Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have been writing for 20 years but have only published one novel so far. I am currently working on a young adult fantasy that I’ve been chewing on for 20 years as well. I’ve tried writing it off and on but it never turned out right. It will be the next book I publish.
I am a voracious reader from non-fiction to fiction. I love Jane Austin, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, J.K. Rowling and plenty of others. I try to read several books per month in both fiction and non-fiction.
I am happily married and have two adorable cats.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is “Love: What is it really?” I was inspired to write it because I’ve been born-again for 25 years and the subject of love has always fascinated me. I know I struggle to love myself, others, and God in the right way so I thought maybe others struggled with it too. My goal is to help people become more loving – to fill the world with love.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I can only write for about 30 minutes at a time before I need to take short breaks, otherwise, I burn out creatively. I can’t listen to music with words or I end up writing down parts of the lyrics. I can’t write long-hand because my thoughts move faster than my hand and I am much faster at typing. I can’t outline books at all. When I’ve tried to outline books I lose all interest in writing it. I have to write as things come to me or not at all.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Growing up I loved Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Jane Austin, and J.K. Rowling. But there are others that I remember and of course authors I picked up as an adult. K.A. Applegate, R.L. Stein, George R. R. Martin, and some others whose names I can’t remember right now. Every book I read has influenced me by either teaching me what to do or what not to do in my own writing.
What are you working on now?
I am currently writing a young adult fantasy novel that I’ve had in my head for 20 years. I wrote it all out when I was 10 years old but it wasn’t incomprehensible and unfortunately, I lost it years ago. I’ve tried writing it several times but it never turned out right. I think I’m on the right track now and I’m determined to finish it within the next 2-3 years.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am still learning how to promote my books.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t give up! I’ve wanted to give up so often throughout the last 20 years. Writing is fun and for authors, it’s something you just have to do, but that doesn’t make it easy. You get writer’s block, you suffer from lack of creativity, getting a literary agent means jumping through a hundred hoops, and even self-publishing is challenging because you have to advertise yourself. Despite all this, if you are an author, you know that you can’t give up writing. It is in your blood. So, don’t give up! No matter how hard or challenging, no matter what obstacles you face, keep moving forward! Keep reading other people’s books, improve your own writing, write new stories all the time, learn new things and new ways of doing things. Just don’t give up!
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Read other people’s books to improve your own writing. We can’t ever think that we’ve “made it” as an author – published or no. We can always get better and besides writing the best way to improve is to read the published works of others. Some teach you what to do, some teach you what not to do, but all books have something you can learn.
What are you reading now?
I’m currently reading George R.R. Martin’s “Game of Thrones.”
What’s next for you as a writer?
What’s next for me is finishing my young adult fantasy and either self-publishing or finding a literary agent to help me get physically published.
Author Websites and Profiles
Tara Canady Website
Tara Canady Amazon Profile
Tara Canady’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile