A Conversation with Traci Bee

        Whenever I used to hear the phrase "Two Tears in a Bucket" I would follow it by saying "fuck it". But now when I hear someone say that phrase I think of Traci Bee's novel and its sequel Another Tear. Sometimes it's not about what life throws at you but how you handle it. No matter what happens you have to fight, you can't just lie down and die because once you do that's when you lose. So take a page from Simone's book and handle your business all while saying "Two Tears in a Bucket." Welcome to my conversation with Traci Bee.

Brandie: How did you come up with the story line for Two Tears in a Bucket? How did you get the idea?

Traci Bee: Two Tears in a Bucket is loosely based on some personal   experiences that I embellished into fiction.

Brandie: The relationship between Simone and her parents are very important parts in the novel, how is your relationship with your parents?

Traci Bee: I have always been and will always be a daddy's girl. My dad was my absolute everything. He died nine years ago the very way Thomas died in Two Tears in a Bucket. In all actuality, Thomas was created in my father's likeness. His jovial personality, quick wit, southern charm were all attributes of my dad. The bond Simone and her dad shared is identical to the bond my dad and I shared. My mom and I are also close. She's one of my best friends.

Brandie: Who was your inspiration for creating Simone? Does she represent someone in real life?

Traci Bee: Simone is a mixture of several women that I know, myself included.

Brandie: When did you know that you wanted to write? Why do you write?

Traci Bee: Writing has always been an escape. It's one of the rare times that my imagination can soar freely and morals and rules that tend to dictate our everyday life are tossed to the side. I can escape to my own little world where I can entertain myself and be in control of absolutely everything.

Brandie: What was your fear when writing your books?

Traci Bee: Believe it or not, I didn't have any fears. I was doing what I enjoyed. When the book was finished, I was too excited. Fear was never a factor.

Brandie: Will there be a part 3 to the series Two Tears in a Bucket? If so do you have a name already picked out?

Traci Bee: Yes, there will be one more - The Final Tear. No release date in mind yet.

Brandie: What other books will you write outside of the Two Tears series? What characters can we expect to meet? Are they anything like Simone and Kevin?

Traci Bee: In between writing the Two Tears in a Bucket series, I've been toying with another title, A Nickel for a Kiss. Now that Another Tear is done, A Nickel For A Kiss is burning holes in my fingers. My grandmother use to say, the worst beating in life is the one we give ourselves. A Nickel for a Kiss is Ginger Montgomery's twisted tale of karma. It reiterates two things that we've all been told countless time: know your self-worth and the grass isn't always greener. Its unreal the way karma comes back to haunt Ginger.

Brandie: If there's one thing you can change about your books Two Tears in a Bucket and Another Tear what would it be?

Traci Bee: If I could change one thing it would be the creation process, I would pen the entire story, all three parts, and release them six months apart from each other. When I was writing Two Tears in a Bucket, I never planned to continue the story. But when it was all said and done, my writing coach asked me, "So what happens with Felicia? The readers will want to know." Needless to say, that sparked the second book. The fact that Felicia wouldn't die sparked the third. I tried to kill her but the details were always off and it never really flowed. It read like it had been forced. I'm not saying that she will die in the third, but something will happen to her. She can't run from justice forever.

Brandie: What is the best thing about being an author?

Traci Bee: The love from the readers is so unreal. I get teary- eyed.  The readers are truly amazing. To know that someone actually took the time to read my work when there are so many others to choose is one thing in itself. It's very humbling. When I write, I'm writing to my entertainment first. Then to know that someone else was entertained by it as well makes it all seem surreal.

Brandie: What advice would you give aspiring authors?

Traci Bee: Write! Don't worry about the order of the story or the grammar yet- just write! you can get a critique and edit later. And never delete what you write, even if you're changing the story around and feel you won't need it. DO NOT DELETE IT. Cut and paste those scraps into a document. I have a scene that was deleted from Two Tears in a Bucket that fits into a Final Tear perfectly! I was about to cut and paste it right from my scraps.