Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a prolific writer who started writing in her teens, way back in the age of the typewriter, but managed to put out her books only through the indie revolution that started a few years ago. I did submit to traditional publishers with the new millennium, but then in 2011 I started uploading books to Smashwords and KDP, and the rest, as they say, is history!
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“Colors” is a fairy tale revisited in my fantasy world of Silvery Earth. It’s a novella and it’s vaguely connected to “Beautiful”, the fairy tale slashed that came out last November. “Colors” is a male Snow White with the seven dwarves and the Prince Charming is an asexual kind with a “fairy godmother” and they do get their HEA, or it wouldn’t be a fairy tale!
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Up to 2014 I wrote the very first draft longhand, which meant I couldn’t keep track of the real wordcount until I actually typed it. Last year I started typing directly, thanks to Dropbox that synchs my docs on the two computers I have. I ended up writing 400K words of fiction. I aim to 500K for 2016 (it was also last year’s goal, but I fell 100K short, haha!)!
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I actually come more from comics and TV – my very first stories were episodic like TV shows. I even wrote screenplays at some point, then I went back to prose – which, to me, means putting in writing the movies unfolding in my head. Hence I’d read anything with a plot and avoid literary masterpieces that make no sense to me! 🙂
What are you working on now?
I’m prepping for the second novel of my vampires through centuries with the novella about two secondary characters of the first book, Rajveer the Vampire. With the second novel I’ll have to go back to 12th century Europe (after a novel and a novella set in northern India), and I look forward to writing Kaylyn’s story. Her “making” is already out in “When the Lights Go Out” the Inkslingers free anthology.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have a blog and a publisher’s page. Both send their feeds to my Facebook author page. I’m also on Goodreads, although I’m probably in the wrong books. The blog sends its feeds to Goodreads and Author Central as well.
I post the new book’s title and blurb once and then get back to writing. I have about 100 books out in various series and worlds, and still have plenty to write in all those series, I won’t waste too much writing time marketing…
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write for fun. Get in the habit. Follow Heinlein’s rules. Learn some business along with the craft. Set realistic goals and don’t give up. And remember – you are responsible for your career, YOU, not your parents, your publishers or whoever you decide to hire to do your hob. It’s YOUR job and YOUR dream, not theirs.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Heinlein’s Rules (that I unknowingly followed up to #2 before I learned them):
1) You must write.
2) You must finish what you start.
3) You must refrain from rewriting except to editorial order.
4) You must put it on the market.
5) You must keep it on the market until sold.
Dean Wesley Smith explains them much better than I ever could. I also recommend his workshops, both on craft and business.
What are you reading now?
Clockwork Angels by Kevin J.Anderson. I still have 6 more books from SFF bundles I bought a year ago and a neverending TBR list, sigh.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Keep writing and publishing. Writing prequels and sequels, and weave tapestries of stories for Silvery Earth (fantasy), Star Minds (science fantasy), Vampires through Centuries and other stories and… no, I don’t know what writer’s block is, but I’ve had a few project blocks on contemporary stories, so I won’t write anymore of those for now. Unless they’re body switches, that is! 🙂
What is your favorite book of all time?
Anything written by Brunella Gasperini. She still makes me cry every time I reread one of her books (that I first read 30 years ago)
Author Websites and Profiles
Barbara G.Tarn Website
Barbara G.Tarn Amazon Profile
Barbara G.Tarn’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile