Ask the Author: T.J. Logan
Answered Questions (6)
T.J. Logan
I just completed Deadly Deception, book 3 in my O'Halleran Security Int'l. series.
Andi, the heroine, is an NSA Interrogations Tactics Specialist. She was inspired by my sister-in-law who was an Interrogations Expert with the FBI.
Learning about the art of interviewing people to determine the veracity of their statements was fascinating.
Let me just say this, she's like a human lie-detector and can tell when you're not being truthful.
Andi, the heroine, is an NSA Interrogations Tactics Specialist. She was inspired by my sister-in-law who was an Interrogations Expert with the FBI.
Learning about the art of interviewing people to determine the veracity of their statements was fascinating.
Let me just say this, she's like a human lie-detector and can tell when you're not being truthful.
T.J. Logan
There is no one answer to this question. I've always enjoyed watching people and creating my own story for what's happening at that moment.
Or, maybe an idea for a story will pop into my head while I'm watching a documentary, movie or TV show.
Caleb O'Halleran, the hero in Deadly Disciple, book 2 in my O'Halleran Security Int'l. series was a Tactical K9 Handler with the FBI's elite Hostage Rescue Team (HRT). He was inspired by my brother, who was a real-life hero who actually did that or a living.
The trick is to keep your mind open to anything, which allows story ideas free access.
Or, maybe an idea for a story will pop into my head while I'm watching a documentary, movie or TV show.
Caleb O'Halleran, the hero in Deadly Disciple, book 2 in my O'Halleran Security Int'l. series was a Tactical K9 Handler with the FBI's elite Hostage Rescue Team (HRT). He was inspired by my brother, who was a real-life hero who actually did that or a living.
The trick is to keep your mind open to anything, which allows story ideas free access.
T.J. Logan
I am currently working on the yet-to-be-titled Book 4 in my O'Halleran Security Int'l. romantic suspense series. Emily O'Halleran and Mason Croft's story.
Emily is the youngest of six, with five over-protective brothers. She is tough, stubborn, and tenderhearted, but hesitates to show her emotions for fear it will be interpreted as weakness by her family.
Mason is best friends with one of her older brothers. He is a smooth, somewhat quiet Texas boy who is proficient at hand-to-hand combat, lethal with a knife, and can fly anything with rotors or wings.
Emily is the youngest of six, with five over-protective brothers. She is tough, stubborn, and tenderhearted, but hesitates to show her emotions for fear it will be interpreted as weakness by her family.
Mason is best friends with one of her older brothers. He is a smooth, somewhat quiet Texas boy who is proficient at hand-to-hand combat, lethal with a knife, and can fly anything with rotors or wings.
T.J. Logan
1) Read - Avid readers make better writers.
2) Surround yourself with like-minded people - The energy you'll share is immeasurable.
3) Learn about the craft of writing - Take workshops and classes online or in-person (see item 4 below), join your local/national writers' group, etc.
4) Attend writers conferences - There will be workshops that focus on the craft of writing, a writer's life, the business of writing, etc. Not to mention, the networking opportunities are invaluable.
5) Drop the "Aspiring" - If you're writing, you are a writer. Period. Full stop. You must commit to this mentally, in order to commit to it physically.
6) Don't overthink - Create your stories and characters and let them help you go from "Once upon a time..." to "The End". It's not always fun, but it's always rewarding.
Read - Yes, I mentioned this twice on purpose.
2) Surround yourself with like-minded people - The energy you'll share is immeasurable.
3) Learn about the craft of writing - Take workshops and classes online or in-person (see item 4 below), join your local/national writers' group, etc.
4) Attend writers conferences - There will be workshops that focus on the craft of writing, a writer's life, the business of writing, etc. Not to mention, the networking opportunities are invaluable.
5) Drop the "Aspiring" - If you're writing, you are a writer. Period. Full stop. You must commit to this mentally, in order to commit to it physically.
6) Don't overthink - Create your stories and characters and let them help you go from "Once upon a time..." to "The End". It's not always fun, but it's always rewarding.
Read - Yes, I mentioned this twice on purpose.
T.J. Logan
Being able to bring characters alive and telling their stories.
T.J. Logan
I will leave that story alone for awhile and work on another one. Or, I will push myself away from my laptop and force a change of scenery. That may include taking a walk around my neighborhood, going to the store, even drinking wine with a friend (my personal favorite distraction!).
My goal is to NOT think about the story I'm struggling with. I guess you could say that I let my mind "rest and wander". Which I have found works wonders for my creativity.
My goal is to NOT think about the story I'm struggling with. I guess you could say that I let my mind "rest and wander". Which I have found works wonders for my creativity.
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