Partners-in-crime — and by “crime” I mean “writing” — Delilah K. Stephans and Antonia “Tir” Tiranth were kind enough to be my guinea pigs for my first author interview, during which they spoke of their beginning in fan fiction, their co-authorship of Black Velvet and their future works.
LZ: At the risk of unintentionally sounding like an eHarmony commercial, how did you two meet?
AT: I met Del through the InuYasha fandom. I started out as a fan of one of her fan fictions. Then she hosted a short story challenge, we both wrote a story for it and then later we wondered what would happen if we put the two characters together. From there, we did several fan fiction works together, and it was only a matter of time before we left fan fiction and started on original works together.
DKS: What she said. LOL. Actually, what Tir didn’t mention was the “Soap Opera” fan fic we wrote for about a year and a half.
LZ: I must know — what is the “Soap Opera” fan fic?
AT: The “what if” fic turned into us adding a few more InuYasha characters. We ended up following the characters and our original characters into the next generation. And then because we were having so much fun with it, we went into the NEXT generation.
DKS: Yeah. We’d write back and forth through email and then compile what we had into “chapters.” It was a huge amount of fun and our writing improved while we worked on it. We finally decided to end it at 237 chapters.
AT: It was a monster but we definitely had a lot of fun. Plus, a few of the original characters found homes in other works.
DKS: [Then] I talked Tir into doing NaNoWriMo and she came up with The Quickening. ’Course, it took much editing and a swift kick to get her to submit it.
AT: LOL. Yeah, Del did kick my butt pretty good. She still provides it whenever I need it.
LZ: The Tales of the Rikashi series began as Tir’s solo effort. How did you come to work on the third book, Black Velvet, together?
AT: Del has been a big part of my Rikashi series from the beginning. She’s helped me when I’ve gotten stuck by bouncing ideas and doing first edits for me. The hero for Black Velvet came from a 3-D render she did. I saw him and knew he was a Rikashi.
LZ: What is a 3-D render and how did you create it?
AT: Going to let you answer that one, Del. I’ve tried to use the program with little success.
DKS: I use DAZ3D Studio – they have a free version. A 3-D render is, for ease of understanding, paper dolls for the computer savvy. It definitely has a steep learning curve but I enjoy it.
The 3D render Delilah K. Stephans created of Jett, the hero of Black Velvet
AT: I wrote the first draft solo, many times complaining about how Jett [the hero for Black Velvet ] wouldn’t talk to me.
DKS: Jett Houston plopped his fine butt in my writing room and when I told him, “Go to Tir!” he would tell m, “Not happening.” I love Tir’s heroes, but Jett was just a type she isn’t comfortable writing. He’s got attitude and a chip the size of Mount Everest on his shoulder. I just took the skeleton she gave me and put some meat and skin on it… They were really good bones.
AT: Yeah, Jett was definitely beyond me. I knew what he would do in certain situations but when it came to being in his head… Nope.
LZ: Tir, what were your feelings on “sharing” your series with another writer?
AT: As I’ve already said, Del is already such a large part of who I am as a writer that it doesn’t upset me in any way. I don’t feel like my toes have been stepped on or anything like that.
LZ: Delilah, how was it becoming a co-writer mid-series?
DKS: Tir and I have written together for seven years now. Because of that, we know how to push each other to get the best out of our partner. We also discuss stories before a single word is written. She suggests things for my solo work and I do the same for her. If it wasn’t for the age difference, I’d swear we were twins separated at birth. As for coming in mid-series… I feel like I’ve been there the whole time.
AT: I totally agree and something I forgot to mention. We’ve never actually met face to face. I live in Maryland and she’s in Alabama. All of our plotting and planning goes on over email/chat. Hopefully this spring/summer I’ll be getting down to visit her.
LZ: Can you describe the writing process you both underwent to create the book? How did you plan out the story, handle any disagreements, etc.? What are the highlights/drawbacks of co-writing?
AT: I wrote the first draft and Del edited, adding where needed. Then we just bounced it back and forth. I don’t think we’ve really had any disagreements because we often are on the same wavelength. Its great to have her writing with me because she sees things I don’t and vice versa.
DKS: Tir stole my answer! No, really—we just know each other so well we are usually right there. Tir has half and I have the other half.
AT: See… She told you, twins.
LZ: Is there anything important you feel readers should understand about this series, this story or you both as writers?
AT: Um… I guess the most important thing about the series is that it’s not over. There is more coming, we’re just having some trouble getting the next pair to talk. I think they are shy.
DKS: We’ve got some surprises coming for the readers and a couple of the characters in book four. The hero is a master of disguise, so it’s really hard to pin him down.
LZ: Does the series have an end? Will you continue doing the books together?
AT: When I wrote the second book, I introduced a group of twelve. I initially thought they would all pair off because there were six females and six males. A few of them have found mates outside of the grouping so there will be at least three more books. The one we are working on now is not of that grouping so I guess the real answer is at least four more books. Rikashi book four is definitely going to be from both of us and very likely the rest of the series.
DKS: Series end? That I don’t know we have actually thought of a few tangents that can be followed. Book four reveals more about the heroine of Black Velvet — things she doesn’t know — and a couple of returning characters. Book five will most likely be a human/Rikashi pairing. There are also a lot of things going on in the Rikashi world.
AT: Yes, big changes are in store for the Rikashi, but you’ll have to read to find that out.
LZ: Have you heard any feedback from readers about you joining forces for book three?
AT: Actually, we just got a very good review today from Fallen Angels.
DKS: Yeah. What she said.
LZ: What can readers expect next from you, either working together or separately?
AT: I’m waiting on a response for the next book in a series with another publisher. I have a fantasy story I wrote for NaNo that needs editing and I’m working on another dragon story. Hopefully, the next Rikashi novel will be finished sometime this year.
DKS: Rikashi book four, what Tir said…if I can get the hero to stop claming up. The Envoy is coming this summer from Lyrical Press and I have two books under submission that I’m waiting to hear back on. Then there’s Mel, which is short for Melody… She keeps muttering—maybe soon I’ll get something out of her.
* * * *
Purchase Black Velvet through its publisher, Lyrical Press, at www.lyricalpress.com/black_velvet.
For details on or to contact Delilah K. Stephans, visit www.delilahkstephans.com.
For details on or to contact Antonia Tiranth, visit www.antoniatiranth.com.
