Interview with Tasha Kazanjian

Congrats on the release of A TRICK OF SPADES from Owl's Nest Publishers, which is available for purchase now!
 
What did your creative process for this book look like?  
A little unusual, honestly. In college, one of my professors encouraged me to apply for a research grant; basically, my university paid me to write the first draft. I spent three months working on the book like it was my job, forty hours a week of writing, editing, and reading comp titles and historical nonfiction. It was an incredible and probably unrepeatable experience. Of course, it still took another four years of work before Spades found a home at Owl’s Nest Publishers.
 
What does your working space look like? What do you need in order to be productive?  
I have a lovely desk which I almost never use for writing! Instead, I tend to work curled up on the couch. The main thing I need in order to be productive is solitude–I don’t write well in public spaces or with other people around. I like some background noise, usually my writing playlist, and I do my best work in the evening.
 
Talk to us about music. What are your favorite songs for writing? How do you switch it up? Do you have a theme song for yourself as a writing professional?  
I love listening to instrumental music when I write. Lots of Joe Hisaishi, Hans Zimmer, and John Powell. There’s some classical on there, too–I love Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade. I don’t know if I have a theme song for myself as a writer, but I do typically have a theme song for each of my books. For Trick of Spades, it’s “Do You Believe in Magic?” by The Lovin’ Spoonful.
 
How did you initially get into writing?  
I started writing plays at the age of ten–they were blatant knockoffs of my favorite movies, books, and shows, of course. My friends and I would put them on for our families.
 
What do you hope will draw readers to your work?  
If readers enjoy suspense, complex worldbuilding, and family dynamics, they might like Spades. Most of all, I hope readers are drawn to the characters. Colm and Clíana are so fun to write, and while there are plenty of magical hijinks, the heart of the story is that sibling relationship.
 
Outside of writing, what do you like to do? (personal life outside of writing)  
Of course, like all writers, I love reading. I also love cooking, baking, experimenting with new cocktails, and pretty much anything that involves food. As you might guess from what I write about, I really enjoy studying history–and on any given weekend, you can find me shopping at estate sales and vintage boutiques.
 
What are your favorite moments of both suspense, happiness, or other in your upcoming book?  
There’s a moment early on in the book, right as the plot begins to thicken, where the main character, Colm, has a conversation with one of the antagonists. It’s not exactly an action-packed scene, but it was incredibly fun to write in terms of the character dynamics. Colm has to be careful about what he reveals, while also persuading the antagonist to reveal something. It shows a lot about both characters.
 
What are your favorite jokes and quotes in your upcoming book?  
I think I actually didn’t realize what was funny in Spades until I read it aloud to my nieces–for example, there’s a moment in which one of the characters, when cornered, throws a lamp at the villain. In my mind, she threw the lamp simply because it was in arm’s reach, but my nieces found it hilarious.
 
How will you celebrate the book release?  
Probably with cocktails! My mum and I love inventing new ones, and every time I have a release, we mix up a drink inspired by the story.
 
Could you tell us about authors who have inspired you?  
Oh, there have been so many! J.R.R. Tolkien and Ursula K. Le Guin, Rumer Godden and John Steinbeck, Jane Austen and George Eliot–pretty much any author I read and love inspires me.
 
What advice do you have for aspiring authors?
Just keep at it. And read a lot. Read a lot of different things. You can learn from any book you pick up, even if it isn’t in your genre, even if you don’t love it. Find other writers, and learn how to accept critique–I know it’s painful, but it’s the best way to improve.