Friday, February 24, 2012

Friday's at the Piedmont Grille

On Today's Menu -- Talli Roland

I'm really excited to have Talli here today. I've long been wanting to do an interview, and she graciously consented. Let's get right to it.

For those who don't know, you also write travel guides under the name Marsha Moore. Have you written any more with your travels to Egypt and Canada?

I haven’t, because I’ve been focusing mainly on fiction. I love travelling and travel writing but right now, I want to build up my fiction readership as much as I can. Fiction has always been my dream.

I know what you mean. I don't think I could write non-fiction in any aspect.

Your pen name is such a delightful creation and so fits your personality -- how did you ever come up with it?

Thank you! I’ve always wanted to choose my own name, so it was a very fun process. Since I write chick lit, I wanted something quite fun and also a bit different – so when it was Googled, it would be easy to find. My mum’s maiden name is Roland, so that sorted my surname. My editor at the time and I threw around a few first names, and we finally hit on Talli. I think Talli is taking over my whole persona now!

I love it. It reminds me of candy.




Do you have plans to write another book for your publisher or are you concentrating solely on e-books on your own?

Never say never, but right now I’m concentrating solely on putting out e-books myself. I love that I can set my own timelines and that I’m in control of the process. Not to mention the fact that I don’t need to divide my royalties! My sales were always mainly e-books, so it made sense to go out on my own. 

I hear you on the control issues.

With the publication of your self-published e-book Build a Man and the upcoming Construct a Couple you were thinking about paperback versions as well.  Have you made a decision? (inquiring minds want to know) 

I’m still on the fence, but I’m leaning towards not putting out a paperback copy. It’s a ‘nice to have’, but with most of my sales being e-books (even with the paperback copies of my first two novels available), I’m not sure it’s worth the time and the effort.  I’d rather spend that time writing!

I think that's the new 'normal' these days. E-books are the new paperback version.

What is the hardest part of writing for you -- revsisions? first drafts? edits?

Oh God, definitely the second draft. The first draft, I have a general outline, but I just sit down and write. The words pour out.  With the second draft, I need to take my drivel and shape it into something. There’s always a moment where I look with despair at what I’ve written, wondering if I can use any of it! 

Oh, it's nice to know we're not alone picking over our drivel. lol
Your chick lit titles have been wildly successful -- is there another genre you'd like to write in?

Chick lit suits my voice right now, and although I started off writing more literary fiction, I think I’ll stay writing chick lit for a while to come. Eventually, I’d like to move into commercial women’s fiction – less humour, more depth – but we’ll see what the future brings!




What is the most important advice you've received thus far that you'd wished you'd known earlier in your career?

Actually, no one’s told me this, but it’s something I discovered and I wish I’d known it earlier: pace yourself, because getting published is not the final goal. If you want to have a successful career in publishing, you need to think about your next book, and the one after that, and the one after that . . . Being published is not the end of the road.

I think that's important, to know where you're going after you write The End. Someone once told me to have a ten year goal. Right now I'm set for five and I think that's enough for now.

What is the most surprising thing you've learned about yourself in publishing both with a small press and self-publishing?

Wow, that’s a great question! Er . . . um . . .  *five minutes later* Do you know, I don’t think I’ve learned anything new about myself, but the process has reinforced things I already knew: that I like being in control, that I can easily obsess over unimportant things for hours (not good!), and that I’m very driven.

Well, your drive has certainly gotten you to the top of the chick lit market. I can't think of anyone who doesn't know you. And as always I wish you all the success in the world.

You can find Talli on her blog here.

You can find Talli Roland's books here.

You can find Marsha Moore's Travel Guides 24 Hours Paris, 24 Hours London here.

Thanks again Talli, it's been great having you.

31 comments:

Talli Roland said...

Yay! Thank you so much for hosting me, Anne. It's a pleasure to be here!

DL Hammons said...

*sigh* Two of my favorite ladies in one spot, it doesn't get much better than that. I think you should interview Talli every Friday! :)

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

It's that thinking of the next book that messes with me! And Talli is such a great name. Just screams fun.

Karen Baldwin said...

Talli at the Piedmont Grille...LOve it! Great interview.

Talli Roland said...

Aw, DL! You're too sweet. :)

Alex, I know, thinking of the next one always plays with my mind!

Thanks, Em!

Anne Gallagher said...

It's great to have you here, Talli!

DL -- Careful, or you'll make me swoon.

Liza said...

Great interview. Great name! And the advice about thinking forward, well, that's critical. Thanks Talli. Thanks Anne!

Linda G. said...

Great interview! Talli, your books sound like just my cup of tea -- I love to laugh. :)

Matthew MacNish said...

Talli rules.

Joanne said...

Thanks for sharing, Talli. I second your advice on pacing ourselves. Really, we're always working on more than one writing project, each in different stages ...

S.A. Larsenッ said...

There's nothing about Talli not to love. *slaps forehead for not knowing about the pen name.

Talli Roland said...

Aw! Thank you so much, everyone. All my blogging buds have been such a great support, right from the very beginning. I honestly don't know how I could have done it without everyone!

Cupcakes with sprinkles for all!

Margo Benson said...

A lovely interview! Thank you Talli and Anne for some knowledge nuggets to take into the weekend.

Talli Roland said...

Thanks for dropping by, Margo! :)

Susan Flett Swiderski said...

Great interview. Thanks, Anne. Looks like I have some more books to load up the next time I visit the Kindle shop.

Johanna Garth said...

Hi Talli!

Great advice on pacing yourself. It's a marathon, right!

Laura said...

Ha - I obsess about small unimportant things too :) Great interview girls. I think that it;s easy to get caught up in the idea of finishing the first book and getting that out... I think I need that 5-10 year plan :) Should keep me busy this weekend!

Laura x

Carol Kilgore said...

Anne/Talli - This was a wonderful interview. I'm just stepping into this arena, so I know who to yell to for guidance.

Carrie Butler said...

Great interview, ladies! Very entertaining. :)

dolorah said...

Awesome interview. The books look interesting. Glad to see you're doing so well in e-books Talli.

........dhole

Sarah Tokeley said...

Thank you for this, Talli is lovely. I'm glad I'm not the only one who hates the second draft - she gives me hope that I might actually get through that pain barrier one day :-)

Talli Roland said...

Thanks, everyone!

It is indeed a marathon and it's oh so easy to get very, very tired and stressed. I do try to remember that I'm writing because it's fun and I love it.

If anyone ever has any questions, feel free to get in touch! Or ask them here - I'll be popping by all weekend.

Jacqueline Howett said...

Great interview you guys!

Karen Lange said...

Thanks for sharing this interview with us. I appreciate Talli's insight, particularly the part about looking ahead once one book is published.

Happy weekend! :)

Anne Gallagher said...

Thanks again to everyone for stopping by and commenting. Talli's dedication and hard work have paid off. There's much to learn at every stage of the writing game and I think she's learned it well.

Pj Schott said...

Thank you for the wonderful interview. One of my favorites authors/people!!

Theresa Milstein said...

Anne, thanks for hosting Talli. I like the advice that being published is not the end of the world--writers need to look beyond that goal.

I'm in the middle of Watching Willow Watts. Enjoyable read so far!

Anne said...

Wonderful interview. I have read all of Talli's books....I enjoyed them very much. I am looking forward to her next one.

Talli Roland said...

Yay! Thank you, Theresa. So pleased you're enjoying it!

And Anne, thanks for all your support!

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

wonderful interview. I agree that getting published is NOT the end of the journey. It's always about writing, isn't it. :)

Deniz Bevan said...

Great interview! It's always funny to hear authors I like talk about how they think they've written drivel. I know I feel that way about my stuff often!