Meet Tiffany Christina Lewis, Author

Tiffany Christina Lewis was honored to have her work published for the first time in May 2011. Since then her work has been featured in many books and online publications. From fiction to non-fiction, murder to relationships, Tiffany's range as a writer is wide and deep. Crazy about killing, Tiffany's favorite genre to write is crime fiction. Find her novella, Inside Out, for sale on Amazon, and learn more about Tiffany by visiting her blog.

1. As someone who has written since a young age but couldn't always find time to write because of your work and family life, what inspired you to renew your commitment to writing over the last few years?

A cousin introduced me to a woman who would soon become my mentor and publisher. This was around 2010 or so. I met another amazing woman through her during that time, and I started a blog where I met another amazing woman. To be specific, that was Katrina, Nike, and Elaine. God brought us together, that's all I can say! They blew on a weak flame and helped grow a huge blaze in my confidence and writing ability and renewed my love for writing.

I always say that "you know something is your true calling when you can't run away from it." I never really left writing. I just realized that I should be giving it my full attention and making it my career. At that point, nothing could stop me. My time with those three ladies just affirmed that for me.

2. Congrats on the publication of your novella, Inside Out. What gave you the idea for the book, and how long did it take you to write it?

Honestly, it just came to me. I am an avid fan of crime fiction and crime non-fiction, and the character of Michael Taylor just literally came to me. His whole story and everything that he was developed from a night of watching detective shows before bed. My best work comes as epiphany, and this was no exception. I always tell people, Michael just fell in my lap. And with all that, I finished putting this book on digital paper in 3 months. The editing is another story!

3. What do you like--and what do you find challenging--about writing crime fiction?

I like the violence and the mind games. I wanted to be a psychologist at one time, and I should have continued with my studies in that area, but I found a passion in education. In crime fiction, I can research mental disorders and crime-related logic.

As far as challenging, the issue I have is part of what I like. Research! Google and the library can only tell me so much, and I have to also understand what I read in order to give it to the reader accurately. I'm interested in employing an officer (or detective), and a psychologist to help me with my research in the future.

4. You write in a lot of different genres--do you find that you go back and forth between genres all the time, or do you tend to spend months writing in one genre and then switch gears, or...?

Lately I have not bounced around genres because I have been so focused on Michael Taylor, and the other project I am working on is also crime fiction. I have been writing crime pretty regularly since 2010. I'm just not as close to other genres as I am to crime so I will keep it my focus.

5. What are some projects you're working on now, and what will readers be seeing from you over the next year or so?

I am working on Michael Taylor 2, working title, and another novella based on a short story I had published in a compilation in 2012. All crime of course, but the project based on the compilation is not related to Michael Taylor. I hear every bestselling author has another book coming soon, so I'm living by that.

Over the next year or so I intend to continue publishing Michael Taylor. I also intend to start work on a female detective. I worked on her already, but she needs some work. The novella I'm working on now, unrelated to the Michael Taylor series, may have a sequel, but that depends on how well it does.

Thanks, Tiffany!