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Our Featured Resident
TJ Perkins, Chartley's Resident Author
 The
first thing you notice about TJ Perkins is her enthusiasm
and energy. Her blond hair is pulled back simply with a beret,
revealing a warm smile, a smattering of freckles on lightly
tanned skin, and expressive green-hazel eyes. She talks with
great enthusiasm about her new home in Chartley, her husband,
her 17-year old daughter and 7-year-old son, and her three
cats. But wait until she talks about her recent successes,
with the publication of two childrens books within the last
six months to see her face really light up.
Although TJ has published short stories in magazines and written
some romance stories for several on-line magazines, the publication
of these childrens suspense novels is the fulfillment of her
almost-lifelong ambition. She talks candidly about her inspiration
for writing, including her childhood in New Windsor, Maryland.
Although her farming family was poor, the century old house
in which she grew up once housed servants, who resided in
the attic. Unexplained sights and sounds, compounded with
rumors of nineteenth century servants who died in the house,
is the inspiration for her latest novel, Mystery in the Attic.
"I've always been one to tell a good ghost story,"
TJ says of her writing. But unlike Stephen King, whom she
views as a "gross horror" writer, and R.L. Stine,
who she deems "too unbelievable", TJ aims for more
believable stories. "I don't talk down to my readers"
she firmly vows and describes her style as "Nancy Drew,
mixed with the suspense flavor of Sherlock Holmes and Agatha
Christie." She tries to put a lesson into her stories
and uses no off-color language, which she feels is the mark
of a poor writer.
Until three months ago, TJ had been a resident of Owings Mills,
until the family found a more spacious house in Chartley.
TJ reinforces what all of the long time residents of Chartley
already know - the well built houses are a great value and
the neighborhood is friendly and inviting. One only needs
to look around her house to see her use of colors and styles
in decorating to feel her creativity. But like us all, she
says many of her ideas will have to wait to catch up with
her pocketbook.
Likewise, although she enjoys her job as an administrative
assistant for a management training company, she would love
to have more time to pursue her writing and other interests.
Unfortunately, breaking into the writing business takes time,
money, and breaks, to which her seven letters of rejection
attest. The publishers of her books are small companies that
cannot afford much promotion, so TJ hopes that readers who
like what they see can spread the word. She promotes her books
wherever she can, including upcoming appearances at Barnes
and Noble in Towson on October 5 from 1- 4 p.m. and at the
Ivy Book Shop in Lake Falls Village on October 12 from 2 -
4 p.m.
Her first novel, Wound Too Tight, tells the story of six boys
in Maine who come across a pirate's lost treasure and have
curses befall them. It is up to the one remaining boy to uncover
the secret of an enchanted pocket watch to save the lives
of his friends. It is available for ordering on-line at publishamerica.com,
or (240) 529-1031.
Her second and most recent novel, Mystery in the Attic, has
just been accepted by the Carroll County Children's Fund for
publication, and will be available later this year. All proceeds
of its sale go to Carroll County.
We welcome TJ and her family to Chartley and wish her good
luck in her writing pursuits.
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