Storytelling has been an instinct with T K Bush all her life, beginning in childhood and now finding its way into the world of psychological suspense. A registered radiologic technologist specializing in interventional cardiology, she brings an unusual professional perspective to her fiction, drawing on her medical expertise to provide authenticity to hospital settings and protocols. She also reads and reviews thrillers and assists other authors with writing accurate medical scenes. Her debut psychological thriller, Unveiled, marks the opening of a new chapter in her literary journey. In this interview with B Sudharsan, Founding Editor-in-Chief, Literary Harbinger, T K Bush discusses how she began her writing journey, the unexpected turns her characters take, juggling a career in healthcare with fiction writing, and the stories she plans to tell next. The interview has been lightly edited for flow.
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‘Knew From a Young Age Would Become an Author’
B Sudharsan: Glad to make your acquaintance, Ms Bush. When did you first discover your love for storytelling, and what made you realize that you wanted to become an author?
T K Bush: I started writing as soon as I learned to read. I think I was creating characters in my head even before that. The joy I felt from bringing stories to life, from my imagination to the page, is how I knew from a very young age that I would one day become an author.
B Sudharsan: That early connection with storytelling has now led to your debut novel. How did it come into being, and what can readers expect from it?
T K Bush: My debut novel, Unveiled, releases on October 6. It’s a psychological thriller about a cardiac manager who has amnesia after an accident. As she rebuilds her family and career, she must confront her forgotten past when someone arrives with a deadly secret that could destroy everything.
‘I Read Pretty Much Everyone’
B Sudharsan: How much of a story and its characters do you usually have mapped out before you begin writing?
T K Bush: I try to have at least a basic sense or outline of everything before I start. I used to start writing and see how things unfolded, but I’ve found I save time by planning as much as possible in advance. Despite all the planning, the characters and plot almost always develop in unexpected ways, and for me, that’s the most exciting part of writing.
B Sudharsan: What kinds of writers and stories do you find yourself drawn to?
T K Bush: I don’t have a particular favorite. I read pretty much anyone who writes psychological thrillers, romantic suspense, or biblical/historical romance.
‘I Write Whenever I Can’
B Sudharsan: With so many responsibilities beyond writing, how do you find the time to create, and does inspiration tend to follow a particular routine for you?
T K Bush: I write whenever I can. I’d like to follow a set schedule, but that rarely works out. I find I’m most inspired when I don’t have much time to write, so I have to make the time.
B Sudharsan: Your professional life, as I am given to understand, connects intriguingly with your fiction. Where are you currently based, and what exactly is your professional background?
T K Bush: I reside in Florida, and I am a registered radiologic technologist who specializes in interventional cardiology.
B Sudharsan: Looking back at that childhood certainty about becoming an author, was writing always something you consciously intended to pursue as a career?
T K Bush: Yes, definitely. I always knew I wanted to be an author.
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‘Am More Productive When I Have a Clear Deadline’
B Sudharsan: How do you balance your professional responsibilities with writing, and what other interests occupy your time when you step away from your stories?
T K Bush: I do the best I can. Sticking to a set schedule can be difficult, but I find that I am more productive when I have a clear deadline. I enjoy reading, of course, and creating goodie bags for events or parties.
B Sudharsan: With Unveiled about to make its way to readers, where is your writing taking you next? And do you hope to make writing your full-time career?
T K Bush: I am currently working on my next psychological thriller, which involves choices and consequences. I don’t want to give too much away at this time, as it’s still a work in progress. I definitely intend to become a full-time author in the near future.
‘Just Don’t Give Up’
B Sudharsan: Every writer encounters moments when the response to a book may not match the hopes invested in it. What would you say to authors who begin to lose motivation when their work does not perform as they expected?
T K Bush: I would say to remember why you do what you do. The joy and blessing from creating should first be for yourself. The rest will come. Just don’t give up.
B Sudharsan: Your advice to writers places the joy of creation at the heart of the journey. If you could extend that philosophy beyond writing and change one thing about the world, what would it be?
T K Bush: I would change the way people think about forgiveness and unconditional love, especially the importance of extending both to themselves and others.
‘My Days Vary’
B Sudharsan: From cardiovascular technology to writing and family time, your days seem to move between very different worlds. What does a usual day look like for you?
T K Bush: My days vary. I’m either at work as a cardiovascular tech or sitting at home by the pool or in my office writing or spending time with family.
B Sudharsan: Besides English, are there any other languages you know or speak?
T K Bush: Just English.
B Sudharsan: What final message would you like to leave with readers?
T K Bush: Please check out my debut novel, Unveiled, which releases on Oct 6! Thanks!
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I would say to remember why you do what you do. The joy and blessing from creating should first be for yourself. The rest will come. Just don’t give up.
~ T K BUSH