Straight Chatting from the Library: Tabitha Lord

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READ THE INTERVIEW

Thank you so much, Librarian Judith, for interviewing me on your site today!

Librarian Judith: Thank you for stopping by The Library, where we just love books! What is the favorite book you remember as a child?

Tabitha Lord: The Black Stallion! I loved horses as a child and was a competent rider, so the beautiful, untamed stallion in the story captivated me from the start. I was also attracted to the idea of surviving against the odds, alone and out in the wild. I grew up in a rural neighborhood and spent hours playing outdoors, pretending to build my own shelter, collecting piles of nuts and berries to eat, and attempting to befriend the animals. All these years later, we meet the protagonist of my first novel surviving alone in the wilderness, against the odds. I guess those early passions are still with me. No horses in my series, though!

Librarian Judith: Tell us about your current book in 10 words.

Tabitha Lord: Science fiction meets romance meets survival fiction meets military thriller!

Librarian Judith: What are you reading right now?

Tabitha Lord: I’m currently reading three things right now. First, I’m beta reading a manuscript for a friend. It’s a thriller with strong fantasy elements and I absolutely love the story! I just finished the contemporary YA novel An Infinite Number of Parallel Universes by Randy Ribay. I met Randy at a writers conference a few years ago and I’ll be posting an author interview with him on my website soon. Finally I’m reading Star Wars Aftermath by Chuck Wendig, because, well it’s a Star Wars book!

Librarian Judith: One book at a time or multiples?

Tabitha Lord: I read multiple books at the same time, but generally from different genres. For example, it’s refreshing to take a break from a worthy, but lengthy literary novel and read an action packed thriller. If I’m reading a book to review or for an author interview, as much as I might be enjoying it, I’m also thinking about my comments and questions, so I might also like to lose myself in a good fantasy story.

Librarian Judith: Do you have any bad book habits?

Tabitha Lord: I do! I confess! I sometimes read the end of the story first! I hate surprises, and I actually get really stressed if a book is suspenseful. I have to know how things turn out, and then I can relax, dive back in, and enjoy the whole story. Most of the time, this makes my reading experience better and alleviates my anxiety, but once in a while I really ruin things for myself. One of my book clubs read The Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian, and I skipped to the end after a few chapters. I was so upset afterwards because there was a fantastic plot twist I did not see coming and I spoiled that moment for myself.

Librarian Judith: E-Reader or print? and why?

Tabitha Lord: A few years ago I turned my dining room into a library to host all my print books. I love to hold them in my hands, appreciate the cover, and flip pages back and forth. I probably own more books than I will ever read in my lifetime! But I have a Kindle as well. I’ll often download manuscripts onto the Kindle to proof read, and I’ll bring the Kindle when I travel. My Kindle also has a few titles on it that I wouldn’t want my kids to see!

Librarian Judith: How do you keep your books organized?

Tabitha Lord: That library I just mentioned? Well, the books in it are organized alphabetically by author. My obsessive tendencies won’t allow otherwise! Although I do have piles of books on my bedside table, next to the couch, and on the coffee table, these are all books that I intend to read in the next few weeks. They are allowed to be out of order, so to speak.

Librarian Judith: Re-reader or not?

Tabitha Lord: I was going to answer not, because there are so many good books I still want to read that I simply don’t have time to go back and re-read anything. But that’s not entirely true. I’ve re-read the first Harry Potter book with each of my four kids when they were old enough, as well as other favorites including Redwall, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh, and Little House on the Prairie. The older kids would pile into bed with the little ones for a repeat reading of Pumpkin Soup or The Seven Silly Eaters. As a child, I re-read my favorites constantly - I can still recite the opening lines from The Outsiders! And there are a few notable books on my grown-up list. Outlander got another read through before the television series aired, and I’ve picked up East of Eden more than once. Also, if one of my book clubs chooses a something I’ve already read, I’ll read it again if it’s been a while. I guess all this makes me a re-reader!

READ THE BLURB

Caeli Crys isn’t living—she’s surviving. On the run after the genocide of her empathic people, she witnesses a spaceship crash near her hidden camp. When she feels the injured pilot suffering from miles away, she can’t help but risk discovery to save his life.

Commander Derek Markham awakens stranded on an uncharted planet. His co-pilot is dead, his ship is in ruins, and he’s only alive because a beautiful young woman is healing him with her mind.

As Derek recovers, Caeli shares the horror of her past and her fear for the future. When Derek’s command ship, Horizon, sends rescue, Derek convinces Caeli to leave with him. But his world is as treacherous as hers—full of spies, interplanetary terrorist plots, and political intrigue. Soon the Horizon team is racing to defend an outlying planet from a deadly enemy, and Caeli’s unique skills may just give them the edge they need to save it.

READ AN EXCERPT

She felt them before she heard them. The sudden wave of panic gripped Caeli so fiercely that she fell to her knees. Sweat beaded on her forehead and her body shook with another person’s cold fear. We’re losing altitude. I can’t keep her nose up. Time is running out. A voice echoed in her head, frantic. The words were strange and foreign, but she felt their intent.

A ship pierced the white clouds overhead. Frozen in place, Caeli tracked it streaking across the sky, her consciousness now fully merged with one of the desperate occupants onboard. Her breath came in short, gasping bursts. Seconds later a shattering pain exploded through her body and she screamed. The ground shook violently beneath her, and then nothing.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Tabitha currently lives in Rhode Island, a few towns away from where she grew up. She is married, has four great kids, a spoiled Ragdoll cat, and lovable black lab. The house is noisy and the dinner table full! She holds a degree in Classics from College of the Holy Cross and taught Latin for years at a small, independent Waldorf school. She also worked in the admissions office there before turning her attention to full-time writing.

You can visit her blog at www.tabithalordauthor.com where she posts author interviews, hosts guest bloggers, and discusses some favorite topics including parenting and her writing journey. Horizon is her first novel.

Twitter https://twitter.com/tlordauthor
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