Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a home-based Freelance Writer/Author (and single mom) residing in sunny Tucson, AZ. I’ve written and self-published one non-fiction book “When Love Is a Lie” and am currently in the process of publishing the companion book to that book, “The Narcissist Recovery Workbook”.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My self-published non-fiction book entitled “When Love Is a Lie – Narcissists, Psychopaths, & Our Codependency to the Relationship Agenda” is based on the story (told in bits and pieces) of my 13-year relationship with a narcissist boyfriend. The book explains and demystifies the narcissistic personality disorder and also provides the thought-process I finally used to let go and mentally break free from the pain and the nonsense.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
The only thing that I find unusual about my writing habit is my inability (or unwillingness) to ever take a break! I will literally sit and write for 12-hour stretches without even looking at the clock. However, when I find myself struggling with a word or revamping the same paragraph over and over and over, it’s then that I realize it’s time to get up and out.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Although I do most of my reading online, I love to browse around used bookstores for anything metaphysical that discusses Universal Law, law of attraction, etc. Eckhart Tolle (“The Power of Now” and “A New Earth”) is truly an amazing author in that area as are Melanie Beattie (“Co-Dependent No More”) and Marianne Williamson (“A Course in Miracles”). I also recently finished a great book about the spiritual power of the written word called “The Right to Write” by Julia Cameron and it immediately motivated me to add 100 additional pages to my already-published Kindle.
What are you working on now?
I am simultaneously finishing up the workbook companion to “When Love Is a Lie”, writing – with my son – a non-fiction memoir about my son’s struggle with mental illness (almost done), and slowly plugging away at my first fiction novel about the end times.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I believe that creating an optimized website around the topic of the book (at least for non-fiction) is the best way to market a self-published piece. The site should contain current articles or blog posts, interesting images, a bio, pictures of the book, social media connections, and links to Amazon and other places where your book is for sale. I love keyword research, website statistics, and that helps me figure out exactly what people type into Google search to find things. Then, I base everything I write relative to promotion on all that information. It works every time.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write every single day and write about what you know.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write every single day and write about what you know.
What are you reading now?
“Manifesting Change” by Mike Dooley
What’s next for you as a writer?
To finish writing and publish all of these books that I’ve started.
What is your favorite book of all time?
To name just one would be impossible because if I love a book, I’ll love it forever and there have been hundreds. I guess I could say that whatever book I am reading and enjoying at the moment is usually my favorite.
Author Websites and Profiles
Zari Ballard Website
Zari Ballard Amazon Profile
Zari Ballard Author Profile on Smashwords
Zari Ballard’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account
Hello Zari,
I truly have come to believe that there are no accidents are in life. Today, I am home sick and decided to find information about sociopaths. It has been 10 years since I divorced mine. Still I look for maybe you if he can recover? Wow! Was he really one? The reason I do this because this way I can justify that no other relationship has lasted after him or I have been made to feel what I felt has not happened. However, I recently met a man whom I like and all of a sudden I am getting phone calls from unknown sources and strange feelings . He remarried soon after our divorce. I after came upon all thes situations Bipolars sociopaths gay /straight men. I have even thought. Will I fall in love again? I have in a way with myself. However, why am I reading this? Is he planning his third comeback. I remarried him once but had no idea what a sociopath was. Anyway, I see hat I don’t have to blame myself and that other people have gone through this. I also buried a 5 year while married to this man . It ended cause he abused me and blamed my mother. I consider myself to be intelligent and spiritual so I managed and remade my life. I want companionship and love. Still need help in allowing that to come into my life and surrendering this at the same time want that he would recover. Thank you for reading