I was lucky to get an interview with T. A. Hernandez, the author of Tethered Spirits, one of this year’s #SPFBO8 entries.

Please, tell us a bit about yourself…
I’m a very creative person at my core. Any spare minute I have, I’m often working on some kind of creative project, whether it’s my books, art, graphic design, making videos, or whatever other creative outlet has captured my interest that day. I’m happily married and a mom to two amazing daughters, and I work part-time as a therapist for an agency that specializes in attachment and trauma. We primarily serve children who are in foster care or who have been adopted out of foster care and their families. I currently live in Southern Utah, which is absolutely gorgeous, and I like that we don’t get much of a winter here. My family and I love to camp, swim, kayak, ride around the sand dunes, and have lots of other outdoor adventures together.

Why did you decide to take part in the SPFBO?
I love the whole idea of SPFBO and the opportunity it gives self-published fantasy authors to showcase their books. I’ve enjoyed watching the contest over the last few years and as an avid fantasy reader, I’ve discovered some fantastic books through SPFBO. I entered for the first time in 2020 with my alternate 1920s magical circus novel, Calico Thunder Rides Again. It ended up being chosen as a semi-finalist, which I was absolutely thrilled about. I’m really excited to be participating again this year.

Why should we buy your SPFBO8 book?
If you like character-focused stories with protagonists who are a little messy and maybe a little (or a lot) traumatized, you should enjoy Tethered Spirits. The book follows three point-of-view characters whose paths intertwine as they seek to unravel a magical mystery involving immortality. Amar is a man with the ability to return to life each time he dies, which sounds great, except that he doesn’t ever remember his past life when this happens. Kesari is a girl who gave up half her remaining lifespan in exchange for the ability to use magic, but when we meet her at the start of the book, she’s terrified to use that magic and is looking for a way to get rid of it. And then there’s Aleida, a young woman turned ruthless in her desparation to save her only remaining family—something she thinks Amar’s immortality could help with. I like to think it’s the characters that really make the story shine, but there’s also a unique magic system and an interesting world readers get to travel all over and explore throughout the story.

What got you into writing? And how long have you been doing it?
I’ve always loved reading and from a very young age, I was drawn to fantasy and sci-fi stories in particular. I wrote a few little stories in elementary and middle school, but when I was a freshman in high school (18 years ago), I became a lot more serious about it. I realized it was something I found a lot of fullfilment in, and I knew I wanted to create characters and worlds that resonated with me and with other readers just like all the books I loved. At first I was dead set on traditional publishing, but by the time I had a book ready, I had decided self-publishing sounded more appealing. I released my first novel in 2016 and I’ve since published 4 more.

Why did you choose to write fantasy? And why pick this particular fantasy subgenre?
As I said, I’ve always loved fantasy. The idea of getting to create my own unique world with magic and dragons and whatever else I wanted has always been very appealing to me. Some of my favorite fantasy books have been written for a young adult audience, and I love many of the themes that are commonly explored in YA fantasy, such as personal identity, family relationships, friendships, and mental health issues. Tethered Spirits is a bit of a mix between flintlock fantasy and sword & sorcery, and I honestly don’t really have a reason for why I chose to write in those particular subgenres other than that’s just what seemed to best suit the story I wanted to tell.

What’s the best thing about being a writer?
I love the way that I’m able to explore and express different ideas in my stories. For a long time, writing has been an important part of how I process things I’m dealing with in my own life, even when that’s through the lense of a completely fictional world. I also just love the creative process overall and seeing my ideas come to life. It’s a unique experience every time, and I never get bored of it.

What’s the hardest thing about being a writer?
When the story just isn’t coming together right, and you know something’s off but you can’t figure out what. I hate that feeling. Usually it just means I need to take a break, and I’ll be able to work it out later. But in the moment, it really sucks.

Do you have a tip, app, tool, or resource you recommend to authors?
If you’re just starting out, it’s good to find and connect with other writers who will understand your creative challenges and who can cheer you on when you’re struggling. Social media is great for connecting with other writers, and if you can be a good support to others as well, that helps in growing those relationships. I’ve made some great writer friends over the years and they’ve helped me learn and grow a ton. I definitely wouldn’t be where I am now without them.

What new projects are you working on?
Tethered Spirits is the first book in a planned trilogy, so my main focus right now is completing and publishing the next two books in the series. I’ve just finished the first draft of book 2 and hope to have it ready to release in early 2023. Aside from this series, I’m also brainstorming and outlining a couple of standalone science fiction novels. It’s too early to say much about them just yet, but I’m really excited about them.

Anything else you would like to say before we close?
Thanks so much for this opportunity to talk about my book. Best of luck to all the other SPFBO competitors!

Interesting answers! Best of luck with the competition, T. A. Hernandez, and with sales.
Thanks for doing the interview.