Introducing Tiki….

Before we get started talking about your writing, tell us a little about yourself, where you’re from, what you do for a living (if you’re not a full-time writer) what hobbies you have, etc. Whatever you’d like to share to introduce yourself.

Hi! Thank you, Karen for this wonderful opportunity.

I’m Tiki Paige. It’s great to be here today. I’m a writer, author and writing coach. Before I became a full-time writer, I spent over a decade in the aviation industry working in various roles. My education background is in linguistics and the English language, and in Human Resources and coaching. I am an avid traveler and I know I will continue to travel for as long as I live. I currently live in Dubai.

1. What genre(s) do you write and why?

Contemporary romance. I grew up reading romance next to my grandma who was an avid reader and her favorite were romance novels. I loved reading historical romance and as I grew up and learned more about the genre, I started reading and writing contemporary romance. I also write non-fiction. I love helping writers become authors and I am currently working on a writer’s guide that will help them finish their bestseller.

2. If you were to choose one superpower, what would it be?

We are unlimited beings and we all have superpowers that are actually our natural abilities but because we don’t use them or are not aware that they exist, we often call them superpowers. But let me think. Invisibility. I’m an introvert who loves her quiet time and sometimes I’d love to be able to disappear and continue working on my book without having to talk to people.

3. Do you ever get stuck when you’re writing a book? What do you do to get “unstuck”?

Definitely! And I find this a good thing because it shows me that I have to find a smarter way to work or express myself. And the best way to get unstuck is to read. Read anything you enjoy reading as long as it makes you think and look at your situation from a different perspective.

4. What is your least favorite part of writing?

Even though I used to do this for a living and still do it with my manuscripts before I send them off to my editor, I have a love-hate relationship with proofreading. I am very particular when it comes to details and sometimes I can get stuck on the smallest of things, which can take up a lot of my time and divert me from doing what I’m supposed to do—write and create.

5. If we came to your house for dinner, what would you prepare for us?

I LOVE having guests over for dinner. I get to show my exquisite culinary skills.

For my lovely guests, I would prepare wholesome, fully plant-based meals since I have been living this lifestyle for the last ten years. Let’s see . . . for starters we would have a Mediterranean zucchini salad, lemon pesto greens, and sweetcorn frittatas with mango chutney. For our main course, we’d have chia and almond pizza, aubergine schnitzels with garlic cream, and asparagus quiche with cauliflower bake. And for dessert, we’d have fruity macadamia cream, black bean brownies and coconut matcha latte. And yes . . . you’re welcome.

6. What is your typical day like?

I’m an early bird and have been waking up at 4:30 AM for nearly a decade. A good night’s sleep is a must so I go to bed at 9:30. We all have different needs and natural rhythms and I know this type of lifestyle does not suit many but I’ve tried it and I’ve been doing it for a long time. The best part of the day is the early morning when I get to exercise and do my journaling. The rest of the world is still asleep and I love the peace and quiet. I then prepare breakfast for my family, we all get ready for school and the day ahead of us and then I sit at my desk to write. I write for about 4 hours a day. While I used to measure my writing by word count, nowadays this doesn’t work for me. I often found myself writing just for the sake of writing. This can be a good thing if you’re facing writer’s block but what I learned in the process is that there has to be a purpose behind my writing. So, I set realistic daily goals that I meet by writing for a certain amount of time. And so far, it turned out to be the best and most productive way for me to write. I spend the rest of my day on planning, writing other materials and book marketing. I end my day with a nighttime routine where I journal about my day and set intentions for the next day.

7. What is most difficult for you to write? Characters, conflict or emotions? Why?

I love conflict (and emotions). It’s what makes any novel come alive. I always know what my characters look like and I talk to them as I write but sometimes I find it challenging to add the physical details that are relevant to the story but I don’t like to write about.

8. How likely are the people you meet going to end up in your next book?

It depends. There are many characters and situations in my books that I have experienced myself but of course they’re still all fictional. I only draw ideas from my experiences and leave the rest to imagination. And most of the time it’s my imagination that makes the magic happen. I can come up with any scenario or character in a matter of minutes and I don’t really need to have an example or someone real to inspire me.

9. Tell us about your hero. Give us one of his strengths and one of his weaknesses.

My hero Jason from my first novel, I’m Your Man, is a vibrant, utterly fulfilled man who leads a life of purpose. He lives in LA. He lives in Hawaii. And he rides a Triumph. He has a tattoo on his rock-hard upper arm and he looks goddamn sexy wherever he goes.

His weakness is the heroine. Rhea. (There is a reason for this so I won’t tell you more.) They are complete opposites. She’s a business badass with an unforgiving past. She’d do anything to fulfill her dreams. He’s everything she’s not—healthy and energetic with a vigorous desire for life. With a smile to kill and a body to seduce, he is the ultimate catch. Too bad she’s not interested. Because she knows not to trust men. She never has. 

10. Tell us about your next book & when is it being published? Please provide links to your website, blog, books, etc.

My newest book is a novella, Let’s Just Call It Love. It’s live on Amazon, both eBook and paperback.

You can learn more about me and my writing adventures on my website where you’ll find a special gift just for you—a free romance short story, The Very Thought of You.