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Tillie Treadwell: "Tales from the Rift": Author Interview

I have been procrastinating like a professional Netflix binger about posting blog updates here, and after approximately 47 "I'll do it tomorrow" promises to myself, here I finally am with an actual post. Better late than never, right?I had the absolute delight and privilege of interviewing the wonderful Tillie Treadwell yesterday about her experiences and her new book that's currently making waves on Amazon. Tillie Treadwell isn't your typical author. Born and raised in Lake Mary, Florida, she identifies as a "quantum story collector and storyteller" with a background that defies conventional expectations. Her past role as an exorcist with the Catholic Church brings a unique viewpoint to her literary work.

My chat about Tales From The Rift had me spellbound by this ghost-whispering wordsmith's supernatural encounters that fuel her writing. Thanks to her neurodivergent brain and level one autism, Treadwell's memory is like a steel trap - perfect for capturing those spine-tingling tales. Her books are such hot commodities that fans line up for personalized hardcovers like they're waiting for concert tickets. Her next literary haunting drops in spring 2026. This interview peeks inside the delightfully peculiar mind crafting these addictive stories.

Tillie Treadwell: A Life Between Worlds

Tillie Treadwell's life has bridged two worlds - the physical and the paranormal. She had her first encounter with the otherworldly happened when she was barely old enough to drool properly. This early experience shaped her extraordinary life path. Her youth was peppered with supernatural shenanigans that shaped her perspective on reality.

Tillies' knack for chatting with the unexplained led her to join what she lovingly dubbed the "Exorcism Light Team" - a Church-approved team of four spiritual pest controllers. Her job? Deciding whether a haunting needed the full holy water treatment or just a good talking-to. More often than not, she found that a therapist's couch and some lifestyle tweaks worked better than dramatic religious interventions.

Her supernatural resume grew more colorful over time. Tillie became a card-reading extraordinaire, a healing hands guru, a spirit whisperer, and an otherworldly life coach. She teamed up with both traditional doctors and herbal healers to serve up practical wellness advice with a side of spiritual wisdom.

Currently, she pens peculiar tales for Tim R. Swartz's Zontar Press. Swartz co-hosts The Paracast. Her work will feature in Malcolm Robinson's forthcoming SPI book in the UK. Her writings, particularly Tales From The Rift, serve up personal paranormal encounters like ghost stories at a slumber party, delighting readers hungry for glimpses into the great beyond.

Paranormal Experiences That Shaped Her Path

Tillie Treadwell's supernatural shenanigans kicked off at an age when most kids are still figuring out how to burp. Her first wild ride into the unexplained happened when she was barely old enough to hold her head up—somewhere between drooling and crawling age. There she was, bundled up like a tiny little burrito at a family member's place, when suddenly—whoosh!—her spirit went on a cosmic joyride to chat with a telepathic "moon lady" who had a surprisingly human face.

This peculiar tale was just the opening act. Tillie's level one autism bestows upon her a superpower - she can tap into pre-birth memories that leave regular folks scratching their heads. She vividly recalls floating around in the great beyond before making her earthly debut, playing a game of hide-and-seek in her grandmother's house. She'd tuck herself away in festive garlands, pop into a cuckoo clock, and even crash-pad in dolls while contemplating the show called human life.

These supernatural shenanigans became her trademark as time marched on. She co-captained a paranormal investigation team, hobnobbing with spirits of every flavor.

Tillie takes these otherworldly friendships in stride. "I've been told many times that because of my neurodivergence and physical differences, I'm nowhere near as comfortable with most egoed human beings as I am with non-human people!" she quips (okay, something along those lines, watch the show you phantaBOOlous hooman beans, and you’ll hear exactly what she said). These supernatural escapades now fuel her storytelling in Tales From The Rift, giving her work an authenticity that's truly out of this world.

The Making of 'Tales from the Rift'

Tillie Treadwell shares that "All of the stories in Tales from the Rift are based on real true encounters" as she talks about her creative process. Her collection bubbles up from her own zany life adventures and the reliable colorful characters she's bumped into over the years. The stories spring from her escapades with exorcisms, bizarre public encounters, and weird happenings at her own haunted house.

Readers become the stars of their own spooky show through the book's choose-your-own-misadventure format. Treadwell describes this as "a game with replay ability" that lets readers pick different paths when they don't like an ending.

"Oh Deer!" hooks readers with its wild mix of psychological chills and family drama. Stories like "Deal" showcase her knack for spinning fantastical yarns that tickle both funny bones and heartstrings.

Tillie's distinctive style comes from her quest to see humanity through non-human eyes. "The whole series is about learning life from a nonhuman view," she explains. This unique approach gives her work an otherworldly essence.

Conclusion

You can hop over to her book by clicking this link here - no magical portals required, just good old internet connectivity. If you want a signed copy, head on over to her throne room, I mean website, yeah, just click that link, ya know the words throne room, yeah, you got it, and go request an autographed copy!

Speaking of magical things, Tillie graciously asked me to write my first-ever book review. Yes, you heard that right - my literary criticism debut! Here's my attempt at sounding professionally bookish: From the enchanting opening, the tale of Moongate and Brianna with her playful, innocent perspective, the charming rabbit at the marketplace, the armed assailant at the cinema, the manicure parlor featuring acrylic dragons that could devour the unwary (teaching an important moral), narratives that instill a protective instinct toward your little ones, the eerie presence of body snatchers, the abuser, the sprite, the young children, Snow, and the protective spirit who accompanies you until the conclusion, Tillie infuses each story with enchantment. Reading it brought pure joy, and I struggle to fully convey the sense of reminiscence each tale evoked. “Oh Deer!”The hauntingly gripping short narrative intertwines psychological terror, family conflict, and otherworldly elements, creating a story that resonates well beyond its conclusion. The writer shows impressive skill in exploring intricate themes of mistreatment, retribution, and psychological decline within limited space. "Oh Deer!" exemplifies bold narrative craftsmanship that effectively achieves its intricate aims. The writer exhibits masterful command of story construction, character insight, and thematic progression. Despite room for technical enhancement, the tale's emotional impact remains compelling and its creative handling of challenging subject matter reveals genuine literary talent. “Deal and Tales From The Rift” : "Tales From The Rift" showcases masterful narrative expertise through its combination of fantastical components, emotional resonance, and contemplative wisdom. The narrative excels in crafting unforgettable characters whose bond feels both ethereal and genuinely authentic.The cyclical story structure, paired with robust character evolution and significant themes, delivers a rewarding and intellectually stimulating reading journey. The narrative's fundamental strengths substantially overshadow any slight imperfections, and a love from a guardian that one can not deny.

So that was me sounding professional and bookish and sturf, but here’s me in a nutshell on this phantaBOOlous book: From the moment you crack open this book, you're transported into a world that makes Narnia look like a backyard garden. The tale of Moongate introduces us to Brianna, whose innocent perspective would make even hardened cynics believe in the fae again. There's a marketplace rabbit who could give the Easter Bunny serious competition in the charm department (or wait, is it?!), and an armed cinema incident that's more gripping than the latest action blockbuster. Don't even get me started on the manicure parlor featuring acrylic dragons - let's just say it gives a whole new meaning to "nail-biting" entertainment while sneaking in a moral lesson that doesn't feel like your grandmother's lecture. The stories weave protective instincts for your little ones with the finesse of a master storyteller, introducing us to body snatchers (not the friendly neighborhood kind), an abuser who gets what's coming, a sprite that could teach Disney a thing or two, young children who steal your heart, Snow (not the weather kind), and a protective spirit who sticks around like that one friend who won't leave until they're sure you're okay. Tillie's enchantment game is so strong, each story leaves you feeling like you've just discovered a hidden chocolate stash - pure joy that's hard to put into words. The nostalgia is real, y’all!

This collection of stories is like a literary buffet where every dish is your favorite, and you can't help but go back for seconds. Tillie has created something special here - a book that's both an escape and a homecoming, a fantasy and a truth-teller, a warning and a warm hug. It's the kind of reading that makes you forget about your phone notifications, and in 2025, that's saying something! So, go get the dadgum book y’all. So, until next time, stay FREE, stay SAFE, an ALWAYS do unto others as you would have them do unto you! Bye y’all! ~Sha