Indie Author Interview with Tanya Goodwin - Author of the Suspense Novel Code Pink.
Tanya Goodwin writes suspense with a twist of medicine, medical romance, and mystery. Her experiences as a physician are reflected in her characters and in her stories. Tanya is a graduate of the University of Miami School of Medicine and completed her specialty training as an obstetrician and gynecologist in Tampa, Florida.
Interview with Tanya Goodwin
 |
| Author Tanya Goodwin |
Tanya Goodwin: I have been writing medical suspense, police procedurals with romantic elements, medical romance, and mystery during the last seven years. I joined Romance Writers of America (RWA) in 2007, and shortly thereafter, Mystery Writers of America (MWA), and Sisters in Crime.
Who are your favorite writers, your favorite books, and who or what are your writing influences?
As an avid fan of medical suspense, thrillers, and police procedurals/detective series, my favorite authors are: Tess Gerritsen—anything she has written but favorites are Harvest, The Bone Garden, The Surgeon; Robin Cook, another physician author of medical thrillers; Janet Evanovich and her humorous, romantic suspense Stephanie Plum series, and JD Robb (aka Nora Roberts) and her Detective Eve Dallas futuristic police procedurals with romantic elements.
When did you first know that you wanted to be a writer?
Other than being a writer for my medical school newspaper decades ago, I began reading Janet Evanovich’s books and was so inspired by her, that I began to write, and write, and write, and read and read and read. Then I joined RWA.
Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
My first book, the first in the Dr. Tara Ross series, If Memory Serves, took me the longest to write, with multiple revisions. It was published in 2013.
"When I’m on deadline to submit to my editor, anything goes!"
Tell us about your writing process. Do you have a writing routine?
I do my best writing in the morning when my mind is rested and ready to go, but I have written in the afternoon and evenings if my morning has been otherwise busy with physician duties or other life events. When I’m on deadline to submit to my editor, anything goes!
Please, describe your desk/workplace.
I mainly write at the dining room table, even though I do have a desk that is rather messy! When I lived in New York, I enjoyed writing on my deck in the summer, but now that I live in Florida, I enjoy writing on my back porch.
What do you find easiest about writing? What the hardest?
Writing is challenging. I don’t believe there is anything easy about it. Writing requires actually sitting down to do it, formulating a plot, developing characters, and then there are multiple revisions, and deadlines. Deep down, you have to love writing, because despite all the above, that’s what keeps you going on good, and not so good days.
"My greatest joy is when a reader really enjoys my books."
What is the greatest joy of writing for you?
My greatest joy is when a reader really enjoys my books.
Tanya, please tell us a little about your Dr. Tara Ross Series and the Book Code Pink.
The first Dr. Tara Ross series, If Memory Serves, was inspired by sleep deprived days during my OB/GYN training. The second, The Embalmer, came about after I was on an OB assignment (as a travelling doctor) in an office that was formerly a turn-of-the- century funeral home with an attached building for embalming. A Craig’s List medical student killer inspired Brush With Death, and Code Pink touches on illegal immigration at the US/Mexican border, specifically MS-13 gang members and those they recruit.
 |
| Click to Read an Excerpt |
What inspired you to write the book?
The hot button topic of illegal immigration at the US/Mexican border was the kernal.
Who do you see as your target audience?
Mostly women twenty-five and up enjoy my books as well as those in the medical field. I do have a male readership that particularly like police procedurals. My protagonists include a woman OB/GYN, Dr. Tara Ross, and her homicide commander husband, Jeffrey Corrigan. Because of my female and male characters, my books satisfy both women and men. Due to some graphic details and raw language, I do not recommend readers less than eighteen to read my series.
"[...] the reader bonds with my protagonists"
What makes your book special?
Code Pink is part of a series, and the reader bonds with my protagonists, returning characters, and new ones in each book.
How would you describe the success of your self-published books so far?
Self-published books, and I prefer to use the terminology, independent-authored books are now in a very competitive and crowded field. More traditionally published authors are publishing independently, or are hybrid authors. Audio books are also increasing. It is imperative that independent authors have a professional book cover, and a good editor. Price point has always been an issue. Independent authors work hard for many years and should be rewarded financially.
I am among the independent authors who struggle with these challenges. My success increases with each novel and novella I write. I have a wonderful cover artist and the best editor.
Am I a millionaire author? No, at least not yet! But I am rich in my ideas.
"Write, write, and write."
Can you give some advice for other Authors regarding the writing process?
Write, write, and write. Then revise, revise, and revise. Join a writer organization. Read what you like, and some that you may not choose otherwise. There is always something to be learned from each book, good and bad.
Are you working on another book project? Can you tell us a little about it?
I’m working on the 5th Dr. Tara Ross series - Cold Case - hopefully out fall/winter 2019.
Where do you see the book market in 5 or 10 years? Will there be only eBooks and will book stores disappear like record stores disappeared?
It’s hard to predict. I hope all channels where readers can connect with books continue to exist. But like everything else, most people buy online.
What is your e-reading device of choice?
I use both Kindle and iBooks.
Do you write full-time or do you have a day job? When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?
I would love to write full-time and that may happen in the next few years. At this time, I’m still practicing as a travelling OB/GYN. In my free time, I enjoy my two dogs, a five-year old-retriever mix and our latest edition, a Papillion puppy.
How can readers connect with you?
Readers can connect with me by visiting my website, www.tanyagoodwin.com and joining my newsletter. They can also find me on Goodreads and at my Amazon author page.
Thank you very much for the Interview, Tanya.
About the Book Code Pink
 |
| Click to Read an Excerpt |
Captain Jeffrey Corrigan, former head of a NYPD homicide squad, and now captain of the Brewster PD, and Tara’s devoted husband, would rather be solving a nail-biting case rather than spending his and his squad’s time mixing it up with the glut of media arriving once the birth of senator’s grand daughter is leaked to the press, but once he’s notified of the threat aimed at the senator’s life, he springs into action to protect her. Confident he has a safe hiding place for the senator, Jeffrey and his longtime sidekick and now lieutenant, Mike Price, embark on a conjoined sting with the FBI and ICE to uproot the gang’s Long Island nest. Their main target is the notorious machete- yielding gang leader.
But when the operation nets member’s of his gang, the leader vows revenge and orders the kidnapping of the senator’s granddaughter to smoke out the senator and to capture Jeffrey in retaliation for the loss of his men.
Unable to reconcile with the missing, sick baby she delivered and with Jeffrey and Mike’s dangerous mission to take down the ruthless gang leader, Tara and her policewoman daughter, Abbie, risk stumbling into gang territory.
It’s a showdown to the death when the gang leader demands the ultimate payback.
Link to the Book
Link to the Paperback Code Pink on Amazon
Link to the eBook Code Pink on Amazon
Please, share with your Friends!
