Clancy Tucker's Blog: 2 July 2020 - TANGINA ANN

TANGINA ANN

- GUEST AUTHOR -

G'day folks,

Today, I interview an author who was once a Nashville goat farmer.

Welcome, Tangina Ann ...

1. TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR WRITING JOURNEY.

I was an air force brat but spent most of my childhood growing up in small town Pennsylvania. I have never been someone to like cities. Nice to visit wouldn’t like living there. A girl friend from high school invited me to stay over her place. come over she said we’ll have loads of fun. Yea what she didn’t tell me is that I would-be lying-in bed trying to sleep listening to police and ambulance sirens and people below yelling and calling each other names most of the night. I’m like how anyone can stand living here. I got up in the morning and asked Patty about all the noise that was happening all night and she looked at me and said what noise?

I actually started writing my first two books when I was in my late 20’s. I would write a page or two that was more of an outline of what I was wanting to write about. Because of family & work I couldn’t find the time to dedicate to writing until the end of 2012 I found myself unable to walk and more times on my hands that I knew what to do with. While waiting for my feet to heal I decided to finish my first book Short Stories in the Life of Little Girl Blue. After being told you're wasting your time. You’ll never get published. I submitted my book to several publishers and received an Email from Publish America later Known as American Star books Congratulating me and a contract to publish my book and later 4 others as well

2. WHAT TYPE OF PREPARATION DO YOU DO FOR A MANUSCRIPT? DO YOU PLAN EVERYTHING FIRST OR JUST SHOOT FROM THE HIP?

Ha that’s a tricky one… I get an idea about a book and sometimes it goes somewhere and other times it goes nowhere meaning once I have an idea about a book and what it’s going to be about I start writing and the chapters come in to play as I go along. Putting things in an outline really doesn’t work for me.

3. WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT BEING A WRITER?

It’s a form of escape it gives me a way to take my mind off everyday life. I love creating characters and bring them to life and living through them.

4. WHAT IS THE HARDEST THING ABOUT BEING A WRITER?

Finding a publisher/agent…. When I wrote my first book, I was told you’ll never get published. You're wasting your time. To my surprise they were wrong I got published right out the door and published my first 4 books through Publish America, later known as American Star Books. Since they have gone out of business though it seems there are more publishers that charge you to publish your book then actually pay you. It seems that you almost must be already well known before any paying the publisher will even look at you.

5. WHAT WERE YOU IN A PAST LIFE, BEFORE YOU BECAME A WRITER?

First and foremost I was a mother but professionally I was a CNA until was in a couple of accidents that happened within 30 days of each other (None of them were my fault) I was told that if I kept up with that line of at work I would end up in a wheelchair. I worked in a factory making coils for radio speakers, hearing aids etc… 2006 to 2014 I owned and ran a goat ranch. I started writing late 2012 to present.

6. WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON AT THE MOMENT?

I just finished my latest The Increase of Knowledge then and now. Available now online on Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and on Lulu links will be included at the end of this interview.

7. WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

The Bible … Social Justice

8. WHAT GENRE DO YOU WRITE?

Mostly fiction but are based in some cases on real life. two books Bugs and Gooner meets her match are written more for children. Gooner Meets her match is not available right know but I’m working on getting it back online

9. DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS?

Don’t give up. Things can look discouraging at times but if you’re doing what you love to do. Keep doing it. If you can’t find a publisher right now, try Self-Publishing. Lulu, amazon have free publishing, but you need to read up on them to see which one is right for you.

10. DO YOU SUFFER FROM WRITER’S BLOCK?

Occasionally but when that happens, I just walk away from what I am working on and take a break & come back later to see if something comes to me.

11. DO YOU HAVE A PREFERRED WRITING SCHEDULE?

It’s helpful if you can have a set schedule but that isn’t always possible. I like to set down in the morning and work on my manuscript, but sometimes appointments come up that may get in the way of that. So, you would if time allows sit down when you get back from running an errand.

12. DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE WRITING PLACE?

I like to work at my desk listening to Youtube in the background.

13. WRITERS ARE SOMETIMES INFLUENCED BY THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN THEIR OWN LIVES. ARE YOU?

Sure, I am one article I read some time ago before I wrote my first book said a writer should write from what they know about and that has stuck with me.

14. OTHER THAN WRITING, WHAT ELSE DO YOU LOVE?

God and Family first and foremost. If you’re asking about other hobbies, I love doing what some call Wood- Art, listening to music, Animals are a weakness of mine.

15. IF YOU WERE STUCK ON A DESERT ISLAND WITH ONE PERSON, WHO WOULD IT BE? WHY?

Two people…. Jesus because I don’t go anywhere without him. My daughter because I know that girl would have my back. It would not be easy, but we would survive.

16. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO SPEAK TO WORLD LEADERS?

I wouldn’t even think to tell anyone how to rule their country apart from persecution of Christians and other People of Faith needs to stop. There is one leader I would like to address however, I will do my best not to say what I am actually say what I’m thinking and repeat the rumors of what some are saying you actually did on how he handled this Covid 19 outbreak. You Sir, you need to pay for the death & suffering that was caused by your actions or lack thereof. You’re not going to blame the USA or any other country for that matter we all know where it started and who was responsible for letting it spread.

17. WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE?

Who knows what the future holds? For now, I will go one with my life working toward getting back to normal and keep on writing.

18. WHAT ARE YOUR VIEWS ON BOOK TRAILERS? DO THEY SELL BOOKS?

I think they have as much impact as any other commercial.

19. DID YOU EVER THINK OF QUITTING?

Everyone gets discouraged at times, but I never thought of quitting.

20. HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE ‘SUCCESS’ AS A WRITER?

I once asked someone at a book signing one time how many books do you have to sell to be a success, she said have you sold any books I said yes. She didn’t ask how many books I sold she just said if you sold one book, you’re a success. I have to say that that isn’t the only way you can measure success; among other things I have been on the front of a magazine 3xs. Invited to a Gala & received an award. Was invited to the next Gala being held by Focus on Women magazine but depending on what is going on with this Covid 19 whether it is even going to happen. The point of me telling you all of this is not to necessarily brag but to bring home the point that none of these things would have happened if I had never become a writer. 2016 Featured Guest writer for Blackheath Dawn “Promoting your work & yourself” Wrote a revised short story for Windmills and Paper Boats “The Good Teacher” Wrote a chapter for The Better Business Book Vol 4 “Down but not Out”

21. WHAT SHOULD READERS WALK AWAY FROM YOUR BOOKS KNOWING? HOW SHOULD THEY FEEL?

That would depend on which book you were reading.

22. WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE YOUR BOOKS MADE INTO MOVIES? EVER WRITTEN A SCREENPLAY?

Sure, what writer wouldn’t like that?

23. HOW MUCH THOUGHT GOES INTO DESIGNING A BOOK COVER?

Quite a bit, when I first start writing a book, I come up with something I think would help tell the story and start putting it out as a teaser but more often than not the cover I start with isn’t the one I end up using.

24. WRITING IS ONE THING. WHAT ABOUT MARKETING YOU, YOUR BOOKS AND YOUR BRAND? ANY THOUGHTS?

A website is a good place to start it’s one way to get noticed and most people will feel more comfortable with doing business with you, social media I am currently on just about every social media outlet I can find. I advertise with All Author as well as a few others.

25. ARE YOUR BOOKS SELF-PUBLISHED?

Most of my books are currently self-published.

26. WHAT PISSES YOU OFF MOST?

Dishonest, untrustworthy people who say one thing and do another.

Scammers

27. WHAT WOULD BE THE VERY LAST SENTENCE YOU’D WRITE?

See ya here, there or up in the air.