Tiffini’s Comments (group member since Mar 23, 2010)

Tiffini’s comments from the Q&A with Tiffini Johnson group.

Thank you Patrick!! it is so nice to read about people who have enjoyed and gained something from the book.

I hope that you wouldn't mind posting this review to Amazon--or here. Either would be good :).

My other books, though special to me, are different. The other published ones are told in third person and were written when I was a lot younger. "The Character" is the one that is special---for a whole lot of reasons.

It has really made my morning, reading your thoughts of it! Once again, thank you!

Great! Have you finished the whole thing already?

:)

I'm a control freak. It's a choice I made: I like being in control of all aspects of the book (cover design, even marketing, etc).

But I am glad you like it!!

Thanks Patrick, that is encouraging :).

:)

The book's intent was to bring attention to abused children, and to highlight the fact that each child has a creative way of coping with such trauma. Since the book was written in the first person narrative of a ten-year-old, I did not feel that a photo of an adult (even myself, the writer) really went well: the photo of me as a child writing, however, fit the book perfectly.

Thanks for the review, too, and the fan add: they are very much appreciated!

Hey!

So glad you seem to be enjoying it. The why may not become evident, and that is on purpose. Child abuse rarely has a reason. Even when it does (the abuser was abused, etc), I don't like giving that room as I feel it (a) sounds like I'm making excuses when I am NOT and (b) detracts from the pain of the victim. The book's purpose wasn't the examine why or how abuse starts: it's to examine the effects of it on the child.

I have had to argue the tense changes in the past. But those, too, are deliberate. Most children, when they speak, do so without regard for tense shifts (for instance, they might say, "Yesterday, my teacher said I need to do my homework but I forget." This is a rough example off the top of my head, but it involves tense shifts within the sentence. I felt that this was realistic mirroring of a child's language. However, I do see how that could confuse a reader and am taking the advise under consideration ;-).

Thank you for the compliments. It is nice to hear!

Agents sure are a choosy lot :). Good luck with that, though! It sounds like you've got a good editor/friend with Cherilyn, and that oughta help! Perhaps you will go back to "Catherdal"---I love that title!

Awesomeness--you will have to let me know what you think of it! Thank you!

Hitler---have you studied that era much? Small world, indeed---one of my published novels was about the Holocaust!

"Gosh, I think it was good!"

Yay! I get excited about my books too. There is a quote I love that says, "whenever I want to read a good buy, I write one." I had to laugh when I first heard it because I re-read mine all the time! :) I think we write best when we do so for ourselves.

So far no print reviews (still working on that); I meant reader's reviews which I count and value quite highly!

"The Character" is available here: http://www.amazon.com/Character-Tiffi...

I'm also at:

http://www.storiesthatmatter.wordpres... (blog),

www.tiffinijohnson.com (site that tells more about each of the published novels and me!)



I loved "Me Talk Pretty One Day!"

All of my other novels are in third person, except for "The Character." Have you written all of yours in 1st person?

That sounds like an interesting memoir.

However, "The Character" is different. It does deal with on going abuse; however, the girl is 10 and it's written in present day first person so there is no hindsight (at least not the type that be evident in a memoir) Also, the girl in "The Character" is lucky enough to have a supportive mother. The book is different than most in that it details abuse while it is happening to a young child. She is helped by a special friendship in the end, though.

I have read and enjoyed Lovely Bones. It's on the same topic, maybe, as The Character, but as you said, "not exactly the same."

I'd be thrilled to hear Cherilyn's thoughts...

Hi Patrick!

Thanks for the interest: if you do have a chance to read "The Character", I'd be very happy to know your thoughts on it!

To each writer, their own, I say, in regards to the writing process. I really don't think there is a "right" way to write. I've taken some rather harsh criticism for how real my characters seem to me. Still, that relationship with the characters (which only lasts for the duration of the novel) is part of what makes writing so much fun for me!

As to your question, hm. I'm assuming "Garciella" (sp?) is the title of the work in question? I unfortunately have no good advise for you here. I use wordpress (and Facebook) for my blogging purposes and whenever I create a new blog at wordpress, it automatically shows up here on Goodreads (which I think is totally cool!) I might try again? Maybe it was a system thing? Sorry I can't be of more help in this regard!

I do, however, look forward to learning more about your writing :-)

:),
Tiffini

Ah, right. No, there's probably nothing similar to "The Character", then. From what I can gather via the reviews, talking with a friend who was more familiar than I with the work and reading its synopsis, the two books seem quite different.

"The Character" comes from the child's perspective, for one, and, for two, there's nothing even remotely consensual about it. There is no gray line of whether or not it is abuse in mine. My focus is more on Anna's coping mechanisms as she is confronted with a traumatizing situation (all part of trying to answer the initial question of how different people react to trauma).

I certainly found it interesting, though, tracking down all I could find about another book. It would indeed be fascinating to find a book similar to "The Character", written by another author. I also appreciate the communication! ;-)

Don't laugh at me, please, but the truth is, I usually have a character that appears to me first. In "The Character", for instance, I saw Ash for about two weeks before I really understood what the plot was going to be. He said very little, but he was always hanging around the back of my mind. I'd see him periodically throughout the day. Then, one day, I was just driving along and I saw the first "scene" (which is what ends up being part of a chapter). Normally, I then work up a brainstorming page, called The Summary, which gives me a basic rough draft of the major events in the book. This is followed by character sketches of all the important characters, followed by a very detailed outline, followed by a day to just read a book before I start one (because once I start writing a story, I can't stop to read anything). Whichever character appeared to me first usually then guides me through the book. In one of the books, the main girl vehemently protested just about every other paragraph until I fixed it the way she wanted ;-). "The Character" followed none of these guidelines. I did not have a Summary, character sketches or an outline and I wrote Chapter 8 first. Ash did dictate it to me, but the chapters came to me at random, and I just wrote whatever "scene" the characters wanted me to, then I put them in a cohesive fashion and started work on editing.

The strange part is that once I write the final word, the character who has been haunting me immediately goes away. This is how I always know that the story is finished.

Like I said, I'd appreciate no laughing ;-)

Oh, I know HOW to sing, and I love doing it----unfortunately, I'm just fairly awful at it ;-). Record producers would laugh in my face. I better stick to writing ;-)

I've been to San Diego....it's been awhile, admittedly, but I've always remembered the food and the people. Course, then, California is hard to forget :).

I'm not sure there is such a thing as "amateur level writing"---if you write, and you care about it, I'd say it would then be something to read. :)

No, it wasn't. I'm actually not familiar with Lolita. The book started out as the question: "how do people cope with traumatic situations?" That question, combined with my work and personal experience with children who have been abused, inspired the writing.

Is Lolita a book, or a movie? If you can enlighten me some to it, then I could let elaborate on how similar or not "The Character" is to it ;-)

Thanks for the questions! I hope you plan to read and let me know what you think!

Once upon I time, I was asked...

This book is particularly special to me. It required a great deal, both emotionally and mentally, and holds a special place in my heart. The writing of it was quite interesting, too, and so are its characters! I invite your curiosity: ask me anything concerning the book!

I am frequently asked about the writing process, and am excited about the opportunity to discuss my characters and their stories! Ask away!

Hi everyone!

I LOVE getting to know those interested in reading my work. I'll start with introductions, and I can't wait to read yours!

My name is Tiffini and, besides writing, I also enjoy cooking, swimming, teaching, playing with my daughters, reading anything I can get my hands on, singing (even though you would NOT enjoy hearing me do so!). I live in Nashville, Tennessee and have been writing my whole life.

I look forward to meeting all of you!