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Looking Out the Window: Author Tracy Krauss Talks About Her Books and Her Life as a Teacher





Tracy will be giving away a copy of And the Beat Goes On. To enter to win leave a comment and your email address.  

Hi Tracy. First, tell us a little about yourself.
I work as a high school teacher. I teach Art, Drama and English ā€“ all the things I love. My husband and I used to be in ministry but we are taking a sabbatical of sorts. Our four children are all grown up, but at one time I homeschooled them for several years. We dragged them around the countryside, moving about 15 times (I actually lost count) so it was a great solution. Besides writing, I paint, lead worship and play the piano at our church, and direct an amateur theatrical group. Life is full.
Full, indeed. Were you an avid reader as a child? If so, what did you read?
I loved reading as a child and I still do. I read all the ā€˜Anneā€™ books by Lucy Maude Montgomery, lots of Judy Blume, Beverly Cleary, and ā€˜The Adventures of ...ā€™ Series by Thornton Burgess. Then I got seriously into Edgar Rice Burroughs and read all the ā€˜Tarzanā€™ books. (There are a ga-zillion ā€¦) My Star Trek addiction as a teen got me hooked on anything Sci-fi and to this day, Spec and Sci-fi are still my favorites.

                                          

Tell us about your latest book.
MY MOTHER THE MAN-EATER is the story of a forty-something cougar whose life gets very complicated, indeed. Her search for fulfillment leads to multiple boyfriends, trouble with her grown daughters (each with their own quirks), and an ex fresh out of prison looking for revenge. Dark secrets from the past begin to resurface and she finds herself in a twisted web of love, lust, lies and danger.
In three words describe your style of writing.
Edgy inspirational suspense
How do you get to know your characters?
I use my training in theater to really dig into my characterā€™s motivation. I develop elaborate back stories that often donā€™t see the page, but help me to understand who they are and why they do things.
Itā€™s great that you have training in theater. What themes do you write about?
So far my books have a very strong redemptive quality. I like characters that are kind of ā€˜badā€™ ā€“ as in naughty ā€“ but then come to God. I like the idea that God is not prejudice. He sees the potential where people see the failure.
I like that idea too, Tracy. Do you have to juggle writing with a job, family responsibilities or other obligations? How do you balance it?
This is much easier now that my children are grown. However, I still struggle to fit some writing time into each day. I try to keep a schedule for both my creative writing and my online activity, but of course, one has to be flexible.
Are you a plotter or a pantzer?
I start with a plot, but then I let the ā€˜pantsā€™ take over! I find a framework keeps me from losing sight of the goal and I donā€™t get frustrated by writing in circles, so to speak. However, fresh ideas always surface. Characters say or do unexpected things, a new idea crops up . . . then I just go back and revise the framework.
What are you working on right now?
Iā€™ve actually got a lot going on. My third novel PLAY IT AGAIN is currently in production and should be out in November. Itā€™s the prequel to my first book AND THE BEAT GOES ON, and is the story of Mark Grahamā€™s parents ā€“ an ex rock and roll junkie and a stuffy accountant. (Mark Graham is the main character from the first book ā€“ an archeologist that finds evidence for creation but is threatened when he tries to share the truth.)
Iā€™m also pitching another book about a small prairie town where ancient medicine resurfaces in the form of generational curses. Itā€™s called WIND OVER MARSHDALE. I have about six other WIPs, too.
Is there anything else youā€™d like to tell us?
I love it when people stop by my blog or fanpage. My links are here:
Website: http://www.tracykrauss.com/
Blog: http://www.tracykraussexpressionexpress.com/
FB: http://tinyurl.com/Tracy-Krauss-Author-Fanpage
Amazon: http://www.kraussamazon.com/
Thanks for having me on your blog!
Youā€™re most welcome, Tracy. It was fun.
About My Mother the Man-Eater
Whatā€™s a girl to do? Joleen Allen is on the hunt. For a man, that is. Unfortunately, every time the mother of five meets a prospect, he falls for one of her daughters instead!
Meanwhile, her ex-husband, Harold, is back in the picture after a stint in prison, and heā€™s looking for revenge. Heā€™ll do anything to see Joleenā€™s reputation and her relationship with their children ruined. Harold has devised an elaborate plan to slander Joleen and ruin her financially, and will stop at nothing ā€“ even murder ā€“ to see it through.
At forty-four, Joleen has seen a thing or two. She became a mother at sixteen, and her five highly independent children are now grown. Jasmine is a successful ad executive, but has a drinking problem. Jill is a tough cop, while middle child Jennifer surprises them all with her tenacity. Jinger is a self-centered glamour girl, and the baby of the family, Jade, is utterly spoiled.
All the interesting men they meet get tossed around by this pack of barracudas. Adding to the mix are some drug deals, a kidnapping, insurance fraud, and secrets from the past, making life very complicated, indeed.
With grit, humor, action, intrigue and romance, My Mother the Man-Eater is a redemptive story about a woman whose search for meaning in life sends her straight into . . . the arms of God.
About Play It Again 
Sparks fly when an ex rock and roll junkie and a stuffy accountant rendezvous at a local resort, but neither are prepared for the emotional entanglements, family complications, and a threat from the past that unexpectedly resurfaces. Set in the 1980ā€²s, this story brings two opposing forces together in a clash of romance and danger, while its musical undertones highlight the theme that God can turn anything into beautiful music.
About the Author
Tracy Krauss is a high school teacher by profession, and a prolific author, artist, playwright and director by choice. She received her Bachelorā€™s degree from the University of Saskatchewan and has gone on to teach Art, Drama and English ā€“ all the things she is passionate about. After raising four children, she and her husband now reside in beautiful Tumbler Ridge, BC where she continues to pursue all of her creative interests. Her first two books, AND THE BEAT GOES ON and MY MOTHER THE MAN-EATER, were both nominated for the ā€˜Indie Excellence Book Awardsā€™ for religious fiction in 2011. A third novel, PLAY IT AGAIN, the much anticipated prequel to her first book, is currently in production. Tracy also has one stage play in print.

Comments

Pam saidā€¦
Enjoyed the interview. Will be adding Tracy's books to my wish list. Please enter me!
pam (at) daysong (dot) com
Anonymous saidā€¦
Tracy, your books sound exciting. I enjoyed reading about them and you. I wish you God's blessing on your work.
June Foster saidā€¦
Hi Tracy, I loved your comment that you're a plotter but sometimes let the pants take over. That's me, too. Love the fact your characters find God in your story.
Anne Patrick saidā€¦
Hi Tracy and Gail. Great interview. Best of luck to the both of you in all your writing endeavors!
Tracy Krauss saidā€¦
Hi Gail and everyone who commented so far. Just checking in - I'll be back later. thanks Gail for hosting me and good luck to all.
DanielleThorne saidā€¦
Great interview. I love edgy Inspirational that touches on real life characters and issues. And has a little fun with it, too. Your books sound wonderful. Good luck!
Miss Mae saidā€¦
Hi Tracy!

I'm with you about the "Anne" books and loving Star Trek and sci-fi. Yeah!

Ooh, the Man Eater sounds rather like a thriller! Wishing you success with this original story. :)

*as I don't enter contents, please do not submit my name*

Thank you!
Sarah J. McNeal saidā€¦
Your books sound so interesting. I especially liked the premise for your WIP.
I'm an old Star Trek fan, too.
Life as an art and English teacher just sounds like so much fun.
You moved 15 times? How did you ever remember your address? LOL
A delightful interview. I wish you every success, Tracy.
Sarah ( starcriter@yahoo.com)
Tracy Krauss saidā€¦
Hooray for Star Trekk fans! This is me checking in again. Thanks for stopping everyone. today is my birthday so i'm otherwise occupied as well ... :)
Gina saidā€¦
So nice to meet you, Tracy! Your books sound great and I wish you lots of success and happiness in your writing. It must be so beautiful where you live, could you tell me, do you have a favorite season where you come from?
thank you!

Gail, your blog is wonderful.

Hugs,
Regina
Gina saidā€¦
And oh - just read that it is your birthday...HAPPY BIRTHDAY! :-)
Felicia Rogers saidā€¦
Your books sound interesting. I would love to win. Thanks for the giveaway!

feliciarogersauthor (at) yahoo. com
Laurean Brooks saidā€¦
Interesting interview. Tracy, your books have interesting plots. And your characters are multi-dimensional.

A great combination for a best seller. God bless you and your writing.
Tracy Krauss saidā€¦
Thanks again Gail. You have such a great blog. Blessings to all. (FYI - fall is my favorite season :)
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