Gone in an Instant: Losing my son. Loving his killer. by Tammy Horvath

7/30/2022

Debut author, Tammy Horvath introduces us to “Gone in an Instant”:
How Do You Forgive the One Person in Your Life Impossible to Forgive?
On August 2, 2017, a knock on Tammy Horvath’s front door shattered her world.
“Your son has been murdered,” a police officer said in a quiet voice.
As she struggled through the horror of the following months, another Voice spoke. “Forgiveness is a choice and you must forgive him, Tammy.”

But How? What Would You Do? How Would You Find the Strength to Forgive the Killer and Have Faith After Loss?

How Do You Deal With Grief and Get Help to Go On Living After Losing Someone You Love?

In this deeply moving and ultimately triumphant Christian book about child loss, Tammy shares the story of how God revealed Himself in astounding ways and set her free in a manner she could never have imagined. Tammy got through the pain and grief of losing her only child to murder, and so can you.

Gone in an Instant is for you, if

There’s a person you just can’t figure out how to forgive.
You forgive but slip back into unforgiveness.
You want to be free, once and for all, of all the things you haven’t forgiven yourself for.
You’ve lost a loved one and don’t want to continue living.
You feel like you are all alone and no one cares about you.
You want help, but you don’t know where to turn.

You don’t need to be held down by the chains of unforgiveness any longer.

Can you believe that? It’s true! You can absolutely be set free. With insight, humor, and deep authenticity, Tammy will take you on a journey that will utterly change your life forever. You’ll find the self-help you need and the grief steps after child loss.

Tammy’s heart breaks for you if you are experiencing any of these emotions.

Please come alongside her and learn from her. You are loved, and you have a purpose.

How is it possible to forgive the person who murdered your son? I cannot think of many more dreadful situations to exact vengeance than making the person who killed your child pay.
The author clearly describes this problem because she lived through it. She faced her son's death and came through it with the support of many loving people and our heavenly Father. She could have made it without the former but not the latter.
We have all lost loved ones at one time or another but not often to personal violence. Many of us have lost our loved ones to a disease or an unrecoverable accident, we had time to say our goodbyes, which is very comforting for us who are left behind.
I loved this book, it encouraged my faith and brought me to tears more than once. There are many lessons to be gained, not the least of which is that we are not islands in a stream. Our lives and our choices are intertwined with others.
If you want to know more then read the book.
I give "Gone in an Instant" 5 stars!

You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Gone-Instant-Losing-Loving-killer
https://www.goodreads.com/-gone-in-an-instant
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/gone-in-an-instant-tammy-horvath

You can follow the author:
https://twitter.com/thorvathauthor
http://www.tammyhorvath.com
https://www.instagram.com/tammyhorvathauthor
https://www.facebook.com/Tammy-Horvath-Author
https://www.pinterest.com/TammyHorvathAuthor
https://www.youtube.com/channel/Tammy Horvath
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tammy-horvath

Copyright © 2022 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction

129 Comments

Tammy Horvath link

7/31/2022 02:54:02 pm

Thank you, Mark, for your wonderful review.
It's very much appreciated.

Mark

7/31/2022 03:26:10 pm

You are welcome, Tammy. I enjoyed your book on more than one level.

First question.

Please, tell us more about yourself. Perhaps something a little bit beyond your bio.

Tammy Horvath link

7/31/2022 05:00:29 pm

I live in western Pennsylvania with my amazing husband Michael, and have one sister five years younger than me. I was married before, but he died in a fiery car crash when our only child, Luke, was just one-year-old. I became a single mom and struggled to raise our child. But then I met Mike. He has three children and an ex-wife.

I’m very close to my family, which is a blessing because they were there when I needed them the most when my son, at the age of nineteen, was murdered. Without God working through my family and friends, I don’t know if I would’ve survived the trauma of losing my only child.

All of my life, I’ve traveled because I love it. I enjoy seeing and sharing God’s glory in the pictures and videos I make while on vacation. I even signed up for my own YouTube channel and plan to add videos of my travels.

I love spending time with my son’s friends and reminiscing about my son. We play pool and cornhole while enjoying a meal together. I also love playing board games. I was even blessed when one of them recently joined me for three nights on vacation.

God has been so good to me, and that’s why I live my life trying to fulfill the purpose He has given me.

Mark

7/31/2022 05:37:18 pm

Being a single parent is not easy. In any circumstance.

Traveling is wonderful, seeing other parts of the world brings new perspective to so many areas of our lives.

Being able to spend time with your son's friends is amazing. That is indeed a great blessing.

New questions.

Are you a full-time or part-time writer?

What kind of work do you do if you are a part-time writer? Feel free to skip that question, if you would rather not answer.

Tammy Horvath link

7/31/2022 06:15:53 pm

I write full-time, whether it’s blogging on my website or writing my next memoir. My blog post categories are:

Forgiveness (these posts are helpful for people who need to forgive others, themselves, or God)

Having faith and knowing God (these posts contain knowledge that’ll help you attain faith; if you already have faith, I show you how to make that a deeper faith. ‘Knowing God’ posts dive into topics in the Bible that teach ways you can know God more intimately by sharing details about Him in the Bible that people sometimes overlook.

Losing a child or pet (I lost my son’s cat a while after he died. So my heart breaks for those that have also lost cherished pets)

Love (God’s greatest commandments are to love Him and to love others. I write many posts about love, why it’s important, and why we should love while we can)

Seeing God (In these posts, I share my traveling journey. Many of them contain details about people I met who God touched me through or someone I was able to help by sharing God with them. The places where I see God’s beautiful creation are shared in these posts with a detailed description, pictures, or sometimes even a video.

Mark

7/31/2022 06:25:01 pm

There are many authors who want to write fulltime. So, you are very blessed in that regard. Your writing and ministry are very intertwined.

New questions.

Who designed the cover of your book? Feel free to drop a link if appropriate.

Was it hard to come up with the title? What was the process?

Tammy Horvath link

7/31/2022 07:21:48 pm

I’m taking several classes from Thomas Umstattd Jr., and I’ve learned how to make my book successful in those classes. Thomas has been in the publishing industry for over a decade. He’s an author, literary agent, marketing director, podcast host, and CEO of Author Media. He has traveled the world speaking at writing conventions, sharing his special approach on how to build a powerful online platform. Thousands of writers have attended his sessions, and I’m blessed to be in not only one but five of his informative classes. I can’t begin to tell you how much I’ve learned from him and others in the class. He’s taught me how to build my website, start my blog, and what should and shouldn’t be on my cover.

God gave me the title for my book before I started writing it. The one thing that never changed in Thomas’s classes was that title. Almost everything else I was doing was wrong, including the first draft of my memoir. I’m so glad to know that I did one thing perfectly. At least 100 people have told me my title is compelling, making people want to know more. I also get tons of compliments on my smile, which shows the peace God gave me after my son’s murder. You can find more about Thomas’ courses on this website: https://www.authormedia.com/author/thomas/. He has changed my life, and I’m forever grateful.

In class, I learned that I needed to hire a professional cover designer. Alan and Ian at The Book Designers did a fantastic job creating my cover to the specifications I learned in class. The new cover turned out better than my original idea: to put the northern lights on it, which wasn’t appropriate for my story.

Mark

7/31/2022 07:36:25 pm

Thank you for sharing about Thomas Umstattd Jr. and his information. Any and all links are copy and paste only.

Your title is great. The cover also. You have a great smile; the whole thing works well. It is interesting that everything else was altered except the title.

New questions.

Is this the first book you have written?

If you will be writing more books, what can you tell us about them?

Tammy Horvath link

7/31/2022 07:57:18 pm

Gone in an Instant is my first book. It was supposed to be my only book. I intended to concentrate on speaking about the message God wants me to share through my book by speaking in person. My main message is about forgiveness. I mainly speak in churches, but I have been on one podcast and invited to speak at several book clubs and a library. I share God’s love and help people who struggle with being unable to forgive. Whether they are having a hard time forgiving someone who has wronged them, or maybe they feel God hurt them or did something they think was not fair, my message addresses these issues with supporting Bible verses to back them up. I might pursue talking in prisons in the future.

Just this past week, I realized how much I love to write. And I see how far I’ve come in my writing. I am getting better every month. I look back at the original version of my book, and I see a fantastic improvement. That’s why I’ve decided to write a book about travel. I will share stories about the amazing places I’ve visited, hoping to inspire people to want to travel more to see the beautiful world God has created. Whether climbing pyramids in Mexico, scaling glaciers in Iceland, or island hopping in the Caribbean, I live life to the full.

Mark

7/31/2022 08:16:40 pm

Forgiveness, or the lack thereof, is an important issue for people. The lack of it can be any number of problems that can impact a person's health.

Many authors struggle a lot writing their first book. Partially because they are learning the craft of writing while writing a book. To be honest, there is no other way to learn the craft but by doing it.

I am glad you are writing more books and the travel will be fun. The colorful locations might provide good backdrops for a novel or two, in the future. The more books you write, the more you will sell.

New questions.

Have you entered any writing contests?

Have you won awards of any kind for your writing?

Tammy Horvath link

7/31/2022 08:25:09 pm

I have not entered any contests or won any awards for my writing. Maybe someday, God will open the door, and that will happen. I also listen for His guidance and try to follow where He leads.

Yes, I agree with you that the more books you write, the more you will sell.

Mark

8/1/2022 08:02:44 am

Not all contests are the same. Some provide feedback on your submission, many don't. Some of them are pretty bad also as they try to empty your wallet or, even worse, they try to steal your intellectual property rights. Here is a copy-and-paste link or search for it in the box below: Beware Bogus Writing Contests! Look for These 8 Red Flags. https://annerallen.com/2019/05/beware-bogus-writing-contests

New questions.

I noticed that your book is not in Kindle Unlimited. Is there a reason for that?

Have you ever gone through the query process?

Were you seeking an agent or submitting directly to publishers and why did you choose that path?

Tammy Horvath link

8/1/2022 08:51:26 am

Thank you for the great tips about writing contests. I’ve bookmarked the page so I can refer to it again.

I have not gone through the query process or tried to find an agent since I want more control over my book. Especially when it comes to the categories of my book and marketing, it’s my story, and no one knows it as I do. Also, after losing my son, I didn’t think I’d be able to face the pain of the numerous rejections an author goes through until they find an agent. I wasn’t up for that challenge. It was hard enough when my developmental and copy editor suggested significant rewrites.

I chose to publish wide, distributing and selling my book via multiple platforms rather than limiting myself to one outlet. For Gone in an Instant to be part of Kindle Unlimited, I needed to enroll in KDP Select. That means committing to making the digital format of my book available exclusively through KDP while it’s enrolled in the program. I’m trying to help as many people as possible with my message, so I can’t limit my book availability.

Mark

8/1/2022 10:26:47 am

The query process is brutal. Some authors receive nearly 100 rejections or more before getting an acceptance or abandoning the goal. If, by chance, an author gets accepted by an agent or a traditional publisher there is still little or no money until the book is published and sold. The author gets a significantly smaller cut of the sales when an agent and publisher are involved. Statistics tell us that most authors sell fewer than 1000 copies of their book.

Maintaining control is a big issue. Once a contract is signed with a traditional publisher, they can require the author to change the story, they can change the cover as the publisher sees fit and even delay publication for a year or more because the publisher thinks the timing is not right for the book to sell well. That is all the publisher really cares about. Making a profit on the book. Thanks to Amazon's self-publishing revolution the traditional publishing industry has been decimated. Their profit margins are so small they can't afford to take a chance on unknown authors or books.

Your reasons make perfect sense to me. I have been suggesting to authors that self-publishing is their best option in the long run precisely for the reasons you have enumerated plus the self-publishing author keeps all of the profits.

New questions.

How do you think your book compares to a book published by a major publisher?

There are many unethical practices in publishing, which one is the most unbearable in your mind?

Tammy Horvath link

8/1/2022 10:51:39 am

There are many differences between a book published by a major publisher and a self-published author. The main one is the book’s visibility. Major publishers have unlimited funds available to market their books, and self-published authors don’t know how to sell themselves and their books. It’s a learning curve. The problem is finding the right teacher to show them how to promote their work, where to spend their money, and not get ripped off because of bad advice or a marketing scam.

Like you already said, the most unethical practice, if my book was through a traditional publisher, would be that they would try to sell the most books to make the most money without concern for sharing my message. God has given me the message to tell each and every person I come across that He loves them. I can only pray my story will touch many lives and help others who have been in similar situations. Major publishers will not share this message. They will share whatever will sell the book, not caring that the people who need it may never see my book because of this. I write and speak so that every reader may know God’s immeasurable love and that forgiveness is the essence of God’s love.

Mark

8/1/2022 12:01:44 pm

Pre-Amazon, traditional publishers did spend a lot of money on promoting books, especially those that they thought would sell well. They had to order large numbers of books to be printed at one time to keep the cost per copy as low as possible. This increased their profit. Now, they will spend a lot of money on well-known authors and titles but not much else.

Promoting and marketing a book is more like an ultra-marathon than a sprint. It is a necessary part of the writing business for authors. I recommend to authors that they devote at least an hour or two of writing time, every week or two, to marketing their book even before it is published. There are many ways to do that. Martin McConnell has written a great post about getting your first 1000 readers elsewhere on my website. Search for his name in the box below.
One of my favorite blogs is about pursuing the local author angle. How to be a marketing star right where you live. Another copy-and-paste link or search the title in the box below: https://annerallen.com/2019/08/hometown-book-marketing/ I would add a few tips, seek out literature teachers at the high school and college level to share in their class and there might be a club in the school. Local newspapers are a good resource for an interview as well as local cable access. There might also be a broadcast curriculum and/or a club at the high school and college level. Have some question ready to hand the interviewer if they seem uncertain.

If there are tourist destinations try and place your books with the local author angle. Museums, gift stores, motels, hotels, tourist attractions are all possibilities. Keep a box of books in your trunk. Get a counter-top holder for a few books, paste a picture of the cover on the holder behind the books and put re-ordering information on the back of the holder.

Consider renting a table at a comic convention, county fair, farmer's market or a flea market. Have free swag to hand out such as a bookmark and sell mugs or posters. There are so many ways to be the 'local author' I doubt I have exhausted the list of possibilities.

New questions.

How did you choose that point in your life to start your memoir?

Is there a book that causes strong emotions to come up no matter how many times you read it?

Tammy Horvath link

8/1/2022 12:45:28 pm

Wow. Thank you for the excellent advice. I was recently featured in our local newspaper. Friends, family, and even strangers reached out to me after seeing the article. I love your idea about taking my books with me when I travel. I’ve done this, and they are very well received. I sign the books and leave them in lending libraries wherever I vacation. I put a note in the front asking the reader to reach out to me via email or take a picture with my book and share it on social media, tagging me in the post. I have several people currently reading my book in Aruba and Arizona when I handed books out on my recent trips. Oh yes, those lovely bookmarks, of which I’m glad I ordered 1,000. They work well on the beach when everyone loses the grocery store receipt they used to keep their place. It is also a great conversation starter. I’ve sold many books because I shared my story with someone sitting next to me on the plane.

I chose to start writing my memoir one month after my son’s passing. God told me to share my story, so I sat down and wrote for 16 hours a day for four months straight until I was finished. Then the editors got involved, and I had to complete the many rewrites that all authors must do.

I never read a book twice, except for my own book and the Bible.

I read a memoir called Crime Squad. Mike Pannett brought me to tears as I lived my life through a cop’s eyes. Having a problematic son who got into trouble often during his short life made these situations too close to home for me. I’ve had the cops ring my doorbell one too many times. My leaking faucet wouldn’t stop flowing from my eyes as I kept seeing my son. My life came to a grinding halt when my son put himself in a dangerous situation that ultimately led to his death at the age of 19. I wouldn’t want to be a police officer who had to deliver tragic news to the parents of a child who was murdered as Mike did.

Mike says, “The parents are going to remember my visit for the rest of their lives because this was the moment their lives were changed forever. I knew that my behavior, how I handled this, would have a lasting impact.” Mike knew his compassion had to come through, and police officers vary widely in their effectiveness at giving devastating news. How they deliver this life-altering news makes a lot of difference in how the parents handle the loss of their child. Mike did a great job sharing this traumatic news, as did the cops who gave me the information about what ultimately led to my son’s death. It doesn’t ease our pain but lets us know they care.

Even though I repeatedly cried during many of the stories. I couldn’t stop reading. Crime Squad is a must-read for everyone so we can understand what it takes for us to be protected.

Jane Daly’s Because of Grace: A Mother’s Journey from Grief to Hope caused me to break down sobbing for Jane and myself because of our loss. Healing after losing a child seems impossible-yet, Jane did just that through her faith.

Losing a child makes you want to give up on life, I know this from experience, yet Jane knew that her son’s death was part of God’s plan. The grace God offers will help anyone who has lost a loved one learn how to heal. Jane bears her pain for us to see so we can learn from what she has endured. The bond between a mother and child is unbreakable, but Jane points out that the bond between God and a mother is stronger and is what will ultimately get us through losing a child. If you’ve lost a child, you don’t want to miss reading this book. You won’t be able to put this book down. Here’s the link: https://www.amazon.com/Because-Grace-Mothers-Journey-Grief/dp/1941058264/

There are many other books, too, since I’m drawn to read books about the loss of loved ones to show my support. But there are too many to mention.

Tammy Horvath link

8/1/2022 12:52:44 pm

Here's the link to The Tribune-Democrat article I was featured in: https://www.tribdem.com/news/sidman-woman-writes-book-about-forgiving-her-sons-killer-self/article_e67980a2-cafa-11ec-a7d7-bfa9f0ae1544.html

Mark

8/1/2022 01:35:31 pm

You are welcome. Writing the first draft of a book is s solitary venture. It's you and the blank screen or paper. After that first draft the circle starts to widen, there can be beta readers, editors, proofreaders, formatters and cover makers to name a few. Few authors can do it all themselves, especially in the beginning of a writing career.

A month is not a lot of time. I can see that being very helpful, though, because the final events were very fresh in your mind.

Those books sound wonderful. There is so much to learn from seeing life through the eyes of another person. That is the inherent power of a well-written memoir.

Thanks for the newspaper link, it was a good article.

New questions.

Do you have a favorite book by another author or just favorite authors?

Did you have a favorite book as a child?

Tammy Horvath link

8/1/2022 02:01:02 pm

I don’t have any favorite books, except the Bible, of course. My favorite authors include Janet W. Ferguson, Patti Townley-Covert, and Lizbeth Meredith. They all have great books.

My favorite book as a child was The Bible Story by Arthur S. Maxwell. My mom read to me every night before bed. It let me know that God loved and cared for me. It is a book of beginnings (of the world). It covers stories of creation, Eden and the fall, Noah and the flood, and Abraham, Isaac, and Lot. I have all ten volumes, and they are my most treasured books. Volume One is my favorite because that’s the one I know the best. That’s because Mom read it the most.

Tammy Horvath link

8/1/2022 02:13:10 pm

Sadness overwhelms me as I hold my favorite childhood book in my hand. Why? Because I will never have biological grandchildren because my only son is in heaven.

Mark

8/1/2022 06:42:37 pm

I am not sure, but I think we had that set when our children were little.

Your sadness is very understandable. I mourn with you in that loss.

New question.

Have you ever done NaNoWriMo, National November Writing Month?

Tammy Horvath link

8/1/2022 07:00:21 pm

No, I’ve never heard of it. A quick Google search shows that it’s not something that would benefit me. I’m not saying I wouldn’t do it. But I actually need the opposite. Whenever I start writing, you can’t get me to stop. I rarely eat and sleep and accomplish a lot in a short time. It won’t take me a whole month to write 50,000 words if I’m not concerned about the quality of my writing, as Wikipedia seems to suggest. I started my next book yesterday and wrote 5,000 words.

Mark

8/1/2022 07:21:45 pm

Wow! I am impressed.

NaNoWriMo is a contest where an author seeks to write 50,000 words of first draft quality in 30 days. That is well under 2,000 words a day. A lot of writers who are going to school, work or have a family to care for find it difficult to write at times. Many writers join groups online, for fun and mutual support. Some pantsters, people who write to see where the story will go, can't decide which idea to write about until the last minute. The plotters, people who like to outline a story before committing pen to paper, like to develop their outline before November first. They also try to do as much research as they can ahead of time, as needed. For a lot of people, NaNoWriMo helps them to jumpstart their next book.

Your 5,000 words is great production. I encourage writers to not worry too much about grammar and spelling in the first draft. It's more important to get the story out of your head. You can't edit a blank page.

New questions.

Are you an under-writer or an over-writer?

When the first draft is done, do you need to add more to it to flesh it out or do you have to cut material because there is too much?

Tammy Horvath link

8/1/2022 07:32:37 pm

I’m definitely an over-writer. I had to cut half of Gone in an Instant. I edit as I write, using software to ensure my correct spelling and grammar. However, I’m great at spelling. I won a few spelling bees in school. So the 5,000-word chapter I wrote yesterday won’t get changed unless my editor suggests changes.

Mark

8/2/2022 08:13:35 am

A lot of writers are over writers. It seems to me it would be easier to cut material to make the story read smoother. But I am not a writer.

When I proofread, the first pass is only a slow read through the manuscript. I find a lot of issues that I comment on using the Comment feature of MS Word. The next two passes are software passes. The softwares find things I missed and provide a lot of hits that I disagree with or false positives. The software also misses quite a bit of what I find.

I was never in a spelling bee. That was probably a good thing because I had a serious stammer growing up. I was good at spelling I got perfect scores on my spelling tests in school.

I learned to read before the first grade and loved reading from the beginning. I was reading above my grade level throughout my school years. Now, I find spelling errors in every book I read except one. Once a year, for the last 8 years, I find a book without spelling errors. Your book was the one for this year. Of course, the year is not over so I could read another book free of spelling errors theoretically, but the odds are against it.

New questions.

Are you talking about sentences, paragraphs or a chapter that didn't survive the final cut?

Do you save the parts that didn't make it into the final version?

Tammy Horvath link

8/2/2022 08:47:26 am

The fact that there aren’t any spelling errors in my book pleases me very much! My proofreading habits are the same as yours. First, I check the manuscript by slowly reading it, all 20 times. Then I let Grammarly make suggestions; many recommendations are false positives. Humans and machines together make the best proofreader.

I cut half of Gone in an Instant’s 90,000+ words, especially several sections that detailed my travel. Thanks for the reminder because I need to try and find that flash drive to retrieve them for my next book, a travel memoir. I don’t remember cutting an entire chapter, but I remember adding information that my developmental editor suggested.

One chapter was added to the book’s beginning, covering my childhood background. The end of the book also had chapters added to it as the details about my son’s murder unfolded. There were two significant additions to the book. One chapter was something my son’s friend told me that changed my life. The other chapter was something my dad did that he had never done before, for which I’m very grateful. I don’t want to spoil the ending for anyone that reads the book.

I love talking about my son; today is the perfect day to do that because it’s his 5th heavenly birthday.

Mark

8/2/2022 11:04:23 am

Five years since Luke went to his forever home. I am being reminded more and more how temporary our Earthly lives are. Even these bodies that we are trapped in are temporary.

You cut quite a bit from the manuscript. It's good that you can use a lot of that for another book. Good luck on finding the flash drive. I have developed the habit of putting them into a baggie, whenever I find one laying around.

New questions.

Which is more important to a story pace or flow?

How do you control it?

Tammy Horvath link

8/2/2022 11:19:42 am

It’s important to keep the story moving, so the flow is most important. I need to keep my readers moving at a pace they expect for a memoir. The story pace will set itself by the scene I’m developing. I’m careful not to bog it down with too many details that aren’t pertinent to the story. Developmental editors and line editors help with this. That’s why spending money on people who are good at it is essential. My ultimate goal is to entertain the reader by using the correct amount of pace and flow. It’s an ongoing learning process to develop this art.

Mark

8/2/2022 12:43:45 pm

I think you nailed that quite succinctly. Regardless of the type of writing, reader engagement is critical if you want them to read the whole book. Learning to write well is an ever-changing experience. Good books are not written, they are re-written many times before they become a good book.

I think it's a good idea to leave small gaps for the reader to fill in with their own imagination or experiences. Many things should not be described in detail, unless they are critical to the story or the plot. People know how to enter and exit a room, a house or a car. Most people know how to drive a car either by seeing it done or doing it themselves. There is truth to the axiom, less is more.

New questions.

What is your writing routine when you sit down to write?

Do you write in a straight line or do you write whatever the muse provides for you at a given moment?

Tammy Horvath link

8/2/2022 01:23:18 pm

Since I’m a perfectionist, I usually start at the beginning and write things in order as they happened. However, there are a few occasions when I go back to my manuscript to insert something I forgot.

Most of my writing is done in the middle of the night while I’m sleeping. Then, I wake up, and God has given me the exact words He wants me to use. No, I don’t get out of bed and write them down, but I do try to make a mental note or sometimes write something significant on a post-it note, so I remember in the morning. It’s hard because I can’t ever remember many things that were so perfect at night. But I don’t think I should start getting out of bed when I’m inspired. I will become quite cranky if I do that. My husband is already a little upset that I’ve chosen to write another book. I write 16 hours a day, and he misses me. As I said before, I don’t stop for anything. My husband knows this and puts a plate of food or a cup of tea in front of me. Sometimes he stops back and reminds me it’s in front of me, now cold. He told me for this next book that I need to establish time limits and stick to them. I don’t see that happening, but I will try.

Mark

8/2/2022 01:52:32 pm

We both like things in order and organized. I understand writing in order also, it's how we think. If I was a writer that would be my inclination also. At least it would have been until I read this guest post elsewhere on my website about non-linear writing. Here is the copy-and-paste link or use the search box below: http://www.wordrefiner.com/guest-blogs/non-linear-writing

Your description of receiving the information you are supposed to write from God sounds like what happens to many other writers. Some of them call it hearing from their muse or inspiration. One author I interviewed a long time ago told me she heard from her muse almost every night at 2:30 am. She kept a pencil and a pad of paper beside the bed. She said that she can even read her notes the next morning sometimes. Another author shared how the inspiration would come mostly when she was in the shower, she lamented missing all of those great ideas because they were gone by the time she got out of the shower. I recommended she visit an office supply store and purchase a Fisher Space pen and a pad of waterproof paper which she could use both in the shower.

That is serious focus occurring when you don't realize that your husband has brought you sustenance. I am certain you will figure out how to adjust your focus a little bit to include him. He deserves that.

I ran into a similar problem after getting married. When I was reading a good book, I was quite oblivious to most external influences. I had to train myself to keep one ear open for the sound of my wife's voice. Otherwise, I might not still be married to her.

New questions.

What do you do to launch a new book when it is first published?

Have you ever participated in a book blog tour, why or why not?

Tammy Horvath link

8/2/2022 02:37:21 pm

I’m glad you learned to hear your wife’s voice. It’s important. I always hear my husband; I don’t always do what he says when it comes to what’s good for me.

I asked several people to be on my launch team to help spread the word about my book leading up to and after the launch. Everyone read my book and left a review on Amazon. They are my support system. Some of them even helped edit my work. I’m grateful to each of them, and I keep in touch.

A lady who does blog tours had me as a guest, but I didn’t realize she participated in blog tours. So I was part of one but didn’t know it. I’ve also been a guest on a few other blog posts, but they are not part of a blog tour. I’ve heard a blog tour doesn’t really help with book sales, but I may look into it in the future. My editor suggested I do one and even offered me a few connections.

Mark

8/2/2022 03:59:56 pm

You had a good plan in place to launch your book. Some people love blog tours and some don't. Here is another copy-and-paste link about blog tours that might help you decide for the future. Do This, Not That – Blog Tours
https://www.thebookdesigner.com/2020/06/do-this-not-that-blog-tours

New questions.

What kind of marketing has worked the best and the least for you for this book?

Speaking of marketing, why did you pick me to help promote your book?

Tammy Horvath link

8/2/2022 04:39:07 pm

Thanks for the tips. I haven’t paid for any advertising, but I’ve joined a Facebook group with over 7,000 members, helping with reviews and free promotions to other readers. You are the first person I’ve paid to market my story. I honestly don’t know why I picked you. God usually brings people I’m supposed to connect with to my attention, and I felt that connection with you.

Mark

8/2/2022 05:22:53 pm

Advertising can be very expensive and sometimes very confusing. Amazon uses a bidding system for ads to promote products. I have heard from some authors that those ads are great, and some authors say they are terrible. Authors' opinions are the same for Facebook, Bookbub and other websites. With more than a million books being published every year, it's really hard for most authors to get noticed.

I am sure there are many groups like the one you joined on Facebook on other social media platforms. I have a list of book reviewers and book promoters on my two Twitter pages. Twitter only allows 1000 entries for the lists on one account. There is some overlap on the two pages.

New questions.

How do you think your book relates to the world we live in today?

What is the one thing you hope readers will remember from your book?

Tammy Horvath link

8/2/2022 05:46:37 pm

I think most people in the world today have lost a loved one; whether a grandparent, parent, child, or another relative, we all struggle at some point in our lives with loss. There is so much loss with wars, famine, and diseases taking lives daily. Are you struggling with loss?

Whatever your problem, God is the answer. I know he is because he is the one who has helped me every step of the way. He is all-powerful and all-knowing. He knows what we need and how to help us before we even know we need help (Matt. 6:8). When all hope seems lost, He is our only hope.

I hope my book clarifies that physical death is not the end. Instead, where we spend our eternity is what is most important. Making Jesus your Lord and Savior is your only hope.

Mark

8/3/2022 08:04:59 am

Everyone has suffered loss. At different ages there are different kinds of loss. The loss of the people that love us and we love is particularly devastating.

Indeed, Jehovah Jireh is our provider of comfort and hope in times of loss and in daily life.

New questions.

What software do you use to write and publish your books, and why do you use those?

How do you keep track of all the characters and events in your books?

Tammy Horvath link

8/3/2022 08:42:18 am

I type my manuscript as a Word document. Then I use Calibre to format it to an ePub, so I can upload it to Amazon and Publish Drive.

I don’t keep track of the characters or events in my book since I already know them well since Gone in an Instant is a true story (my memoir). Isn’t that wonderful? Writing fiction and keeping track of characters and events would be challenging unless you base your characters on real people and places, as I’m sure some writers do. I’m glad I don’t write fiction for that reason alone.

Mark

8/3/2022 09:41:43 am

Almost every writer uses MS Word. It works on different platforms, is in the cloud as a subscription and integrates with so many other programs. It is also used by so many businesses around the world.

You are right. Fiction writers use different methods to keep track of characters and events. Some create a character bible and detail most if not all the characters. They may include basic physical characteristics, age, preferred clothing styles, occupations, necessary likes and dislikes. Some create a picture of the character or find a picture on the internet that matches what the writer sees in their mind's eye. The character or story bible becomes more important when writing more than one book in a series.

New question.

I know there are many ways to build the outline. Do you do it all on the computer or do you get analog in the beginning, perhaps with sticky notes or note cards?

Tammy Horvath link

8/3/2022 10:03:57 am

I’ve never built an outline. Instead, I sit at my computer and just start typing. That’s how I wrote my memoir. I typed for 16 hours each day for four months, picking up where I left off the night before. Later, when I read it back to myself, I’d add things I felt were missing or the memories that came to me in the middle of the night (God is good with helping there). Or, if I’m cruising along and don’t want to stop, I may note, “Add boat story here,” because I don’t want to interrupt my thinking. I’d just highlight it and go back later to add it.

Then along comes the developmental or line editor who wants more details or additional stories added. Or maybe they want something cut. So I do what I’m told.

Even my new travel book doesn’t have an outline. Maybe I’m wrong doing it this way, but it seems to work for me. I’ll write the different chapters for each place I want to share, then find a way to connect the chapters seamlessly when I’m done. I hope that makes sense. I know it probably goes against what every other writer does, but that’s what makes me different. And it’s OK to be different. I am unique and wonderfully made.

Mark

8/3/2022 10:58:45 am

I am not surprised that you didn't need to outline or make notes for your memoir. Adding reminders, as you write with a head of steam, is a good idea. Many writers work that way, especially the pansters.

The way you are writing your travel book is quite regular also, especially for non-fiction. While fiction has to be presented in a linear fashion, the writing of it can be free of that constraint, as Rick Hall wrote about in his blog on my website about non-linear writing. What you are doing makes perfect sense.

New question.

Do you have a defined space for writing at home, or would you be a coffee-shop writer, if we weren’t stuck in the covid mess?

Tammy Horvath link

8/3/2022 11:21:50 am

I write at my desk at home, mostly. But part of my memoir, the beginning, was written on vacation in Virginia. I typed nonstop the whole week I was there, only eating one meal a day and stopping to sleep for a few hours each night. I put a considerable dent in it but had to finish it at home. I’ve never written in a coffee shop. That’s not for me. I need everything around me to be quiet so that I can think.

I will write my travel book differently. The first chapter was written while I was traveling. I may do other chapters the same way because it’s easy to do it that way. After all, I’m living the story at the time of writing. But my budget is not bottomless, so I can’t keep traveling every week until the book is complete, so I will need to dig deep into my mind, photos, and videos to write the other chapters. I may even need to ask my husband a few questions since my memory isn’t as good as it used to be.

Mark

8/3/2022 01:00:30 pm

Photographs, videos, memories and Google earth can all stimulate memories. Scented candles and essential oils can stimulate memories also. Some people who suffer with PTSD can have an attack because a scent can trigger an episode.

My wife did some research on YouTube before we left Oregon. She discovered that a lot of people were posting videos of walking or driving around in popular areas. Some of the videos were more interesting than I thought they would be. It's much easier to get to know an area now than it used to be.

New question.

Action, dialogue, or narration; which is easiest to write?

Tammy Horvath link

8/3/2022 01:24:48 pm

It’s strange you should bring up how certain smells stimulate memories because I wrote a blog post about that. Here’s the link: https://tammyhorvath.com/blog-what-five-things-challenge-you-the-most-after-losing-a-child/.

My original manuscript didn’t have much dialogue in it. So on one of the rewrites, I changed it to include dialogue, which made the story flow better, and it was easier to write. You can say so much more in dialogue without actually saying something. As a result, the characters come to life, and people enjoy reading the story better because it’s natural since we listen to and participate in conversations on a daily basis.

Mark

8/3/2022 03:06:43 pm

That is a good post about the 5 senses. I think many will be able to relate to it.

You have great reasons to include dialogue in your memoir. Dialog is a good way to make a story flow better, it captures more attention. Dialogue can eliminate a lot of an information dump that can slow a story down a lot.

A new question.

Have you ever done any theater, written a play or any screenwriting?

Tammy Horvath link

8/3/2022 03:20:50 pm

No. I should turn Gone in an Instant into dialogue and see if someone at a college can use it for something. I may have to talk to myself a lot since I share my thoughts in my memoir. Maybe I could play myself.

Mark

8/3/2022 05:50:56 pm

Turning a memoir, or any other book, into a play or movie is an interesting project. I have recommended to quite a few authors that they take a class in playwriting or screenwriting. Two more ways to tell a story. It is part of your intellectual property rights.

Your copyright preserves your intellectual property for you and your heirs for 75 years after your death. Unless you sign a contract granting a portion of your IP rights to another person for a specified period of time. Publishers are starting to get wise to the 'sleeper rights' of authors and are trying to scoop all of them up in a book publishing contract.

I have another copy-and-paste link about turning a book into a video format: https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2019/07/26/turn-your-book-into-a-tv-or-streaming-series

I also have links to quite a few blogs about an author's IP rights. Just use the search box below to easily find the information.

A new question.

What other kind of marketing are you doing or planning on doing for your book?

Tammy Horvath link

8/3/2022 06:14:18 pm

I haven’t thought about marketing my book because I don’t know how. Hiring you is the first time I have tried anything close to marketing. I can quickly lose a lot of money since I don’t know what I’m doing. I don’t want to waste money, and I don’t have the time to learn the craft. If I knew I could trust someone, I’d consider paying them. But there are so many scams out there that I don’t know who to trust. Also, I guess I’d need to weigh the cost of the potential profit against the money I would need to spend.

Mark

8/3/2022 07:33:40 pm

Thank you for being candid. Yes, that is quite a pickle. Not knowing who to trust applies to every area of human endeavor. Like anything else, some research is recommended. There are a lot of people advertising book reviewing and book promoting services. Between my two Twitter accounts I have listed hundreds of people offering those services. I cannot offer a personal recommendation for any of them. If I get a warning in my spirit, I don't list them. That is not a guarantee. I suggest avoiding anyone who guarantees you will sell X number of books using their service.

You are already part of a Facebook group several thousand strong. Your book is listed in three different categories on Amazon and appears to be doing well as it is ranked in the high 300s in each category.

Honestly, there is no easy answer. Every author struggles with getting their book noticed and getting reviews. It takes a long time to build the momentum. Your different speaking engagements are a good way of keeping the ball rolling. Every activity to promote your books takes time away from writing those books. The writing business is hard for almost all writers because of that fact.

I have lots of links to great blogs about promoting and marketing books. After writing the book it's the biggest issue writers face.

A new question.

How did you know when Gone was complete, and you should stop working on it?

Tammy Horvath link

8/3/2022 07:52:02 pm

There was a nagging question that I kept asking God to answer. He answered me many times. And each time, I still doubted His answer. It was something that was very important for me to include in my memoir. Then, one day, He answered me, and I knew that was the final answer. He answered my question clearly, took away all my fears, and gave me peace beyond all understanding. I won’t say what prayer He answered because it’s a crucial part of the book, and I don’t want to spoil anything because I hate it when someone ruins the end of a movie or book for me. But I knew my book was finished.

Mark

8/4/2022 07:29:47 am

Your request/question seemed very natural to me. I was reminded of Gideon's story in the Old Testament in a small way. He was seeking absolute clarity also. I don't like spoilers also.

New question.

Did anything in the book come as a surprise while you were writing?

Tammy Horvath link

8/4/2022 08:28:12 am

While writing some of the stories, my husband, Mike, reminded me of things my son (Luke) did. I couldn’t believe I had forgotten them. One example was when we were in Sedona, AZ, and Mike, Luke, and I climbed a mountain, but I didn’t quite make it to the top because of the cliff along the path. Luke went up with Mike, and then Luke came back down and encouraged me to follow him up. He had found a path, so I didn’t have to walk along the cliff. The path was between two large rocks, and I felt completely safe. I cherish that memory, especially since I spent the last week in Sedona wishing my son was with me. Unfortunately, that specific rock section is now roped off at the Airport Mesa, so you can only walk along the cliff to get to the top. I tried and almost made it, but since I was alone, I was worried if I pushed myself to the top, I’d panic, like I did when I climbed a pyramid in Chichen Itza, Mexico, and then I wouldn’t be able to come back down. My sister talked me down in Mexico, but I was completely alone here.

Mark

8/4/2022 09:16:50 am

That is a wonderful memory. How nice that your husband was able to remind you of it.

New questions.

How long did it take you to write the first draft?

How many drafts did you go through to have a ready-to-publish manuscript?

Tammy Horvath link

8/4/2022 09:39:32 am

The first draft was complete at 90,000 words and only took four months. But then the fun began. The dreaded editing, learning to write, and changing my book to make it “About the Reader.” I took several classes to help me understand the craft of writing, and I learned that I needed to include messages about ways my readers could benefit from my experiences because it’s not all about me.

After about twenty revisions, I have a book that will help everyone who reads it to learn from my mistakes and to help them become the person God wants them to be. People who don’t believe in religion can also benefit from reading Gone in an Instant. There are many tips that will help anyone struggling with grief, forgiveness, love, faith, and hope. I don’t hold back. I go through each of the grief steps: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance, and forgiveness, sharing what I did wrong. I bare my soul so that my situation can help them.

Mark

8/4/2022 11:08:22 am

Nathaniel Hawthorne, 19th century American novelist and short story writer, is reputed to have said, "Easy reading is damn hard writing". He was right. The first draft should never be published.

Your book is easy to read, even with sweaty eyes. Readers will benefit from reading your book.

Ne questions.

Going back in time, did you do any kind of creative writing, even back in grade school?

How early was it that you realized how powerful words can be?

Tammy Horvath link

8/4/2022 11:54:33 am

I used to write poetry in high school. I then realized how powerful words could be—especially haiku poems, which are written about experiences and create a memorable image. I did not write that kind of poetry, though, because they are very short.

My poems were sometimes two pages long, most of which were written to boyfriends. Although, a few years ago, I wrote one for my sister, who was on vacation with me. In it, I shared how much her traveling with me meant. Most of my poems rhyme. Sometimes that takes a lot of work.

In eleventh grade, I had to write a poem using our five senses and read it in front of the class. I received a perfect score and was very happy, even if it didn’t rhyme. It was written about a romantic place where my boyfriend took me on a date. Here it is:

The headlights of cars driving on the road below shone brightly in the darkness.

Behind the highway glared the small city’s red, green, and yellow lights.

Twinkling stars filled the dark blue sky above.

Wind whistling through the trees made the leaves rustle.

The sweet smell of perfume, blown by the slight gusts of wind, filled the air.

Crickets chirped loudly in the darkness.

It was a great escape from the world below.

Written by Tammy Williams (aka Tammy Yuzwa and Tammy Horvath)

Mark

8/4/2022 12:54:01 pm

That is a nice poem. The senses were well engaged. Poetry always surprises me. It touches me in unexpected ways.

I had to write some poetry in high school also. It was not memorable in the least. As much as I loved to read, creative writing did not come naturally to me.

A new question.

A lot of new authors struggle with finding beta readers. Because, after the first draft is done, fresh eyes and feedback become very important.

Do you have alpha-readers and/or beta-readers to help you smooth out some of the of wrinkles before publishing? If you don’t, why?

Tammy Horvath link

8/4/2022 01:18:01 pm

I was blessed with a handful of people offering to beta-read my memoir. One of them was an editor who provided professional advice for free. As a result, we are now very close and share each other’s burdens and prayer requests. God has always been good to me and puts people in my path to help me on my journey.

Mark

8/4/2022 02:10:28 pm

You are blessed in so many ways. Some authors find it difficult to locate beta readers. Authors look for honesty and candid comments when sending out a manuscript to beta readers. The author wants to know where a manuscript needs help. 'I really enjoyed the story' is very little help to an author. Some authors send a list of questions along with the manuscript and some don't.

Beta reader is another category on my Twitter lists. Like the other services, check their requirements carefully before approaching them.

New questions.

At what stage in your writing process do you bring in the readers?

Do you give them an e-version like a PDF or a hard copy you printed?

Tammy Horvath link

8/4/2022 02:22:05 pm

I didn’t get beta readers until after my book was ready for publishing. My work needs to be perfect, and it’s not a beta reader’s job to catch typos. I hoped I didn’t make any mistakes, so I asked my readers to let me know if they found anything amiss. They did find a few.

I’ve beta-read for others, and a few times, there were so many typos I had to write a book to make sure they didn’t publish it like that. I’m not trying to be mean by saying that, but I feel every book needs a paid professional to proofread the text before it goes to beta readers, who can’t do their job if there are typos everywhere.

If you want a beta-reader to do an excellent job for you, it’s essential to ask what kind of copy they would like. Each one had a different preference (Mobi, PDF, ePub, Word document, or paperback) which I provided.

Mark

8/4/2022 03:29:09 pm

One of the things I have noticed is that each author does something differently than others. Each author develops their method for accomplishing certain parts of their writing process. Most authors utilize beta readers after the second or third draft. Some submit to beta readers further in the process. Quite a few authors tell the betas to ignore any spelling or punctuation errors. Still other authors accept any feedback about those issues. The end goal is the same, to produce a book that is easy to read, a story that flows well.

I do think it's a good idea to provide the manuscript in a preferred format.

New questions.

What kind of questions did you ask them to get the feedback you wanted?

Will you seek out new beta readers or work with the same ones as before?

Tammy Horvath link

8/4/2022 03:49:41 pm

I can’t find my list of questions, but some of them were:
• Identify anything that appears more than once in the book.
• Note any areas that don’t make sense or need more information to fill in the details.
• List any grammatical errors or typos.
• Let me know if the story seems to lag and doesn’t keep flowing.
• List anything else that you feel can be improved.

I will seek new beta readers for my next book since it will be a travel book instead of a memoir about forgiving my son’s killer.

Mark

8/4/2022 05:05:52 pm

Those are good questions. Getting some new beta readers is a good idea, though it might not hurt to ask the previous readers if they would like to be a beta reader for the new book.

New questions.

Do you reward the alpha/beta readers in any way particular?

Do you have other writers you connect with, as in a critique group or support group?

Tammy Horvath link

8/4/2022 05:23:00 pm

I didn’t reward them, but I offered to read their books or future books since they are all authors. I’m in a few classes with other writers, and I connect with them and my teacher through the course. In addition, we have a live video class for two hours every month where we can ask questions and get answers. I also have several of their email and phone numbers to connect with them outside class.

Several writers in the Facebook groups I’m part of also answer questions posted in the group. As a result, I’ve made many new friends.

Mark

8/4/2022 06:32:31 pm

Returning the favor is a wonderful reward. Since they are writers, they can provide a greater depth of commenting.

Those classes and other contacts serve as an informal support group quite well. Stated guidelines and goals aren't really necessary since all involved know what is desired. There is probably also a good mixture of experience amongst all of those writers. The lack of experience can be detrimental in a group composed of writers with little to no experience. Another blessing. You are building a nice network.

A new question.

What are three things, that you wish you knew before you wrote your first book?

Tammy Horvath link

8/4/2022 06:49:16 pm

1. Writing a book is HARD work.
2. It will take at least $10,000 to do it correctly, and that’s if you do your own formatting, which brought me to tears numerous times and made your own audiobook recording.
3. You will lose a couple of years of your life if you want to do it correctly.

Mark

8/5/2022 08:17:45 am

Great list! Yes, writing a book is hard work. I have heard almost every author talk about how hard the first book was to write. I heard of a very hardnosed editor that when handed an author's first manuscript tossed it into the garbage can and said something to the effect, now that you know something about writing a book go and write a good book. There is so much to learn about writing a book, there is always some way to improve a book also.

Whatever you cannot do yourself, such as formatting or cover making you have to pay someone else to do it. If a book doesn't have a professional looking cover, it's unlikely very many people will look inside.

Audio books are a great format after ebooks and print-on-demand (POD) books. Audio book quality is dependent upon equipment, skill and time. I had the good fortune to promote an audio book some time ago. The author invited the narrator to join our conversation, search for Kevin Green in the search box below to see the interview including the narrator. We will talk more about audio books.

If you are interested in narrating your own book, then here is a copy-and-paste link to that end, Joanna Penn is another of my favorite bloggers: https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2019/08/07/build-your-own-audio-sound-booth

It does take a lot of time. Especially the first time an attempt is made.

New question.

What is the most valuable piece of advice you have ever received from another writer?

Tammy Horvath link

8/5/2022 09:00:35 am

My class teacher says you should never publish your first book because it’s what you use to learn to write. But he also says you can go back to it later after writing other books and rewrite it.

You not only need a professional looking cover, but the cover must fit your genre.

Yes, meeting the quality requirements for an audiobook can get complicated, especially if you are trying to record it yourself instead of using a narrator. So I decided to pay Josh Meyer from https://joshmeyervo.com/ to adjust my settings so that they met the guidelines for Amazon, Publish Drive, and Findaway Voices. Josh was great to work with, and I highly recommend him because he knows everything needed to make a great audiobook. In addition, I bought the professional equipment that my teacher recommended.

So after I had recorded the entire book in my closet, I built a soundproof recording booth and used tips from Josh. I learned a lot from my mistakes while recording the first book. It took 100 more hours to record and edit Gone in an Instant the second time, but it sounds much better than the original.

I probably stumbled on Joanna Penn when I scoured the internet for tips to make my soundproof booth.

I agree with Kevin Green that you need different voices for the characters; this brings them to life. I did that in my book. My favorite is when I made the courtroom judge sound snooty.

The most valuable advice I’ve received from another editor is to edit, re-edit, and edit some more, along with “What does your book offer your reader?”.

Mark

8/5/2022 10:29:40 am

Audio books are a great secondary or tertiary format to offer to consumers. Many readers listen to audio books on commutes and long trips. Some readers struggle with dyslexia and can only utilize an audio book. However, very many countries use English as an official language and others have it taught as a second language in schools. There are many millions of these consumers who have only a smart phone to access the internet and for them an audio book is a great way to read a book.

Audio books are expensive to produce. But that industry is undergoing a bit of a shakeup with the advent of Artificial Intelligence, software is becoming much better at producing an audio book with AI. The robotic voice is disappearing rapidly and is sounding quite human. Many narrators are worried about being put out of business, but I think in the long run AI will be found to be a boon to all involved. First, price conscious consumers will find some audio books priced lower with AI narration. Second, with voice licensing, an author could have their audio book narrated by a favorite actor at a much lower cost. Third, popular narrators could license their voice and offer a cheaper price point to an author. Fourth, human narrated audio books will become the cream of the crop and will be able to collect a commensurable fee. There will be those consumers who want the best and will be willing to pay a premium price.

You made a wise choice to produce an audio book and worked hard to make it as professional as possible. Hiring Josh was a smart move also. If you can learn from an expert, you are ahead of the game.

Many authors cringe when faced with the high fees that audio books require. Some have discovered crowdfunding as a means to raise the funds needed for producing an audio book or any other desired format of the story. Here is another copy-and-paste link to learn more about that and an extreme example of one author's success: https://kriswrites.com/2020/07/22/business-musings-the-kickstarted-game-changer-part-two/ Kristine is another one of my favorite bloggers.

A new question.

What are common traps for beginning writers?

Tammy Horvath link

8/5/2022 11:05:37 am

In her excellent post, Kristine mentions the article, “8 tools to help authors get more email subscribers.” My teacher wrote that post, and his advice has taken me far in my writing career. I’ve never considered doing crowdfunding, as Kristine suggests, and I don’t think I ever will. It’s something else I would need to learn, and I just don’t have the time. Plus, there’s no more space left in my brain. It’s full. I’d need to remove something just to make room to add material. Sigh!

The most common trap for new authors, if they are not already writers, is thinking they can write a book without learning the craft. I did that and failed miserably. So I joined several classes Thomas Umstattd Jr. offers and went to work to learn how to write, market, and blog.

Mark

8/5/2022 11:57:37 am

Even if you never use the tool of crowdfunding, at least you know it is there. If you ever think you may want to try it down the road, sign up for a project. You will be supporting the creative endeavor. Let me warn you that there might be a load of emails, but it will be instructive if nothing else.

I agree with you about the trap of hubris that some new writers fall into. They wind up putting out mediocre books at best, much of the time.

A new question.

Do you think a strong ego is an asset or liability for a writer and why?

Tammy Horvath link

8/5/2022 12:37:00 pm

I have a whole course I paid for on crowdfunding if I ever decide to use it. Thanks for the tips and for reminding me about it.

I think it’s OK to have a strong ego if you keep it in check. I don’t have a strong ego. I believe God likes people to be humble, and someone with a strong ego tends to put themselves before others. As an author, others need to come before me. But I also need to promote my work by sharing my story so God can use my pain to benefit others.

Mark

8/5/2022 02:33:50 pm

You described the ego issue pretty well. Serving others is part of what writers do. The book they write is an offering to meet some kind of need in the reader's life. There is tension involved in that balance. An author has to be strong enough, thick skinned enough to withstand any criticism and understand that not everyone will like their book and not be deterred from writing and promoting.

New questions.

Can you describe the demographic of your ideal reader?

Who is the person most likely to buy your book?

Tammy Horvath link

8/5/2022 03:07:42 pm

My ideal reader is a mom, or a Christian mom, who’s lost a child. But my book is also suitable for anyone struggling with being unable to forgive or love (whether that applies to forgiving/loving others, God, or themselves).

I also help people learn to process their grief and find faith and renewed hope.

People who feel unworthy or suicidal will benefit from reading Gone in an Instant because I share how much Jesus loves them, enough to die on a cross for each and every one of us IF we are willing to accept the free gift he offers.

Finally, my book is inspirational. If someone simply wants to read a story about someone who overcame all obstacles thrown at her and, in the end, found joy, my memoir will do just that.

Several people who are not my target audience have read my book. They say that even though it was a challenging read, it was worth it.

June 13, 2022 – This 5-star review summarizes a lot of my story.

Grief and Revival.

I have experienced grief, so I thought I was prepared to read this book. The author knew the subtlety of the experience of losing her son and delivered it in just enough detail to take us through it. She didn’t avoid emotion nor tarnish the experience. I felt wholly accepted in her story of forgiveness and remarkably charged with faith after understanding how well she coped and recovered through it all. I don’t know how she did it, as I’m not sure I could have, and for that, I recommend this book to anyone who is working through grief. It should inspire others to find faith and live peacefully.

Mark

8/5/2022 04:24:30 pm

That is a wonderful testimony. I agree with those words.

All of the issues you mention can hold a person back from growth and joyously experiencing life. Processing grief, finding personal worth in God's love and forgiving others will lead to a joy-filled life. Not necessarily an easy life, because this life isn't easy. Being in personal relationship with our heavenly Father makes all of the difference in the world.

A new question.

Do you have an item or a routine you consider to be your writing lucky charm?

Tammy Horvath link

8/5/2022 04:40:35 pm

Not really. As I said earlier, God often gives me perfect words, whether for my book, a review for a book I’m reading, or a blog post I need to write for my website. But 70% of the time, I can’t remember them in the morning.

Tammy Horvath link

8/5/2022 04:41:47 pm

I forgot to say that God inspires me in the middle of the night. That's why I can't remember them.

Mark

8/5/2022 05:39:24 pm

Very good. While some writers have a routine or ritual they like to use to help them get connected to inspirations many don't.

A new question.

What was the biggest obstacle you faced in writing "Gone"?

Tammy Horvath link

8/5/2022 05:42:49 pm

I spent numerous hours reviewing my photos, old calendars, and papers, and watching all of my videos to ensure my book was perfect.

Mark

8/5/2022 06:57:32 pm

Yes, I can easily see how that would slow the writing process down as well as soothe your heart. That probably won't be as big of an obstacle as you write your next book. Unless you are writing about a lot of places you visited with Luke.

New question.

Do you see an advantage of writing under a pseudonym, why or why not?

Tammy Horvath link

8/5/2022 07:05:34 pm

I write under my own name and always will since I write memoirs. It would be a disadvantage not to since it’s my story. My website is https://tammyhorvath.com/, so that’s another reason not to change. Pseudonyms are mainly used by people that write fiction or people that have a reason they don’t want their own name known.

Mark

8/6/2022 10:28:30 am

That makes perfect sense. You made a good choice using your name for your website. Many authors setup their social media and website based upon the name of their first book or series, that works fine until they write a new book or series.

Some authors use different pen names when they write in different genres. That creates a somewhat similar identity problem. How to introduce fans and super-readers to genres outside of their favorite. I know of one author that created a separate landing page for each genre and they led to the main website if a visitor clicked beyond the landing page.

You are right, some people want to preserve their privacy as much as possible, so a pseudonym is a good idea.

Are there any issues particular to writing a memoir that might not apply to other genres?

Tammy Horvath link

8/6/2022 10:44:09 am

To the best of our memory, a memoir is 100% true unless you add a disclaimer stating you’ve used fictional techniques to help readers visualize the scene you’ve set. It’s something done to make the book more interesting. I didn’t do that with mine.

I probably won’t ever write in another genre, but if I did, I’d love to have my first husband, Tony, kidnap my son. It’s a story that could’ve easily become a reality if I had tried to leave my abusive husband. Although I’m now happily married to Mike, writing such a book might traumatize me, so I’ll probably never pursue it.

Mark

8/6/2022 11:51:20 am

A little fiction can go a long way. I think you would be a good fiction writer. You have excellent story telling skills.

Writing a story about your ex-husband kidnapping your son might not be the best choice. Many parents have experienced that situation of losing a child to custodial interference.

New question.

What type of book is your favorite guilty pleasure to read or listen to for fun?

Tammy Horvath link

8/6/2022 12:25:30 pm

Thanks for the compliment. The only reason I’d ever think about writing a story about my first husband kidnapping my son is because I can visualize the whole story. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t have done to get my son back if that had ever happened.

I used to love Christian Romance, and I read one now and then. But I mainly stick to reading memoirs because I learn much about my writing by reading others’ stories.

Mark

8/6/2022 02:08:18 pm

That makes sense to me. It would be pretty easy for you to visualize the story in each step.

If you haven't already read the story, you might find "Even Blue Birds Sing" to be interesting. It is written by Karen Buyno, as told by Lisa Kobayashi. Lisa kidnapped her son to protect him from an abusive father. I mention it because you might be able to function as the writer while the subject narrates her or his story.

New question.

Are there any writing styles or genres that you disliked at first but changed your mind about at some point?

Tammy Horvath link

8/6/2022 02:18:38 pm

That sounds like a fascinating read. And it is a true story, which makes it all the better. I never liked memoirs. Haha. I never thought I would write my own. I used to think they were boring. But that was me judging them without ever having read one. So I feel terrible now because, guess what, I love hearing other people’s true stories.

Mark

8/6/2022 04:12:36 pm

I was and still am a fan of science fiction. It is my favorite genre and has been for most of my life. Fantasy is a close second. But a memoir? Not even on my radar, until like you I read one. They are amazing and so very powerful. Sometimes they are hard to read because of the brutality a human inflicted on another human being.

New question.

Have you ever read a book that changed the way you look at writing?

Tammy link

8/6/2022 04:56:45 pm

One of the books that changed the way I write is Make Every Word Count: A guide to writing that works by Gary Provost. It teaches the art of tightening our words, saying more with fewer words. But, other than that, I never read anything that changed my view of writing.

Mark

8/6/2022 06:35:36 pm

That sounds like a good book. I certainly agree with the title. Every word should earn its place on the page. For most popular genres, readers don't want to spend any more time to read a book than necessary. If they like the book, they want to get more of the same. If they don't like the book, they usually have another book they are anxious to get to. Many authors have been writing shorter chapters so the reader can finish faster and buy the next book in the series. Sometimes, less is more.

New question.

Do you think that a writer needs to read books, why or why not?

Tammy Horvath link

8/6/2022 06:44:44 pm

Authors need to read. Reading books helps them perfect their craft. Some books teach them what NOT to do, and others teach them what works.

Mark

8/7/2022 08:02:50 am

Well said, Tammy. that is exactly right. There is something to be learned from every book.

New question.

Do you think reading, watching movies or listening to music help you be a better writer?

Tammy Horvath link

8/7/2022 08:11:02 am

Reading helps me the most because I’m a writer. But I also learn from watching movies how to develop a character. I’ll look at a person in the film and try to think of ways to communicate their dress, facial expression, and actions.

Mike Horvath

8/7/2022 08:58:01 am

Do you reget all the time it took to write Gone in an Instant: Losing my son, Loving his killer ?

Tammy Horvath link

8/7/2022 09:04:20 am

I did lose a lot of my life to writing, but if one person is in heaven because of my book, it was worth it.

Mark

8/7/2022 09:58:13 am

Thanks for popping in, Mike. That is a good question.

Mike Horvath

8/7/2022 10:31:00 am

Thanks. I can't imagine writing a book that takes years.

Mike Horvath

8/7/2022 10:08:16 am

Now you are writing another book. Will this book take the same amount of time?

Tammy Horvath link

8/7/2022 10:11:57 am

No. My new book is a travel memoir. I share the beauty from everywhere I’ve been, although it may take two or three books to accomplish this. 15% of the book is already written, and I’ve only been writing for two weeks. It’s easier to write about beautiful places than bare my heart and soul for the world to see, as I had to do in Gone in an Instant.

Joan

8/7/2022 10:44:29 am

I am so thankful writing this book has helped you heal! When did you realize you wanted to share your story with the world?

Mark

8/7/2022 01:34:29 pm

Thanks for dropping in, Joan.

Tammy Horvath link

8/7/2022 10:58:20 am

I decided to share my story a few months after my son’s murder. I had no idea how long it would take to write and the pain it would cause me. But, I knew I could help others heal if I shared my journey, so I persevered.

Mark

8/7/2022 11:01:35 am

Writers can learn a lot from screenwriters and playwrights. They have a limited amount of time to build a world and characters plus every bit of information can only be shared visually or through dialogue, most films and plays don't have an obvious narrator. I have recommended more than once that writers would benefit from a course in screenwriting or playwriting.

New question.

At this time, do you read books for entertainment or just research, writing craft or the business of writing?

Tammy Horvath link

8/7/2022 12:30:51 pm

I only read for entertainment, although I naturally learn along the way. The only time I read for education is when I search for a book to teach me and read a book like Make Every Word Count: A guide to writing that works.

Karen

8/7/2022 01:37:31 pm

Is there any particular ways which you keep your son's memory alive ,without letting your self fall in to a depressed state over and over again? I have an Aunt who has lost two children and falls into depression every year close to the day of their deaths, Do you have any advice your willing to share?

Tammy Horvath link

8/7/2022 02:45:03 pm

Instead of celebrating my son’s death, I celebrate my son’s life while he was here on this earth. On the day of his death AND the day of his birth, I have a party with Luke’s friends and remember all the good things about Luke. How he cared about everyone he met. How he generously gave to those in need. And how he loved me, those in his close circle, and his cat, Kayley.

My advice is to celebrate the good. You must remember them to keep them alive in your heart, but in order to do that, you must dwell on the good memories. When you don’t choose the pain of remembering them, you don’t keep them alive and close in your heart. So I always choose the pain to keep Luke close to me. I couldn’t bare to go on if Luke wasn’t still a part of me.

Mark

8/7/2022 06:39:38 pm

Great question, Karen, thanks for asking it. I think Tammy's advice is good, I like of celebrating the life that was lived.

Dylan Horvath

8/7/2022 01:38:32 pm

Was it hard to write about Luke since he’s in heaven?

Tammy Horvath link

8/7/2022 02:48:15 pm

Yes, it definitely was. But how can I help people who have suffered what I have gone through if I don’t share my experiences? This is why it was necessary to put my story into words.

Mark

8/7/2022 06:41:24 pm

Good question, Dylan. I wish I had thought of that. Tammy is right, shared suffering helps ease the load.

Mark

8/7/2022 01:39:52 pm

Some authors have told me they struggle a bit to enjoy a good book as much as they did before they wrote a book. They say it's hard to turn off the inner critic and just enjoy the book. I have a bit of the same issue because I am so sensitive to spelling errors. I don't look for them, when I am reading for pleasure, they jump off the page and want to fight me.

New question.

Do you ever brainstorm with non-writers and if so, is it effective?

Tammy Horvath link

8/7/2022 02:52:34 pm

I haven’t brainstormed with non-writers. I do struggle every time I see a typo in a book. I cringe and mark it to let the author know because I’d want them to do the same for me if they saw a typo in my book.

Jamie H

8/7/2022 05:29:40 pm

What inspired you to write about this part of your life and death of your son?

Tammy Horvath link

8/7/2022 05:36:24 pm

God inspired me with dreams of stories He wanted me to include in the book. He told me to share how I overcame the pain of losing my only child to murder by forgiving his killer so that it would help others learn to forgive whomever they need to forgive.

Mark

8/7/2022 06:43:09 pm

Thanks for that important question, Jamie. I appreciate you and the others dropping by.

Mark

8/7/2022 06:49:43 pm

Some authors brainstorm with non-writers and many don't, Tammy. Most of those that do are talking with family members or close friends.

I do experience that cringe also, when coming across a spelling error. It knocks me right out of the story magic for a moment. I do most of my reading on a Kindle Fire and making notes is easy on that device.

New question.

What was the best money you ever spent as a writer to enhance your career?

Tammy Horvath link

8/7/2022 07:09:14 pm

The best money I’ve spent to enhance my writing career was and is paying for classes that teach me to better myself. Whether it’s how to build my website, write better blog posts, learn social media, or writing in general, they are all priceless. And so are the friends I’ve met through these classes.

Lyssa Danel

8/7/2022 10:00:49 pm

Where do you plan to travel in the future?

Tammy Horvath link

8/8/2022 08:35:52 am

Great question. I want to see Turks and Caicos, Hawaii, Tahiti, New Zealand, Australia, the Maldives, and more of Mexico. But the most challenging trip I’ll face is seeing Alaska because I want to see Aurora Borealis again. I saw Lady Aurora 5/8 nights in Iceland, and I’m hooked. Unfortunately, I’ll need to go to Alaska in the winter when it will be cold, so that limits my activity schedule since I’d like to see the country while I’m there. I’m not a fan of the cold, but I won’t let it stop me from visiting. I will include all these stories and more in my upcoming books, so there will probably need to be more than one.

Mark

8/8/2022 10:53:05 am

Thanks for dropping in, Lyssa. Good question.

Mark

8/8/2022 10:56:59 am

Those classes are paying off for you. There are many ways to improve the telling of a story and many aspects of the writing business.

New question.

Do you subscribe to any magazines, newsletters, blogs or podcasts that enhance your writing career? Feel free to share as many as you would like.

Tammy Horvath link

8/8/2022 11:06:15 am

I do not subscribe to anything other than a podcast my teacher shares about enhancing my writing career. There’s not enough time to do it all. I read many blogs that talk about writing, but nothing that is specific to the craft.

Mark

8/8/2022 01:16:04 pm

That sounds like a good place to start, I am sure you are getting good information.

Three of my favorite bloggers are Kristine Rusch, Anne R. Allen and Joanna Penn. I have many links to their blogs on my Highly Regarded Blogs page. I subscribe to many newsletters, but I don't click through and read them all, only the ones that I think are really good, then I share some of those on my website.

I also subscribe to a lot of author blogs in different genres to keep myself informed about newsletters and covers and such. I don't have a newsletter for my website. I would have to upgrade my website to accept subscriptions to a newsletter I don't have. Creating and managing a newsletter would take more time away from what I am already doing.

New question.

What are your favorite reference books, websites or software for grammar and writing?

Tammy Horvath link

8/8/2022 01:54:55 pm

I have a newsletter, but I’m still learning to write good content. It’s a process and one that takes time to learn. I use Grammarly on my Word documents. Other than that, my teacher says you can find the answer to any question on Google. My teacher also has a website to see if he has already addressed a specific question: https://www.thomasumstattd.com/pick-my-brain/.

Mark

8/8/2022 03:29:16 pm

I am glad you have a newsletter. It will work to your advantage in the long run. It is a good tool to build your fanbase. Email newsletters and getting people to subscribe to your newsletter is a big topic among authors. Many authors start with Mailchimp. When the number of subscribers reaches a certain point, many of them determine it is economically better to move their newsletter operation to another provider.

Grammarly is a nice app, it works well with MS Word. It finds a lot of stuff but like other spelling and style checkers it misses a lot of stuff also. An author is wise to not trust it implicitly.

Last question.

How did you celebrate when you published your book?

Tammy Horvath link

8/8/2022 03:57:42 pm

When I published my first book, I celebrated by crashing my website. It wasn’t on purpose and wasn’t a celebration, but it did happen and ruined my celebration. So there wasn’t any celebration until three days later when my husband and I went out to eat. The website crash rained on my parade.

Mark

8/8/2022 05:10:09 pm

One of those things that you cry about at first then laugh about later. Truly amazing.

I have another promotion starting tomorrow so we must close this down now. I want to thank you for being so candid about your writing journey. You have been a fabulous guest on the Word Refiner channel. You have a wonderful mission and I wish you success. Keep on writing.

Tammy Horvath link

8/8/2022 06:44:44 pm

Thank you so much, Mark. I give you 5/5 stars. You are great at what you do with insightful questions so everyone gets to know the person you are interviewing. Your interview process is entertaining and interactive. May God bless you, all your future endeavors, and everyone who hires you.

Gone in an Instant: Losing my son. Loving his killer. by Tammy Horvath

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