From Sci-Fi To Paranormal Mysteries – Inside Tina Riffey’s Creative Universe

Photo: “Tina Riffey – The prolific author with a passion for sci-fi, urban fantasy, and paranormal mysteries, alongside raising her feline family.”

Writing Without Limits – Tina Riffey’s Creative Process

Prolific author Tina Riffey discusses her multi-genre writing journey, unique world-building techniques, creative process, and how her intriguing characters and supernatural lore set the Elemental Voice and Ghostwolf series apart.

T  ina Riffey is a dynamic storyteller who has mastered the art of blending imagination with creativity. As the author of over fifteen books, including the Elemental Voice and Ghostwolf series, Riffey’s storytelling spans an impressive range of genres – from urban fantasy to sci-fi and paranormal mystery. Her works are infused with vivid world-building, captivating characters, and unique lore, anchored by a love of storytelling and inspiration drawn from folklore, noir, and personal experiences. Whether crafting dragon fantasies or tales of supernatural sleuthing, Riffey’s passion shines through, making her a remarkable figure in modern speculative fiction.

Tina Riffey’s unmatched imagination and genre versatility create vivid worlds filled with compelling characters, folklore, and engrossing narratives.

What inspired you to write in such a wide variety of genres? My muse is a fickle thing. She doesn’t care about genre, just storytelling. Any idea can spark a story, then the characters consume me. 

How do you approach world-building, particularly in the Urban Fantasy and SciFi genres?  Urban Fantasy is easy to approach as it’s set in ‘modern’ time and there are certain things ‘known’ by everyone. I try not to do info dumps, just little casual mentions of things that seem normally known by the characters or are being realized by the characters. 

“My muse is a fickle thing. She doesn’t care about genre, just storytelling.” – Tina Riffey

What is the biggest challenge in writing about paranormal elements like werewolves? Giving them history that is new and not the ordinary kind. I choose the Ruv/Roma angle because they have a mysterious air about both parties. Werewolves have a certain rep in most cultures as evil. I read some obscure folklore that cast them as protectors and a lost tribe. My muse was intrigued by this. 

Where do you draw inspiration for your characters, such as Detective John Hanlan? Hanlan came about from Noir detective books I had read years ago. A grizzly older detective confronted by the supernatural and not being fazed as he had seen everything. My characters are usually fully formed and living in my head, telling me their story by the time I get to their book.  

How do you balance suspense and mystery with supernatural elements in your stories? I’m a pantser so most of the story is being written as I go along. I don’t even know what is happening next chapter until I write it. My muse tells me a basic idea and the characters flesh it out as we go.  

“I don’t even know what is happening next chapter until I write it.” – Tina Riffey

What are your favourite parts of writing a series like Ghostwolf or Elemental Voice?Meeting the characters and laying out their story. I learn more about them as I go along, just as the readers do.  

How do you approach writing under two different pseudonyms? My first books came out under Tina, my Elemental Voice series. I didn’t get much traction. Other authors told me I should go with my initials if I was going to write other books as female writers didn’t get much readers unless they were romance. So my other genre books came out under T. L. I really don’t approach them as separate in my head. My Urban Fantasy Elemental Voice series and any other of my older urban fantasy books will probably keep coming out under Tina but the other genre will probably come out under T.L. Keeping up separate accounts is too much work and time consuming. On FB I do have a book page for each but I rarely update much there. My instagram T.l.Riffey account is what I usually try to keep updated as well as my t.l. wordpress website. 

What advice would you give to writers who wish to start writing across multiple genres? Decide if you want to do it under one name or give each genre a specific name so the readers can find you easier. Some reader only read one type genre, others read different genres. Then if you decide on different names, you need to decide if you’re going to set up different accounts for each name or set up a main account where they can find all of your stories. You need to consider this before you publish. If you’ve already published then you need to consider if the different genre books will go under that name as well or if you will use a different name. As I said some reader will read different genres and read everything one author publishes, others not so much.  

“Werewolves have a certain rep in most cultures as evil… I was intrigued by folklore where they were protectors.” – Tina Riffey

Which authors or books have influenced your writing journey the most? I have read lots of books, from mysteries to sci-fi. Andre Norton was the one who really got me interested in books. She was the Grand Dame of Sci-fi fantasy. Her books could be read from teenagers to adults and I wanted to be able to capture attention like she did. My books turned out more adult natured but she was what I measured my first efforts by. 

Do you have a specific writing routine or process that you follow? I try to spend at least an hour at night purely writing. Doing other book related things for another hour is also on the agenda. I want writing to be fun not work so I don’t force myself if words don’t come. I read something to do with my writing or watch another writer’s youtube so I am at least doing something book related during that time. 

How do you navigate creating consistent lore and rules for the supernatural in your books? I write a bible as I go a long. Also some of the basics of the Ghostwolf lore is on my website. I’ve popped over there several times when I’ve felt like I’ve forgotten something. The Elemental Voice series is a bit different as most it is from an obscure article that I stumbled upon and never found again. That article was only two pages long, and the author said it was purely a tale she had heard from an old storyteller about what had been called Voices long ago. You never know where you will get your inspiration from. 

What advice would you offer to aspiring authors starting their journey in publishing? Do your research. What will be best for you.