Today in The Loft: Author Tim Smith!

Joining me today in The Loft is fellow eXtasy author Tim Smith. Tim is an award-winning, bestselling author of romantic mystery/thrillers and contemporary erotic romance. His novels featuring former CIA agent Nick Seven have garnered several awards and international critical praise. He is also a freelance writer, blogger, editor and photographer. When Tim isn’t pursuing those interests, he can be found in the Florida Keys, doing research in between parasailing and seeking out the perfect Mojito.

Author Tim Smith

S:  Good morning, Tim! So nice to chat with you again.

In your opinion, is true romance--the wooing, courtship, passion, seduction, the little gestures of affection, etc.--dead? 

T:  I wouldn’t say they’re dead, but definitely headed for life support. When everything went digital, romance became colder and less personal. Reality stepped aside for fantasy and fictitious bios, while frivolous conversations were replaced by a digital shorthand that you need a cheat sheet to keep up with. The query, “May I call you?” is now answered with “Text me.” I consider myself to be a vivid writer, but expressing my feelings or making someone laugh in a couple of hundred characters is tough to do. What happened to sending cute greeting cards with silly messages written inside, or phoning just to say, “Hi, how are ya?” To put this in perspective, my parents were happily married for 62 years, and they expressed their feelings for each other every day without the aid of a cell phone. Different generation, different expectations.

S:  You are so right. Everything seems so superficial, as if getting to know someone doesn't matter. That's so sad.

What do you appreciate more--Brains or brawn/beauty?

T:  While physical attraction is a factor, I really appreciate a sense of humor--I’m always making jokes, and the ability to carry on a good conversation. I’ve talked with women who were very pretty, but they couldn’t discuss anything that went deeper than “Well, duh, ya know?” To be fair, a lot of my male friends have that same problem, unless they’re talking about sports. Along with shared interests, I also appreciate honesty and sincerity. If you say you’ll return a call or meet me someplace, be considerate enough to follow through. I think ghosting is rude and I’d never do it. If you feel like things aren’t working out, it’s polite to let the other person know so they don’t wonder why you changed your number.

S:  A good sense of humor is at the root of great relationships. You have to be able to laugh at life--together. Of course, for me, you also have to be a rabid Packers fan!

What do people get wrong about publishing a book?

T:  Not realizing how much work is involved from conception to publication and beyond. In some of my writer support groups, I hear newbies who are in the work-in-progress stage complain about the amount of corrections their editors want them to make. I learned a long time ago not to take those criticisms personally, because the editor’s job is to work with you to produce a better finished product. I’d hate to be around when they release their book and discover how much marketing they need to do.

S:  As a former journalist, I'm used to having my copy ripped apart. When I got the edits for my first book, I barely blinked. I was really surprised to learn that others objected to being edited.

What is the best/worst thing that has ever happened to you as a writer?

T:  Aside from being traditionally published for over 20 years, the best things are the opportunities that have come with it. It opened up a whole different world for me, with a lot of unique experiences. Traveling to different parts of the country for author events, doing interviews and meeting interesting people were all part of the fun. I’ve maintained friendships with many of these writers and industry folks. Another perk was parlaying authorship into becoming a freelance writer and blogger. I’ve had some fun gigs, from book reviewer to covering arts events for local newspapers, and a post-retirement job as the editor of one of them.

S:  What would you like people to know about you?

T:  This year marks my twentieth anniversary as a published author. In that time, I’ve released 29 books, contributed to a few anthologies, and written more blogs and feature stories than I can recall. I now work as a full-time writer and editor, something I had wanted to do for a long time. I’m starting to indulge my love of travel again, now that some of the restrictions have been lifted, and hope to do more this coming year.

S:  Congratulations on all of your success. I know you worked hard for it.

What inspired "Out of the Shadows?"

T:  “Out of the Shadows” began with one of those whimsical “What if…” moments. I was watching one of my favorite romantic caper movies, “Charade,” with Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn. I had been looking for a story idea for my next book and as I was watching it, I thought, “What if my hero runs into a professional thief and con artist from his past?” Once I had that base, the ideas began flowing: Why is this person in the Keys? Is he there to pull off a caper? What is his target? Who else is involved? What is the bigger picture?

S:  Is there anything special you would like people to know about "Out of the Shadows?"

T:  “Out of the Shadows” is my 29th published book, and the eighth in the Nick Seven series of Key Largo-based adventures. This is a series, but the books do not need to be read in order. Although I incorporated some current events into the plot, it’s just a breezy, quick-paced adventure with romance, interesting characters, snappy dialogue, action, and vivid atmosphere. It’s escapism, pure and simple. Chase away the winter blahs and blues by joining Nick and Felicia in the sunny, sultry Florida Keys for their latest adventure. I think you’ll enjoy the trip!

Here's the blurb--

What does a former spy have to do to get some peace and quiet in his personal corner of paradise? In the laidback ease of the Florida Keys, Nick Seven has carved out a life far removed from the intrigue that once defined his life in the CIA. He runs his trendy club on the Gulf, keeps a low profile, and enjoys the tropical setting with Felicia, his Barbadian lover and former co-worker. After he sees a woman being killed at a resort, Nick finds himself thrust into an investigation where there is no corpse and no evidence of a crime. The police are busy with a string of high-profile home burglaries and don’t have time to look for his imaginary victim, so it’s up to Nick to investigate. Then French con artist Marco St. Julian unexpectedly surfaces from Nick’s past. Are the incidents related? And what part does the wealthy young trophy wife of a convicted financial scammer play in all of this? Throw in a career-hungry FBI agent, a mysterious Cuban crook and an ex-patriate Irish gunrunner, and it’s more than just another day at the beach.

S:  Sounds like you have all the ingredients for a great story.

Where can readers buy your book?

T:  It's available at all major booksellers, including--

eXtasy Books:  https://www.extasybooks.com/Out-of-the-Shadows

Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/Out-Shadows-Nick-Seven-Book-ebook/dp/B0BL6JSYDL

Barnes and Noble:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/out-of-the-shadows-tim-smith/1142680789

Kobo:  https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/out-of-the-shadows-116

S:  Tim, thanks so much for joining me today. If you'd like to learn more about Tim and his books, please visit https://allauthor.com/author/timsmith/.