Lynda Tomalin
Lynda Tomalin is an author of contemporary Young Adult novels with sweet romances, an emphasis on strong friendships and empowering mental health representation.
She lives in a small town in New Zealand, where she writes sweet, swoony kissing books about teenagers finding their place in the world.
Lynda is a mum of three girls and a farmer’s wife, and when she’s not daydreaming about her fictional characters and trying to find space for all the books she keeps buying, she works in administration (but mostly only to fund making books).
Do you try more to be original, or to deliver to readers what they want?
I write the books I want to read. Sometimes it leans more original but sometimes I enjoy leaning into the tropes!
How do you select the names of your characters?
Some are names that were on my lists of potential baby names, some are just random names I like and sometimes I use a random name generator if I’m feeling really stuck.
What was the first book that made you cry?
I cry often at books, so I truly can’t remember!
Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym? Why?
I have considered it. I think if I start writing books in a completely different genre I might, but I decided to write under my own name because it seemed way easier.
How did publishing your first book change your writing process?
It’s slowed it down a lot! I used to just write, but now there’s so many other aspects of publishing to handle that my writing time has sadly dwindled. I have to be far more determined with the time I do have available.
How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?
About six? Maybe?
One is just about ready to publish, one has the first draft completed, I have three I’m in the middle of drafting (only one actively though) and then there’s some abandoned projects.
Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?
I have so far, but I think I’m going to have to break the habit of checking.