Tuesday – Anything is Possible #RRBC Spotlight Author Tim Hemlin

~ John W. Howell

I am happy to welcome this week’s Rave Reviews Book Club Spotlight Author Tim Hemlin. He is on a tour, and you can see his stops by visiting Rave Reviews Book Club. Okay, Tim, the floor is yours.

Influences: Tolkien and a Middle School English Teacher

When I was in 7th grade my English teacher, Mr. Perry Onion, handed out this thick paperback to the class and at first I groaned.  The Hobbit?  What in the world was a hobbit?  It sounded dumb.  The only books I’d read at that point had been about sports, and they had pictures, too.  Mr. Onion introduced the book and read the beginning to us. He then told us to take it home and read the next couple of chapters.  I read that and more.  I couldn’t put it down.  I decided right then and there I wanted to be Gandalf when I grew up.  When I told Mr. Onion how much I liked The Hobbit, he mentioned there were three other books like it.  My parents were shocked when I told them I wanted to read The Lord of the Rings, and they went right out and bought me the series.  I read every word.  Finding myself in Middle Earth surrounded by all these fantastical creatures not only made me want to read more, it made me want to become a writer.  While I was teaching middle school, often students will tell me how much they enjoyed The Hunger Games or Divergent or any number of other titles. I wonder if it’s a turning point for them the way reading The Hobbit back in the 1970s was for me.

TimHemlinAuthor

Author Bio:

Tim Hemlin is a marathoner, teacher, and has his master’s degree in counseling, but his passion for the environment  sparked him to write The Wastelanders, a dystopian-clifi published in both e-book and paperback by Reputation Books. He is represented by Kimberley Cameron of Kimberley Cameron & Associates Literary Agency. 

He has also published a Wastelanders short story called Black Silence as a bridge between the first book and its sequel. He is currently in the notes and brainstorming stage for the Wastelanders sequel. 

Recently the Muse has kindly allowed him to tap into that creative magic and pen a young adult urban fantasy. If all goes well with the edits and revision, the final draft should be completed by early summer. 

Finally, in the late 90s Ballantine published the Neil Marshall series of culinary mysteries set in Houston, Texas. These include If Wishes Were Horses, A Whisper of Rage (nominated for a Shamus Award), People in Glass Houses, A Catered Christmas (the one I most enjoyed writing), and Dead Man’s Broth. He has recently gotten the reversion rights and is planning on reissuing them under an elite publishing house out of New Orleans.

Hemingway liked running with the bulls. Tim enjoys running with dragons (that’s what he calls his grandkids.)

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wastelander-cover-1 2

The Wastelanders 

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Wastelanders-Tim-Hemlin/dp/0991363574/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1431906067&sr=1-1

iTunes: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-wastelanders-tim-hemlin/1108613068?ean=9780991363575

Barnes & Noble: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-wastelanders/id874164149?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

Reputation Books: http://reputationbooksonline.com/2014/05/22/wastelanders/

47 thoughts on “Tuesday – Anything is Possible #RRBC Spotlight Author Tim Hemlin”

    2. Thanks Charles. It seems appropriate. I’ll be running with them, or after them, once again in two weeks when the whole family comes to Houston for our youngest son’s HS graduation!

      Liked by 1 person

  2. This is another lovely post, Tim, and I’m enjoying getting to find out more about you on your tour. Have a great week in the Spotlight! 🙂

    John, thanks for hosting Tim, today! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Isn’t it wonderful when a teacher connects with a student and ignites a passion that can last a lifetime?? How blessed Tim is to have had such a teacher, and then to have had parents follow the lead. I guess none of us knows the ways we influence others — we can only try to make it a positive influence. Lovely interview, John — thank you!

    Liked by 1 person

    2. Hi Debbie. Yes, I was fortunate to have such a great teacher and supportive parents. Could be why i chose to teach middle school ELA for over 20 years ~ I can only hope I made the same impression on just one of the kids I taught. Thanks for stopping by and for your kind words.

      Liked by 1 person

    2. Hey Nancy! Great seeing you again and so soon. This is great visiting with ya’ll. John has been a great host as well. Like I said ~ RRBC is awesome. You’re all so supportive. Thank you.

      Liked by 1 person

    2. I know what you mean about series…they tend to capture a a young person’s interest and as they follow the series, become readers! I’m glad you stopped by, Audrey.

      Liked by 1 person

  11. Pingback: Guest Post: RRBC “Spotlight Author” TIM HEMLIN on the People Who Influenced His Writing | Cassidy Salem Reads & Writes

    2. Appreciate it. When I got into teaching, I wasn’t sure what I was getting into, but it was a great ride ~ especially when an ex-student came back and told me they really enjoyed my class. Thanks for stopping by.

      Liked by 1 person

  14. Tim, Congratulations on your book “Wastelanders” and I hope it does well. The topic is near and dear to my heart as well and I worry sometimes about our planet.

    Liked by 1 person

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