Tami Hoag started very strongly the New Year with her recent release The Bitter Season. The novel debuted on January 12 and already is accepted as a strong title. So far 170 Amazon reviewers gave a decent average of 4.6 stars.

Our next guest has 30 books behind her. The novels were translated in more than 30 languages. With the quality of her writing Tami Hoag has a well deserved spot at NY Times Bestselling list.

– Tami, what is your new book The Bitter Season about?
– THE BITTER SEASON follows two homicide cases, one a 25 year old cold case murder of a decorated sex crimes detective, and the present day brutal double homicide of a university professor and his wife in an apparent home invasion. Liska is assigned to the cold case, and Kovac and his new partner are working the new case.

– How did you decide to write Kovac and Liska series?
– They first appeared in ASHES TO ASHES as secondary characters. I likes them so well, I went on to feature them in DUST TO DUST. Five books later, I’m still enjoying writing about them.
– What was the biggest challenge during the write up process?
– Juggling three plots at once. I don’t write from an outline, so that’s a lot going on in my brain all at once.
– Tell us something more about your main characters Nikki and Sam? Are they close to someone from your real life and how did you selected their family Slavonic names Liska and Kovac?
– The really interesting thing about these two characters is that I created them on the fly while writing a scene for ASHES TO ASHES. The heroine of that book is a victim/witness advocate. She goes to Homicide to talk to the detective in charge of the case, and I saw Kovac in my mind, plain as day. I could hear his voice as he spoke to someone on the telephone. His name came to me immediately. I never slowed down writing the scene. The characters walked down a hall to an interview room, opened the door, and there was Nikki Liska. It was the same way with her. I saw her, heard her, knew exactly who she was immediately. It’s a mystical process sometimes.The population of Minnesota (the setting of the book) is overwhelmingly Scandinavian. My family is Norwegian, yet I never contemplated any names other than Kovac and Liska for those characters.
– How much time did you need to finish the story and to publish it?
– I’m always on a short deadline. I probably spent six months writing this book, finishing in September 2015. It was published in January.
– Did you expect such a big success of Cold Cold Heart?
– I have high expectations for every book, and yet, somehow, it’s always a pleasant surprise when a book does well.
– Who are you?
– I’m hard-working, but fun-loving. I’m driven and goal-oriented, but I love to laugh. I’m an introvert by nature, but a leader when called upon. I love art and music, and mixed martial arts fighting.
– What are your writing habits?
– I begin with the crime that is central to the story, and with a few of the main characters in mind. I don’t write from an outline, I prefer the story develop organically. I start every day reviewing, editing, re-writing what I wrote the day before, then go on to write new material. When the book is done, it’s done. There is no second draft.
– When we will see your next novel and would you unveil something more about it?
– My next book will be scheduled for summer of 2017. I haven’t settled on an idea yet. I’m playing with several options.
– I saw a photo of you and MMA legend Chuck Liddell. How came your interest in Mixed Martial Arts?
– Several years ago I met and started working out with a former MMA fighter. He introduced me to the sport, and I loved it instantly. I love the intensity of it, the discipline of the training, the principles of martial arts. I’ve become a very serious, knowledgeable fan.
– Who is your favorite MMA fighter and the fight that you will always remember?
– That’s such a hard choice! I have favorites in every weight class, but I love Frankie Edgar. He’s a great example of what a martial artist should be in and out of the ring. I’ve been to many excellent fights. One I will never forget is Chris Weidman’s first win over Anderson Silva. That was just stunning. I will never forget what it was like to be in that arena when Chris knocked Silva out. A close second would be Weidman’s fight with Lyoto Machida. Machida’s wife was sitting right behind me.
– You are saying that you’ve got a legitimate knocking power in your right hand. Did you ever use it in self-defense?
– I’ve never had to, but I’m ever-ready!
– What are your best competition results in Olympic discipline dressage?
– My most memorable result was winning the Grand Prix at the Palm Beach Derby. It was only my fourth time riding at that level and my score was the highest Grand Prix score of three days of competition. I haven’t shown now for several years due to injuries and work conflicts, but when I was showing seriously I had numerous top six placings at the International level with my top horse, Coco Chanel.
– If you may ask yourself one question in the interview what it will be? (Don’t forget to answer)
– Q: What is the most valuable thing you have learned over the years as a writer? A: To be true to who I am as an artist.

To learn more about Tami Hoag check out her Website
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Take a look at her books:

The Bitter Season (Kovac & Liska)
Cold Cold Heart
The 9th Girl (Kovac & Liska)
Ashes to Ashes: A Novel (Sam Kovac and Nikki Liska Book 1)
Deeper Than the Dead