Let’s start simple. Who is Tabatha Young in your own words?
Tabatha Young is a loving wife, a furr momma of 2 (Puppy almost 2 years old and Senior cat). An outgoing extrovert, WRITER/AUTHOR, a storyteller of multiple genres, A READER of many genres. Nature lover and lover of life. A Creative mind being relinquished through multiple outlets. I enjoy anything that allows my creative side to flourish.
2. You live in the country with your husband and furr babies. How does your environment inspire your writing?
My living environment is very peaceful and relaxing. I get to enjoy the daily sounds of the nearby goats and bulls from the farm behind us, as well as the random sounds of nature. It is like a relaxing play list on repeat every day all day. When it comes to my writing I prefer no loud sounds, no music playing, complete silence to be alone with my thoughts and my characters. Living in the country allows me to completely be able to do that. The organic sounds of nature around me allow me to remain relaxed when I am writing and really be able to “listen” to my characters 100%.
3. You love taking readers on journeys to other places and worlds. How do you decide where your stories will take place?
Honestly, one of two ways, It will either be a continuous dream that I have that just goes on and on until I get it all down on paper OR it will be a place or a type of world that I just cannot get out of my head.
4. Your novels blend fantasy, romance, and thriller. What draws you to mixing these genres?
The thrill of all three genres really captivates my mind. For me it comes really easy being able to blend the three. A thriller can start out having romantic vibes in the beginning and then becoming deadly and or bloody throughout. Just like a story that starts out reading like a fairytale can lead to boy meets girl, they fall in love and one ends up with a hidden love for murder. It all just depends on the story. I don’t always blend the three genres though. There are some books that I have written over the years that actually have each individual genre standing alone.
5. Your book A Winter's Kiss is already released. What inspired the story and its wintery Setting?
I had always thought about writing a winter romance, but had been told by others that as an author I MUST stick to one genre or I won't be taken seriously in the writing world. I have made a few Author friends this past year who have written in other genres than what they are known for and they encouraged me to go for it and to write the stories I want.
When I first started writing A Winter’s Kiss, I knew I wanted a typical white Christmas read and a small town romance, I wanted it to be a quick and easy read. I already had the main character returning to her hometown and feeling like she couldn't leave, but I hadn’t quite figured out what it was that brought her home. Then I lost my Nana (grandma) and I was able to write a part of her into my story as the character Nan as a way of helping me cope with the loss. By the time I finished writing the book, I felt at peace with the loss and like she was there with me encouraging me to keep writing.
6. Which character in A Winter's Kiss surprised you the most while writing?
Jason. I had written him a few different ways. Hometown Hottie that everyone adores, typical heart broken jerk, and just a simple apprehensive man. Each version of him worked with the story pretty well. My husband was the one who suggested that I combine the three versions to make the man that the character became.
Throughout we get to see Jason apprehensive of Kristy being back in town and having to work closely with her. We see him being a jerk towards her anytime he and Kristy “have a moment”, and we get to see the heart broken Jason who fell in love with his best friend who then skips town the second they graduate high school. Jason has many layers and it wasn’t my original plan for him.
7. How did you approach building tension and mystery in A Winter's Kiss?
Kristy doesn’t expect to see Jason while she is in town. Then they are forced to work together side by side in very close proximity. They both have things they want to say to the other but they don’t know where the other's mind is with each other. We don’t know what Jason is going to do or how he is going to act/react next. Kristy has decisions she must make that will affect the entire town. Jason doesn’t know what Kristy is planning or what she will do. Things are said that can’t be unsaid.
8. Romance is a key element in your work. What do you enjoy most about writing romantic arcs?
I am pretty old school when it comes to romance. I like writing the type of simple romance that most women dream about. I prefer to write the old school kind of love stories that you don’t really see much of now-a-days. Don’t get me wrong I enjoy reading a spicy romance as much as the next woman but I prefer very minimal spice, if any in my own writing. I want to bring back that old school type of love.
The subtle hand touch, the gentle kiss, the longing gazes at the other when you don’t think they are looking. The intimate conversations said between the two that isn’t shared. The shy feeling after a first kiss.
9. How do your characters’ choices drive the story forward?
If Kristy hadn’t returned to her hometown due to her Nan’s death, she never would have run into Jason. If her Nan hadn’t set certain things in motion long before her death Jason never would have been there in the first place. The list of cause and effect goes on and on. Each chapter holds a different cause and effect that makes the story what it is. You go through the roller coaster of what Jason and Kristy are doing and feeling throughout the entirety of the book. Without Kristy returning home, there wouldn’t be a story to tell.
10. Is there a scene or moment in A Winter's Kiss that was particularly fun or challenging to write?
The subtle/semi spiciness that I attempted to incorporate. I don’t write spice, I attempted to incorporate just a subtle hint of it in this book, that was challenging for me. The fun parts for me were writing in the little hints of flirtation. The little moments.
⚡ Rapid Fire (Quick Vibes) 11. Fantasy or thriller if you had to pick one? Fantasy 12. Writing in the morning or at night? Morning (but I do both) 13. Music, silence, or ambient sounds while writing? Silence 14. Pantser or plotter? Pantser (although I do sometimes outline) 15. One word you hope readers use to describe your books. Captivating
❄️ The Author Journey 16. What moment made you realize, “I am really doing this author thing”?
I have been writing and story telling my whole life. I am the person who when in school when I had writing assignments I would write way more than I was supposed to because I had more story to tell beyond the given assignment. A few years after I had graduated high school, a former English teacher of mine had contacted me to let me know that she had submitted one of my previous stories from her class in a contest and it had won. She told me either I could come forward and claim it as mine and reap the winnings for myself or she would. I feel like that was her way of pushing me to keep writing and allowing me to see that people were interested in my stories. I started writing my first Novella not long after that, and I kept going with my writing ever since.
17. What has been the most surprising part of releasing your first book?
My first book was published back in 2021 and what surprised me the most about it was that it was kind of a bit of a trauma dump type book for me, I never expected anything to come of it, because I am not a household name, but it did pretty well. A Winter’s Kiss is my 6th published book and thanks to social media, people were interested in reading it and had questions long before publication.
18. What advice would you give to writers balancing personal life with creative goals?
You want to have an equal balance of the two. You don’t ever want to let one suffer due to the other. But you want to make sure to keep the two separate. I always have time for my husband and our family, our pets no matter what it is I am doing or what I have going on. Make sure your significant other and or your family knows how important your creative goals are to you and they will understand and support you. Keep in mind that you will have a whole entire community on social media backing you in your endeavors.
19. Which character in A Winter's Kiss do you think readers will connect with the most and why?
Either Jason or Grandma M. Jason, because most people understand the apprehensiveness of letting someone back in and letting down your guard with them. Grandma M, I can’t quite say without actually giving too much away. You’ll have to read to find out.
20. How do you balance building fantastical worlds with keeping the story relatable?
With A Winter’s Kiss, it was easy. Everything in the book the reader has either gone through or may/will go through sometime in their life. In general, I don’t always focus on keeping the story relatable, sometimes I just simply want to tell a story.
❄️ Just for Fun 21. If A Winter's Kiss had a soundtrack, what would be the top song?
Non-lyrical. It would be the soft key strokes of a piano and soft violins.
22. Which of your characters would you want to spend a day with in the real world?
Either Jason or Grandma M.
23. If A Winter's Kiss were adapted, would you prefer a movie or a series?
I would ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT if A Winter’s Kiss became a Hallmark Movie!
24. What is something readers might be surprised to learn about you?
My husband is my biggest cheerleader, I love photography and own a camera and my second Language is ASL.
25. When readers finish A Winter's Kiss, what feeling or takeaway do you hope they carry with them?
I hope they carry with them a feeling of cozy, heartwarming hope inromance.
