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Monday, December 30, 2013

Meet the #Author - TK Toppin


Please tell us a bit about yourself:
I was born and raised in Barbados, and I still live here. That saying about there being no place like home, is very true. My day job finds me as a freelance graphic artist, but lately, the writing has taken over. My writing really kicked off very early in 2008, and admittedly, I find it much more fulfilling than my graphic arts.

Tell us about The Devil Inside – The To Catch A Marlin Series #5:
This is the continuing adventures of two characters that are becoming favourites of mine: Special Inspector Michael Pedroni and the super sexy vigilante, Jax Marlin. Set in the tail end of the 24th Century, this is a futuristic cat and mouse tale.

In this short, Jax finds herself in trouble…Here’s a short blurb:
When her inner demon screamed, Jax Marlin set it loose upon the world’s criminals. When the demon wanted blood, she gave it like an offering. Special Inspector Pedroni chases his foe—always a step behind. This time, with heavy heart, unable to believe his Jax has become a common murderer.
After the events with the Necromancer Killer, after having to set her prey free, Jax struggles to come to terms with her decision. Her inner monster, one she’s kept at bay for years, surfaces in outrage and goes on a rampage. Can she stop in time before her sanity is lost? And can Pedroni come to terms with what she’s become?

What inspired you to write this particular story?:
A sexy vigilante in the future, with a cop chasing her because he’s obsessed and very smitten? Why not!

Please share a favourite snippet from your book:
There’s just so many that are my faves. But this would have to be from the first book (a full-length), To Catch A Marlin, cuz I mean, it’s got ship-porn! Come on! It’s where Pedroni is in pursuit of Jax and finds a ship. With him are two assistants he’d rather not be with:

The captain’s voice came over the PA. They were within range of the distressed ship. Markings indicated it was Sorensen’s sexy Q-Class cruiser. Even with his limited knowledge of spacecrafts, Pedroni knew regular private citizens were rarely given the okay to purchase war cruisers. Of course, with Sorensen’s criminal connections, he was hardly surprised. Still, as he looked out the window he was impressed by the super-sleek, dark silver cruiser, shaped like a hawk in flight—hooked beak and all. Q-Classes had the capacity to hold 200 fighting men and women for lengthy tours, a transport shuttle and a small drop ship skiff in its hold, full munitions in the armory, war-class speed, and shrouding capabilities.

As they approached Sorensen’s cruiser, which appeared dead in space, Pedroni found two more faces pressed up next to his as he looked out the side window. Gupta gawked at his right, while on his left, Hassan cooed with adoration at the sight of the cruiser.

Okay, it’s a sexy beast of a cruiser.

Pedroni smiled, marveling at the smooth lines and the way the approaching shuttle lights reflected off its gunmetal silver hull like dappled sunlight filtering through a canopy of leaves. Rows of reflective windows lined up in two levels, angled, like cat eyes.

Like Jax’s.

Sexy.

With a gentle flare, like a slender woman’s hips, the rear thrusters fanned out from the sides and tapered gently apart like long, graceful legs. The engines were killed and the exhaust ends appeared dark. The only lights flickering were emergency flashes from the outer points of the Q-Class.

Either the ship really was dead, or something more sinister was at work, laying in wait for them to board. Pedroni suppressed the urge to voice his concerns to the rest of his team. The last thing he needed were spooked agents watching his back with live weapons.



Which comes first for you – a character's looks, personality or name?:
I think the general outline comes first. The bones of the story, like a jigsaw puzzle with lots of missing pieces, that slowly, you find or uncover as your join them up. At some point in the searching for pieces, a suitable character, with name and appearance comes along. The only time I ever came up with the character first, was for To Catch A Marlin. Surprisingly, it wasn’t Jax Marlin whom I came up with, but Pedroni.

Any tips for aspiring authors?:
Read, read, read. Write, write, write. Develop thick skin, be open to advice and critiques, have realistic goals and keep your outrageously wild ideas strictly for the manuscripts. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Don’t be afraid, period. You’ll do stupid things, write stupid things, but it’s all a learning process that will enable you to boldly go where no one has gone before. And then read, read, read, and then write, write, write.

Questions for fun:
If you had the power of time travel, is there anything you would go back and change? Why/why not?:
A time machine in my hands is a very dangerous device. Very. The list is long of things I’d change or mess with or just do. Let’s just say, I shouldn’t have one.

What super-power would you choose?:
Invisibility. That, to me, is the most powerful tool. Ever.

If you could have three wishes, what would they be?:
Hmm. I’d have to say: Understanding, Contentment, and Love. With those 3, who needs wealth and health and power?

Coffee, tea or wine?:
All.

What is your favourite book? (aside from one of your own!):
So many, it’s hard to make a list and not feel bad about forgetting one. Let’s just say, I read a vast number of genres, from assorted writers across the field, from indy to superstar famous. And right now, there’s some seriously good stuff I’m reading from a huge number of indy writers.

Favourite genre and why?:
Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Mystery. Why? Excitement, thrills, and out of this world places I get to go to.

Favourite colour?:
Black.

Upcoming news and plans for the future?:
Writing some more stuff. Trying to finish and already finished MS called Bengaria’s War. It’s going into its 5th draft, and hopefully this will be the last one. Also in the works, more Jax Marlin shorts, and (groan, not another one) working on a dream I had that I know would make a super-duper book!

Thank you so much for taking the time to talk to us!
Thanks again for having me!

TK Toppin - Science fiction writer, touched with a little romance (SFR), some humour, lots of action and adventure. Find her here -
 http://www.amazon.com/T.K.-Toppin/e/B0053XTZHS/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

Author of the Lancaster Trilogy (The Lancaster Rule released April 2010, The Master Key, and The Eternal Knot) published by Champagne Book Group.

To Catch A Marlin (series) published by Ring of Fire Publishing, released October 2012.

For other works in progress, please visit my web/blog.
If you want to see my book trailers, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEoEQh...
and here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbGdq8...
or here: http://youtu.be/LALb-S2dcqI

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