Fiona Tarr's Blog, page 4

Building Something From Scratch

There is a certain amount of satisfaction that comes from building something from the ground up. We are having a pool built and watching the process has been inspiring for me as I start a new genre, but continue to built on the foundation of my fantasy books. But more about that in a second. Check out the pool!

Now this pool started with dirt, a hole, some sheets of iron and reinforcing steel and then layer upon layer of concrete. It has taken weeks and will take a few more still. Then there is the decking, the landscaping and everything else that goes with making a finished, stylish, professional looking pool.

This process is a lot like writing a novel. You start with a raw idea, you add characters, expand the plot, create suspense, excitement and intrigue and then you layer it all up until you have a finished product.

But it doesn’t stop there.

Then you need to market the book, get new readers, reviews and add the pretty finishing touches that make it professional, stylish and marketable, like cover, blurb and ad copy.

Just like making a pool right? – Not really!

The difference is, when my pool guy is finishes, I’m going to hand him a ton of cash and he’s going to walk away super happy. With a book, that process takes time and for some, it never happens. The pay day never comes. Lucky I don’t need that cash to eat, not yet anyway.

What I’m doing now with my book building from scratch, is getting professional, upping my game, using those in the know, just like my pool builder; to give my 4.5 star stories the best chance of finding their way into as many hands as possible.

I’m sprucing up The Priestess Chronicles covers. I’m paying a service to write me some hooks and a new blurb for Call of the Druids (I’ll share that process with you soon) and I’m taking it out of wide distribution (Kobo, B&N etc) to add it to Kindle Unlimited. Then I’m going to market the hell out of it until it gets the recognition it deserves. Why can’t it be the next Shadow Hunter Series on TV? Why can’t it be the most spectacular historical fantasy book on the market for 2021?

If you’d like to help me put the gloss on this particular project. If you’d like to be a part of the building team, then I’d love to hear from you. You can either buy Call of the Druids while it’s still widely available and still only 99c.

Buy Online Now

Or you can leave a review to help others take the plunge.

Review Here

Or you can just send me an email or comment below with any ideas, feedback or encouragement you might think I’ll find helpful. I always love hearing from you.

Oh, and here are photos of the process for the pool so far. Hit the social media links below if you’d like to see the finished product.

A New Chapter Begins

I’ve started it. The crime thriller I’ve been planning. It’s set in Adelaide, Australia. I considered Sydney, but other than a few visits for sight seeing, I know nothing about the place. Where as I spent a lot of time in Adelaide as a kid and worked there for quite a few years as a young adult.

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I sold tickets to the Adelaide Arts Festival and Fringe Festival, attended writer’s week, spent years attending ballet classes right in the heart of the city and have enjoyed the night life on many occasion.

Now I just need to find some intriguing background scandal to use in my politically motivated thriller. At first I thought Adelaide might not have what it takes, but then I recalled a few dirty little secrets that inspired my imagination.

The story is about a Madam – now I don’t want to give away too much but – she’s super wealthy, super connected, but will it be enough to find one of her missing girls?

So far I’ve decided where her apartment is going to be. I’ve written the first chapter and set up a little background, but this story is going to be a slow burn as the mystery unfolds and the Madam’s history is revealed. I’ll keep you posted on the progress and share a little of my research as I start to draft this new novel in a totally new genre.

What is your favourite crime thriller book? I’d love to know for cover and story researched. I’m a Kathy Reichs and Patricia Cornwell fan myself.

First World Problems

I often have to remind myself that I live in a lucky country. Where medical care is free, the unemployed are supported and the basic wage is enough for most people to make ends meet.

But in the middle of all that we have, we still often need to deal with real issues that can get us down. The last three or more years, my first world problem has been a growing intolerance to FODMAPs and the limitations that puts on my day to day eating and overall well-being.

The more I talk about it with people, the more I discover that so many others have food intolerances. This really shouldn’t surprise me since my youngest son was lactose intolerant and became allergic to salicylates quite young, but the scope of the intolerances is so broad that it has become a very intriguing subject for me.

When you have food intolerances, eating out becomes difficult. I used to mock the V & GF symbols on menus until it wasn’t funny anymore. Now, if the restaurant doesn’t have these symbols on the menu I usually don’t even bother to go in and ask about possible GF options.

The only food I really miss is a cinnamon donut. Crazy I know, but even GF donuts seem to have Soy and Soy is just as back, if not worse, for those allergic to FODMAPs. I’ve invented and adapted some great recipes over the years, but I think I might need to spend a bit of time developing a GF, Soy Free donut dough to satisfy my craving.

[image error]Gluten Free Choc Chip Cookies

Fortunately there is more awareness of food allergies now and there are some great off the shelf alternatives, but nothing beats a few home made recipes.

If you are GF or FODMAP intolerant, I’d love to hear your recipes and if you have one for donuts, please! please! let me know.

New Book Ideas

I really enjoy writing fantasy and with two complete series finished along with The Priestess Chronicles three books in and still in progress, I’ve written a total of 11 fantasy novels now.

One of the reasons I started writing was to discover my creativity and to escape the real world for a place where I could control the outcome. It’s the control freak in me I think.

I’ve had a plot running around in my head for a while now and it doesn’t really suit the fantasy genre, so I’ve decided to explore thriller/mystery writing with my next full length novel.

The story will be set in Australia, which I’m really looking forward to. I haven’t decided on the decade yet – current urban or 80’s retro – you’ll have to wait and see.

While I research this new novel, I’ll be planning book 4 in The Priestess Chronicles and marketing the series, along with The Eternal Realm series.

To help with the marketing, I’ve dropped the price of the first book in The Eternal Realm & The Priestess Chronciles Series to only 99c. I haven’t decided if I’ll keep them at that price or not, but why not grab your copies now, while they are on sale.

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Shiloh Rising Pre-Order

I haven’t done a pre-order on my new releases for a while, so I thought why not throw out a great price to all my regular readers. Pre-order book 3 in The Priestess Chronicles for only 99c from your ebook retailer until the 3rd November.

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Haven’t started The Priestess Chronicles series yet? Discover why Ariela decides to leap through time. Learn who Culaan and Genevieve are and how they help the lost Priestess of Shiloh find her way in a foreign time and place. Call of the Druids, 99c for a limited time.

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Shiloh Rising Cover Selection

I’ve sent this out in my newsletter & I’ve posted it on Facebook so the decision is almost already made, but I thought you’d like a sneak peak at the final 2 choices for the latest Priestess Chronicles instalment – Shiloh Rising.

Left or Right?

I had the name for this book picked out when I first started the series but it wasn’t until this latest book, that the name fit the story. I’m amazed at how well the title fits now that I’m in the final preparation stage. It’s almost as though this book was meant to be.

Book 3 of The Priestess Chronicles will be available to pre-order later this month, with a release before the end of October.

Now onto another story. Another Priestess Chronicles or will I take a stab at that thriller I’ve been thinking about? You’ll have to wait and see. If you have a preference, maybe pop in a comment below.

Multi-Genre Authors

I love writing fantasy. It’s the ultimate escapism to a place where I can make anything possible. Where Ariela can walk through walls and the goddess Asherah can manifest her own beautiful reality in the sky.

With book 3 in The Priestess Chronicles just heading to the beta team now, I thought maybe trying my hand at another genre might be in order. I’ve had a plot idea for a thriller/suspence/murder book running around in my head for a little while and I’d love to know if you’d read other genres from me if I wrote them?

The story will be set in current times, in Sydney Australia and will delve into the underbelly of high class calls girls and politics (with fictional names of course). You can expect the same style of writing, with strong female characters and twisted plots, but I’ve been wanting to do something more contemporary for a while and urban fantasy doesn’t really float my boat (as a writer that is).

Tell me what you think in the comments below.

Hook Help! – Call of the Druids

I’d love some help finding the right ad copy (cool words) for some adverts I’m running on Amazon. The trouble is we only have 150 characters to work with, so I’ve cut these back as much as I can without them simply not making sense.

Seeking freedom a young Priestess escapes her betrothed. She embarks on a magical time traveling quest. Unprepared, she finds an overwhelming destiny.A young Priestess escapes an arranged marriage to embark on a journey through time. She fights for the light, but soon discovers evil has many faces.A young Priestess escapes an arranged marriage to embark on a magical time traveling quest. To find freedom and love, she’ll have to toughen up.A young Priestess escapes an arranged marriage to embark on a magical time traveling quest. To find freedom and love, she’ll have to overcome evil.

Vote for your favourite in the comments below, or even have a go at writing one yourself (if you’ve read the book of course).

New Cover For My First Series

It’s been four years since I completed this first series (not counting the novella) and I’m working on new covers for the Covenant of Grace Series.

I was just about to send this out to everyone when my husband made the comment that maybe I needed a picture, a battle scene or something like that. I dreamt of book covers all of last night and woke up this morning certain that the three final options we have are in keeping with some of the top fantasy novelists including George RR Martin and Raymond E Feist.

Now I’m not at the same sales level as these guys, but I’m hoping this new cover will help me stand out from the crowd. My cover designer and I have gotten down to these three, but we’d love to know what you think?

Left, Centre or Right?

Tell me in the comments below which you like most. All the books in the series will be recovered in the same style as this one, once we decide.

Reign of Retribution Out Now!

A few early readers have already left a review so see what others are saying about this third and likely final book in the series.

“Thought-provoking and highly recommended” Sherrie Hansen

“If you enjoyed the first two in this series, you’ll love this one too.”

“Another historical/biblical masterpiece from Fiona Tarr” Claire Simpson

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99c Limited Time

If you have not started the series yet, why not grab book 1 – The Jericho Prophecy for only 99c – Limited Time