Friday, August 31, 2012

Tammy Doherty: Smiling Between Rough Patches And Sunny Times

Everyone's Story welcomes author Tammy Doherty as its new guest this week. I've had the pleasure of knowing Tammy for a few years, cyber wise, on our NE-ACFW loop, and in early July had an awesome time meeting her in person when we met for lunch at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, MA (yes--there's a great restaurant there!). Tammy is a great listener, intuitive, loving . . . and a fearless driver on those Massachusetts highways! I hope you enjoy getting to know Tammy as much as I have.

Tammy is graciously offering a Giveaway of her first novel CELTIC CROSS. A blurb follows below.
Book Giveaway
Tammy is offering the giveaway of one copy of CELTIC CROSS to one randomly chosen commenter. For convenience, please leave your email address within the body of the comment. The winner will be announced on Friday, September 7th, between 4-5 EST. Please check back then.

Here's a blurb of CELTIC CROSS:

Sometime you have to forget who you are to become who you should be.
Shot…bleeding…barely conscious…she’s dying!
A stranger arrives on the Donovan ranch one breath away from dead. Matt Donovan doesn’t hesitate to help, despite the risk that the man who shot her may come riding down the trail, shattering peaceful Glenpark, Colorado. When Cristeen wakes, she remembers nothing of her pat. One thought haunts her day and night – trust no one. Matt fears  Cristeen’s independence will lead to tragedy. Can he help Cristeen see the need to trust the Lord before it’s too late? Can Cristeen overcome her belief that loving only brings heartache?

Why I Write The Stories I Do by Tammy Doherty



The short stretch of highway known as The Podunk Pike is lined with tall pines and a smattering of maple and oak trees. Along one section there is a single landmark – a cross. The whitewashed wood is inscribed with one word – my name.
It’s not easy driving past the spot where I will die. 

While The Podunk Pike really exists and there is a cross with the name “Tammy” painted upon it, I do not believe it is a prediction of my future. But the poetic, Celtic part of my nature can’t help think up morbid stories to explain its presence. That vivid imagination drew me into the writing world. I’m quick to jump into the “what if” game that fuels the mind of novelists round the world. The morbid part of my personality is offset with a twisted sense of humor – I can find something to smile about in nearly any situation. I wasn’t always so gifted, or at least the gift has gone ignore at times.

Twenty-one years ago, my brother was killed in an alcohol-related car accident. Life went downhill like a rushing stream. At one point, driving home from work I saw a tractor-trailer coming from the other direction. I thought, “If I veer in front of that truck it would all be over and no one would care.” Even I was horrified by the thought. Slowly, oh so very slowly, I learned to turn to the Lord in times of trouble or sadness. Life goes up and down, but God stays the same. 

Sixteen years ago something happened that again drastically changed my life. I had a baby. Oh what a blessing she was, and still is! I’d made great strides in strengthening my faith but that little child did wonders for my soul. I saw things I hadn’t seen in decades, perhaps I’d never seen them at all in the past. She taught me to look at every little part of each day in a new way. After five years, I did something I hadn’t done since my brother’s death. I began to write.

Recently I came to the realization that I am a character-driven writer. The relationships between my characters are most important. It’s what I look for in a book, movie or TV show as well. Drawing on life experiences, I put myself into each character as I write, seeing and feeling as they see and feel. In my first novel, “Celtic Cross”, the heroine, Cristeen, trusts no one. Not even God. Sometimes she doesn’t even trust herself. I’ve been there, though not as drastically as Cristeen. I took from my life and made it into something bigger. Then figured out how to get Cristeen through that to a place where she could rely on God. In my third novel, “Celtic Knot”, I tried to explain the love of God. I drew on the love for and from my daughter, the experience of being a mother, and let the story’s heroine, Abby, experience the same.

Ironically, I got something more from “Celtic Knot” than just the satisfaction of a romantic suspense well-told. Abby’s late husband was named Liam, a name I’ve always liked. When my son was born, just a week before the release of “Celtic Knot”, we chose to name him Liam. Now he’s linked to my writing, too.

After three historical novels, I decided to leap forward into the present time. And a setting as familiar and natural to me as breathing. My first contemporary romantic suspense takes place in a small town in central Massachusetts. I took the four towns originally part of the Quaboag Plantation, mushed them together, chucked out some parts I don’t need, and created a whole new, fictional town. Some of the quirky things that happen around here are sure to find their way into this or future stories. The one question I have, though, is the town’s name. Currently it goes by the name of Naultag, which is actually the name of a small stream that runs through the western part of the area. I wonder, though, if I should call it Podunk. What do you think?


Author Bio:

Tammy Doherty lives with her family on a small farm in central Massachusetts, growing and selling perennials. She is also a customer service rep for Northeast Veterinary Supply Company. Juggling work and family leaves little time for writing but her imagination is always on overdrive. She is the author of three inspirational Western romance novels, Celtic CrossCladdaugh, and Celtic Knot. All three are available in print online from Amazon (http://tinyurl.com/9zz4lkf)  and Barnes & Noble (http://tinyurl.com/8dxxzek). Look for them in eBook format later this fall. Visit Tammy at her website http://tammydoherty.com/or on her Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/TammyDohertyAuthor.


Blogs Tammy Can Be Found On:



Please consider helping Everyone's Story by adding your name on the Guest Book Page: http://elainestock.blogspot.com/p/guest-book.html


40 comments:

  1. I love a glimpse into an author's heart and mind, especailly an author like Tammy Doherty, who writes with a purpose. Thank you for sharing your ups and downs with us. As for the town's name, I prefer Naultag!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Sara. You know what I love? When wonderful people like you visit this blog ♡

      Delete
    2. Thanks for the kind words, Sara. I love glimpsing into your life, too, when you share on our ACFW loop. I look forward to the day when all of the Northeast loop can get together in one big meeting. What a joy that will be!

      Delete
  2. Tammy your covers are gorgeous and your stories sound so compelling! And thank you for sharing your heart with us and how your journey relates to your writing. I love the name Naultag, sounds so authentic. Blessed be that imagination of yours!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Carla, also great seeing you here again as well.

      Tammy, I'm leaning toward Naultag as well. It sounds very old, as in original New England.

      Delete
    2. Hi, Carla! Thank you for visiting with me. I've been blessed with AMAZING writing friends, who often feed my imagination even when they don't know they're doing so!

      Delete
  3. I have to agree with the other ladies: Naultag - I'm assuming an Indian name? I, too, appreciate you sharing your heart with us. This is the kind of writing I love to read.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm sending a fond hello to you Pat! Hope you missed the heavy rains and that all is well.

      Delete
    2. Thank you, Pat :D Yes, Naultag is Indian in origin. It is the name of a brook in a nearby town. The Nipmuc Indians (the peoples living in Worcester County when the English settlers arrived) spell it "Naltaug" and it means 'narrow place.' The brook is narrow! In my part of MA, we have Indian names for places but few towns have Indian names. Interestingly, "Podunk" is also Nipmuc in origin. It's meaning is obscured: some say it means a tract of meadow beside a (Quaboag)pond, others say it means 'place of burning.' Not sure about that last one! I lean toward the first meaning as being more accurate - although, Quaboag Pond itself may have meant "bloody pond" so perhaps there is something to that place of burning! For more Nipmuc place names and their meanings, check out http://www.nativetech.org/Nipmuc/placenames/mainmass.html#Mass

      Delete
    3. Great info for historical research, Tammy. Thanks for sharing!

      Delete
  4. TAMMY!! I agree with Carla -- your covers are GORGEOUS!! And I was very touched by your interview, my friend -- it's SO good to learn more about you!

    And definitely Naultag, over Podunk!! "Podunk" has been so tied to a the idea of a small, backwoods town, that it doesn't have a great connotation to it, you know?

    Hugs,
    Julie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for visiting, Julie! I'm so thrilled one of my favorite authors dropped by and left me a comment!!

      I'm seeing the good reasons to keep Naultag now. In the first Naultag novel (I have at least 4 in mind), one of the characters hates living in a small town and the other loves it. That's part of what made me think of changing to Podunk. That and it is an actual part of town. Hence the reason Route 49 is called "The Podunk Pike."

      Hugs back to you, Julie,
      Blessings,
      Tammy

      Delete
    2. Julie, I'm honored by your visit. Hope you'll drop by again.

      Delete
  5. So sadly sweet to compare your writing journey with my own, Tammy. I've known you nearly a year (longer online), and never knew the strands of similarity that wove the rawness of our grief into words of creativity and healing. Thanks for sharing, my friend.

    And I am so excited about your upcoming, contemporary! You have long loved the story of the Quaboag Plantation! This is your story—even though you encouraged me to write about its history. :) So...will love bloom at the Brookfield Tavern? ;-)

    ((HUGS))

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hmm, hadn't even thought of including the Brookfield Tavern. But now that you mention it, and after our visit last fall, I think it's a "must!" And I HAVE to include the story of how it's the one place George Washington did not sleep!!

      We're like sisters, Elaine. So much similarity. Maybe we were given up for adoption and raised by different families. LOL! Too bad I look too much like my family to pass that off as credible!

      Blessings and hugs,
      Tammy

      Delete
    2. Elaine, I'm blessed by your visit.

      Delete
  6. Tammy, I think those God blesses with the gift of gab on the page, he's giving a form of therapy...for us and for our readers. In a way we are the poor man's therapist. And the character driven novel is the epitome of this. I don't think a character grabs the reader because of his/her strengths (well maybe some). But mostly it's the character's weaknesses that grab the reader. Basically we create this likeable guy or gal, a noble soul...then we pile on all the flaws, life hurts, and weaknesses. Now that's somebody a reader can love and cheer for. That character is similar to them or their brother or dear friend, or cousin.

    I think what's so universal about your story about thinking what if I drive in front of this truck is that we've all been there. Unless we've lived in a bubble, or have had a very sheltered life. Life had thrown us all enough curves that we've all wondered things similar to that at times...but our stores continue just like our characters' storeis do.

    I like Naultag too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nike, welcome back again. I think writers write for many reasons... a story burning to be told... a venue to express feelings that may otherwise be ignored by others... even the reason to control our little universes that we've created. I'm sure you've heard of the Nora Roberts' story: she is known to say that she started to write because it was way cheaper than to pay a psychotherapist!

      Delete
    2. Writing IS excellent therapy, and if it helps the reader, too, then that's a bonus! I always threaten anyone who's bugging me that they'll be "the dead guy" in my next story. Just ask my neighbor...he does SAR and I keep telling him I want to pick his brain to research a story about a Search & Rescue guy who dies. LOL! I won't actually write him as a dead guy, of course, but we both have fun teasing about it :D

      Life isn't just a roller coaster, it's one of those loop-de-loop rides. Sometimes you're completely upside down, and maybe going backwards. But God works it all out if we just trust Him. Remembering to trust him when you are upside down is hard (especially for someone like me, who has to focus on just breathing while riding a roller coaster!).

      Thanks for visiting, Nike - I'm always happy to hear your thoughts :-)

      Hugs!

      Delete
  7. Romance-Suspense? I'm usually more of an action guy, but your description of the story interests me. My book budget is getting really low...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Welcome to Everyone's Story, Alex. I hear you on diminishing book budgets, but you know what? If I ever have a few extra dollars in my pocket and am faced with the choice between a favorite snack or shoes or books, a novel will always find itself being adopted by me :)

      Delete
    2. Hi, Alex. I'm glad you are interested in my books. I have many male readers (and they aren't even related to me!). Even though I get no royalty from this, I'll let you in on a secret...you can get my novels "used" on Amazon for very little $$. Just do me a favor, if you like it after reading, post a review or at least tell your friends. That kind of word-of-mouth publicity is way better than royalties any day :D

      Delete
  8. I loved getting to know more about you, Tammy. I've had your books on my TBR pile for sometime, but haven't managed to purchase an e-version yet. Winning one would be awesome! All the best. It is wonderful how you've turned tragedy into something positive.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nice to see you again, Tracy. I agree--Tammy's piece is definitely encouraging!

      Delete
    2. Hi, Tracy! I haven't gotten these into eBook yet. But a wonderful CP of mine (wink, wink, Nike!) has given me a voluntary deadline, so they should be available in electronic form for Christmas. I look forward to hearing how you like them! On the flip-side, I'm more of a print book person. Your novels are also on *MY* TBR list!

      Delete
  9. Sweet that your son has the name of one of your characters. I think I could relate with your MC for I spent years not trusting God, not believing He cared for me or wanted to be in my life. Thank you for touching such deep issues with your novel. Looking forward to reading it. HM at HVC dot RR dot COM

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm so happy to see you again, Heather. Life is so filled with daily stresses and discouragement, and that's why we need to share our personal stories and be uplifted by the beauty of how God ultimately watches out for each and everyone of us, and loves us so very much. We're blessed that you're able to share with us too ♡

      Delete
    2. Heather, I've always been a believer but the events with my brother strengthened my faith. Before any of that stuff happened, I had some tragedies during my teen years that lead me to doubt God. Until one night, laying in bed in a fit of typical teen angst, I wished I were dead. And then my heart stopped. Probably in reality it skipped a beat. But it felt like it really and truly stopped. Scared me so much I immediately prayed to the Lord, asking to NOT die! That was one of those things that convinced me that God is real. Like I said, probably my heart didn't really stop, but the scare was enough to jump-start my will to live.

      Besides discovering that I'm a character driven writer, I have also noticed that I have similar themes running in my writing. "Celtic Cross" deals with trust, "Claddaugh" with forgiveness, and "Celtic Knot" with love. I correlate those with "faith, hope, love" because faith = trust in God, hope = the hope we have because the Lord forgives, and love = well, obviously, He loved us enough to give up His only son! As I wrote the first drafts of "She's Mine" (working title of my contemp. romantic suspense), I realized trust is a big issue for both my main characters. And the next one, which I'm brainstorming and researching, will deal heavily with forgiveness.

      Thank you for dropping by, Heather. Blessings to you!

      Delete
    3. Well said, Tammy. What powerful words you just shared with us.

      I'm awestruck by that teenage experience you had. Actually, I want to rephrase that and say: your God-experience. Perhaps your angst-filled heart truly did stop and God revived not only you physically but spiritually & emotionally. What a beautiful testament. I appreciate you sharing that with us.

      Delete
  10. Tammy, I totally agree with you when you say, "Life goes up and down, but God stays the same." It's one of the only things that keeps me anchored to the ground. That and gravity. I don't understand how either work. I am just grateful for them. Thanks for sharing about your writing life, your brother, and your daughter.

    Tessa Afshar

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "If it wasn't for gravity and law enforcement, I'd be unstoppable" - LOL!! Tessa, you've been a major positive influence on my life, both personal and writing. I thank the Lord for finding the ACFW Northeast loop, where I met Elaine and then, later, you. And so many other wonderful people. If anyone reading these comments wants the absolutely GREATEST piece of writing advice (for Christian authors), it is JOIN ACFW!! Here's the link: http://www.acfw.com/

      Delete
  11. Wow Tammy, you had me going for a minute there with that sign! LOL

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A warm welcome to Everyone's Story, Debbie Lynne. Hope to see you again :)

      Delete
    2. Do you mean the town sign? That was fun to make - and very easy, too. The trick was matching the font for the town name. I've based Naultag on the 4 Brookfield towns, so it will seem very real (especially to people familiar with the area!). Thanks for dropping in for a visit :D

      Delete
  12. I love the way you've shared your unique imagination and quirky sense of humor. It shows that you are a survivor, and a wise soul. It's beautiful how we experience life through the eyes of our children, isn't it? Reminds me of that old Beatles song, "Til There was You"
    I think you should keep the town's name Naultag. It has such a wonderful regional flare.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nice to see you again, Kathleen ♡

      Delete
    2. Thanks for stopping by, Kathy. I never thought of that Beatles song in relation to my kids. Now it's all I'll think of when I hear it! They really do change our perspectives! I may be a survivor but I'm not sure about "wise soul"...maybe "wise-a** soul"! If there were no humor in life there'd be no point in getting up each day.

      Thank you for your support of Naultag. Everyone here has won me over to the idea of keeping that name.

      Blessings,
      Tammy

      Delete
    3. Tammy--yea for Naultag! It sounds so New England old... just love it!

      Delete
  13. Tammy, it's been an awesome and fun week here on Everyone's Story, hasn't it? I'm so glad you've been my guest. You know exactly what you want to achieve in your writing and you're doing so well. I wish you all the best for many new novels... perhaps several set in Naultag! And thanks for the wonderful gift of a book giveaway of CELTIC CROSS.

    And the lucky winner of Tammy's novel CELTIC CROSS is...
    Debbie Lynne
    Congratulations, Debbie. Tammy and I will contact you in a private email.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thanks for having me here, Elaine. I've had fun chatting with everyone who stopped by and left comments. All these kind words keep me encouraged to continue writing :D I envision several novels set in Naultag!

    Blessings to all,
    Tammy

    ReplyDelete

Add This