| Author Interview Form |
Tell us your name and where you’re from.:
|
Hello, my name is Barbara G. Tarn and I’m a write-aholic… I publish
under 3 pseudonyms. I have an Italian passport but feel
international. |
What led to your decision to become an author?:
|
No choice. I write, therefore I am. I’ve been writing stories
since my long forgotten teens, so there’s no stopping now. I’m glad
for the indie publishing revolution that allows me to put my stories
out there at last. |
Tell us about what you’re currently working on, and
what you’ve written in the past.: |
In May I’m back to writing as B.G. Hope – the third body
switch by Samantha the Witch. Let’s call it urban fantasy, since it
supposedly happens on Earth. The first, Johnny&Marian, published in
2012 is my bestseller, but I enjoyed writing the second, Ciaran&Harith
(published in 2013), more – it was funnier, IMHO. Now I look forward
to the third.
I’ve been publishing e-books since 2011 and I’m very prolific. I have
put out 75 titles at the last count (that’s the number that shows up
on my Kindle, LOL). |
What are some of your strongest points as a writer,
and what if anything are you constantly working to improve upon?:
|
Good ear for dialog and snappy, journalistic prose – I hate
purple prose. I’m so plot and character-oriented that I always forget
to use the 5 senses in my writing… |
Are you self published, traditionally published or
both? Why did you choose to go that route?: |
I’m a control freak. And I’m scared of contracts and
legalese, so I’d rather do it all by myself. Being also an artist, I
do most of my covers myself, or hire artists that I like or
admire… |
What format are your books available in? Which of
these formats do you prefer and why?: |
Ebook (all formats) – I upload to Smashwords, Amazon KDP,
Kobo and get to B&N and Apple through a distributor. Some titles are
also on DriveThru or XinXii. The POD versions are available only for
longer titles (novels or anthologies). I own a Kindle Keyboard, but if
I can, I buy from Smashwords (in case the Kindle break, I can always
download another format, including PDF) or get the classics from
Project Guttenberg. Unfortunately some authors go KDP Select… |
How do you go about marketing your books?:
|
I write the next one. I announce the new release on my blog
and Facebook page and move on. In the past year I’ve also started
submitting short stories to the traditional SFF markets – only
rejections so far, but if I get published on one of those mags, the
halo effects on my indie titles will hopefully expand… |
Have you ever had to deal with harsh criticism in a
review, and how do you handle it?: |
I don’t read the reviews. And even if I do, you’ll never know
I did! 😉 |
What are your favorite genres to both read and
write?: |
SFF (my main pen name, Barbara G.Tarn, writes just that). I
read everything, but I don’t like horror, erotica or literary fiction
– i.e. as long as there’s a story unfolding, I’ll check it. |
What authors have influenced or inspired you?:
|
Last century, Brunella Gasperini. Her stories made me start
writing. I haven’t read much for years, I’m starting now that I need
to improve my writing skills in a second language! 🙂 |
What kinds of things do you enjoy doing when you’re
not writing?: |
Drawing while listening to music (I have also an ongoing,
almost done, graphic novel) and watching movies on DVD. And
reading. |
What software do you use for your writing? Did you
try others before you settled on the one you’re currently using?:
|
Open Office free software. I write the first draft longhand,
but I’m a typist (some of my older stories were written with a MANUAL
typewriter, but I learned to type on electric typewriters), so as soon
as I could I got me a PC with Word 2.0 – showing my age much? |
What is it that you like about the software you’re
currently using that makes it the best solution for you?:
|
I don’t believe in software writing the stories for you. I
only need something to type my stories and save them as Word.doc to be
formatted for e-publication or submitted… |
What’s the best advice you could possibly give to
your fellow authors?: |
Just keep writing. Or in the words of Jason Nesmith: Never
give up. Never surrender. (Galaxy Quest, 1999) |
Where can people find out more about you and your
books?: |
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Barb-aka-Barbara-GTarn/175559797281
http://creativebarbwire.wordpress.com |
Barbara G. Tarn
under 3 pseudonyms. I have an Italian passport but feel
international.
since my long forgotten teens, so there’s no stopping now. I’m glad
for the indie publishing revolution that allows me to put my stories
out there at last.
what you’ve written in the past.:
switch by Samantha the Witch. Let’s call it urban fantasy, since it
supposedly happens on Earth. The first, Johnny&Marian, published in
2012 is my bestseller, but I enjoyed writing the second, Ciaran&Harith
(published in 2013), more – it was funnier, IMHO. Now I look forward
to the third.
I’ve been publishing e-books since 2011 and I’m very prolific. I have
put out 75 titles at the last count (that’s the number that shows up
on my Kindle, LOL).
and what if anything are you constantly working to improve upon?:
purple prose. I’m so plot and character-oriented that I always forget
to use the 5 senses in my writing…
both? Why did you choose to go that route?:
legalese, so I’d rather do it all by myself. Being also an artist, I
do most of my covers myself, or hire artists that I like or
admire…
these formats do you prefer and why?:
Kobo and get to B&N and Apple through a distributor. Some titles are
also on DriveThru or XinXii. The POD versions are available only for
longer titles (novels or anthologies). I own a Kindle Keyboard, but if
I can, I buy from Smashwords (in case the Kindle break, I can always
download another format, including PDF) or get the classics from
Project Guttenberg. Unfortunately some authors go KDP Select…
and Facebook page and move on. In the past year I’ve also started
submitting short stories to the traditional SFF markets – only
rejections so far, but if I get published on one of those mags, the
halo effects on my indie titles will hopefully expand…
review, and how do you handle it?:
I did! 😉
write?:
read everything, but I don’t like horror, erotica or literary fiction
– i.e. as long as there’s a story unfolding, I’ll check it.
writing. I haven’t read much for years, I’m starting now that I need
to improve my writing skills in a second language! 🙂
not writing?:
almost done, graphic novel) and watching movies on DVD. And
reading.
try others before you settled on the one you’re currently using?:
but I’m a typist (some of my older stories were written with a MANUAL
typewriter, but I learned to type on electric typewriters), so as soon
as I could I got me a PC with Word 2.0 – showing my age much?
currently using that makes it the best solution for you?:
only need something to type my stories and save them as Word.doc to be
formatted for e-publication or submitted…
your fellow authors?:
give up. Never surrender. (Galaxy Quest, 1999)
books?:
http://creativebarbwire.wordpress.com
By Duane • Guest Author Interviews 0