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Living an Honest Life
Where Truth Lies Waiting follows a woman who has a traumatic accident that leaves her suspended between life and death, and develops a sixth sense, allowing her to hear the thoughts of those who visit her. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The inspiration for the setup of this story can be traced to my childhood. I was always fascinated with how people’s actions did not always match their spoken words. Say and do could be very different things. With this preoccupation, I always wondered what it would be like to know what people thought and how different it would be from what they shared verbally. As I got older and self-reflected, I realized that this “sixth sense” could be as harmful as it could be helpful in really knowing a person deeply.
What are some things that you find interesting about the human condition that you think make for great fiction?
I feel that most people are pleasers. They will tell you what they think you want to hear. Honesty, on the other hand, does not flow as freely from people. I would also say that most people aspire to be good and do good. But being and doing good usually require sacrifice and giving. It is not always easy, and that is when things get interesting. In my opinion, the “what ifs” are what drive good fiction.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
One theme that is at the forefront of this novel is living an honest life. Honesty applies not only to others but to one’s own self and it can change over time, given how each of us changes and evolves. Forgiveness fits perfectly into this theme as there is bound to be a need for forgiveness as each of us searches for our own truth.
Another theme that was important for me to explore was the possibilities of what happens to us when we die. Our culture works hard at preserving youth and seeking longevity. Most people I know would not find a conversation about death and dying a very desirable topic. We tend to run from the one true fact that we are guaranteed in life: We will all die. Exploring it in fiction offers a safe space to imagine and consider, even for a moment.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
This is my third novel. At this point, I have been encouraged to write a sequel for my second novel, Three Days in Amsterdam. I am mulling that idea around. These three novels were written with a specific purpose. In all honesty, I am waiting to be inspired because that makes the pen flow with a fluidity that is magical. I strive for that magical inspiration always.
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See Tina Now. She lies in a hospital bed, her broken body tethered to life by tubes and machines. Suspended between life and death, Tina’s spirit lingers in a space where memories resurface, and questions arise.
Feel Tina’s struggle as she confronts the cracks in her once-ideal life. Her only connection to the world is her sight-until an unexpected sixth sense emerges, allowing her to hear the unspoken thoughts of those who visit her bedside. What begins as fascination soon turns unsettling, as their inner truths challenge everything Tina assumed she knew about her relationships and herself.
Piece by piece, Tina must rely on the raw, unfiltered thoughts of her visitors to uncover the mystery of how she ended up in this shattered state. Each memory offers a clue, shedding light on hidden truths and unresolved conflicts from her past.
In the end, as the cause of her tragic circumstances become clear, Tina gains a profound understanding- but it’s far from what she expected.
Tanja Davia’s third novel, Where Truth Lies Waiting, takes readers on an extraordinary journey into the liminal space between life and death. It explores the fragile balance of perception and truth, the weight of our choices, and the seemingly random events that shape our life. Yet, as Tina begins to wonder-are any of these events truly random?
Where Truth Lies Waiting
Where Truth Lies Waiting is a moving and deeply introspective novel that follows Tina, a woman caught between life and death, as she reflects on her past, her relationships, and the truths that shaped her existence. After a traumatic accident leaves her hovering in an out-of-body state, Tina watches her own life unfold from above, visiting memories, conversations, and unresolved moments with a keen emotional eye. As her spirit wanders through these reflections, the story reveals the intricate ties of love, friendship, and grief, especially the ways honesty and truth both heal and hurt. Layer by layer, the novel uncovers the weight of unspoken truths and the surprising ways clarity can surface when we let go of control.
The writing has a slow, poetic rhythm that draws you in, even when the subject matter is heavy. I was struck by how intimate Tina’s thoughts felt like paging through someone’s private journal. Tanja Davia Tucker does a beautiful job of painting Tina’s inner world with honesty and raw emotion. The early chapters, especially the ones about Tina’s childhood and the death of her father, resonated with me. It made me pause and think about the things we carry from childhood that quietly shape us well into adulthood. The writing is calm and clean, but there’s real power in its simplicity. Every sentence feels deliberate. You can tell Tucker poured her soul into this story.
There were moments where switching perspectives from Tina to others pulled me out a little. Some of the flashbacks were so vivid and moving that I wanted to linger, but the pace often moved me forward. Still, I can’t fault the book for that. It’s reflective and careful, like Tina herself. What hit me most was the recurring theme of truth. How it’s not always simple, not always kind, but still necessary. It made me rethink moments in my own life where I either held back or pushed too hard in the name of “being honest.” The book doesn’t pretend that truth is easy. It shows how it can crack things wide open, or quietly save us.
I would recommend Where Truth Lies Waiting to anyone who’s ever grieved deeply, loved fiercely, or struggled with what to say when words feel too small. It’s a quiet book, but it echoes long after you close the cover. If you’re the kind of reader who enjoys stories that make you feel something real, especially those that sit in the emotional in-between, this one’s for you. It reminded me that sometimes we find peace not in having all the answers, but in being brave enough to ask the questions.
Pages: 220 | ASIN : B0F7GRHNR6
LITERARY TITAN 