Interview with Alyssa Tillett

Author of Waves Of Change

Where are you from originally and where do you reside now?

I was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan where I lived for 12 years. After moving around the country several times, I finally settled down in East Tennessee.

If you currently reside somewhere besides where you were born, what’s the story that lead from there to here?

When I was 12, my family decided to sell everything and buy a travel trailer. My parents, brother, dog, and I traveled around the country in an RV for 2 years serving as missionaries. After 2 years my family settled down in West Tennessee, where my younger sister was born. When I turned 21, I married and moved to Virginia for 8 years. In March of 2019, my husband and I decided to move to East Tennessee and we absolutely love it!

What made you decide to write and publish your first book?

I have always loved stories. Before I could read I would create stories. One day, while writing a research paper for a college course, I realized how much I loved writing. I started typing up stories for my younger sister who is 14 years younger than I am. In 2016 I wrote a novella called Waves of Change. It was a Christmas gift for my then 12-year-old sister. In 2017 I decided to self-publish the novella. I created a cover for it, edited it with the help of friends, and published it in September 2017.

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

My first book, Waves of Change, is a Young Adult Christian Historical Fiction. It’s an adventure story about friends with elements of Faith woven throughout. All my stories have an element of Faith and are clean reads.

My next books will not be geared towards young adults, but historical and contemporary Christian fiction.

Who do you feel is most likely to connect with the topics you write about?

Those who want clean fiction with action, and possibly some romance.

What unexpected or surprising thing did you learn during the process of writing and publishing?

One thing that surprised me during my writing process is how the characters truly take on a personality of their own. I can plan out chapters but once I start writing, the characters and their responses shape the story. And sometimes that story changes from what I originally planned.

If you could, what advice would you give to your past self before embarking on this journey?

I would tell myself to just start writing, even if it’s garbage. Don’t be afraid of perfection when it comes to writing. That’s why you edit your work. I wish I had started writing before I was in my mid-twenties. I didn’t write for so long because of an English teacher who discouraged me from writing, making me feel as if what I wrote wouldn’t amount to anything. I let that fear get the best of me for many years. And I truly wish I hadn’t let it control my love for writing.

How many people would you ideally like to reach with your books?

I don’t think there is a specific number of people I would like to reach. It’s not about the number of people who read my books but about those who do read it, enjoy it.

What has been the biggest challenge and frustration during the process to date?

Editing. I despise doing the editing on my own. I miss so much when it’s just me doing all the editing.

Also, writing the middle of a book is challenging. I have an idea, I get excited about it, then by the middle I can’t seem to write anymore. Sometimes I start new stories and never finish the ones I had worked on before. But that’s when I remember to just write. No matter how “terrible” I think it is. I can always do the dreaded editing later.

What’s your biggest strengths when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

My biggest strength when it comes to writing is character creation. I love the way I can create characters with unique personalities, likes, dislikes, fears, and strengths.

As far as publishing myself, I am more tech-savvy. I learn things quickly. Formatting and publishing my first book didn’t take me that long, which I was grateful for.

When it comes to marketing, my greatest strength is knowledge of social media marketing. It’s a side business for me so promoting my book through social media hasn’t been difficult for me.

What’s your biggest weakness when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

My biggest weakness is getting distracted while writing. Sometimes I lack focus and will watch Netflix instead or make endless cups of tea, hoping it will somehow inspire me to write.

With publishing, my biggest weakness would be the lack of actual knowledge on what I’m doing. I would love to someday have a publisher handle everything for me so I won’t have to.

My biggest weakness when it comes to marketing would be actually marketing my book. Now that it’s been a few years since my book released, I forget to market it to the public.

When do you think you will write your next book?

I am working on my next book right now! I have 4 more chapters to write before the editing process begins. My next book is book one of a three-book series. It’s an Inspirational Contemporary Romance. This is my first time writing a contemporary romance and I’m loving it!

Are you self published or did you use a hybrid publisher, or a traditional publisher?

I am self-published. I hope one day I can get my books published through a traditional publisher though. It’s in my five-year plan.