Tammara Webber Author Interview ~ JeanBookNerd

Book Nerd Interview

I write romantic Mature Young Adult / New Adult fiction.

EASY is my newest contemporary stand-alone novel. BETWEEN THE LINES is my contemporary series. Available on:Amazon, Amazon UK, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, iBookstore, IndieBound, and the Book Depository.

Reading was one of my first and earliest loves, and writing soon followed. My first book was about a lost bear, but my lack of ability as an illustrator convinced me to abandon that effort and concentrate on passing 3rd grade. I wrote sad romantic poetry in high school and penned my first half-novel when I was 19, for which I did lots of research on Vikings (the marauders, not the football team). It was accidentally destroyed when I stuffed it into the shredder at work.

Addictions: coffee and Cherry Garcia frozen yogurt. Also baby carrots, but not with coffee or frozen yogurt, because that would be disgusting. I love shopping for earrings, because they always fit - even if I occasionally forget to work out. I'm a hopeful romantic who adores novels with happy endings, because there are enough sad endings in real life.

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Was there a defining moment during your youth when you realized you wanted to be a writer?

There may have been, but I don’t remember it. I do remember writing stories and making “books” as a child. The illustrations gave me the most trouble. My brother was such a better artist, even though he was younger. Little did I know that he’d grow up to be a professional artist and I shouldn’t have ever compared myself to him, lol.

What’s one thing that readers would be surprised to find out about you?

I’m always surprised what people find surprising about me! Maybe the fact that although I tend to write first-person narratives, and I identify with many of my characters emotionally, none of them are “like” me in real life.

What was the greatest thing you learned at school?

To do my own thing, and be my own person. (I don’t think that’s what “school” had in mind, but that’s the most important thing I learned.)

What is the best piece of advice you ever received from another author?

Courtney Summers told me that the moment I stop writing for myself was the moment I stop writing for everyone else. Don’t write for reviewers, or publishers, or popularity. Write for yourself.

For those who are unfamiliar with your novel; Easy, how would you introduce it?

Easy is about nineteen-year-old Jacqueline, who is learning to trust again after she’s dumped by one boy and assaulted by another, and twenty-one-year-old Lucas, who helps her recover her self-confidence while hiding the trauma of his own past.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in Jacqueline?

Jacqueline was a regular girl, doing the best she could to keep up with her relationships and obligations while dealing with normal (if horrible) things. She persevered through the tough stuff to find her place, learning to love and trust again. Courage isn’t always in the most obvious fight. Sometimes, courage is found in the quiet determination to just keep moving forward.

For those who are unfamiliar with Lucas, how would you introduce him?

Lucas looks the part of a bad boy who doesn’t care about academics or relationships, but this is one of the ways he keeps himself separate from others. He has intense pain and guilt in his past, but he’s capable of great compassion.

You have the chance to give one piece of advice to your readers. What would it be?

Don’t ever take responsibility for someone else’s bad behavior. If someone hurts you, it is never, ever your fault. Nothing you do or don’t do, say or don’t say, makes it okay for someone to take advantage of you or hurt you.

If you could introduce Jacqueline to any character from another book, who would it be and why?

I would introduce her to Layken from Slammed, because I adore Colleen Hoover, and I think our characters would get along well.

When asked, what’s the one question you always answer with a lie?

It would be very silly of me to answer this question! Nice try, though.

What’s your most missed memory?

My brother. He died five years ago, right before Christmas, from complications from AIDS. My memories of him are comforting now, as much as I miss him. When I was losing him, they just hurt like hell. He was my best friend when we were kids, and I hate that he isn’t here now. I know he’d be proud of me.

What's the worst summer job you've ever had?

My first day on my very first job was awful. I’d been hired as a waitress at a brand new family restaurant – a big, fancy place. I arrived on Grand Opening night with my makeup painstakingly done and my little waitress outfit perfectly pressed. I went to the kitchen to check what section I’d been assigned to, but I couldn’t find my name anywhere. Finally, at the very bottom of the list, I found it, right next to “Wile E. Coyote.” I had been assigned to put on a fuzzy costume with a ginormous Wile E. Coyote head and big floppy feet and paws, and walk around the restaurant greeting customers. It was stiflingly hot inside the costume, I could barely see, and some of the small kids were utterly terrorized at a huge coyote walking around waving its plate-sized paws. After an hour, I’d sweated my makeup off, my hair was plastered to my head like a helmet, and I was almost in tears. Dejectedly, I walked back to the kitchen, where my manager patted me on the shoulder and said, “That was great! Go work section five for an hour or so, and then you can make another round in the costume.”

Who is the first person you call when you have a bad day?

My husband. He almost always knows what to say to make me feel better, even if it’s just, “I’m sorry, baby.”

When was the last time you told someone you loved them?

Five minutes ago! :)

Do you remember your favorite teacher?

Oh, yes. There were several I remember fondly, but the best was my sophomore year English teacher. She told me I was going to be a writer – not like a suggestion, or a compliment, but just a straight You’re going to be a writer. She was also the only teacher I ever had who figured out that when oral presentations were assigned, I said, “I didn’t do it,” because I was terrified of speaking in front of the rest of the class. She let me do my presentation in front of just her, my best friend, and my boyfriend. (I was still scared to death, but I did it and I got a credit instead of a zero!)

When was the last time you cried?

A few weeks ago. I’m not a big crier, but I just had too much going on, and everything felt overwhelming, and I just needed the emotional release, I guess.

Most horrifying dream you have ever had?

Any dream involving something happening to one of my kids.

Where can readers stalk you?

Facebook.com/TammaraWebberAuthor
Twitter.com/TammaraWebber
TammaraWebber.com

A girl who believes trust can be misplaced, promises are made to be broken, and loyalty is an illusion. A boy who believes truth is relative, lies can mask unbearable pain, and guilt is eternal. Will what they find in each other validate their conclusions, or disprove them all?

When Jacqueline follows her longtime boyfriend to the college of his choice, the last thing she expects is a breakup two months into sophomore year. After two weeks in shock, she wakes up to her new reality: she's single, attending a state university instead of a music conservatory, ignored by her former circle of friends, and failing a class for the first time in her life.

Leaving a party alone, Jacqueline is assaulted by her ex's frat brother. Rescued by a stranger who seems to be in the right place at the right time, she wants nothing more than to forget the attack and that night--but her savior, Lucas, sits on the back row of her econ class, sketching in a notebook and staring at her. Her friends nominate him to be the perfect rebound.

When her attacker turns stalker, Jacqueline has a choice: crumple in defeat or learn to fight back. Lucas remains protective, but he's hiding secrets of his own. Suddenly appearances are everything, and knowing who to trust is anything but easy.

Tammara Webber’s emotionally-driven Easy follows Jacqueline in her quest of validating that trust is just a word that is thrown around, promises have no real meaning, and loyalty is nothing but trickery. After making an on-the-fly decision to follow her boyfriend to his college, it only ends up with the two breaking up within two months. All seems to be falling apart but when a stranger comes to her rescue when she is assaulted at a party, things suddenly turn for the better.

The majority of people portray college life with what they see on television, however, author Tammara delivered an insight to the reality of college life. She covered all aspects such as the partying, studying, and flirting. The story then focuses on Jacqueline’s developing attraction and relationship with her savior, Lucas. The chemistry between the two is profoundly deep. Not only did Jacqueline found a friend and guardian, Lucas became a driving force behind her path of becoming her own savior. Together they face many obstacles along the way but it is their tight relationship that helps them conquer these roadblocks.

Tammara’s writing style provides a powerful sexy story that ranges from a deep romance to a dark, disconcerting realism. It has a magnetic attraction from the very first page. Easy is built with a solid emotional core and provides a powerful message through its captivating story. It will leave readers feeling entertained and thoroughly satisfied. But more importantly, the journey of Jacqueline is very empowering.

You can purchase Easy at the following Retailers: