The time it was about time travel

Do I even need to explain my flails for Tamara Ireland Stone? I didn't think so. I mean, I drove to San Francisco for the Time Between Us launch party and I'm doing it again for the launch of Time After Time. She is absolutely fabulous and not just because she gave me Bennett. I think it's safe to say that she's one of my favorite people. 

When it was announced that Time After Time was actually happening, I emailed Tamara to see if she would be willing to do an interview for the blog. And she's so sweet, that she said yes!  But, before we get to her answers, let's take a look at the book, shall we?

Calling Anna and Bennett’s romance long distance is an understatement: she’s from 1995 Chicago and he’s a time traveler from 2012 San Francisco. The two of them never should have met, but they did. They fell in love, even though they knew they shouldn't. And they found a way to stay together, against all odds.

It’s not a perfect arrangement, though, with Bennett unable to stay in the past for more than brief visits, skipping out on big chunks of his present in order to be with Anna in hers. They each are confident that they’ll find a way to make things work...until Bennett witnesses a single event he never should have seen (and certainly never expected to). Will the decisions he makes from that point on cement a future he doesn't want?

Told from Bennett’s point of view, Time After Time will satisfy readers looking for a fresh, exciting, and beautifully-written love story, both those who are eager to find out what’s next for Time Between Us's Anna and Bennett and those discovering their story for the first time.

Sounds amazing, right?

1. Where did the idea for Time Between Us come from?

One evening, my husband and I got into this funny discussion about superpowers. He asked me what power I'd choose and I instantly answered, "Time travel." But then I qualified it. I told him I'd just like to go back to the early 90s for a few hours so I could see Green Day play on Gillman Street in Berkeley.

The discussion ended, but this idea was stuck in my head for the rest of the night. By the time I woke up the next morning, Bennett Cooper had a name, the ability to time travel, a penchant for live music, and a mad crush on a girl named Anna, who lived in 1995.

2. Did you plan to have two books?

I wrote Time Between Us hoping it would be the first in a series, but I wanted it to work as a stand-alone novel as well. It was sold as part of a two-book deal, and shortly thereafter, we decided to make the second book a companion. I didn't know it would be in Bennett's voice or exactly when it would pick up after the first book left off--those elements came a bit later. But with books releasing a year apart, there was a lot of overlap. I wrote Time After Time and revised Time Between Us simultaneously.

3. You wrote a time travel book that wasn't difficult to follow the "when" in the story [thank you]. Was that something that you actively wanted to do? As in, the decision not to have date stamps, etc.

Absolutely (and you're welcome). I gave this a lot of thought in the beginning. I wanted the time travel piece to be so natural, you could slip into the story and not feel like you needed to stop every few chapters to figure out "when" you were.

I really wanted readers to focus on the relationship between Anna and Bennett, and the transformation Anna makes as a result of knowing this person she never should have met. I wanted to leave you pondering big questions about fate and free-will. Date stamps may have pulled the reader away from the story I wanted to tell.

4. You wrote Time Between Us in Anna's POV and Time After Time is in Bennett's [squeeeeee!!]. Who was easier to work with?

Well, I've been a 16-year-old girl before, so slipping into Anna's voice was probably more natural for me. Bennett took a little longer, but once I got into his head, I absolutely loved writing from his point of view. I think it helps that he's a nice guy. I've dated nice guys and I ultimately married one, so I've done my research.

5. Will there be kissing in Time After Time? [This answer better be yes.]

Yes. Absolutely yes! Unlike Time Between Us, there's no need for the long build-up to the romance. Anna and Bennett are together from the start, so in Time After Time, we'll get straight to the kissing. Hello, Chapter Three.

Speed [ish] round:

1. What's your go-to guilty pleasure thing to eat?

Anything with caramel.

2. What are you reading right now?

I just finished Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl. It was amazing.

3. Who are your favorite swoony boys?

Étienne St. Clair. Adam Wilde. Noah Shaw (I know... he's yours. Sheesh.)

See. Told you I liked nice boys.

4. Are there any authors that you fangirl over?

Of course! Especially the authors who got me through my teen years, like S.E. Hinton and my hero, Judy Blume (warning: this is the part where I show off).

I somehow managed no to make a complete idiot out of myself when I ran into Judy during the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) conference. I look relatively composed, don't I? Inside, I was a weepy mess, thanking her for giving me Deenie, Margaret, and Katherine--who always felt more like friends than fictional characters--and for making me want to create stories of my own.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Huge thanks and undying love and devotion to Tamara for not filing a restraining order always taking the time to deal with my fangirling.

Be sure to check out her website, blog and Twitter!  And don't forget to add both books to your GoodReads TBR shelf!

Now.  Haven't had a chance read Time Between Us? Well, Tamara is so awesome, that she included a signed, hardcover copy for a giveaway! Keep in mind, Bennett is mine, I have proof.

Rules are on the "terms & conditions" of the Rafflecopter widget.

**Good Luck!!**

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway