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An Interview With D&T Sullivan

Tell us a bit about yourself. What would you like us to know about you?

Tas: My husband and I are scholars and freelancers, working with web design, photography and digital art, as well as researching and writing books.

So far, we have written and published 5 books, one of which is the first in a trilogy of fantasy/adventures. (You can find out more about their books at IM-Light.com)

What are you doing now? (Career? Married? Single? Children? Pets?)

DLS: I work on web designs and day-trading, while my wife works as a techwriter for a firm in Florida.

One of our favorite past times is going for long walks with our dog at the local forest preserve.

Our dog, a member of their family for 6 years, was rescued from the pound when she was just over a year old. She had been found wandering the streets and was just about starved when she was taken in to the shelter.

When we went to the shelter to find a dog to share our world, this dog rushed over and wrapped herself around T's legs and refused to leave.

Unable to say no, we adopted Gypsy and have adored her since.

What is your favourite food?

Tas: I think both of us would agree that our favorite food is chocolate. Chocolate cake, ice cream, brownies...it doesn't matter as long as it's chocolate.

Of course our favorite of favorites is Dairy Queen's Chocolate Xtreme Blizzard—it just doesn't get any better than that.

What is your favourite colour?

DLS: My favorite color is blue, while T's is purple.

What is your favourite sound?

Tas: To D the most wonderful sound is that of a busy computer. To me, it's the music of nature—breezes, birds, and buzzing bees.

Who is your favourite person?

Tas: My favorite person is my husband, D...but my favorite author is Stephen King (sorry, Dear;-)

DLS: Well, my favorite person is my wife. However, when it comes to favorite authors I have a hard time deciding—I like so many.

What is your favourite place?

Tas: Our absolute favorite place is home—you can't beat it for the ambience and service. However, we also like St. Augustine (Florida); Santa Fe (New Mexico); just about every island in the Caribbean; and, of course, Florida (where we live).

What is your favourite memory?

DLS: There are so many, it's hard to choose. But probably my favorite is sitting on our balcony in Port Charlotte Amalie and watching the people in the marina come and go while my wife and I made up stories about them.

What is your favourite article of clothing?

What is your favourite word?

Tas: "Swoosh"...because it can mean speed and movement, but it also sounds soft and comforting.

What is your favourite writers' quote and why?

Tas: “…The slithy toves did gyre and gimble in the wabe...” because it's whimsical and weird, just like me, but especially like my husband.

What is your most favourite quality about yourself?

Tas: My husband's best quality is his sense of humor—he's got the best (and wierdest) sense of humor, and I love it.

DLS: My wife’s best quality is probably her flexibility. She’s usually easy to get along with and easy going about almost anything.

What is the least favourite quality about yourself?

Tas: I tend to get impatient and want everything RIGHT NOW! which isn't always conducive to good writing ;-)

DLS: My least favorite quality about myself is my knack for getting lost in the details. Details are good, but I get so immersed in them, that I can't see the global picture anymore. That's a hard one when you're trying to devise the overall plot of a book.

If you could go anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?

Tas: Home—because it's the place I love the most. As for D, he'd go anywhere he can use a computer. As long as he has a computer and internet access, he's happy.

What inspires you to write and why?

Tas: We felt we had some good information, helpful information, at least as far as our non-fiction books, and we wanted to try to share it with as many other people as we could.
The Starstone was a story that grew out of our game of "What If". D and I often play "What If", asking ourselves and each other what would happen if...dragons were real, people had magical powers, etc. Sometimes we actually get stories and so write them up; and other times we get great stories that turn into books.

What is your favourite book and why?

Tas: Right now my favorite book is Stephen King's "Bag of Bones". Because the story and main character resonate with my own life so intensely.

DLS: My favorite book right now is the latest Harry Potter book. I’m very into Harry and trying to figure out what is going to happen in the last book.

What is your favourite genre and why?

Tas: D's favorite genre is fantasy and science fiction, because in fantasy almost anything can happen—and does.

Me, I like almost anything. I'll read anything from Byron to Koontz, to Rowling to King, it doesn't matter as long as the characters are alive and the story telling is excellent.

List your three favourite authors (any genre) and why?

Tas: As I said above, I love most authors and most genres. As for why...well, in fiction it's characters that live even after you finish the book, and GREAT storytelling.

In non-fiction, it's presenting the information in an entertaining, yet factual way without too much interfering. I don't want a lot of the author or his/her opinion, yet if they have to speculate, don't let me know that it's you—have a neutral voice.

What do you think makes a writer successful?

Whta is it that makes you successful as a writer?

Tas: We hope that we have demonstrated the traits we stated above in our books, "The Starstone", "Michael on Health and Healing", "Michael on Life and Relationships", "Michael's Dream Symbols", and "Michael on Channelling, Guides and Other Topics".

What are your goals as a writer?

DLS: To keep telling great stories.

What is the best tip you can give to fellow writers?

DLS: If you can't get in the front door (of the publishing world), try the back door or use a window—we did, and it works.

What do you hope to provide your readers with through your writing?

DLS: In the case of "The Starstone", just a rollicking good adventure/fantasy story.

In the case of the other books, some helpful, insightful and useful information that will (hopefully) answer some of those questions that everyone is always asking themselves--such as 'why are we here?', 'how can I make this relationship work?', etc.

List your three favourite online writer-resource sites and why (include URLS).

If you have published a book, tell us about your publishing success (title, publishing date and company, where it is available to purcahse).

Tas: We have 5 published books—4 non-fiction and 1 fiction. They're all with IM Light Publications, which deals only in e-books.

"The Starstone", IM Light Publications, www.im-light.com, published in August of 2005.

"Michael on Health and Healing", IM Light Publications, www.im-light.com, published in November, 2005.

"Michael on Life and Relationships", IM Light Publications, www.im-light.com, published in November, 2005.

"Michael on Channeling, Guides, and Other Topics", IM Light Publications, www.im-light.com, published in November, 2005.

"Michael's Dream Symbols", IM Light Publications, www.im-light.com, published in November, 2005.

How long did it take you to write your book(s)?

DLS: To write all the published books, as well the second in the trilogy and the outline for the third book in The Starstone trilogy it has taken over 5 years.

What would you do differently if you could repeat the same publishing experience?

What have you learned about the publishing world?

DLS: That if you don't have a famous name or know someone in the business, you'll never get your foot in the door.

This is your chance to 'Talk Back' to your readers. What would you like to say to them?

Tas: We hope you enjoy the information and the stories, and we thank you for reading.

What's the one thing that you want them to know about your writing?

DLS and Tas: It isn't the writing that's important, or the author, it's the story and the information. We hope we've shown that in our books.

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