Interview with Tessa McFionn

Interview with Tessa McFionn as published in the August 2016 issue of Uncaged. To read an excerpt from Spirit Fall, and the Uncaged reviews, please see the issue, links below.

I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Tessa McFionn for a few years now, and when she began writing The Guardian series, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on them. And I wasn’t disappointed. 

Thank you Tessa for the feature and the friendship.

1) Do you remember the first book you read and how old you were? Who and/or what inspired you to read?

Oh wow. I’ve been a reader my whole life. I remember my mother reading to me and my brother every night. We started with things like Dr. Seuss, but moved quickly to The Hobbit. I devoured everything that fell into the fantasy or sci-fi realm. I actually read Starship Troopers with a dictionary and thesaurus next to me when I was in the third grade, along with Homer the summer before I went into the sixth grade. I was quite precocious as a kid and it turned me into an inquisitive adult. 

2) Who are some of your favorite authors now, and what genres do you tend to read the most?

I still love anything out of the ordinary, but most of the books on my shelf fall into either serious fantasy like Terry Brooks and Tolkein, or paranormal romance. My favorite authors today are Sherrilyn Kenyon (in fact, I have her latest, Born of Legend, next to me as we speak), J.R. Ward. Christine Feehan, Kresley Cole, Dianna Love, Lisa Kessler and Larissa Ione. Some of these amazing ladies, I’ve had the honor of meeting, and that makes me love them even more. 

3) Who or what influenced you to start writing?

I think I’ve loved writing almost as long as I’ve loved reading, both I attribute to my mother. She inspired me to stretch my artistic wings and was also so proud of each little story or article I wrote during high school and college. When I finally took the plunge and tried my hand at a full-fledged novel, she was so happy. So, each new work, I hope to do honor to her memory.

4) Are there any books/authors that you’ve read, that have influenced you as an author?

So many of them. I love how Sherrilyn keeps her characters witty and loveable even in the face of horrible events. I love the attention to detail Terry Brooks gives to all the worlds he’s created. I gain new tricks and insights from every author I read, and I just hope that I can translate some of their expertise into my story telling.

5) Where is your favorite place to write? 

LOL! I wish I had an ornate office with beautiful bookcases. Sadly, my workspace is the corner of the couch in my living room. Sometimes, if the weather permits, I move my laptop outside onto the patio and let nature help my muse. As long as I can get some peace, I’m happy.

6) The thing that really grabbed me with your books, is the world and character building. In a very short amount of time, I was drawn in and held prisoner! In a good way! What inspires you to write and gives you inspiration? 

Awwww. Thank you. Well, for my first book, I drew a bit from personal experience. When we meet our heroine, Siobhan, standing on the ledge, that was me. It was a dark time in my life and I found myself crossing that same bridge very late one night. As I peeked over into the canyon, the story started to form in my head. Once I got home, I sat down and Malakai was born, along with the world of the Guardians. I guess I’ve always been a sucker for a hero. 

7) Are we going to see more of The Guardian series, and what else do you have planned for the future? I loved that you brought the characters from the first book back so we could see them again in the second. Will we meet more Guardians and will we keep seeing previous characters return in the future?

Oh yes. I have much more in store. Right now, the third book, tentatively titled Spirit Song, has been completed and submitted. Just awaiting the next steps. This one takes place in Chicago and pits our hero, an Italian Renaissance assassin, against none other than the mob with the heart of a beautiful singer as the prize. 

I know, I know. I’ve had several people ask about Eamon, but it seems he’s enjoying his bachelor life and doesn’t want to get tied down just yet. I plan to keep moving around the country, discovering new Guardians and bringing love, magic and quirky reparte to the world.

Uncaged follow-up: Going to have to trap Eamon  - love him!

8) What would you like to say to fans, and where can they follow you?

To my fans, THANK YOU! I cannot say enough how humbled I am to know that others love my boys as much as I do. I tend to spend a little too much time on Facebook, but it’s the best way to interact with fans and other writers as well, since I will forever think of myself as a student and always in need of learning. 

Here are the other links to keep in touch with me. Thank you so much!

Amazon Link