Interview with Tonya Barber

Author of On The Side Of Love

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

I was born and raised in Newark, NJ where I currently reside.

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

I still live in Newark, NJ. The option of moving to another state is open. I would look for an area that is more quiet and tranquil, where the scenery is grassland and lots of trees.

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

I had always had a love for writing poetry and I would never allow anyone to read my work. It took years for me to be confident enough to share my work with others. The first person I shared them with was my sister. Surprisingly, she loved the poems and encouraged me to get them published. I listened, and now I am not only an author of works of poetry but also nonfiction novels.

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

My stories are based on real life situations that most women can relate to. Not only are they meant to entertain, they are meant to inspire and encourage as well.

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

Adult women who loves romance.

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

I didn’t expect the process to be as difficult as it was. I found that writing poetry was much easier than writing a novel. The long hours was expected but the aches from sitting so long, the eye strain, the carpal tunnel that resulted from repetitive typing was not. Also, I have had my share of writer’s block. Most people don’t thing it’s a real thing, I beg to differ. It is real. Sometimes I am unable to write for weeks, months even. I do not like to write when I feel my character have nothing to say. I believe that when I attempt to push past my writer’s block, my story tend to be dull and and forced. Readers will be able to pick that up and feel like the story was forced or rushed. I do not want that to be the case.

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

I would tell myself to take the time to research. Research the industry as well as the subject you are writing about. Write, rewrite, then write again before sending it to an editor. Once you get it back, read over it slowly, preferably more than once, make additional changes, the send back to the editor for another round of edits. Make sure when looking for an editor you research that also and ask for references. I learned some hard lessons that didn’t have to be had I done my research first. Lastly, take your time.

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

Millions if I could. I find it difficult for new authors or authors that are not well know to break into the industry. Some people tend to be faithful to authors they already know and are reluctant to giving a newcomer a chance.

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

The most difficult has been finding a good affordable editor.

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

My strength is being able to write a story. I am what I would call a lover of love so the genre of romance comes easy for me. Amazon has made it quite easy to publish but there are still a few kinks they can work on fixing. I market my books via social media, word of mouth, and participating in books events which is wonderful because you get to not only meet other authors but you get to engage conversely with readers whom may have read some of your work and potential readers.

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

I am a culprit of bad punctuation. Thank God for editors. I’m known as the comma queen. As far as publishing, Amazon has made thing less difficult when publishing a book. With marketing I need to become more vocal and participate in more book events. I have always had an issue with public speaking which kind of gets in the way of my marketing capabilities.

When do you think you will write your next book?

I currently have 3 works in progress. It is my goal to have at least one finished by the end of December.

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

I am a self published author who hopes to one day be published traditionally.