About the Book

Book: Revenge: The Winslows of Texas

Author: Tamara. G. Cooper

Genre: Romantic Suspense (Christian)

Release Date: May 7, 2023

Aaron’s life shatters in the aftermath of his best friend’s sudden, bizarre death. He firmly believes her demise was no mere accident, as the authorities ruled, but a cold-blooded murder. Driven to the brink of despair by the relentless media shadowing his every move, accusing him of causing her death, he needs a place to hide. Salvation dawns in an unexpected inheritance — the dense, sprawling wilderness of his great aunt’s East Texas estate. There, he discovers another surprise: his first love recently moved back to the area. She intrigued him at fourteen; she completely captivates him at twenty-six.

The discovery of a woman’s body on his property is chillingly timed on the grim anniversary of his friend’s death, shaking Aaron to his core. He realizes the bloodthirsty killer has delivered a disturbingly personal message to him: You cannot hide from me. Suddenly, his secluded sanctuary is exposed, a beacon for the merciless media relentlessly searching for him. He fortifies his estate, transforming it into a fortress against what he understands now is an inevitable attack. The murderer’s tightening noose of fear threatens to ensnare him. Outsmarting this ruthless predator has become a deadly game of chess, where every move could be his last. Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Tamara G. Cooper is a Texas-based author who finds inspiration in the simple things in life: hiking, camping, fishing, and long walks with her family that end in a picnic. She lives in a small town in East Texas with her husband, her youngest of five sons, and four dogs. Tamara loves writing suspense/mystery stories with just a touch of romance.

More from Tamara

I’m an East Texan, through and through. You should hear me talk! There is no mistaking that I’m from Texas. So, one day, I was wondering: what would it be like if a New Yorker moved to East Texas? Better yet, let’s make him a billionaire New Yorker who wants nothing to do with “rednecks” but is forced to move to Texas. What would motivate him to move there, especially when he’s made it very clear that he wants nothing to do with Texas or Texans? 

Running for his life would work. Suddenly, he needs a place to hide. The people after him know of his other homes and have them staked out. So, where could he go? His great-aunt Dottie dies and wills her 6,000-acre estate in East Texas to him. Perfect! It sets him up nicely where he doesn’t want to be. And to add icing to this Texas cake? His first love at fourteen recently moved back to the area where he’d met her on one of his family’s rare visits with Aunt Dottie.  

But life doesn’t settle down for him. Of course, it doesn’t, right?  

And that’s how this book came about. I love Aaron. Every day, I couldn’t wait to get back to him and his story. He has so much to give and doesn’t even know it. As one of the “walking wounded,” he’s going to discover what really matters in life, but it’s not going to be easy for him.   

One thing that’s somewhat different about me as a writer is that I don’t outline my books. I sit at my computer and let the characters tell me their stories. Sounds a little weird, doesn’t it? But it works for me. They take me in all kinds of directions! When the first draft is finished, I consider it my “outline.” Now, the fun begins with editing!  

I love writing. I love storytelling. “Revenge” is one of my favorite stories and, yes, I fell a little bit in love with Aaron. I hope you do, too. 

Interview with Tamara

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

Wanting to become a writer never happened with me. As a child, I wrote. As a teen, I wrote. Into my adult years, I wrote. It was never a “dawning,” a compulsion that I needed to make myself sit down and just write something. At first, I wrote poetry. Gradually, more in-depth short stories began to appear, then novels. I love the written word…especially the written Word. I believe God gives us talent, and we are to praise Him with it, and that is what I try to do.

Do you have any suggestions to help someone become a better writer? If so, what are they?

Yes! In my early I’m-trying-to-learn-the-craft-of-writing days, the phenomenal writer, Deborah Raney, suggested that I buy the book, Stein on Writing, by Sol Stein. It absolutely changed my writing! By this time in my life, I had an English degree, had shined (a little) in an elite writing class, had been writing for years but not published. By following the advice of Sol Stein in Stein on Writing, my writing was utterly and completely changed. I became a writer! Another great book to buy is Debra Dixon’s Goal, Motivation, & Conflict, commonly known as GMC. Ithelpsthe writer describe the very heart of a character. These two books are essential for becoming a better writer.

What’s your favorite part about being a writer? Research? First Draft? Editing?

The first draft is so exciting to me, along with the research that goes with it, that you would think this is my favorite part about writing, but it isn’t.  Finishing the book and getting to go back through it (many times) and making each scene, each character, each plot nuance more interesting is by far my favorite part of writing. It’s so much fun because everything comes together in the editing stage.

What do you think makes a good story?

No question, what makes a good story is making sure the reader is immersed in it. I’m not Googling these answers; these are my own opinions. Other writers may choose something else. I believe that if the reader isn’t engaged with every person on every page (even the dastardly villains!), then the interest won’t be there to root for the character and/or finish the book. The two book recommendations I mentioned earlier will help a writer do just that.

What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

My most interesting writing quirk is that I don’t know what I’m going to write until I sit down, place my fingers on the keyboard, and start typing. There are two types of writers: an outliner and a seat-of-the-pants writer and varying degrees in between. I am a Pantser. I don’t outline, at all. I think about a book for a short while (maybe a week) and start writing. I’m sure some outliners (Plotters) reading this would absolutely gasp (or maybe even pass out!). I’m so in-the-moment that Pantsing works best for me. Once, I outlined a complete novel. Then, I sat down to write it and couldn’t because I had already written it in outline form. Weird, huh? But…Pantsers may consider the first draft as their outline, then the deep editing begins. Stephen King is a Pantser, as well as Diana Gabaldon, Mark Twain, Dean Koontz and many others, so I’m in good company! My advice? Write what and how you’re comfortable writing. You will figure it out.

Thanks so much for having me, Gina! I so enjoyed this!

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, November 15

Book Looks by Lisa, November 16

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, November 17 (Author Interview)

The Lofty Pages, November 17

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 18

Texas Book-aholic, November 19

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 20

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 21

Blogging With Carol, November 22

Cover Lover Book Review, November 23

For Him and My Family, November 24

Artistic Nobody, November 25 (Author Interview)

Exploring the Written Word, November 25

Pause for Tales, November 26

Because I said so, November 27

Lights in a Dark World, November 28

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Tamara is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/28eeb/revenge-celebration-tour-giveaway