Theresa Halvorsen is the author of multiple spec-fiction works, including Tiny Gateways, Warehouse Dreams, Lost Aboard, and River City Widows. We had the pleasure of having this Author interview – Theresa Halvorsen for our blog. Check out this fantastic author and follow them for more amazing stories.
Theresa Halvorsen has never met a profanity she hasn’t enjoyed. She’s generally overly caffeinated and, at times, wine-soaked. The author of multiple spec-fiction works, including Tiny Gateways, Warehouse Dreams, Lost Aboard, and River City Widows, Theresa wonders what sleep is.
Because she didn’t have enough to do, she also started No Bad Books Press as the co-owner and chief editor. When she’s not writing, editing, publishing, or podcasting with the Semi-Sages of the Pages, she’s commuting through San Diego traffic to her healthcare position.
In whatever free time is left (ha!), Theresa enjoys board games, geeky conventions, and reading. Her life goal is to give “Oh-My-Gosh-This-Book-Is-So-Good!” happiness to her readers. She lives in Temecula with her amazing husband, occasionally her college-age twins, and the pets they’d promised to care for. Find her at www.theresaHauthor.com and on Tiktok and Facebook.
When did you start writing?
When I could hold a pen, my first story was about a princess whose plane crashed, and the animals in the woods (who could talk) helped get her back to her family’s mansion.
What was it like growing up?
That’s a very broad question. It was fine; we were a middle-class family in Sacramento in the 80s. Probably the most notable was having a brother born with many birth defects. Much of my childhood was spent in doctor’s office lobbies while my parents attended appointments. I read a lot of books during those times and can probably credit part of my love for reading to those lobbies.
How was your early life?
I’m a natural introvert, so I spent a lot of time reading and daydreaming in my bedroom.
What has been the biggest influence in your career?
I’m going to go in a different direction than some with this one. The biggest influence is that I have problems saying no. So I began wanting to write books, then I pivoted into editing, publishing, marketing, and YouTubing/podcasting
Tell us about your newest release.
My newest release is Tiny Gateways. It’s a collection of portal short stories because I’ve always wanted to fall through a portal, and I’m frustrated one hasn’t opened for me yet. So that collection explores women who either voluntarily or not, fell into portals. Some of these women become trapped, and some of these women are excited for their new lives.
Which book of yours would you call your favorite child?
I still love my debut, Warehouse Dreams. Like most debuts, it took years to write and I love the social commentary in it. Warehouse Dreams explores the concept of if you could spend enough money to choose the perfect child–would you? And then what happens to those “less-than-perfect” children?
What inspired you to write this book?
I always wanted to fall through a portal and explore a new world, perhaps very different from this one.
What are you usually found doing when you’re not writing?
Working. I have a day job that helps to pay the bills. I also spend time with my family, and pets and at geeky conventions or concerts. And reading, of course.
What does your writing space look like?
I actually move around a fair amount. My eyesight is going, so if I’m editing, I need to plug into a big monitor so I can see, and that’s at my desk, surrounded by sticky notes and notebooks. If I’m working on a new outline, I’ll sit in a big comfy chair in my office where I can curl up, or I’ll sit outside in the backyard.
If you wrote your autobiography, what would you name it?
Saying Yes to Everything
How long did it take to write your novel, and what was your process?
It takes about nine months to a year to write a novel for me. I start with an outline and go from there. My happy space is in editing, so I usually try to get through the first draft as fast as possible and then edit from there.
Favorite reads?
Ilona Andrews, Neil Gaiman and Seanan McGuire are my favorite authors and I’ll read anything by them.
Do you have any book recommendations?
I’m super into Ilona Andrews Innkeeper series lately. For writing, I like the Story Genius by Lisa Cron
What’s your next big project?
My publishing house is about to publish Singing all the Way Up. For me personally, I’m going to take a few Vellas and publish them. I’d also like to finish the way overdue sequel to Warehouse Dreams.
Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?
It takes time to see your dreams come to life. There’s going to be a lot of frustrations and a lot of wins. Enjoy the good times and push through the disappointments and frustrations. Work on your craft always. Read a lot, even stuff you don’t like. Join a book club so you can talk about books with others to study what works and doesn’t work. Make friends with other authors, at about the same point in your career and make sure they’re your cheerleaders. And don’t forget why you do this. If it stops being fun or fulfilling a need for you, take a break.
Follow Theresa:
https://linktr.ee/TheresaHalvorsenAuthor
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