Introducing, Tam DeRudder Jackson

For those of you who are new to my writing, I’m Tam DeRudder Jackson. I write paranormal and contemporary romance. You can check out my series on my website at www.tamderudderjackson.com.

I grew up in a tiny farming community in southeast Montana. After graduating from Montana State University (Go! ’Cats!), I moved to Wyoming where I met my husband. In my previous career, I taught high school English, so yes, I am a cliché. 😉

Some fun facts about me:

Traveling is one of my passions. Through good luck and some cool opportunities, I’ve been able to travel to over half the fifty states and widely throughout Europe—including teaching in Bath, England and attending summer school at Cambridge University. I’ve driven the Al-Can Highway through Canada and nearly the entire length of Baja Mexico.

Attending rock concerts is one of my hobbies—ahem—research. 😉 Some bands I saw right before the world closed down are: Foo Fighters, Shinedown (three times—I’m obsessed), Godsmack, Breaking Benjamin, Sixx:A.M., Daughtry, Shaman’s Harvest, Nickleback, Pop Evil, Skillet, Adelita’s Way, Saving Abel, Theory of a Deadman, Halestorm, George Thorogood, and ZZ Top. I also love the blues. My favorite blues festival is back on this summer with Keb Mo’ headlining it. He’s one of my go-to artists, so seeing him live is going to be a rush.

One wall in my dining room is covered by my mask collection. I also collect teapots. In my office, I have a six shelf standard library cart that is completely full and has books stacked on top of and beside it that is my TBR “pile.” If I read at my usual 80 books/year pace—and don’t buy another book—I can get through my TBR in roughly six years. BTW, as I write this, I have book mail coming, and I ordered two new releases from the indie bookstore in my little town. When I say I’m trying to read all the books, I’m trying to read all the books!

I blog about trying thirty new things a year. Trying that many new things a year can truly increase your luck because it pushes you out of your comfort zone and introduces you to something that might turn out to be amazing—or not. 😉

Something that didn’t work out for me was free-handed ziplining. I discovered I have no grip strength in my hands. Yikes! Something that taught me about myself was rappelling down from a four-story platform, which I didn’t screw up.

During the pandemic year, I only managed 21 new things, but I’m hoping for a much more exciting 2021-22. (My year runs from May 1-April 30.) Something new I tried already this year was day-drinking on YouTube with three other authors.

You can check that out at Tripp’s Smokepit, Episode 40. Something else new I’ll be trying on June 19 is participating in an author event that includes reading my work to an audience (honestly feeling some trepidation about that) and participating in a mass book signing. If you’re in the Deadwood, SD area on Father’s Day Weekend, stop by Wild Deadwood Reads and say hello.

Tam DeRudder Jackson’s Bio

Tam DeRudder Jackson is the author of the paranormal romance Talisman Series and the contemporary romance Balefire Series. Her favorite “room” in her house is her back patio where she dreams up stories of romance and risk.

When she’s not writing her latest paranormal or contemporary romance, you can usually find her driving around with the top down in her convertible or carving turns on the slopes of the local ski hill.

The mom of two grown sons, Tam likes to travel, attend rock concerts, watch football and soccer, and visit old car shows with her husband. She lives in the mountains of northwest Wyoming where she spends most of her free time trying to read all the books. Her TBR piles are threatening to take over her office, and she’s fine with that.

About the Book

Play For Me The Balefire Series Book 1 by Tam DeRudder Jackson
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis

All I wanted was a chance. Now I need a second one.

Jack
When I made my deal with the devil, I thought I was on my way to my rock ’n’ roll dream. Too bad I didn’t read the fine print. Having it all meant giving up the only girl I knew I’d ever love. Five years later, I’m drumming in the hottest rock band in the country, but I live like a monk.

Fate hands me an opportunity to reconnect with my perfect girl, giving me one glorious night with Clio Barnes. Our chemistry is off the charts. Too bad fate plays by her own rules. When Clio hears my bandmate’s idea of a joke, she believes I’ve used her, dissolved our love into a one-night stand, and she blows out of my life. When our tour ends, I’m determined to find her again, no matter how well she hides from me.

Clio
All my life, I’ve been invisible. For a brief moment five years ago, Jack Whitehorse saw me. And he made me feel like the center of his universe. But that was an illusion. Music was Jack’s only love. A chance encounter after a Balefire concert allows us to reconnect, but once again, I’m playing second fiddle to his rock ’n’ roll muse.

When the pregnancy test comes back positive, I decide to keep our baby secret. I can’t force Jack to play for me—I wouldn’t want to. Then he shows up unexpectedly one day, knocking on my door and demanding to be let in. He leaves me no choice but to tell him about the baby. Turns out, I wasn’t the only one with a secret. But the one he’s been keeping might end us for good.

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