Tasha Madison has a B.A. from the Edward R. Murrow School of Communication at Washington State University, an M.B.A. from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, and a J.D. from Seattle University’s School of Law.
She is a Huntsville, Alabama transplant from Seattle, Washington. She loves all things Jane Austen. She is also a sucker for Shakespeare and Sherlock Holmes.
As a Communications professional with over 15 years of experience, she has been a desktop publisher, a journalist and a copy editor.
Now that you’ve been introduced to Tashsa, let’s get to know her a little better.
Hello, Tasha, welcome to Angel Kiss Publications.
Thank you for having me.
What inspired you to be a writer?
I’ve always had a hearty appetite for the written word, even from a very young age. I was a very avid reader as a child. I would stay up late at night, trying to read the next chapter with my flashlight, long after my mom told me it was time for bed. My love for writing started with poetry and prose, and quickly blossomed into a passion for storytelling.
Is writing your full-time profession?
Not yet, but I hope it will be one day.
How long have you been writing?
I first started writing in the third grade. By the fifth grade, I wrote my first novella. I still have it! By the eighth grade, I wrote my first novel. So, I started writing pretty early.
How many books have you written?
Fabric of a Generation is my debut novel.
Which genres do you write?
YA and historical fiction.
What do you find most challenging writing for these genres?
YA fiction is challenging because I like to tackle important issues in my writing. So, my endeavor is to thread valuable YA discussions and experiences into the pages of my writing while maintaining authenticity.
Historical fiction can also be intimidating, especially if you are writing a novel based on a true story or inspired by the lives of historical actors. Authors of historical fiction bear the burden between remaining true to the story/time period and true to themselves and the creativity of their craft. The two don’t always coexist peaceably, so it is important to find balance.
What are you working on now?
My work-in-progress is a historical fiction novel about an ancient civilization.
Where do you find inspiration for your characters?
I find inspiration from so many things … my personal experiences, people I know, have met, or simply observed, locations I’ve visited, activities I enjoy, etc. Bits and pieces come from a multitude of places and then I weave them together to create an interesting character.
What has been your most rewarding experience since publishing your work?
I recently had a young adult reader say that she loved my book and tell me that she stayed up all night so that she could find out what happened next. She said she read my book in 24 hours. There’s nothing more satisfying than having your target reader understand and appreciate your work.
What advice would you give to authors just starting out?
Research! Research! Research! Research your novel’s topic. Research your craft. Research the publishing industry. Writing is fun but, after the manuscript is finished, it has to be edited and refined. Then, it has to be formatted, distributed, and marketed. Writing is only one small piece of the puzzle. So, do your homework!
Is there anything else you’d like your readers to know about you?
Apart from the fact that I own the entire collectible set of Lord of the Rings, complete with my very own Gollum statue? No, not really.
What message are you sharing in your books?
My characters face serious and often daunting obstacles. So, my message boils down to hope. Hope for the future … hope for the possibility that something great can still happen in spite of past struggles, failures, and fears. I want to share hope with the world!
What are your favorite books?
I was completely obsessed with the Nancy Drew mysteries growing up. Now, I read across several fiction genres as well as nonfiction. As a result, my favorite book is usually whatever I am reading at the time.
If you could create an author’s group with writers from any time period, who would you invite?
Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Carolyn Keene, Agatha Christie, Maya Angelou, and Langston Hughes.
Who has influenced your writing the most?
Definitely Maya Angelou. The ability she had to use her pen to empower and move people beyond words should be every writer’s goal.
When you’re not writing where can we find you?
In the craft store buying scrapbooking and cardmaking supplies!
A movie producer wants to turn your book into a movie and you get to make a cameo. What would you do in the movie?
I’d totally be the Stan Lee “extra” in my movies … a part of the movie but only a quick, humorous addendum to the storyline.
An elf named 12-25 approaches you. He’s sneezing, wheezing, coughing and there’s a strange tattoo of a snoring dog on his cheek. What do you do?
First, I would ask if he was okay (because I’ve got manners after all), and then I would inquire about who he is and from where he came.
Do you have a website/Facebook page, etc?
Yes, you can reach me online here …
Website: www.TashaMadison.com
Instagram: @thetashamadison
Twitter: @theTashaMadison
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theTashaMadison
Where can we find your books?
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2JlQtAe
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/2KXDOGO
… and practically anywhere where books are sold …
Thank you, Tasha, for spending time with us and sharing your story. We wish you continued success and lots of luck!
Miranda dreams of disappearing. That and torturing her younger brainiac of a brother. To sidestep the risk of personal vulnerability (and her much-hated history class), she plays soccer or skips school by escaping to her favorite magic shop whenever she gets the chance.
As her truancy creates a rift between her ambitious TV producer mother and misunderstood stay-at-home dad, Miranda begins to covet the unknown destiny of strangers and questions whether she will ever have one of her own worth living.
Miranda’s relationships are laced with the strychnine of blame, envy, and doubt. So, when she finds a mystical shawl in the attic, she thinks all her dreams have come true! Her discovery initiates a free fall through time. As she navigates through the hilarious, treacherous, and heartbreaking road to maturity, the strained relationship between her and her mother ignites a troubled path to selflessness and compassion.
Can she use her present circumstances to help redeem herself from her past mistakes? If Miranda cannot find her way back home, she might be forever stuck in time.
Anyone seeking a coming-of-age tale with an addicting family saga that explores life lessons on money, love, and relationships will enjoy the rabbit-hole adventures of this book.
Buy this historical fantasy today to discover Miranda’s journey through time!
