Tina is a mom of three with a full-time 'day' job who also helps run Fiction Factor part-time as our Managing Editor. She's co-written several award winning books and is always working on new fantasy worlds. She's also the web-master of Fractured Publisher (http://www.fracturedpublisher.com) a quirky, humorous site especially for writers and readers alike. Tina's personal homepage is here: http://www.stygianmagic.com 

Tina's writing credits include collaborating chapters in the 2008 EPPIE winner, The Complete Guide to Writing Science Fiction, The Complete Guide to Writing Fantasy and The Fantasy Writers' Companion. She co-edited and contributed to The Stygian Soul and has a new short story coming out in the Firestorm of Dragons anthology.


Tina Morgan

What first inspired you to write or who inspired you?
You mean besides teenage angst? (The poems were pitiful and have been destroyed. I wouldn't want ANYONE to see them!) What really started me writing was the 1980 album titled "Paradise Theatre" by Styx. The songs inspired me to write a very sappy novelette. Despite a very rocky start, music continues to inspire me. I usually have a CD in the player whenever I'm writing.

At what age did you know you wanted to be a writer?
I guess I started trying to really write a cohesive story around sixteen.

Do you take notes when reading or watching a good movie?
I'm usually too wrapped up in a movie to take notes. But then, movies really don't inspire me. Which is rather odd because I see all of my fiction writing as a movie in my head. If I can't see it, I can't write it.

Has writing always been a passion for you or did you discover it years later?
Writing has been a pleasant hobby for years. It only became an obsession about two years ago when I decided it was time to either actually try to get published or forget it.

What are you currently working on?
I have numerous projects going at this time. Non-fiction articles for various submissions. Fiction: rewriting an epic fantasy novel called "Soulspell", the sequel "Betrayal", the prequel "Visionfate", several short stories and an unnamed fantasy novel about a girl who's mistaken for a half-breed and whose unique features mark her for death.

Name three writing tips to pass on to other writers.
The three best tips I can give any writer are fairly simple.
1) Learn all you can about the language you are writing in: grammar, punctuation, styling, pacing etc....
2) Learn all you can about the business end of the publishing world if you intend to try to publish your work. There are lots of SHARKS out there.
3) Last and possibly most important of all, don't let self-doubt stop you from enjoying what you're doing. Have fun with your writing. .

What hours do you write best?
I find I write the best between 6 pm and 10 pm. I'm an evening person.

How often do you write?
Almost every day. If I'm not writing, I'm thinking and visualizing the next story or article.

Are you an avid reader?
Yes, although the past few years have been spent reading about special education, autism and epilepsy. Now that things are under control with my children, I'm starting to read more for pleasure again.

What are you reading now?
I just finished "Warlord" by Elizabeth Vaughn, and "The Writer's Little Helper" by James V. Smith Jr. I'll let you know when I get back from the library again. ;o) 

Are your family or friends supportive of your writing?
My co-author is my best friend of more than 20 years. I couldn't do without Ciara's support in all aspects of my life. She's my adopted twin. The rest of my family thinks I'm a little crazy but as they see the progress I'm making, they're coming around a little more.