T.K. Richards is a former musician turned novelist, and the youngest of ten children from Charleston, SC, who followed in her father’s footsteps as a musician. T.K. quickly learned she held a passion for words and storytelling, graduating from Burke High School as one of the top twenty students in her class, with Poet Laureate recognition. She later completed her Bachelor of Science degree from Limestone College in Gaffney, South Carolina. T.K. is currently transferring her work into screenplays for television and film, and plans to release her eighth novel early in 2022.
Writer’s Atelier: What genre or category do you write?
T.K. Richards: I write women’s fiction, sometimes with romantic elements, contemporary and steamy romance, and erotic shorts.
WA: Can you tell us a little about your books?
TKR: My books are diverse, funny, and mostly fast-paced. Due to a hiccup, my first book is now unpublished but may see the light of the day in 2022. I have a BWWM series where a Black woman of color from the Carolinas has a life-changing experience during her first trip out of the country. My steamy drama, The On Track but Off Course series surrounds an ensemble cast of BIPOC characters navigating friendships, marriage, secrets, and loyalty.
WA: Was there something in particular that made you want to become a writer? Why writing?
TKR: I didn’t want to be a writer, but it was always in me. I wrote poetry and spoke in rhyme early on, which led to me pursuing a music career at the age of nine. I wrote stories for school assignments and state tests, then received awards and recognition for them, but didn’t take it seriously. I wanted to be a rapper. I continued writing poetry and entering essay contests when my teachers asked, but still didn’t have a dream or passion for writing professionally. Then one day a story came to me days in a row. I sat at my desk and typed it when I was supposed to be working, then continued writing it for hours when I went home. I enjoyed the process, and remember feeling satisfied typing The End. There wasn’t a job I had that gave me that feeling, and it was then when I knew writing was for me. It never feels like work.
WA: Where do you find inspiration for your stories?
TKR: I mostly dream my stories and write what comes to me, but I have found inspiration in conversations with friends or strangers I meet. Sometimes a stranger can inspire a character for me, and on occasion, an idea will randomly pop into my head, and I run with it.
WA: How do you craft your stories?
TKR: I’m a plotster, but mostly a pantser. I outlined my first book because the timeline was important, and am currently working on a few stories, but I’ve only plotted one of them. For the rest of my work, I write the words as they come.
WA: Do you start with a character in mind or do you start with a plot?
TKR: My first steamy romance came to life from a conversation and the character showed herself to me. My other stories were created with a plot in mind.
WA: What do you think makes a good story?
TKR: A few things make a good story in my opinion. Interest and emotion from the reader, and an ending that either leaves eyebrows raised, or a smile on the reader’s face.
WA: What is the most difficult part of writing for you?
TKR: The mucky middle is difficult for me. If my story hasn’t revealed a plot twist or a lingering detail, I take into consideration it might be better off as a short story. I also struggle with choosing the best tense for a story.
WA: What’s your writing schedule like?
TKR: My writing schedule is 24/7 (LOL). I normally come alive at night, but any time of the day works for me.
WA: Do you have any writing quirks?
TKR: I have the habit of italicizing slang or ebonics, and words known locally to my region. I feel the need to let the editor or reader know I’m aware that what I wrote isn’t a word you would find in the dictionary, or that I’m aware it is misspelled out of fear of negative judgment. I also hate to use a power word more than once. I do it, but I hate it.
WA: What are your writing essentials—what do you need before you sit down to write?
TKR: This is so telling of how bad my diet is, but I have to have fruit or something sweet nearby. Cake, cookies, a slice of pie, candy. You name it. As for my writing essentials, I need my laptop and my cell phone in case I need to research something.
Find out more about T.K.’s books via her Amazon page here.
About the Interviewer:
Racquel Henry is a Trinidadian writer, editor, and writing coach with an MFA from Fairleigh Dickinson University. She is a part-time English Professor and owns Writer’s Atelier. Racquel is also the co-founder and Editor at Black Fox Literary Magazine and the Editor-in-Chief at Voyage YA. She is the author of Holiday on Park, Letter to Santa, and The Writer’s Atelier Little Book of Writing Affirmations. Her fiction, poetry, and nonfiction have appeared in various literary magazines and anthologies. When she’s not working, you can find her watching Hallmark Christmas movies.
