Get to know Talia…

When Talia isn’t hiding in the bathroom from her six children munching on a chocolate bar, she enjoys hiking the red rocks in Utah or sitting on the beach with a Kindle in her hands and her toes in the ocean.

Talia has written a number of books for young adults, including Damaged: Natalie’s Story, Teagan’s Story: Her Battle With Epilepsy, If I Die Young, Secret Bloodline, Lost and Found, and The Gifted Teens Series. She also co-wrote The Between Worlds Series and Mesmerized. Connect with Talia online.

Quirky Questions 

If you could make something in life go away, what would it be?

Oh, there’s so much! Some of my books deal with real life issues teens face and I wish I had the power to take it all away. Bullying. Child abuse. Dating violence. Addiction. Bad parents.  Hate. And bees, I hate bees. I know we need them, but they scare me.

If you had to be trapped in a TV show for a month, which show would you choose?

Hawaii 5-0. I wouldn’t mind hanging out on the beaches in Hawaii for a month.

What’s your favorite zoo animal?

Panda Bears. They’re cute!

What’s the dumbest thing you’ve ever done?

Maybe not the dumbest, but this one ranks high up there. I skipped school and had my friend call in sick for me. Seriously? What was I thinking? My mom caught me an hour later because the school called her at work to verify and she came home. What did I do on my day off? Chilled out at home.

What’s your motto in life?

Live for today for nobody is promised tomorrow.

Do you believe in UFOs?

I believe anything is possible.

Define the worst day ever.

A day when no writing gets done and there’s no chocolate.

What is your earliest childhood memory?

I had open-heart surgery when I was four years old. I remember wanting to take a walk around the hospital, but I had forgotten my slippers. The nurses made slippers out of washcloths and put them on my feet. Then I got to walk around.

If you could eliminate one thing from your daily schedule, what would it be? And why?

Any type of house cleaning. I hate cleaning up, but I like my house clean. And with six kids, it’s very hard to keep clean! I just think there are better things to do besides spending my time cleaning.

If you were to get a tattoo, what would it be? 

I am deathly afraid of needles, so me getting a tattoo is not likely. But someday if there was a way to get a tattoo without needles and pain, then I’d have to do some thinking. Maybe a cross with a rose wrapped around it? Or an infinity sign with the word love written in it?

Writing Questions

Is there a particular place where you feel most creative?

Somewhere peaceful like the ocean or the back porch of a cabin. Problem is, I don’t get to either one of those often. So if we’re talking about my house, I’d say probably sitting on my bed.

Who or what has helped you to persevere and not quit?

My fans. I often get emails from them telling me how much one of my books helped them. Any time I feel like giving up, I just read one of those emails.

What writing wisdom were you given that you’d like to share with others?

Write something—even if it’s just a little bit—everyday.

How do you deal with creativity blocks?

If I’m not sure where to go with something I’m writing, I will close it out and start writing something else. It keeps the creativity flowing.

Can you visualize your finished product before you begin it?

Yes, but sometimes it takes on a life of its own and the finished product changes.

What is your typical day like?

I drag myself out of bed, get some of the kids off to school, get the other kids ready for the day. If I’m lucky, I get a shower. Then I spend the morning playing with the kids, reading to them, and just being Mom. Around noon we have lunch and then I put them down for their nap. Most of the time, this is my daytime writing time. I try to get at least an hour of writing, but sometimes I get up to two hours. By this time, the older kids start trickling in from school. This is both a fun time of day because I get to hear all the drama that happened at school and the busiest time because everyone is vying for my attention. I help with homework if I need to and make dinner. After dinner it’s time for baths and TV and then around eight, I start putting the kids down. If I’m really, really lucky, I get all the kids who need help going to bed asleep by nine and then I stay up until one or two a.m. writing. That’s when I get my best writing in! I always hope to get to sleep earlier, but I never do, hence the dragging myself out of bed at seven.

Which of your books gives you the most pride or satisfaction?

All of my books are like my children. I care for each of them and they make me proud in different ways. I can’t choose just one. They’re all special for different reasons.

When do you feel the most energized?

After the kids go to bed. I’d say from 10 pm to 2 am.