T Gephart is an internationally and USA Today best-selling author from Melbourne, Australia. Gephart is the author of the Lexi, Black Addiction, Power Station, and #1 Series, as well as several standalones. Her latest novel, Train Wreck, will be released on July 10th. You can find her on Facebook at T Gephart, or at www.tgephart.com
1. How did you begin writing?
I started writing on a dare. I have always been a storyteller, my travels in life have meant that I had a lot of interesting experiences to share and I have enjoyed sharing them with my friends. I loved how entertained they were by my antics, and it made me happy, but as far as formal writing went, I didn’t see myself as a writer. Then on a dare, I wrote a book for my friends as a Christmas present. It was filled with some of my craziness (stories that had actually happened) and fiction—this was my chance to embellish and colour it how I wanted—but I never intended or expected it to be published for general consumption. We were supposed to read it, laugh about it, and then move on with our lives. After reading my first “book” they begged me for a second part and pushed me to self publish it. I wasn’t interested and was resistant for a while but finally I put it out there more so they would stop badgering me. Again, I assumed it would be thrown out into the world and we’d all go back to our lives like nothing happened. Ironically, it seemed fate had other plans and my first book, “A Twist of Fate,” got noticed with readers devouring it. I assumed it was a fluke so when I pushed publish on my second book I didn’t expect much, but again I was wrong. It seemed that readers enjoyed my voice and my craziness so I decided I would continue until I didn’t enjoy it anymore or they stopped reading. I’ve just finished writing my 16th book so I guess neither of us are done just yet ;-)
2. Many of your books take place outside of Australia, in the U.S. How do you make sure to capture the atmospheres of the American cities accurately, while still living in Australia?
My first series, “The Lexi Series,” starts in Melbourne and then moves to New York and there’s a novella, “Lexi,” set in Rome. Other than that, all of my books are set in the USA. I have been travelling to the US since 1994. I was an 18 year old—gasp, I’m really that old—and decided I wanted to go to LA by myself and see the world. Of course, it wasn’t as awesome as I thought it was going to be (Pre-internet meant I didn’t know I’d booked a hotel in a not so nice part of town) but it whetted my appetite for travel and I came back a few—a LOT— more times. New York was and still is one of my favorite cities which is why most of my books are set there. I won’t write about a place I’ve never been, and I am lucky enough to have lived in the US and have a lot of friends and family still there. It means I have a good grasp of not only the geography but of the vernacular as well. I also make sure not to assume; if I don’t know something I make sure I ask a local, Google can’t give you the personal touch.
3. In your website biography, you seem to pride yourself on living an ‘eclectic’ and ‘unconventional’ life. What is the craziest story from your personal experiences that you’re willing to share with fans?
I’d like to plead the fifth LOL. I have so many crazy, crazy stories, some of which I’m not sure whether or not the statue of limitations have passed. Trying to think of one that would be suitable for print. Ummmmmm. Okay, this one I think is safe considering I’m no longer in the country. And it’s not too crazy per se but still a lot of fun. When I was in Ireland last year I infiltrated the set of Vikings (History channel series) I walked around the sets and snooped around like a complete stalker. I have photos of myself sitting in Lagertha’s chair and walking around Ragnar’s house and the Viking village. I was on set for about an hour and a half before the crew realized I wasn’t an “extra” LOL. I wasn’t arrested but politely asked to leave. I will say that my mouth and my Aussie accent have gotten me out of a lot of trouble. ;-)
4. Your protagonists seem to be strong, empowered, self-made women that are deeply in tune with their femininity and sexuality. How do you think your protagonists affect the existing literary landscape?
I write characters I want to read. It’s that simple and I think there are a lot of readers who also want to read strong woman. That doesn’t mean they can’t have some softness and vulnerability to them. I want the light and the shade to all my characters and we—women—are so critical of ourselves and each other I hope that my characters force readers to examine how we see each other. I don’t think my writing is ground breaking, and there are many, many authors with strong and compelling women in their pages so I’m not arrogant to think that my books and/or characters are altering the landscape. I feel like more a ripple, which is hopefully part of a bigger wave, and together we are creating strong women in fiction reflective of the strong women in our reality.
5. What advice do you have for writers looking to self-publish, rather than sign with publishing houses?
Publishing houses publish what they believe is marketable, not necessarily what is “good”. They are accountable to their bottom line and taking risks isn’t always part of that equation which means they have to pass over things that are brilliant but might not have wide appeal. Self-publishing gives you more freedom and greater control and when done correctly, can give you a HUGE sense of accomplishment and financial reward. When I became a USA Today bestseller, it was my name listed as the publisher and that felt pretty amazing. I am a CEO of my own corporation, and I make the decisions of when, where, or how I write. But that doesn’t mean I get to put out a half rate product or that I don’t have the pressure of a deadline. I think there are people who believe that self-publishing is inferior but this is not always true. I employ and contract designers so that my covers are professional, editors so my work is polished, promotional and marketing people, as well as others. It’s a costly exercise to get a book to market and those want to do it shouldn’t be tempted to cut corners. Respect your readers, don’t think they won’t notice or deserve less than your best. But if you do it right, then there is no greater reward than sitting back and knowing you got there under your own steam. The BIG FIVE publishing houses are no longer the gatekeepers, which means it’s an exciting time to publish. Make a decision that is right for you, and don’t let ego be a deciding factor. It’s nice to see a book on a shelf but it’s even nicer to have written a book you believe in and can stand behind.
6. Where do you see yourself and your writing in the future?
I constantly joke I’m one book away from busking under a bridge somewhere. LOL The industry, like all areas of entertainment, is fickle. What was “hot” and “in demand” can change so quickly so I don’t write to trend. I write how I always have written—what I want to read and hope others do too. I can’t stress it enough, ego has no place here. I know that I will be writing for the rest of my life. I’m a storyteller, I always have been, but whether my stories are commercially available will remain the decision of my readers. Publishing is expensive and when it no longer becomes viable, then I will do something else and my “books” will once again be gifts for my friends. Hopefully I have a long career ahead of me; in literary terms I am a baby, but if it all goes away tomorrow I have had one hell of a ride and regret nothing. Plus, it made a great story ;-)
7. Do you have anything else you would like to add?
The best advice I have to give for ANYTHING (not just writing) is to it do it with 100% commitment. I have a sign that sits in my office that reads “I was warned not to bite off more than I could chew, but I’d rather choke on greatness than nibble at mediocrity.” There is absolutely no shame in failure, to have tried something and epically crashed and burned. It makes you a better person, and it sure as hell made me a better writer. So don’t fear failure; instead welcome the lessons it’s going to teach you. And when you do finally succeed— and you will—it will all be worth it.
Rachael Bindas is a freelance writer and editor from Pittsburgh, PA. She focuses mainly on fiction, but still harbors a deep love for poetry. Her work has been featured in Moledro Magazine, Aeons, The Curious Element Magazine, and The Holiday Cafe.
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