We recently connected with T.l. Brown and have shared our conversation below.

T.L., looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

While I would consider all the books I’ve written meaningful projects, I recently completed a collaboration with another author (Rose J. Fairchild). We produced a dark fantasy novella called “Faerie Fire & Demon Desire: A Darkly Delicious Correspondence” featuring a character from my Bellerose Witchline books and one from her Taste of Faerie series. Fairchild is a fan of my most popular villain, and I’m hooked on the characters she developed in weekly posts shared via her Patreon account. In “Faerie Fire & Demon Desire,” I wrote the odd chapters from a male perspective, and Fairchild wrote the even ones from a female point of view.

Our original intention was to turn “steamy” correspondence between two former lovers into a lighthearted and fun novella, but we quickly dove into more emotional topics. While we had a general idea of what we planned to write, the unusual spontaneity of allowing our characters to “voice” alternating chapters helped us to dig deeper into the core of who they are, peeling back even more layers than we’d written previously on our own. That back-and-forth exchange allowed us—as authors—to learn truths about our characters we hadn’t realized before.

The collaboration left a notable mark on my writing heart. The revelations—and the experience of building a story alongside Fairchild—impacted me in immeasurable ways. I unlocked a particular corner of creativity I’d never tapped into before. I also surrendered control, trusting Fairchild to write “in my world.” Fairchild’s thoughtful approach and care in contributing to the world I’d put into place in my earlier books offered me a freedom I’d never experienced. It was exhilarating.

I’m humbled by the creative power an honest and true collaboration can produce, and I’m profoundly grateful for the experience with Fairchild.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m the indie author of the Door to Door Paranormal Mystery Series, three books penned under the name T.L. Brown, as well as the author of the adult dark fantasy Bellerose Witchline books, which I wrote under the same pseudonym.

For those who are not familiar with the term “indie author,” in short, this means that my books are not published by a traditional publisher (big or small). I chose to self-publish without seeking an agent to represent me or a publishing house to back my work. Both publishing paths—traditional and indie—are valid, and all authors must work hard to present and promote their work regardless of their choice.

As a child, I was the typical bookworm, nose-deep in pages and lost in literary worlds. Libraries and bookmobiles were my favorite haunts. Stacks of books accompanied me home every week. Like most readers of my generation in small-town America, I grew up on Golden Books, choose-your-own-adventure books, James and Deborah Howe, Beverly Cleary, Thomas Rockwell, Judy Blume, E.L. Konigsburg, Madeleine L’Engle, Carolyn Keene (then Agatha Christie), and so many other authors who ultimately inspired me to pick up the pen and write my own tales.

While I’ve always created stories to entertain myself, it took COVID-19 to drive me to finish writing my first book—a lighthearted and fun paranormal mystery—and then self-publish it so I could deliver a little relief from the stark reality the pandemic brought to our doors. The excitement of sending my story into the hands of curious readers was all it took to inspire me to write and publish another book. Then another. And another. And so on.

As a writer, I can look at the five books I’ve written and the one book collaboration I’ve co-produced and evaluate my progression. I can see how I’ve grown as an author, and that brings me such satisfaction. A strive to produce the most honest and authentic story that rings true for my characters remains paramount, no matter the subject or how it may be received. Exploring the gray area between black and white—the good and not-so-good—and the characters who live in that space has become an all-consuming quest.

In short, I hope I give readers something to think about. I hope I give them an opportunity to evaluate how they judge others. I hope they are willing to set aside looking at the world only through their own personal lens and consider other ideas and interpretations of how life is lived on this complicated and diverse planet.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Building new worlds through writing allows me to explore concepts and ideas that might not be a part of my everyday life. Plus, I get to “meet” all kinds of characters through my work. Sometimes, I wonder if I’m truly creating them or if they are already alive on some other plane of existence, and I’m simply telling their stories when I write. Pondering questions like these—even if they seem absurd—is a fun exercise for my brain. Asking myself, “What if?” and imagining the magical or the fantastical as a real possibility is exciting for me. It drives me forward in my craft.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

From my perspective, few creatives can live their art full-time. Many are balancing their craft with job and family responsibilities. However, when a creative is constantly putting other people and paths first, it impacts everything. Not only does the artful purpose suffer, but the feeling of lack—e.g., time, support, freedom, understanding, etc.—starts to permeate everything. Art is just as important as the job that pays the bills, the family one makes, and the day-to-day tasks that appear on a routine to-do list.

Art is necessary for a fulfilling life experience—whether you create it or simply appreciate it. We are surrounded by art. It shapes our world and helps us to explore ideas and find meaning. It challenges us and, hopefully, helps us to grow. Creatives and non-creatives alike should look for opportunities to support the artist’s need to produce what is in their hearts, minds, and spirits. We are all richer for it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://writertracybrown.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/writertracybrown/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WriterTracyBrown/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TLBrown/playlists
• Other: Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/tlbrown

  Amazon (all books): https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B08LR3T5KM/allbooks

  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@writertracybrown

Image Credits

T.L. Brown