About Tiffani Burnett-Velez:
I began my freelance writing career in 1996, when I sent an article to a dog magazine in hopes of unloading the trauma of having taught myself to walk again after a battle with a paralyzing and rare neuromuscular disease. My dog had hip dysplasia and both of us had been carried up and down the stairs by my husband at one point during our mutual recovery periods. The publication very kindly rejected the horrible piece, but they encouraged me to write more and said I was talented. I pushed ahead and since then, my nonfiction has appeared in Pennsylvania Magazine, Country Discoveries, Canticle, St. Anthony Messenger, Yahoo! News, Health.com, the Times News, and many more online and print magazines in the US and Europe. I founded and edited a literary inter-religious journal, Nicean Magazine, and I’m currently an assistant editor at Toe Good Poetry.
I am the author of three novels, Budapest (LFP 2007, 2015), A Berlin Story (KDP, 2014), and All This Time (Booktrope). All three have been bestsellers in their Amazon categories, Budapest was featured in the New York Book Festival and the 42nd Annual Conference of Jewish Librarians, and All This Time in The Big Thrill, the official magazine of the International Thriller Writers. I am currently busy working on two more novels and I, sometimes, write on my blog, A Stitch in Time, which is a combination of history, faith, and creative work
I hold a degree in Cognitive Studies and studied English and Creative Writing at Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Southern New Hampshire University. I am currently completing my MFA in Creative Writing at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, MO. I teach writing online to students of all ages and skill levels, and I
What inspires you to write?
People inspire me to write. I believe that everyone has a story and I see a story in just about everything. I think it’s how we process our experiences in life, by retelling them and listening to others tell theirs.
Tell us about your writing process.
I come up with an idea, I create a rough outline, and then I spend a fairly regular time each day writing as much as I can between homeschooling, tutoring/teaching, and spending time with my family. I love to research, and I find that my writing is even more compelling if I have to throw myself into a culture or country that is not my own. I like to explore new ideas through my fiction. I always moves the plot forward.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
No, I don’t talk to my characters, but I do consider what they might say or do in a given situation. I find places around town where I think I could picture them hanging out, working, or worshiping, and in this way, I come to know them better.
What advice would you give other writers?
Don’t quit, even when you don’t feel that anyone is on your side or if you wonder if you have any sort of talent. We all feel this way at some point or another, but it’s the consistent writer, who can take criticism and develop, who will become successful. There are so many avenues for publishing now. A great writer doesn’t need a big publisher to make a living as an author. He or she can publish independently just as well.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I have, both, self-published and been published by an independent publisher. I advise all authors, new or veteran, to always consider how a certain book would work in a certain market. If you write something that a small publisher might be more apt to pick up, then submit there. If you know that you have a wide audience of readers already, don’t be afraid to get a professional editing opinion on your work, and self-publish. But do not be afraid to look for an agent or traditional publisher either. All avenues are good, depending on who you are, what you write, and who is going to read your work.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I think publishing will only continue to evolve and this is a great thing. Books will never go out of style and neither will authors. I think the freedom within publishing now is a good thing, if even imperfect. Not every publishing avenue suits every writer or reader, so being flexible is important. I think digital publishing will continue to grow in popularity, because it is an inexpensive and quick way to publish and access books, but print books will never go out of style. There’s nothing quite as beautiful as an old book that has an invaluable story to tell.
What do you use?: Professional Editor, Professional Cover Designer, Beta Readers
What genres do you write?: Literary Fiction, Contemporary Women’s Fiction, Historical Fiction, Spiritual Writing
What formats are your books in?: eBook, Print, Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
Tiffani Burnett-Velez Home Page Link
Link To Tiffani Burnett-Velez Page On Amazon
Link to Author Page on other site
Your Social Media Links
Goodreads
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All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit, to allow you, the reader, to hear the author in their own voice.
