Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I grew up on a farm in a small town in Kentucky where I often imagined traveling to the places in the books I read. I started reading at a young age because I loved stories.
I started telling stories to save a groundhog that lived in my Dad’s barn. When my Grandpa said he’d come down and shoot it, I’d come up with reasons he couldn’t Grandpa encouraged me to flesh out those reasons into full stories to entertain friends and family. I grew to love telling those stories, and truth be told the attention it garnered me from Grandpa.
I started to write stories as soon as I could write sentences. I love the act of writing as much as the act of storytelling. Watching the story reveal itself as I write brings me immense pleasure.
I studied Corrections & Juvenile Services as well as Psychology at Eastern Kentucky University because I have an insatiable need to understand why people do the things they do.
I continue to explore the motivation behind people’s behavior both in the things I choose to read and the things I write.
I have published 5 books of poetry, 2 collections of short stories, and a novel.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The last book I published was a book of short stories, Take a Chance & Other Stories of Starting Over, which explores beginnings and endings that lead to the decision whether or not to take a risk or stay the course. The stories in it were inspired by facing my own choices in life and watching other people make choices. Sometimes I would ponder “what if” about those choices, and often that pondering developed into a story.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t consider my writing habits unusual because they are the usual for me; however, I don’t know if someone else would see them as unusual. I can and do write just about anywhere. I don’t need absolute quiet nor do I need certain sounds to write. I think the important thing is to write, to get the words written, to watch the story unfold, and to immerse yourself in it as you go. I find that meditation helps me focus a little better, so I meditate every day for that little boost. I also find that sometimes the most productive thing I can do if I’m stuck is to go for a walk or to have coffee/tea with a friend. I don’t think any of that is all that unusual though.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
One of my earliest influences was S. E. Hinton. Her books captivated me in a way that made me seeing books differently than I had before. She wrote about what she wanted to write, and I found that inspiring. She wrote about teenagers in a way that felt relatable to me unlike many of the other books about teenagers I read. Her books reinforced the message telling stories about the groundhog on my grandpa’s knee had taught me; that words could make a difference, that fiction could touch hearts, that stories could provoke thought as well as entertainment.
What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on two books.
One is Democracy in Silhouette: Poems, a book of poetry exploring democracy, politics, governing, and issues that affect us all daily. I was inspired to write it by the political divisiveness that is so prevalent in the world.
The other is novel, tentatively titled Red, that explores the mental breakdown of Marissa, a woman who is found with the dead bodies of her family. As she struggles to regain her memories, her past unfolds to show what lead to the tragic night that her family died.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I think promoting books is simply about getting books in front of readers. I use social media, a blog, and a variety of sites like this one to promote my books. Still, it seems to me that the best method of promoting books is to write and publish more books because it increases the chance people will talk about one or more of your books.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write what you want to write and write what you want to read. We have enough stories that are the same out there. We need diverse stories, diverse points of view, and diverse voices. If no one wants to publish the message you want to send, publish it yourself. Don’t compromise yourself for the market.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Oh, this is a tough one. I’ve been lucky to meet several authors who have given me great advice over the years. Everything from the advice to do a hated chore to cure writer’s block to the only way to make progress was to sit down and write. Those two seem contradictory, but they aren’t really because sometimes doing the hated chore makes you want to get back to the writing!
What are you reading now?
I am currently reading two books:
Terra Incognita: Oregon Poets Write for Ecological, Social, Political, and Economic Justice
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari
What’s next for you as a writer?
As I stated earlier, I’m currently working on completing two books. I plan to publish at least one of them this year. I also have several more books of poetry I’m working on compiling and ideas for a couple more novels that are in various stages. I also plan to continue writing recipes to eventually publish a book of recipes based on the recipes I post regularly on my recipe blog, Vegan Cooking with TLC.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I’d rather have a group of books to help me find water, grow food, build shelter, treat wounds and illnesses, and build a boat to go for help than something to entertain me. I already entertain myself by making up stories, so I could continue to do that.
Author Websites and Profiles
T. L. Cooper Website
T. L. Cooper Amazon Profile
T. L. Cooper Author Profile on Smashwords
T. L. Cooper’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account