Tarryn Fisher (CDN photo / Gerard Pareja )
Before she was anything to the world of Young Adult and New Adult
literature, she was simply a woman walking unknown paths in search of
herself though never had she been the damsel-in-distress kind. After wading through series of identities, she is now a novelist who fell in love with words; a fashion blogger who is frugal with the wardrobe; a
doting mother of two, and was once a lover though not your usual run. She could lie and deceive. She could manipulate and keep up with pretensions. She could tread ever so gracefully between love and obsession, and you would still love her all the same. She could be easily mistaken as the villain and she would admit so without a qualm. All actions are valid for a woman who fights for love.
Without batting an eyelash, Tarryn Fisher, New York Times bestselling author of the “Love me with Lies” series, revealed she is the woman in the first book, “The Opportunist.” The second book, “Dirty Red,” is written from her rival’s point of view. Yes, they’re friends now. The last installment, “Thief,” is their man’s side of the story. This is the part you’d die to ask what happened but why bother when you could get into the story yourself. All three books inspired by real people. All three different narratives of each own desires and revelations.
The ever bold, outspoken, passionate, wickedly brilliant Tarryn Fisher talked about her take on love and womanhood. She’s been there. Done that. Wrote about it, too.
How’s your Philippine tour so far?
I love it here! I love it. It is so colorful. It’s beautiful, and the people are really beautiful and I’ve been to a lot of places but there are not people like this; how warm everyone is and so happy. There’s a lot of joy here. I’ve been to places and they have everything but they’re miserable.
Which Filipino food do you like?
Everything is good! And Jollibee! Oh, my God! When I tasted the Jollibee spaghetti, it was so great! (Laughs). Everything has been really good here.
What or who inspired the character of Olivia in the first book, “The Opportunist?”
The character was based on me, on who I was in my early 20s. I’m 32 now. I was Olivia, and there’s a real Leah, and a real Caleb. I based them on real people.
Does the real Caleb know that he’s the character in your story?
He does know but he has never read the books.
So you’re friends with him?
I’m still friends with him, yes.
Was Caleb your first love?
Yes, it was Caleb. It was the real Caleb which is not his real name.
Tell us about Leah.
He did not marry her but she’s very similar to the
character. I like her a lot though. We’re friends—now. (Laughs)
And does she know she’s in the story, too?
She does not know. She has read the books and she doesn’t know.
Why do you think is that?
Because some people are so narcissistic. They are so self-centered they don’t even see themselves that way. She has no clue.
Each book is told from different points of view. Did you plan this out from the start?
I didn’t write the second book until the first one was sold out and the readers wanted to know what happened.
And the third?
I just wanted to finish it. I wanted to tell the whole story from three different sets of eyes.
How was the writing process of having to give each his/her side of the story?
Well, I went to college for Psychology. So that’s a built-in. My favorite thing is human nature and how we react to love.
What happens when a villain falls in love? I think we sabotage ourselves. Love is madness.
Tell us about your quote shared in the 50 Badass Quotes from Badass Women: “Women hold all the power. They should use it like a whip, not offer it up like a
sacrifice.” I love women. I feel like we are very valuable. We are the bringers of life. We, in a way, control men,
because they want us. They chase us and women give themselves very easily to men, instead of knowing their worth and making men fight for it. So instead of offering yourself like a sacrifice, I think you got to get them in line. Use the whip.
Do you think a woman needs a man to make her feel complete?
I think women love to be loved. If we don’t have that love, we feel that something is missing. That’s where the need to be complete comes in. We don’t need it. We WANT it. There are plenty of women who survived without men—my mother for one. We want romance. It’s more of a want than a need.
How does your day usually go as a writer?
I’m a mom first. So I get up, I get the kids ready. I spend some time with them. Take them to school, and then I go write, or shop because I have the fashion blog too. Then I pick them up, cook dinner, clean toilets, watch TV. That’s my day but then you know I travel a lot too. I have book tours and I just like to travel. I like to go places for myself–for pleasure.
What’s the most memorable place you’ve ever been to?
Rome! Which is in the book. It’s my favorite place. Paris is the City of Romance but I don’t think it is as
romantic as Rome. Rome is the most beautiful place I have ever seen and there’s always music playing. You just see all these beautiful women walking in the streets and there’s music. It’s like a movie! (Laughs)
You and fellow New Adult writer, Colleen Hoover seem to be really good friends.
We travel together, yes. A lot. She likes me. (Laughs). I’m actually low maintenance. Surprisingly. And that’s why she likes me. I don’t need a lot of space. I’m not needy. I don’t take long to get ready in the morning. I don’t. So we work.
What is it about her that you like the most?
Her heart. I’ve never met anyone with a bigger heart. She doesn’t even brag. Nobody knows all of the good things that she does. She’s very funny. She makes fun of me which I think is funny too. (Laughs).
You could only do that to a very close friend.
Yes! (Laughs)
How did you two end up collaborating on a book titled “Never Never”?
She texted me about an idea she had for a book, and I thought it was so brilliant I wish I thought of that first. A few months later, she said, hey, let’s do it together! So I wrote the first chapter and we are just going back and forth for fun. And then we were like, “Let’s put it out together and see what happens.”
Tell us about this book.
It’s a YA book, and it’s about two teenagers that suddenly wake up at school and they have no idea who they are. The book is about them trying to figure out why then don’t know who they are.
Do they reflect you both?
I write the female character, Charlie, and Colleen writes Silas. Yes, they absolutely reflect our personalities. She’s very aloof. She’s a smart one. She doesn’t need anyone. Silas is very kind and he pursues her. He loves her even when she pushes him away.
Do you go backpacking?
No, I would not backpack because I would need lots of clothes! So I couldn’t ever just take a backpack and go. I usually just take two suitcases. It’s not that bad. (Laughs).
How many days do you go on travel?
When I go on a vacation, I only go for five days because I don’t like to be away from my children.
Which place in a country do you check first?
I like to just go to the restaurants and sit with a glass of wine and see how people nteract. That’s culture just by watching them move and speak to each other.
When did it occur that you wanted to be a writer?
I started writing when I was six. I have books from when I was six years old all the way until now. I was born to do it, I think.
What was the first story you wrote?
The first full book I finished, I still have it. It’s big and it’s all written in purple. It’s about three orphans who ran away from the orphanage because they’re being mistreated. The police were chasing them. It’s a series of them running, three books.
How old were you when you finished the first book?
I was 10.
What are your parents like?
My dad was Portuguese. I’m from South Africa and I speak Afrikaans. My mom is a teacher her whole life. She’s a school principal. I’m very, very close to her. She’s a good mom–a very good mom.
Are some of the Afrikaans words reflected in your novels?
They did. There are phrases and when Americans read them, they’re like “What does this mean?” I’m like, “Because I’m from South Africa and that’s just what we say.” (Laughs)
What’s the best compliment you ever received?
Somebody once told me that I embrace my darkness so fiercely that it draws people to me like a light. I’m both the darkness and the light. That was probably the best.
How did you become a fashion blogger?
I’m a writer but then people would always ask me where did you get this, where did you get that, so I just made it available where they could see. They could have access or copy the look.
Do you cultivate your physical appearance?
I used to when I was younger and trying to find myself. I went through a phase where I only wore Asian clothes. I used to have chopsticks in my hair and wear kimono outfits. Then I went through a phase where I dressed in sarees. I did everything. I was trying to find myself. Eventually, I just wore black. I went edgier. I found who I was and I embraced it.
