Clipped Wings
I’m so excited about this new, streamlined version of the story. The original posted version of Clipped Wings (previously Clipped Wings and Inked Armor) was 430 000 words. After cutting half the content and subsequently restructuring and rewriting most of it, I feel like the story is now where I want it to be. It’s about survival, self-awareness and love. It encapsulates the intense attraction of two very broken souls, both looking for a way to move on after traumatic events have irrevocably altered their lives.
Please tell us a bit about the characters of Hayden and Tenley.
Hayden Stryker is beautiful, intelligent and covered in ink and steel. He’s spent all of his adult life giving society the perpetual bird, refusing to conform. He is flawed and emotionally stunted from events beyond his control. Despite what he’s been through, he is fiercely loyal to his tight circle of friends. When we meet him in Clipped Wings, he’s at a turning point. Tenley’s appearance forces him to question whether the path he’s on is the one he really wants to travel.
Tenley is a victim of circumstance and expectation. Having grown up in a small town outside of a larger metropolis, Tenley had a limited view of the world. Leaving that behind allows her to shed the confines of her previously narrow existence and figure out who she is and what she wants without constraints. She’s got snark and attitude, but it’s buried under a mountain of survivor’s guilt and grief, which is where’s she at when we meet her in Clipped Wings. For Tenley, this story is about coming to terms with events she can’t change.
What made you want to write characters with ink?
There’s just something so intriguing about a man who wears his experiences as art. Especially one like Hayden. I wanted to use the ink as a vehicle to convey the emotional impact of putting memories on skin. Hayden’s art tells his story and it serves as protection from those who aren’t able to see past the difference to the person underneath. It can be a very emotional, cathartic process, which was what I wanted to come through with these characters. Tenley’s tattoo is a representation of her experience, just as Hayden’s are. It gives them a way to connect both physically and emotionally.
Ink is far more mainstream today than it’s ever been before. Pop culture icons have made this art form far more acceptable. Even still, society creates lines to colour inside of. There are implied rules to live by that are constantly fed to us through media. It’s almost impossible not to internalize them. You must buy this product, wear these clothes, look this way and then you will be successful/wealthy/happy/accepted/popular. When we are young and discovering who we are, there tends to be a heavy focus on these ideals.
I wanted to explore, through Hayden and Tenley and the people in their inner circle, what it’s like to live outside those implied rules. I wanted to look at the lasting impact of that, particularly in relation to individuals who have sustained significant loses, and who may not view the world with such innocent eyes.
Where did the inspiration for the story come from?
Clipped Wings originated from fan-fiction based on Twilight. It was the love story that drew me in. First loves are always so intense, and I felt like Stephanie Meyer captured that intensity well. However, all that fade to black was frustrating for those of us who weren’t part of the YA population. I wanted to recreate that intense physical need in a more adult setting.
Beyond the fan-fiction component, though, there are two events that made the news several years ago which stuck with me. They were the impetus for the characters and their trauma.
The first had to do with a church that collapsed during an earthquake while a wedding was taking place. In this case the couple survived.
While this story had a happy ending, the second incident had an ending that was not so fortunate. As was typical, the groom and the groomsmen were riding in a limo separate from the bride and the bridesmaid on the way to the church. The groom never made it to the church. A tractor trailer jackknifed and took out the limo with him and the groomsmen. There were no survivors. The bride and bridesmaids arrived at the church unharmed.
The level of devastation in both of those horrific accidents stuck with me. It made me want to explore that level of grief and the impact it would have on a person in the aftermath. What it came down to was extremity of trauma. If two people who had experienced life altering events came together, could they, in essence get past the pain of loss and find a way to move on with each other. From this, Hayden and Tenley were born.
Who are your favourite reads?
For horror, I love old-school Clive Barker. If I’m in the mood for lit fic, Barbara Kingsolver, Anne Marie MacDonald, Alice Hoffman and Wally Lamb are some of my favourites. Since I’ve found myself writing in the romance category, I’ve developed a particular affinity for paranormal romance. I love Karen Marie Moning, JR Ward and Larissa Ione. Beyond that, I’ve been supporting fellow authors who came from the same beginnings as I have, such as Debra Anastasia, Alice Clayton, Christina Lauren, JM Darhower, Mina Vaughn, Tara Sue Me and EL James.
This is your debut novel so how much is novel writing like you thought?
I don’t know that the writing part is different from what I expected. I figured it would be a lot of editing and revising, which is exactly the case. Over the past few years I’ve have the pleasure of working with a team of women over at The Writer’s Collective who work-shopped three manuscripts with me. Working with publishers has been much the same. I really love collaborating with a team of professionals who share my enthusiasm for this story.
Which authors have had the most impact on your work?
I’m a character-driven reader, so it’s all about the relationships for me. The first novel I ever read that made me cry was Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson. Leslie’s death broke my heart. I was nine when I read that story and I’ll never forget the emotional impact. Melissa Marr’s Wicked Lovely series, while YA, builds great relationships and conflict. Debra Anastasia’s Poughkeepsie was one of the first stories I read when it was posted, and she was the one who encouraged me to start posting my own work, so her impact has been highly significant. No one does humour quite like Alice Clayton, and Christina Lauren knows how to make a couple sizzle. JR Ward’s ability to create worlds and alpha male characters amazes me. It’s an incredible talent.
What is next for you?
I have two other full-length novels written, one of which is waiting for a red pen. I also have lots of ideas for future work, one of which might include Chris and Sarah, so I’m looking forward to some plotting and editing once Clipped Wings and Inked Armour are off my plate. Right now it’s one step at a time. So we’ll see where this journey takes me.