Shelf Life with Tammy Barker

Welcome to The Wren's bookish feature that pulls the curtain back on the lives of the authors behind the book spine.

Hello there, Spine Sparrows. I’m The Wren, your resident book blogger here at What Spine is Yours, and today, we’re dusting off the shelves to chat with a debut author!

Welcome to Shelf Life, my cozy nook for literary conversation. Here, I chat with authors about the stories that keep them up at night, the characters who whisper (or shout!) to be heard, and the delightful quirks that make every creative path so uniquely their own.

So, pour yourself a comforting cup, fluff up your reading pillow, and let’s explore what’s resting on my guest’s shelf.

Today’s featured author is Tammy Barker. Tammy Barker is a serious, by-the-book Washington D.C. government accountant by day and a wildly imaginative fiction writer by night. She writes contemporary traditional amateur sleuth mystery novels and historical pulp fiction short stories. Her other loves include reading anything, restoring or refurbishing vintage items, small home repairs, cooking and baking, classical piano, and wishing she lived during the 1940s and 1950s. Her website is https://tammybarkerwriter.com, where you can learn more about her writing ideas and get to know Miss LARE a bit better by reading her advice.

Getting to Know Tammy

Welcome to “Shelf Life,” Tammy! Every author has a story behind their stories. What first inspired you to start writing?

Believe it or not, it was the Malice Domestic Convention that got me interested in writing. It was 2005. I was reading cozies, but didn’t know it was an actual “real thing” genre. I work in DC and saw someone with a red and black Malice Domestic bag walking down the street. So, I asked a total stranger what it was. I signed up. That first year was scary, not knowing anyone, and meeting all these published authors. When I left that weekend, I asked myself, “What if I tried to write a story? Not to get published, but what if I could finish one?” It’s been a long road for me, writing as a hobby for almost 15 years before I decided to take it seriously. I originally wrote to escape the badness in the real world. Yes, I write murder, but at least in my stories, there is always justice at the end.

How did you meet your main protagonist, Ashley Compton? What made you want to tell her story?

I tried a couple of different ideas, but nothing stuck. Then I saw the movie “Straight Talk” (1992) starring Dolly Parton. And I always loved watching “Murder, She Wrote” (1984-1996). And my mind meshed the two characters together. I came up with the idea of what if there was a radio advice personality who had no clinical background (like the movie) and she gave someone advice. And what if that caller ended up dead right after the advice? That would be a major guilt trip in the making. Because we are always giving advice to other people, sometimes it’s asked for, sometimes not. If I gave advice to someone, and they ended up getting hurt, I’d want to know if my advice caused it. So, I twisted it into a mystery because that seemed the most logical genre for the concept.

When you’re not writing, where/how might readers find you recharging your creative batteries?

The “where” is easy. When I’m not working, I’m at home. Both my husband and I are homebodies. I call myself “allergic to the outdoors” because I have pollen and flower allergies and am deathly allergic to bug bites/stings. The “how” for recharging creative batteries is a whole other can of worms. I do a little bit of everything to keep my brain working; some call me a Renaissance woman. I do small home repairs, play classical piano, create goofy swag just for fun, and crochet (Woobles is my latest craze). Sometimes I cook to get the creative juices flowing, by taking an old family recipe and upscaling it or making up my own. One year, I created a dessert by meshing everything from the Malice Domestic Sunday tea. I refurbish furniture and have been known to create a story about the piece. Like the 1970s credenza that obviously was involved in a cocaine party, because of a large burn mark that was covered by contact paper for over 40 years, or what I call my prohibition liquor cabinet, because not even the antique dealer who sold it to me knew what it was.

The Heart of Tammy’s Story

What themes or ideas do you find yourself coming back to repeatedly in your work?

I’m glad you asked this question. Because I’ve concluded I have an obsession in my writing. It seems like every time I try to write something new, I always have an element of the mob/Mafia and/or political corruption in the story. My debut novel is set in Las Vegas, and there is a heavy mob presence in it, even though it’s set in the current day. Later in the series, I have a draft of bookies and mob relations. A draft of another story I wrote had mob goons as background characters threatening a murder suspect. And the story I’m writing next month (yes, I write a draft every November, I have since 2006), I am writing a current-day murder set in Chicago, where the Mafia and Al Capone’s legacy both play a part. I’ve written pulp fiction short stories set in the 1940s with political corruption and/or mob themes. I wrote one short story back in the spring for a contest involving fictional questionable actions of politicians.

If your stories had a signature scent (like a candle or perfume), what would it smell like?

Oh wow, this is a tough one. I would imagine my signature scent would be a green candle that had the aroma of cotton, ink, sweat, and leather. When you mix all those aromas together, what do you get? Money! They say money has no distinctive smell because of how it is handled differently over time, and the chemical composition is a secret, but that’s what I imagine it would smell like.

I love it! So original, too! Which of your characters would make the best dinner guest—and what would you serve them?

I think Nathan Reader would be my choice. He is a charmer of women, seems to know everyone in Las Vegas, and is invited to all the best parties. I would serve him tilapia with a butter/lemon/herb sauce and a side of rice pilaf. He eats healthy, and his house smells of lemon because he is a neat freak. He would have bottled water and probably a crisp white wine if he wanted some libations.

On Inspiration & The Writing Life

What’s a book or author that’s left a lasting mark on you?

The Velvet Room by Zilpha Keatley Snyder (1965). I remember checking out of the library every time I went as a prepubescent teen, because I was so enchanted with the story. It’s about a daughter of a migrant worker during the Depression, who finds a “secret room” in the house belonging to her father’s employer, to read, daydream, and escape the reality of not feeling like she fit in her life. It’s all about finding friendships wherever you can, and that has always stuck with me, as a constantly moving person until I hit 40.

What part of the writing process brings you the most joy, and which part makes you reach for another cup of coffee/tea/something stronger?

My favorite part of the writing process is the planning before I even start writing. Creating characters and settings has always been a fun journey for me, because I never know what I will find. Like when I was creating the casino in my first book, I used a building in Downtown Las Vegas because it was supposed to be a privately owned casino. I created the owner as a mob runaway who came to Las Vegas and idolized Bugsy Seigal. I later found out the building I chose was originally built by Bugsy before he moved onto The Strip.

What makes me reach for another cup of something? I imagine this question is asking what in the writing process makes me want to stall on continuing the writing. That would be when I am revising and need to add reactions and feelings for my characters regarding what is happening in the story at that moment. I grew up in a Marine household where we weren’t allowed to show any emotion; we had to just move forward in the right direction, no matter how we felt about it. So, writing that part has always been a struggle for me. And my editor lets me know when I forget about it, which I am eternally grateful for.

It’s incredible how your experiences have shaped your writing habits! Now, if you could share one piece of advice with aspiring writers, what would it be?

Write in sprints because that’s when your unknown creativity comes out, when you are racing against the clock. You will be surprised at what you write when you sprint. It may be good, it may be bad, it may be funny, it may be serious. It’s all okay. The more you sprint, the more your writing will grow and the more creative you will become, without even realizing it. I found out why Cheryl treats everyone at the radio station the way she does when I was doing a sprint. It just kind of showed up on the page, because I wasn’t thinking about what I was writing, I was going with the momentum and not thinking about it. You will find out about that secret in book two.

On Your Shelf Life

Since this is “Shelf Life,” I must ask, if I peeked at your real-life bookshelf right now, what book would surprise us most?

The Art of Pin-up, 40^th Ed, by Taschen (Editor). I am not an artist, but I do like art. And the way women were drawn back then made them look so beautiful. Plus, I have this strange fascination with the 40s. Personally, I think I was born about 20-30 years too late, because my likes, as far as music and many movies, were before I was born. After all, I was married to the hubbs by an Elvis impersonator; it was a demand to get married in Las Vegas by Elvis.

Wow, how cool! This is quickly becoming my favorite question because I learn so much about what goes on behind the scenes for authors. What’s one shelf-worthy milestone or achievement from your writing journey that you’re especially proud of?

Besides finishing my first book? It would back on June 25, 2023. I was querying agents galore with my first book. I received an email from Dawn Dowdle from Blue Ridge Literary Agency, asking for a Zoom call to discuss my chapters. I was thrilled because she was at the top of my dream list. She talked to me and immediately asked if I was interested in becoming a client. Sadly, she passed before she could send my manuscript to publishing houses. And today, I come full circle with her confidence in me and my writing, and I am having that book self-published.

That’s amazing, Tammy. I know Dawn would be very proud of you. To round out our chat, what’s next for you? Any exciting new stories readers should keep an eye out for?

My second in the series, Advice for a Killer Image, is with my editor right now. My goal is to have that one published by next October, if not sooner. The themes for this one are all about fashion and the social status of those who live in Las Vegas. And you will get to know Nathan a bit more. And I am always on the lookout for short story open calls for my pulp fiction, which is about a 1940s widowed female PI in Philadelphia.

Onto book two already! I love it. What excellent news for readers! Spine Sparrows, you can check out Tammy’s socials below to stay connected with her for more cozy fun!

✨ The Wren’s Closing Notes ✨

What a delight it’s been to peek between the pages of Tammy Barker’s creative world. From her mob-tinged mysteries to her 1940s pulp adventures, Tammy reminds us that inspiration can strike in the most unexpected places, even on a Washington D.C. sidewalk. Thank you, Tammy, for joining me on Shelf Life and sharing your journey, your humor, and your heart with all of us.

Until next time, Spine Sparrows, keep your books close, your tea warm, and your imaginations ever curious. There’s always another spine waiting to be discovered. 🕮💛

~ The Wren

Connect with Tammy Barker

On Amazon:

Call In For Murder: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FVMJMQ3R

Tammy’s Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Tammy-Barker/author/B0FWB1J9LG

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tammybarkerwriter

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tammybarkerwriter/