TJ Fier

INTRODUCING

TJ FIER

Hey hey TJ!

You design and create props for theater. What

I the strangest request you've gotten for a

prop?

Strangest props? I've made several dead

babies. I had to pull the eyes out of a 

fake severed head because the severed head

we were using in the show had to have its

eyes removed.

And I got to give it bloody eye sockets

instead.

I was once in a bidding war on eBay for a

fake leg.

Did you win the leg?!

Yep, won the leg!

Would Oscar and Rufus [her cats] ever make

an appearance in your writing?

No cats yet. Oddly I haven't had characters

with pets? Maybe because pets can be a 

stabilizing presence in characters' lives and my 

characters are anything but stable.

That makes sense!

You mentioned your sister and mom read your work.

How about your husband?

No, he's not much of a reader.

(Same at my house)

Thanks for taking the time to do this!

Happy to do this! Thanks for the opportunity.

Cheers!

STANDARD TWEEP TATTLER INTERVIEW

1) Where do you live? 

Fargo, ND

2) What is the first thing you remember writing?

Lots of stories about horses. Before I had the ability to write complex sentences, I often created picture books filled with horses going on grand adventures.

3) Why do you write? 

I enjoy escaping reality and disappearing into the stories I create.

4) Have you published any of your work? 

I currently have a series on Channillo.com called The Bright One. Channillo is a collection of hundreds of series readers can access when they subscribe to the website.

5) What are you currently writing? 

A vampire story I’m currently calling Vampires Are For Losers. I’m trying to avoid the whole “sexy, brooding vampire with loads of money” idea. Instead, I’m treating them as vagabonds living off their wits.

6) Are you currently querying? 

No. My horror story, The Shadow of Tower Hill, is very slowly making its way through my writing group. I’m hoping to have it ready for PitMad in December.

7) Finish this sentence (three lines or less):

IT WAS A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT… Lightning lanced the dreary sky, reminding Alexa of a time not long past. Once she loved a good storm, but now, pulling a blanket over her head, she trembled beneath the rumbling heavens.

8) Which activities do you like to participate in, in the Twitter writing community (VSS365, etc.)? 

I often participate in tagging games and love promoting other writers but haven’t yet delved in VVS365. Follow me at @iamfierless

9) Do you have any formal training/education for writing? 

Other than various workshops as a kid and a couple as an adult, I do not.

10) Do the people in your life know that you write? 

Yes. I’ve shared stories with my mom and sisters.

11) Tell me about the people in your life. Family? Pets? 

I’ve been married to my husband for eleven years and we have two fat-old-man cats named Oscar and Rufus. I post about them regularly on Twitter.

12) Where do you wish your writing to take you? 

I hope to traditionally publish some day, but you never know. Indie publishing is also very tempting. I’m enjoying the journey and I look forward to seeing where it may take me.

13) What did you expect when you joined the Twitter writing community? Did it turn out as expected? I didn’t know it existed until August 2018 and I absolutely love the kindness and support. Twitter is known to be a cesspool but our corner of Twitter is wonderful.

14) Where do you write? 

Pretty much wherever I can find some peace and quiet.

15) How much time do you dedicate to writing, weekly? My goal is two hours a day.

16) Do you have other talents? 

I’m a professor of set design and a professional scenic artist so I have A LOT of creative skills. I’ve also worked as a professional props artisan for theatre. You need to be a jack of all trades when it comes to creating properties for productions. I have made some really weird and sometimes disgusting things over the years.

17) CHOOSE ONE:

1. I do not mind when other writers ask for advice.
2. I’d rather keep to myself!

Definitely A. I’m a teacher and mentor by profession. I love being helpful.

TJ Fier started writing picture books full of horses and her illustrations before she could write complete sentences. As she went on in life she continued to write and draw while adding music, dance, and theatre to her list of creative pursuits. After focusing on theatre in college, she eventually graduated with an MFA in Set Design. She went on to work as a theatre professional and in 2012 became Assitant Professor of Set Design at North Dakota State University, and later Associate upon being awarded Tenure in 2018. TJ began writing again in 2017. After drafting several novels, joining a local writing group, and publishing her first serial, she's made it into another creative career.

Publication: https://channillo.com/series/the-bright-one/

Facebook author page: (may have to shut down briefly during April due to a potential troll popping back into my life) https://www.facebook.com/iamfierless/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/iamfierless