Today we're joining the HOW I RUINED MY LIFE tour by chatting with author T.L. Bainter. Come get to know more about this book, and be sure to enter the rafflecopter at the end of the post.
Hi and welcome to We Do Write. Tell us a bit about yourself.
Hi there! I’m T. L. Bainter, author of How I Ruined My Life and owner of a very rambunctious Savannah cat named Sooba. I work as a Data Center technician full-time, and spend my days off writing, reading, and visiting Kansas City’s many local coffee shops.
Tell our readers a bit about HOW I RUINED MY LIFE.
How I Ruined My Life is a YA literary novel about the vital role friendship can play in our lives. The story follows Kyle Barnes, a plain, quiet, reclusive teenager that finds his life turned upside down when he becomes friends with James Porter. With his newfound friend, Kyle experiences life as he never thought he could - for better or for worse.
How did the idea of the story come to you?
The book is very strongly based on my own experiences as a young adult. In my adolescence, I was extremely reclusive and very quiet. Several experiences changed that and helped me grow as a person, shaping the man that I am today. How I Ruined My Life is essentially a slightly embellished version of my childhood.
Are you a plotter or a pantser?
I’d say I’m a bit of both! With How I Ruined My Life, I wrote a very vague plot synopsis and then sat down to write. The book ultimately wound up being very different from the initial synopsis, with some parts being removed and others being added. If I feel the story moving in a direction other than the one that the outline wishes to take it, then I ignore the outline completely.
What’s the hardest part of writing for you?
Revision. I think just about any author will tell you the same thing, since it seems to be the most painstaking part of the process. I can write ten thousand words over the course of two days, and then take a month to read and revise those very same words.
What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?
A cup of coffee. If I can’t mull over my writing while sipping coffee, then I find myself rather uninspired. Sometimes it’s whiskey, depending on whether or not it’s a work night.
If you could have any super power, what would it be?
Have you ever watched the show Misfits? I would love to have Curtis Donovan’s power from that show. It’s sort of like time travel, but only takes him backward except in cases of power-reversal (which occurs while under the influence of ecstasy in the show).
I probably thought too hard about this one.
What's the weirdest thing you've googled?
I feel the need to reiterate that I’m a writer; I use Google to research some pretty terrible things in the name of writing. I think that the worst/weirdest thing that I’ve ever researched with Google is the human response to beheading, or: “What happens when you’re beheaded?”
I learned a lot, so it was worth having the bizarre question in my search history.
Finish this sentence: If I'm not writing, I'm probably …
Hanging out at a local coffee shop, or going for a walk. I love my city, and find a lot of inspiration for my writing when I’m out and about.
Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Let's hear your shout outs.
I received immense support during the first stages of How I Ruined My Life, and individuals continue to support me in my endeavors to make this book successful. Obviously I have to give a shoutout to my mother and grandmother, who have both read all of the ridiculous stories I’ve ever written. Without their perseverance, I may never have reached this point. I also want to thank the individuals that inspired my story, namely best friend, Ben Schoonover, whom I miss greatly.
Thanks so much for stopping by the blog!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Lorraine Koh, who also goes by the pen name, Raine Koh lives in
sunny Singapore. She has written Munchy Isn't
Everything and Pop
Rock Love and is currently working
on a new novel. Her hobbies include chasing stars, photographing them and
travelling to see them.
