Nosy Mondays: Tiffany Neal

So I decided that I didn't already have enough on my plate, lol. I was thinking about it and while it's awesome that published authors are interviewed, why not interview the future best sellers of America? I would love to get to know more about the writers that I follow on blogger, or tweet and I thought it would be fun to share what I dig up about everyone :)

I will be posting a new interview each Monday under the title "Nosy Mondays", my first victim is none other than my awesome critique partner turned writing partner Tiffany Neal. We are collaborating on our first co-authored YA novel titled, "Path." Since I talk to/ email/ text this talented woman more often than my husband throughout the day, I figured I should do a background check on her of some type. Here are the results of my first time in the interview chair and her first time as the interviewee...wow. That is alot of firsts for one paragraph ;)

Interview with Tiffany Neal
K- So. You’re my “speshul” little guinea pig. Welcome to Nosy Mondays at Take it as It Comes. Do you feel like you’re going to puke? Is the pressure too much? Yes? *taps fingers together in Mr. Burns voice, “EHHHHXXXCCELLENNT.” *

T- *insert nervous laughter* Now that you mention the whole feeling sick thing … hold on I’ll be right back.


K- *taps fingers on desk and waits for Tiffany to return* Ok. I already know a lot about you since we’re crit partners and everything… but I’m going to dig deeper. Are you scared?

T- Very.


K- You should be. Since this is the first time we have collaborated on a book together what are your fears? What excites you about it?

T- I really don’t have any fears. I think what excites me the most is getting to bounce ideas off of somebody and being able to get a super story out of it. Taking two really great ideas and combining them into one.


K- Off the record, how do you REALLY feel about your amazing critique partner Kristen Yard? *holds out microphone with an ominous smile*

T- Off the record she’s the shiznit. That’s just off the record though if it were on the record it would be a different story.

K- Um... ohhhkaaayy. Should I be offended? *shrugs* How old were you when you started hearing character voices in your mind? For example I was 5 or 6 but I didn’t take them seriously until I was in middle school. Shut up.

T- Well I didn’t know they were characters but I’ve been hearing voices my whole life practically.


K- You might not want to share that little tidbit with too many people, just sayin.' Do you prefer to write by hand or laptop?

T- Hmmm... *crickets chirping* Definitely laptop. I used to really like to write by hand but now its definitely laptop.


K- One of my characters, Mavros, is a God with some pretty intense abilities (but you already know that wonderful critter ;). If you were a God what would be the first thing that you would do- and what would be your main power?


T- *laughs* Yea hold on a second… can we hit pause? *laughs again* Hold on I’m tweeting you.


K- Ummm ok. Why?

T- *crickets chirp again* I’m thinking about my answer. I’m thinking that it would have something to do with my book boyfriend blog post. Be able to create my own book boyfriend for real.


K- OMG you could totally start your own business. Think of how much you would make if you could do that for a living? *wipes drool away* Ok, moving on. What author(s) had the most influence on your decision to write?

T- Um, Gosh, ok this is going to take a minute because I have a really bad memory… *insert jeopardy music* Ok. I've got it! Lois Lowry definitely, Cornelia Funke, Kate Dicamillo, Neal Schusterman, Neil Gaiman, Suzanne Collins because she rocks, and because she had books that I tore through Stephenie Meyer, Roald Dahl, and William Faulkner,


K- If you could be alone with any fictional male character (including one of your own)… who would it be and why?

T- Mavros from your WIP The Little Death because he’s frickin hot. It doesn’t hurt that he’s a God...


K- *blushes* Thanks :) This next question is extremely important. Cupcakes or ice cream? (Choose carefully… or else it could be the end of our crittership…)

T- That isn't an easy question are you kidding me? I ate ice cream tonight… guess it depends on what kind of ice cream or cupcake. It would have to be ice cream especially if it’s fro-yo…

K- That’s it. I’m quitting you. Ok... I'm over it now. Favorite character that you’ve written and why?

T- Valory because she’s kick ass and digs a tracking device out of her hand with a little bit of whiskey and a knife.


K- I agree. I love Valory. Craziest thing that ever happened to you that sounds like it should be fiction but isn’t?

T- Hmm ok, um- there’s so many of them it’s almost impossible. Probably the time I was held at gunpoint for parking in the wrong parking spot at my old apartment.

K- Wow. Um here’s some fro-yo to compensate for your horrible flashback. *holds out cup and spoon* Where does your muse tend to harass you the most? For me it’s the shower. Uber annoying I have to keep my iPhone with me for the voice recording. I’ve almost dropped it in the shower at least 6 times now.

T- Mine is when I ‘m trying to sleep at night, that’s usually when it appears or when I’m trying to get ready for work which makes me late every single day.

K- *shifty eyes* Yep. Your tardiness every morning has NOTHING to do with me Skyping with you too late to work on "Path." So...how many iPhones have you destroyed?

T- Well I never destroyed one. On the other hand, Apple has given me a malfunctioning one but that was totally not my fault at all- so technically I'm on number two and number one died from natural causes.


K- I'm sorry for your loss. Why do you write MG and YA?

T- This one's an easy one. I write MG because I teach that age group, so I would love to write a book that my students can pick up and read and love. I write YA because I just love it so much. I have a passion for it and I have an inner high school teacher in me. Or inner 17 yo that won’t escape.


K- Yea my hubs has one of those too *grrr* Favorite line from your most recent WIP?

T- “She could choose to lie down and let them take her life without a fight or run and have the chance to escape.”

K- Wow, Just so everyone knows, I was lucky enough to read the first chapter of this future NY Times best seller. It's AMAZING. This one line is just a tease really. The whole thing is made of awesome. So someday when you are famous don't forget who you gave your first interview to. Kay Tiffany? Tiff??? *gets up and looks around* Apparently she's left me to go get some more fro-yo. I just can't compete with it's sugary goodness. SIGH.

So there you have it. My pick of the week for Nosy Mondays (EWWW lol couldn't resist). I'm fully aware that it's not Monday, this week was just out of control in my house. I hope that you enjoyed this crazy interview (and that you were able to follow it. Me, Tiffany and sugar is just a BAD combination!)

If you want to get to know more about Tiffany, check out her blog Tiffany Neal. It's amusing, thought provoking and always guarantees laughter until you are in danger of peeing your pants. :)

Next Monday I will have another interview up. Let me know if you guys are enjoying this and I will keep doing it every week... hee hee hee that means that NONE of you are safe. Soon you will all be summoned. It's like Jury duty... only I don't pay you for it :)