To get us started can you tell us a little about what you are working on or have coming out?
I am so excited to have the 4th book in my Hollywood series with Loose Id out as of August 20! Titled Outtakes, this book really spoke to me as I wrote it, plus there’s cupcakes in the plot. I think I might’ve gained a few pounds writing this one!
Here’s the blurb to get you up to speed:
After actor Kit Harris tells the world he’s gay, life isn’t all cupcakes and rainbow flags. It’s decidedly less tasty and a lot less colorful. Coming out might not have been the best thing for a Hollywood career or a high-profile love life.
Try as he might, rising star Jeremy Ash can’t seem to cut through the barbed wire surrounding Kit’s bruised ego or his fragile heart. Complicating matters, a celebrity chef enters with a plan to cook up a new angle on Kit’s career. Jeremy’s worried Kit’s going off half baked, or worse, turning up the heat on a brand new relationship.
Either way, Jeremy knows the situation is a recipe for disaster if Kit can’t come up with the ingredients to love.
If someone hasn't read any of your work, what book would you recommend that they start with and why?
Hm. This is an interesting question. The answer really depends on your genre tastes. I write both traditional (albeit steamy!) romance and GLBT romance (also known as m/m). The Hollywood series focuses on issues surrounding new love, sexual discovery, and coming out in a high profile arena.
Equally glamorous, but no less intense, Covert Attractions, is my traditional romance series with Ellora’s Cave. These stories are set in the show biz world as well, but involve a musician and his team of bodyguards who also act as a Charlie’s Angel’s-type band of brothers. If you like action, adventure, and plenty of sexy muscle, this is your series!
You can find a complete listing of my backlist titles on http://www.amazon.com/Tibby-Armstrong/e/B0044NAD4W.
Do you have a book that was easiest to write or one that was the hardest?
No Apologies and Acting Out, the first two books in the Hollywood series were the easiest to write. These characters and their situations spoke to me. I loved these men and empathized with their struggles right off the bat. Of the two,Acting Out was the easiest, but No Apologies is my favorite. While Acting Out has its comedic moments, there is plenty of sexual and emotional heat in these books. Perhaps that’s why they seemed to flow so easily onto the page.
The hardest to write was Undercover Lover, with Hard Target, both from the Covert Attractions series, being a close second. These books are full of mystery and intrigue. The romance plot dovetails with some heavy duty undercover operations, and I hadn’t realized when I began exactly how difficult it can be to juggle those two things. Each of these books took me over a year to write. I wanted to get them absolutely perfect, and I think the tension and romance leaps off the page as a result!
If you could collaborate with one author who would it be?
Oh goodness. I’d have to say either Nalini Singh (for some traditional paranormal and urban fantasy series I have planned), or L.A. Witt on a GLBT paranormal romance I have planned. Working with either of these talented authors would be dreams come true. If you haven’t checked out their work you are in for a treat!
When you begin your stories, do you go with the flow, or go with an outline?
I usually write the first three chapters with a general idea of where the story needs to go. Once I’m more familiar with the main characters and any secondary characters (who have usually shown themselves by this time), I outline. As I write the outline usually changes a little, but it doesn’t deviate all that much from my original plans. A scene might be added here or deleted there, but by-in-large I know where the story needs to go.
What do you feel is the most important thing that a first-time author should know?
When I first began writing, I didn’t know how to finish a story. I would get only so far and have to stop because I couldn’t see the plot or where the characters needed to go. I credit two things with getting me past this hump. The first was NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). Once you push through writing a whole novel, you get a sense of what it really feels like to put over 50,000 words down on paper. Then the process becomes less intimidating.
You can’t just stop there, however. Knowing story structure is vital to being able to put those words down in the right order to form a compelling plot. Reading The Writer’s Journey by Christopher Vogler and Story by Robert McKee were instrumental in my learning how to approach a story idea.
Lastly? Write and get feedback. Honest feedback. Enjoy the process, put in your time at the keyboard, and the skill will come. Inspiration is easy. Getting that story on paper takes time and commitment. Sheer dint of will. If you want it badly enough, you’ll make the time and you’ll do it. Put in the work, be committed to keep learning, and your skill will improve.
What is coming up from you in 2013? Anything you want to tease us with?
I’ve signed on to publish my newest traditional romance, Public Relations, with Loose Id around Christmas. It is the story of an gossip columnist and the billionaire she tangles with. In order to get her name after she exposes his scandalous love affair, he purchases the paper she works for in an attempt to learn her identity. It’s a steamy story of revenge and romance—probably the most scintillating book I’ve written and one I’m very much looking forward to sharing!
I’m planning on getting to work on several paranormal romances over the rest of the year, along with one last book for the Hollywood series, titled Numbers Game.
Thank you for having me on your blog today. It was a real treat to chat with you and I look forward to getting to know your readers!
About the Author:
Tibby Armstrong loves meeting kindred bibliophiles like you wherever she travels!
Writing stories with strong relationship threads, Tibby enjoys her romance with a healthy helping of steam.
Favorite novels include Maria V. Snyder's "Poison Study", C.E. Murphy's "The Queen's Bastard", Nalini Singh's "Angel's Kiss", Charlaine Harris' "Southern Vampire" series, Connie Willis' "Bellwether", Elizabeth Moon's "Vatta's War" series, Kathleen Woodiwiss' "Shanna", and Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice".
You might wonder at such a long list, until you consider that Tibby is also a librarian. Please visit her profile on Goodreadsand share what you love. She's always looking for a new book to devour!
Find out more about Tibby’s work at http://www.tibbyarmstrong.com or on Twitter and Facebook as Tibby Armstrong. Or email her at tibby@tibbyarmstrong.com with your thoughts and questions. Hearing from readers is one of the best parts of her day.
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