At Gothic Bite Magazine we love welcoming new patients to become part of our asylum. We question them and learn about them. It doesn’t matter what creative field they are part of because they’re our patient now. This week, we welcome Indie Author Trisha Harley McCarthy!
Patient Name: Trisha Harley McCarthy
Trisha Harley McCarthy is a certified Life Coach and prolific romance author specializing in fantasy, paranormal and contemporary genres.
Loving history, Trisha was captivated by being introduced to historical romance then became enamored with contemporary romance novels.
Coming across fan-fiction and falling in love with the concept, Trisha began writing stories about characters in her favorite movie, Bridget Jones’s Diary.
After receiving several positive reviews, she caught the writing bug and published her first standalone novel, Just As He Is, A Romance in 2012 followed by the Astral Realm Series, Written Among the Stars and sequel Beneath the stars released in 2014.
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In 2015, release of Dimensions, a paranormal romance novel featuring other world encounters takes the readers on a fantastic journey of ordinary collides with extraordinary. Also, in a new direction, Trisha also wrote Indescribably Blue. a fictional account based on Elvis Presley‘s death hoax conspiracy.
On a personal note, Trisha resides in Independence, Oregon with her husband Michael and their rescued chocolate lab, Elle. In her spare time, Trisha loves spending time on social media, travelling and reading her favorite authors! — AMAZON AUTHOR CENTRAL
The Questioning
ALEXA WAYNE (A.W.): When did you find out you would want to write novels?
TRISHA HARLEY MCCARTHY: I was told by my high school creative writing teacher that I had a knack writing.
I, of course, dismissed this advice until years later. Helen Fielding, who wrote Bridget Jones’s Diary, inspired me to write via fan fiction about her fabulous characters.
I began to receive positive reviews, which encouraged me to start to write a full-length book. It took me five years to write, and in 2012 I finally published Just As He is.
A.W.: Which genre would you think you write, and what category is best to describe your writing?
TRISHA HARLEY MCCARTHY: I write romance with sub-genres in contemporary, paranormal, and sports. I read what I write, It really helps hone my skills as a writer.
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A.W.: You mentioned to me your work, all set in paranormal or Gothic settings, would you let our readers know why you are more attracted to that genre?
TRISHA HARLEY MCCARTHY: The paranormal has always fascinated me to the point I became a paranormal investigator. I could draw off my experiences to delve into writing two paranormal books.
Though my books are out of the norm. I wrote a book entitled Dimensions about UFOs and the impact it has on the main characters and changes their lives.
I also wrote Eye Shine about cryptids, also known as Bigfoot. I today, this day believe I had an encounter with a cryptid when I was a kid while camping in the Sierra Nevada’s.
A.W.: When writing about paranormal, do you do research, and if so, how far do you go with your research?
TRISHA HARLEY MCCARTHY: Since I am a paranormal investigator, I already had a lot of knowledge. With Dimensions, I did a lot of research about aliens and how regular people were affected and their stories.
For Eye Shine, I was able to interview Dr. Jeff Meldrum. He is a Professor of Anatomy and Anthropology, as well as a Professor of the Department of Anthropology at Idaho State University. Meldrum is also Adjunct Professor of Occupational and Physical Therapy. Meldrum is an expert on foot morphology and locomotion in primates.
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He can identify dermal ridges on plaster casts. Dermal ridges are like fingerprints on the feet. Every primate has these very specific ridges which can differentiate fake casts from the real thing. This is what Dr. Meldrum analyzes to determine the authenticity of a Bigfoot print.
A.W.: What is most important to you when writing your novels?
TRISHA HARLEY MCCARTHY: I write for myself about topics that are near and dear to me. I have to be passionate about the subject matter.
A.W.: Which authors influenced your writing?
TRISHA HARLEY MCCARTHY: The primary author is Helen Fielding, Other authors such as Sylvia Day, Louise Bay, and Maria Luis are also notable authors I read and follow.
A.W.: Which of your novels is your favorite, and why is it your favorite?
TRISHA HARLEY MCCARTHY: I would say On Ice is my favorite. My hockey romance book. The primary reason it addresses mental health which I have suffered with myself.
Many of the scenes are authentic as the characters battle, anxiety, and depression.
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A.W.: Do you believe in the paranormal, by that I mean in hauntings, that there are creatures out in the wild we still don’t know the existence of?
TRISHA HARLEY MCCARTHY: Absolutely! I have investigated several haunted locations, not to mention I have sighted UFOs with a friend off the coast of Maui and my Bigfoot encounter.
A.W.: What made you decide to be self-published?
TRISHA HARLEY MCCARTHY: Indie authors retain the sole ownership of their work. Amazon and other platforms make self-publishing very easy.
The downside is consuming time marketing and doing promotions. You really need to be a jack of all trades to navigate the world of self-publishing.
A.W.: What sets you apart from other paranormal and Gothic authors?
TRISHA HARLEY MCCARTHY: What sets me apart is the subject matter of my paranormal romances. Not too many authors write about UFOs or Bigfoot.
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A.W.: What can readers look forward to from Trisha Harley McCarthy in 2020?
TRISHA HARLEY MCCARTHY: I am working on two dark romance thrillers. Taboo and The Staircase in the Woods. Taboo will be featured in a dark anthology in the fall of 2020! Thank you so much for interviewing me with very insightful and creative questions!
If you enjoyed this interview, come back each week for other interviews with authors, editors and more! We love welcoming new patients! If you are a creative yourself, go to our CONTACT section and send us an email to become part of our asylum!
Until next time…enjoy the bite!
© Gothic Bite Magazine 
Fabulous interview!!! Loved it! Shared on my socials!!💋💝😉
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