In the Present Tense by Carrie Pack

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Thank you so much for stopping by today’s author spotlight with Carrie Pack. Today we will learn a little bit about Carrie as an author and get a sneak peak into her newest book In the Present Tense. Please leave any questions you might have for the author in the comments section. You can also reach out to Carrie at the links following the interview. I have included affiliate links in the post if you are inspired to buy the book and support the author and my blogging endeavors.

In the Present Tense by Carrie Pack

Purchase links: Amazon

First off, I want to thank Carry for taking the time to answer these questions for me. Please feel free to leave any questions you may have in the comment section below!

ABOUT THE BOOKS:

What is the title of your newest or upcoming book?

In the Present Tense

What publisher is this book being published by?

Interlude Press

What is the publication date?

5/19/2016

THE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:

Tell us a little bit about yourself!

Carrie is the author of Designs On You and a part-time college professor who recently left her job in marketing to actively pursue her writing career. Carrie lives in Florida, which she fondly calls America’s Wang, with her husband and four cats. Her second novel, In the Present Tense, will be released in 2016.

Can you give the readers a brief summary of your latest book?

Miles Lawson goes to sleep dreaming of a future with his boyfriend Adam, but wakes to find he is married to Ana, an acquaintance from high school. When he learns he has been time traveling, Miles is consumed with finding a cure for his rare condition—and finding his first love.

Traveling more frequently, Miles assembles the puzzle pieces of his life and, in doing so, alienates his wife. As he loses control, Miles must realize that sometimes fixing your past mistakes means changing your future. But will he be able to convince Adam he is telling the truth before it’s too late?

What genre does it fall in?

Science Fiction Romance

Will you share a few words about your latest book, other than the usual blurb?

This is a primarily a book about time travel, but it’s also about the effect of mental illness can have on the people who love someone who is mentally ill. As someone who has depression and anxiety, I often wonder what my emotional state looks like from the outside. In the Present Tense looks at mental illness from multiple points of view, and, in the case of my story, often the characters with diagnosed mental illness are the most rational people in the room. It’s an adventure, a mystery and an emotional journey.

Give us a little insight into your main characters! Who are they?

Miles Lawson is a simple guy with a complicated life. He’s struggled with bouts of uncontrolled time travel most of his life, but when we meet him in “In the Present Tense,” he’s at a tipping point. His life slowly unravels as his time travel episodes get worse, and his wife, Ana, is caught in the middle. She loves her husband deeply and wants him to get well. But she’s willing to do anything to see him get control of his mental health and time travel abilities. By the time Miles reconnects with his high school boyfriend, Adam Lange, we find out that nothing is quite what it seems. Adam, who is recently engaged, is a good-hearted guy with a lot of regret. He’s had mental health struggles of his own and so he understands both Miles and Ana’s struggles.

Will we be seeing these characters again any time soon? Is this book part of a series?

I have a sequel in mind, so hopefully!

Tell us a little bit about your writing style. When and where is your favorite time/place to write?

I can write pretty much anywhere as long as it’s quiet. My favorite, though, is curled up on the couch with my laptop and a cup of coffee.

What sort of book do you enjoy reading in your free time? What was the last book you read? Did you enjoy it?

I just read “Girls to the Front.” It’s a history of the Riot Grrrl movement, and I really enjoyed it. I hope to use it as research for a future novel. 😉

Did you always know you wanted to be a writer? Have you held any interesting jobs while you worked on your books?

I can remember writing stories when I was a child, but I don’t remember thinking I could be a “Writer.” I settled for the next best thing and I got a degree in journalism. But I realized pretty quickly that kind of writing wasn’t for me. It took a few years to get back into any kind of creative writing after the dry, almost forensic style of writing that journalism requires. I think I learned a lot about dialogue from journalism, though. Journalistic ethics require you to listen carefully to people so you can quote them correctly. I know what makes a good quote, so dialogue comes easier. Nowadays, I teach advertising writing at a local college, and that certainly takes creativity. I am heartened by how smart and creative my students are. It inspires me to be as creative as possible in everything that I do.

What does your writing process look like?

I wish I could say I had a writing “process.” I admire plotters so much because I think having the story outlined before I start would make it easier to fine-tune my words. But I’m a hopeless pantser. I sit down and let the words come out. Lately I’ve been working on not editing as I go, though. With a time-travel story, that was difficult because I had a complicated timeline to deal with. It was stressful editing my first draft. But it also made it easier to get the draft written.

Why did you choose to write GLBTQ romance? Why not another genre?

The simplest answer is a quote from my good friend Killian Brewer: “Because everyone deserves a happily ever after.” But the more complex answer is that I think calling GLBTQ a “genre” is a misnomer. Genres focus on the subject matter of a work, and it’s certainly helpful to classify by genre so that people can find books about things they want to read. But GLBTQ people exist in real life, and so including them in fiction for me is a no-brainer. The same goes for diversity in race and gender. I like to read about diverse characters in every genre: sci-fi, historical, romance, etc. And as a writer, I strive to make my characters interesting, fully realized and believable, not just tokens or stereotypes.

One last questions…totally unrelated to books! I am a passionate foodie. Is there one thing in your pantry that you would be horrified for people to know that you eat?

I think the lack of food is the most horrifiying thing in my pantry. We’re trying to get better about cooking at home, but eating out is so much easier.

Thankyou so much for answering my questions. I think my readers will enjoy learning more about you! Good luck in your future writing!