Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Tanya Ross. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Tanya, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
Once upon a time I was quite shy. In school, even through early high school, I was the kind of kid that hid behind the books, afraid to speak or volunteer for anything. I hated that about myself. How could everyone else be confident enough to be involved in student government or always raise a hand in class? Not only was I shy, but I was also one of the youngest of my class, having started kindergarten at age 4, and was a short, little thing.
I enjoyed being part of a chorus, and I soon received recognition for having vocal talent. This boosted my self-esteem, especially when the director encouraged me to try out for the performance group. I made it in and, within the group, began to perform in front of people multiple times a week. I discovered I had talent in theater as well, so when auditions opened for the musical my junior year of high school, I tried out for the role of Amaryllis in The Music Man. Once I did that, I was hooked. I began to participate in theater classes, which allowed me to be someone else on stage. My participation in theater arts continued for another four years, and slowly I began to emerge from my shell. I took speech class, and was good at it.
Finally, I chose to become a teacher, and I shouldered the responsibility of “performance” every day. I became popular for my rapport with the students and my ability to teach a lesson creatively. Today I can speak in front of anyone, no matter the size of the audience.
I began writing novels and carried that confidence with me enabling me to shine within the industry.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I retired from education seven years ago and began a new career as a writer. I had always wanted to write a book; I had a plot in mind and a drive to become a novelist. Now I am completely immersed in the world of a writer. I have written and published three books in series, and my characters are like real people to me. I live in their minds several hours a day, writing their adventures and plotting their journeys. Once I am in the flow of writing, I am in another place and time, and the troubles of my own life fade away. I have developed my own brand, and have pushed to get my work out to the public as much as possible.
One of the most exciting developments has been the awards I have won for my writing. I have two short stories that have won first place awards and my first two novels have too many awards to include on the cover of the books. It is not only validating, but so amazing to get that kind of recognition! My favorite award comes from Writers’ Digest for the best YA ebook of the year.
I am also the facilitator of the writers’ group in my city. It’s a read and critique group, and we share one another’s work. We grow as writers, and I am able to help those just starting out in their writing journey with things I have learned.
In addition, two years ago, a friend and I began to plan and execute a book fair for local authors. We have put on two of these, and the third will be happening this fall. I am the chairman, and I work with a committee to plan all aspects of the fair. It is a huge undertaking, but one where authors like me have a place to interact with the public and become celebrities for a day.
I launched my third novel last fall, and am working toward finishing the series with book 4 as soon as I am able.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The most important quality is perseverance. So many times I thought I would give up because the writing got tough and the naysayers seemed to have a heyday. The writing of a novel was so much harder than I thought, and I sat through many critique sessions where it seemed everything needed revision. I stuck with it because it was a life goal, and because I had always taught my students to never give up. If you can hang on, even with your fingernails, you can make it.
Second, was dedication to being a learner. The learning curve was steep in the author world. I didn’t know how to draft a novel, how to hire an editor, how to find a cover, how to format a novel, how to distribute and market a novel. I had to learn how to do all of those things, and each represented many hours of pouring over information and asking questions.
Third was the willingness to do over–to start over–resilience. No matter how much blood, sweat, and tears went into a project, sometimes it had to be trashed. Entire chapters, dumped. Plot lines dropped. Book covers redesigned. Entire novels revised.
My advice for others would be to have a community of peers to share knowledge, failures, and triumphs. To learn from others rather than be in competition with them. To remember even the greats start from humble beginnings.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
One challenge I face frequently is how life gets in the way of my creative journey. My husband has not been very healthy, and there seems to be a crisis every time I turn around. When things get crazy, so does my mind. I can’t concentrate on an imaginary world when my own is crumbling around me. All those life challenges–health, finances, deaths of close family members, the daily grind of keeping up with the home–they all interfere with how productive I am with my writing.
I see other authors being able to put out books more frequently, and I wonder how they do it in the face of life.
To resolve this issue is to say I can control life’s ups and downs; I cannot, and I simply must reassure myself that I am doing the best I can with the resources I have. It’s a lot of self-talk and a deep dive into prayer and even seclusion to get productive when I get stuck in the gears.
One of the best sayings I repeat is “Comparison is the thief of joy.” The other is from the Bible: Isaiah 40:30-31:
“Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
Contact Info:
- Website: www.tanyarossauthor.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com\tjross_author
- Facebook: www.facebook.com\fictionauthor54
Image Credits
Cover designer: Miss Nat Mack
