We are pleased to have with us Tammy Rothermel, author of a page turner novel Nevermore. She is being interviewed by Juanita Watson, Assistant Editor of Reader Views.

Juanita: Thanks for talking with us today Tammie. Please tell your readers about the storyline of Nevermore?.

Tammie: From the moment Nikki meets the universally-famous Grant Henderson, Nevermore? issues the reader a backstage pass to the non-stop life of a white-hot rock star. Behind the glam and glitz, life on the road metes out imprisonment. The demand to always be on shreds Grants tenuous psyche, while Nikki kick starts her own career. As Nikkis potent charisma engages the world, a rakishly handsome stranger pursues her. But her status as a global citizen snags notice of espionages notorious Agency sucking Nikki into its beguiling embrace of treachery and death.

Juanita: So Nevermore?s foundation or backdrop is a behind the scenes look at the various life experiences of musicians?

Tammie: Nevermore? issues the reader a backstage pass into the life of a rock star sensation. Sure theres obscene gobs of money, insane bling and crushing notoriety, but behind the spotlights also lurks a multitude of monotony, isolation, and distrust. The hotter the spotlight, the greater the magnification of those attributes, and Nevermore? captures it all.

Juanita: What inspired you to write Nevermore'

Tammie: Escape, pure escape. Nevermore? is the perfect put-your-feet-up-I-need-a-break book. Its the story that I started telling myself back in high school when the tough knocks of being a teenager kicked me around a bit.

Juanita: Is Nevermore? more of an action novel, a romance?

Tammie: Action, intrigue, adventure, romance, they all describe Nevermore?. It is not a formula book. Although it was nominated as best Fiction of the year and best Romance of the year, then selected Finalist winner for best Romance, this category limits Nevermore?s scope. Nothing compares to it and it cant be pigeon-holed by one genre. Say Romance and most people think women, yet some of my best reviews have come from men.

Juanita: Tell us about Nikki. Who is she, where does she come from and what motivates her journey?

Tammie: Nikki is touchable, genuine. She could be any one of us. Fate pulls her out of her ordinary existence in Pennsylvania with an opportunity of a lifetime. Throughout Nevermore? fate continually stalks her in her relationships, her dealings in the record industry and with the Agency. Independence and living life on her own terms propel Nikki. She solves her problems, like any of us would, using her own ingenuity rather than with the flash-powder of Hollywood special effects.

Juanita: I have read that you have a sincere relationship with the characters of Nevermore?. Tell us a little about these characters and your experience with creating them?

Tammie: Many of the characters spring from my own experiences. In general each character contains glimmers of personality traits from the dynamic people in my life, then I enhanced them through the prism of fiction. Being the author puts you in charge, but some characters once they hit the page surprise you. Charles Bradley was one of those characters. He could have taken over if I hadnt exercised some control.

Juanita: What time frame does this story take, and where?

Tammie: Nevermore? begins in hills of Pennsylvania, within the environs of the Oley Valley in the mid-1960s, then moves to the world stage: London, Hong Kong and Naples to fill out that decade.

Juanita: How do the events of that era add to the excitement of the story?

Tammie: The cloak-and-dagger intrigue of the Cold War in the 60s and the exploding music scene with the British music invasion and American pop provided endless possibilities for plot expansion.

Juanita: What is the Agency and why are they pursuing Nikki?

Tammie: The Agencys identity and its affiliation are intentionally nebulous. Nikkis contact explains it as a conglomeration from the CIA, NSA to NATO. They snare Nikki by virtue of her stardom. As a citizen of the world they tell her they desperately need her services and that only she can serve her country in this capacity.

Juanita: What has been your history with the music scene that contributed to Nevermore'

Tammie: I grew up in Motowns backyard. Big names like little Stevie Wonder (as they used to call him) and others sang at our school dances. But it was the Beatles and the British invasion that really hooked me. Meeting the four Beatles on their first swing through the U.S. only cemented my devotion to the Rock and Roll scene.

Juanita: That is fascinating, Tammie. You experienced first hand some to the most influential aspects of music history in the 60s. Do you think there is a little of you in Nikki?

Tammie: Sure, only Nikki is better she can sing! Nikki also gets it right the first time. She doesnt sit around regretting what she could have or should have said. Nikki thinks things out logically, although sometimes her naivet trips her up. But unlike me, oh she does have a hot little temper.

Juanita: What statements are you making regarding romance through Nikkis relationships?

Tammie: Keep your eyes open, be true to yourself and dont compromise your principles. Nikki gets into trouble when she lets Grants stardom blind her and she doesnt speak up for herself.

Juanita: What are the themes you address in Nevermore'

Tammie: The concept of time has always fascinated me. It amazes me how a split-second can change the course of an entire life. Our future steals in on the back of small, inconsequential moments. And, our actions and reactions, no matter how well intended, have consequences.

Juanita: Tammie, you have an obvious talent for keeping readers engaged through the action and thrills in Nevermore?. Tell us a little more about your gift for non-stop attention grabbing adventure.

Tammie: I live it. In writing the action scenes, I steep myself in the situation. Once I am in the moment, I break down those scenes second-by-second. I cant tell you how many times I interrupted by husband to have him help me physically block out a scene. He was really good at helping me visualize the scenes.

Juanita: What can readers learn from Nikkis experience in Nevermore'

Tammie: Although fate may deal you some unusual circumstances, each of us has within ourselves the ability to take control of our lives. We can live our life being true to our inner principles and we can succeed while having fun along the way.

Juanita: Tell us a little about your writing career and the emergence of your first novel Nevermore?.

Tammie: Like John Denver who saw his world in music, I have always seen my world in words. For instance, an ambulance siren plaintively wails ee-oo, ee-oo against the night. I wrote through grade school, high school and in college my first professor spotted my talent and took me under his tutelage to nurture my writing. I have always been a political junkie and nothing hones your edge with words like writing for political campaigns. But it was reading Denvers autobiography following his death that convinced me the time had come to finally write down the Nevermore story.

Juanita: Do you have any plans for future books?

Tammie: Currently I have about six plot outlines with character sketches waiting to be fleshed out. Although, everyone who has read Nevermore? is begging for a sequel. I am considering it.

Juanita: Tammie, how can readers find out more about you and your endeavors?

Tammie: Visit my website www.TammieRothermel.com. I try to keep it up to date. One aspect of publishing that I really find exciting is the book clubs! Several book clubs have named Nevermore? as their book of the month. After the club has read Nevermore? they ask me to visit them and talk about it. Nevermore? is an experience. Once they have read it, my readers want to talk about it and I love doing that.

Juanita: Thank you for talking with us today Tammie. Do you have any last thoughts for your readers?

Tammie: Never give up on your dreams, just realize that to come true dreams require a ton of perseverance. So many times during the whole writing, editing, publishing process it would have been very easy to throw up my hands and quit because parts of it are really hard. But if you give up on your dream, it will give up on you.