genre? And, if so, what would
it be and why?
Maybe? I
never say never: Dame Magherita is writing romance and weird literature
mashups, so I guess we’ll see how those land. Side
note: I suck at writing romance, but stick Ellie in an Austen novel and things
get fun!
20. Since the release of DISSONANCE, you have been met with critical success,
often gaining multiple five star reviews and high praise from reviewers. As an
author, how does it feel to have your work accepted so favorably? Is this
something you expected or simply hoped for?
I am really grateful and blessed about
that! You and I both
know I thought this was only worthy of lining a hamster cage, so I find it
utterly shocking. I am
terrified I am the William Hung of literature.
21. Where do you see the future of this franchise? Would you like to see it
adapted into a television mini-series or a feature film? If so, who would you
cast in those key roles? And, as a fan of the graphic arts, would you like to
see these novels adapted into graphic novels?
I would be blessed to be able to keep
writing the series and I think it would make an awesome miniseries or other
media, but casting is tough! I
have several votes for Ryan Reynolds for Marcus; Renault is the hardest for me
because I can see him in my mind so clearly. Ellie’s
the same, but I have a pinterest board with ideas of what I think everyone
looks like and it helps inspire me.
I’m a visual thinker, so I would love to
see the action depicted through art or on film. As
a huge graphic novel fan, such an adaptation would be a dream.
22. How soon can we expect a third novel or more? Do you have a timetable in
mind or are you just seeing where the spirit moves you?
My social media manager wants it out this
year! It’s already
written but it’s cooking, ya’ll, so I guess we’ll see. I
do love a winter release, and as a reader, I love to have something to look
forward to. Since the
books work like a serial or soap opera, I feel like the readers need answers
sooner rather than later…
23. Any last comments or things you would like to add?
Navigating this brave new world would be
impossible without friends like you, so I am most appreciative for all of your
help, inspiration, and compassion, my brother from another mother.
You can find all of Tabitha's works at Amazon. com. Visit her website, tabithawinters.com, to read more about her, her works, her blog and her newsletter.
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