Interview with T.L. Phillips
Tell us a bit about yourself.
There’s not really much to tell. I’m a relatively simple person with a rather boring life. When I tell people I’m a writer, it’s not just what I do – it’s who I am. Whether I’m reading a book, working on one of my craft projects, or even watching television, I’m thinking about writing. When I do renovations in my home, I do so with one thought in mind – Can I use this room as a setting for a story?
Tell us about your most recent book.
My latest book, A Legend Is Born, is the first book in my new fantasy series Champions of the Night. At its core, it’s a story about a girl who goes from mortal to immortal royalty overnight and her relationships with the two men that saved her life.
What do you think are the heroic qualities your villain/antihero/supernatural creature possesses?
Overall, the Guardians are by far the most heroic supernatural creatures in this story. Their sole purpose in life is to protect mankind from nefarious, non-mortal beings, and they do so without regard to their own personal safety and desires.
Is there any respect between this character and the hero/heroine of your story?
Very much so. Josh has nothing but respect for Lissa from the first moment he meets her. Over time, he manages to gain her trust and respect in return – but all may be lost when one too many secrets are revealed
What was the most difficult part of writing about this character?
I think the most difficult part of writing about this character was trying to find a good balance in the dialogue. Since he’s lived for a hundred and twenty years, he’s seen the world change a lot, and though he tries to seem like he’s not that old, there are some things you just can’t change. For example, he grew up in a time when women were virtually helpless and required a man to protect them. While this is no longer the case, at least it’s not for Lissa, Josh still acts like she needs protecting – even if she doesn’t realize he’s doing it.
If you could give this character one piece of advice, what would it be?
Trust your new queen will be able to handle herself, but never stop protecting her.
To you, how important is a good antagonist?
A good antagonist is essential to any story. Without one, the hero/heroine has nothing standing in his/her way so their skills and abilities are never fully tested or showcased.
What is one of your favorite paranormal creatures and why?
Well, I think the answer to this one is fairly obvious – shapeshifters. As for why, they are such versatile characters to work with and read about. Especially if there is a compelling lore behind them.
About the Book
Title: A Legend is Born
Author: T.L. Phillips
Genre: Paranormal Romance
From orphan at fourteen to immortal royalty at nineteen, how the heck did that happen?
Nineteen-year-old Lissa witnessed the brutal murder of her parents by blood-thirsty vampires at the tender age of fourteen. She would have suffered the same unpleasant fate had tall, dark, and mysterious stranger Max not intervened. Every night since Lissa, along with an elite group of fighters, trains and patrols the mostly abandoned streets around the city of Buffalo, NY. They quietly thwart the dastardly plans of rogue vampires and cursed shifters in an attempt to protect mankind.
Having been told that all shifters are evil, Lissa is taken by surprise when she learns that there are good ones in the world – the Guardians. And she’s bonded with one of them, an ultra-rare occurrence amongst Guardians in recent years and unheard of between a Guardian and a mortal. When a typically fatal injury threatens to end her, her bond-mate throws caution to the wind and uses his own blood to save her. The consequences could be disastrous when Lissa wakes up to find she is no longer human, and not only a shifter herself but the shifter queen.
Author Bio
T.L. Phillips is a 30-something stay-at-home caretaker that loves to curl up with her cat and a great book. As a writer, she strives to tell compelling stories that readers will enjoy curling up with. When she’s not occupied with the myriad of tasks above, she’s an avid gamer with a love for all things crafty from crocheting to wood-burning and all things in between.
Links
On Amazon
On B&N
On Smashwords
Thank you for hosting this interview.
Thank you for being a guest, T.L.!