Interview with an Author Featuring Ravin Tija Maurice

The Literary Vixen presents…

Joining us today is Ravin Tija Maurice! Her book, Prophecy Girl: Camille Bishop, Book 1 is now available on audiobook.

How long have you been writing?

I don’t remember a time when I wasn’t writing! But the real passion for it started in early elementary school when I realized that I could make the story and decide what happens. That appealed to me a lot.

Describe a typical writing day.

Typically I get a hot beverage, either tea or coffee, and some music together then sit down and do something to clear my thoughts. Recently I have been using a random notebook as a place to dump all the other thoughts before I start working on a project. I have to say it’s incredibly helpful

Then I sit and write, I try to pace myself but sometimes I can go for hours without stopping. And before I know it I have to stop and cool dinner.

Where do you get your inspiration for your books?

From a variety of places. I watch a lot of TV and movies and get lots of inspiration from there. Same with reading and books. I also love hearing what other authors are working on, I get inspired by the passion. Lately I have been reading a lot of comics and graphic novels, I find the pacing and format very inspiring.

Do you have a favorite character that you have written? If so, who? And what makes them so special.

That’s a tough one! But I do love Olivia from my Afflicted trilogy, the vampire with no tongue. Trying to figure out how she would operate in the world was really interesting and I had lots of fun learning about her. I also liked writing Lilly Darling, a character who comes up in Believer, my second Camille Bishop novel, in part because she made me laugh out loud. That’s rare!

How do you deal with the emotional impact of a book (on yourself) as you are writing the story?

Another great question! I am dealing with this now, the project I am currently working on is more of a psychological thriller and the main character has survived A LOT. I have really had to separate myself while working on it because living in her head space is a lot to deal with emotionally.

The emotional impact is important I think because if I felt it, then hopefully the reader did too and that’s very important to me. And I have to give them space, especially when I am done writing, to mourn them in a sense. But time to make peace and move on.

What book is currently on your bedside table?

Right now I have a few. Sin Eater by Megan Campisi the graphic novel Rat Queens.

When writing a series how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?

I think it’s really important to try to just do a little better than you did previously, and that’s what I want to do with the series. Make sure I tell a complete story in one book but tie them together, and hopefully they just keep getting better.

Describe yourself in 3 words.

Caring, loyal, trustworthy

What advice would you give to other authors?

Just keep swimming. Even when you feel like you can’t, this isn’t about anyone but you. You need to share your story with the world in the way only you can. Keep going. Everything can be fixed in edits.

What is the one thing you want people to know about you and your books?

That they come from a place of wanting to tell great stories, and wanting to make great memorable characters.

Thank you Ravin Tija Maurice for chatting with me! I will include her information down below. Check out her audiobook release, Prophecy Girl today!

~Synopsis~

I never thought my life could get any weirder, then Jane Lowry came into my office.

It seemed like a straightforward paternity case; something simple for my first solo assignment as a private investigator. Everyone has secrets. Jane Lowry’s would lead me down a path that would completely change my life. I knew the world was full of crazy things, but nothing would prepare me for how crazy it would get.

Ravin Tija Maurice lives in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada with her husband and daughter.

Her books span several time periods and feature a diverse cast of characters, all with a paranormal twist. She loves to binge watch television, has a large collection of stuffed animals and is a bit of a history geek.

A lifelong writer, she is constantly trying to find ways to grow and learn new skills to improve her craft.