T. Damon
Tell us a little about yourself:
Greetings! I am author T. Damon, from the north bay area of California. I am an avid hermeticist, which means I extensively study astrology, alchemy, and theurgy. I have a particular interest in magic, specifically ceremonial magic. I am also endlessly interested in the paranormal, spirit beings, and the tarot. If I could live anywhere, it would be in the middle of a dense oak and redwood forest, near a lake or river with spectacular views and a plethora of animal friends. Because of my inherent nature, it has fearlessly drawn animals to me, prompting many a comparison to Snow White. Now, if I could only teach my animal friends to do my chores for me! Until that glorious day, I will continue to spend all my free time with my beloved human family, as well as my dogs, cats, fish, and chinchilla. My many interests have inspired me to create The Forest Spirit series, which incorporates a little of everything I love. My educational background is in the zoological field. Still, I have maintained my love of writing throughout two decades of working with and among many species of animals. When I am not befriending animals or creating mystical stories, I enjoy studying Qabala, astrology, tarot, spirits, magic, and witchcraft, things my mother refers to as “hocus pocus.” However, my favorite activity is spending time with my husband, daughter, and pets at home in Northern California.
Why Do you write?
I write because I have stories to tell! I feel as if I am almost channeling my stories from somewhere else like I am a conduit for the lore that emerges from my fingertips. When I am writing, I lose all sense of time. I will feel like I’ve been writing for ten minutes, but it will really have been like four hours, and I’ve completely blacked out, yet somehow there are thirty pages written. It’s strange, for sure, but I love it and wouldn’t have it any other way.
What genre do you write, and why did you pick this genre?
Under this pen name, I write fantasy that all ages can enjoy. However, under my other pen name K.L. Teal, I have written young adult contemporary and thriller novels. I chose those genres because those are the stories that came to me! I prefer to write fantasy, though.
Tell us about your book.
I’ve written several books, but I will focus on The Forest Spirit series, a four-book series with several accompanying short stories. The series is, in order: The Falling, The Haunting, The Reckoning, and The Awakening. You can find the short stories that accompany the series in my collection, Song of the Spirits. Last year I compiled an omnibus of the four books in The Forest Spirit series, so now it’s possible to get all the books (except Song of the Spirits) in one volume. The Forest Spirit series follows two generations of spiritual unrest in an enchanted forest. The eventual uprising ensues from the increasing chaos within the confines of the troubled earth realm and spans the elemental realms beyond. The reader gets to know a rag-tag group of beings consisting of nymphs, faeries, trolls, and animals as they attempt to dispel the evil that’s seeping into their forest before they annihilated the watchful spirits of their land.
How much time do you dedicate to your author career?
Not as much time as I probably should! I try to stay in touch with readers on social media and write, though with my daughter doing school at home the past year, I haven’t been as active in my author career as I should be.
How long on average does it take you to write your books?
Before I had my daughter, it would take me three weeks to a month to write a book. Nowadays it’s more like three or four months!
What is the best money you have ever spent on your author career?
Traveling to Portland, Oregon, to work for the Portland Book Festival two years in a row and spend time with two good friends who run my publisher. I love spending time with my author/publisher friends and meeting all kinds of exciting and friendly bookworms!
What is the most challenging part of being an author?
The rejections! Hands down. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the rejections. But it comes with the territory, I’m afraid, and while I’ll never get used to it, I have developed thicker skin over the years.
What is the best piece of advice you have for other authors?
I’m constantly reminded of something an editor told me very early in my career: “Don’t put a lot of excess information in your book unless it moves the story forward.” The editor I received this advice from was a prominent ghostwriter and professor at UCLA, so I always try to take her expertise to heart whenever I’m writing something.
What is your favorite book?
I’m a big fan of classic literature! Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.
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