Fiona Tarr's Blog, page 12

The Hardest Part of All!

The hardest part of all!

“The last step is so often overlooked: The part where you show up, regularly, consistently and generously, for years and years, to organize and lead and build confidence in the change you seek to make.” Seth Godin

I ran into Barbara Brewster again today and after a quick chat, I was reminded why she first inspired me to write. After our conversation today, she inspired me once again; this time to persevere, to keep turning up, to keep writing, publishing and trying to make a difference.

Finding Common Ground

‘For as long as we’ve been keeping records, human beings have been on alert for the differences that divide us. Then we fixate on those differences, amplifying them, ascribing all sorts of irrelevant behaviours to them. Until, the next thing you know, we start referring to, “those people.” Seth Godin

I used to think it was understanding and discovering the similarities in world faith, religions and cultures which drove my fiction writing, but I have come to understand it is in all things that I hope we can find Common Ground.

Photo by unsplash.com

What Kind of Writer am I?

I kinda stole this question from Steven Pressfield, in that he recently posted how he dealt with this exact same question. His post made me mull over the question for myself; his motive no doubt: What Kind of Writer am I?

I can’t really say why I started writing, except that there was a little niggling voice inside my head which kept telling me I should write, something, anything! I considered non-fiction, self help type books but decided that concept felt fake to me. Who on earth really knows enough about anything with certainty to tell others how to do it? Definitely no me!

So fiction became my genre; historical fantasy in particular. But deep down I have to admit I have an ulterior motive in my writing. Like all authors, I have something I want to highlight, something that bugs me deep down in my soul. I write stories so that I can share a little of my personal experience and understanding when it comes to politics, social laws and religion and how, throughout history they have both helped and at times stuffed up the society we live in.

If historical fantasy is your thing and you like to challenge the cultural, religious and political status quo, then maybe take a look at book one in my series; Destiny of Kings – now FREE on Amazon.

Photo by photos.bucketlistly.com

 

Critique isn’t Criticism

Critique isn’t criticism well it is sort of, but in a good way. I had to keep telling myself this fact as I read a review of my second book, Seed of Hope by Anne from @Inkedbrownies. The review offered a detailed critique and I was slightly embarrassed for a moment when I first read it on her website. You can check it out here.

Her feedback got me thinking (I know, scary thought) about the difference between criticism and critique. My first reaction from Anne’s review was OMG she only gave me 3.5 stars. Anne also highlighted a few things which ticked her off and I had to take a deep breath and console myself for only a moment before realising that Anne had in fact done me a big favour. She had not only given a review, but she had also provided me with real and valuable unbiased feedback which I could use and implement to grow as an author.

So another lesson learnt; the difference between criticism and construction feedback. Also, apparently 3 stars is actually quite good and 3.5 is even better. Thanks for the extra .5 of a brownie (star) Anne. It is very much appreciated.

Interview with Lucy on BlondeWriteMore

Intriguing name for a site; Lucy Mitchell recently interviewed me for her site. Lucy writes about the highs and lows of writing, in her case as a blonde :).

Lucy posed some really good questions and we both received quite a lot of feedback about my most recent interview. If you are curious, take a look here.

Being Interviewed

When I first started out as an Indie writer, I realised that I couldn’t just write and hide as I had first hoped. Now virtual interviews are not as nerve racking as the live ones, but they are still challenging. You have to lay a little honestly on the line and that’s enough to make anyone feel slightly vulnerable.

But…. Big But here. Being honest and vulnerable is authentic and something you need to be willing to do to reach your readers on a real and tangible level. At the end of the day, writers are real people, with real world struggles and even if your readers don’t find that fascinating, other Indie Authors will.

Legacy of Power – Pre-order for only 99¢ Now!

I am really excited to announce the pre-order of my third book in the Covenant of Grace Series. I am sorry for the delay in release, but as a special thank you for being so patient, I have set the book at only 99¢ until its official release on the 15th September.

So you can grab your copy early at a super discount as the release price will be $4.99 after the 15th. Alternatively, if you have read Destiny of King or Seed of Hope and have added your review to Amazon, you can join my ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) Group and get your copy now, FREE.

Just click here and tell me where and when you did your review and I will send the Book Funnel ARC link to you. I can’t wait to hear what you all think of the latest instalment.

Synopsis

All things happen for a reason….

A failed assassination draws general Martinez deeper into a political power struggle.

Martinez’s son has been missing from birth. Unbeknownst to the General, the boys life now hangs in the balance.

The children of prophecy have been revealed; as the forces of darkness begin the hunt.

5 Stars For Seed of Hope – Melanie Adkins

I am really excited to share my first 5 star review for Seed of Hope. As book 3 – Legacy of Power enters final preparations to go on pre-sale, I am totally wrapped to hear Melanie enjoyed book 2 so much.

Melanie Adkins is an award winning book reviewer and I feel quite privileged to have had her take the time to read my work. Melanie’s blog; Have You Heard My Book Review, shares reviews for books from both Indie Authors and Traditional Publishing houses. She is honest and knows her craft, so take a look at the full review here.

Creativity = Change = Fear!

Being creative, invariably leads to change. It is unavoidable. New ideas, new ways of doing business, new plans for the future, new discoveries, new inventions they all lead to change. The only problem is many people struggle with change, so they often dismiss their creativity out of a sense of fear.

What new and creative idea are you suppressing out of fear?

Photo by Gratisography.

Learning from Others

‘Being unique is a great way to hide from the change we need when someone offers us a better future. Learning from the patterns and the people who have come before, though, is the only way any of us advance.’  Seth Godin

Life is full of opportunities to learn from others who have come before us. They have already done the hard yards and often made mistakes along the way.  Like our parents, who tried to help us avoid pain through their insight, these people have learnt from the errors they made and can save us a lot of heartache.

This lesson has probably been my biggest take away from my writing career so far. I need to thank a handful of pioneering Indie authors who have paved the way for others. Jeff Goins, Joanna Penn, Seth Godin, Nick Stephenson and most recently Mark Dawson.

Authors – In it for the Long Run!

So it Begins, again!

With Book 3 – Legacy of Power set to launch by mid September (final edit due back Monday), I just wanted to let you all know I am right on top of it with Book 4. I have even named it, but its still a secret.

I had anticipated this series had 4 books in it, but I hope you are all happy to discover there are at least 5 if not 6 books in total to finish the Covenant of Grace Series up. It has been a richly rewarding process researching and expanding on these old historical tales. As many of you know, I have a background in theological studies and a keen interest in philosophy; the things of which all good epic/heroic fantasies are made of.

As my writing process has evolved, so too have the untold stories within the tales of the Old Testament. If you have read Seed of Hope you will have gotten to know Nina. She is a complex character and I have found her very interesting to write. In Legacy of Power, her life take a whole new direction and this has given me another story to tell about the line of King David (the totally fictional line that is).

If you have read Destiny of Kings or Seed of Hope, then you might like to get your hands on an advanced reader copy of Legacy of Power – FREE. If so, then please contact me here. Copies are limited and priority will go to those of you who have reviewed one or both of my earlier books. If you have not yet reviewed Destiny of Kings or Seed of Hope, then its not too late.

If you haven’t taken advantage of your 50% off Voucher for Seed of Hope yet, then just click here for details.

Thanks for reading!