Tara Taffera is an avid reader and the author of A Divine Love Series. She writes contemporary Christian romance enveloped in God’s grace and love. Book two in her series, Love Unfailing, won the silver medal in the 2022 Illumination Book Awards in the romance category. The program shines a light on Exemplary Christian Books. Love Unfailing was also a semi-finalist in the Indies Today Awards.
She lives in Virginia with her husband of almost 25 years, a non-reader himself who provides valuable advice on her books—all those baseball scenes! He is one of her biggest cheerleaders, along with her three daughters.
Visit Tara Taffera online
She lives in Virginia with her husband of almost 25 years, a non-reader himself who provides valuable advice on her books—all those baseball scenes! He is one of her biggest cheerleaders, along with her three daughters.
Love Reunited
Elizabeth Carlson turns heads wherever she goes but has never moved on from Tyler Williams, with whom she shared a whirlwind relationship her senior year of high school. After only a month together, Elizabeth ran away from her past and her broken family. Ten years later, Tyler comes crashing back in her life, eager for a second chance. But she can’t forgive him for the order he issued all those years ago.
Slowly, a high school romance turns into so much more, but her secrets, and his anger, threaten to ruin their happily ever after. Will God’s grace and love lead them back to each other?
- ISBN: 1956654356
- Publisher: Winged Publications
Interview with Tara Taffera
Contemporary Christian romance enveloped in God’s grace and love—what an inviting theme for the Divine Love Series. Who wouldn’t want some of that, if only in a book? Tara’s characters immediately immerse readers into their emotions and concerns, making you want to read on to see what happens.
* * * * *
You’ve said that your first novel was in your head for 20 years before publication. But suddenly you set your mind to completing it. Now the third one is coming out only two years later. Wow! That amazes me. What made it all come together so quickly in the end?
It all came down to making it a priority and committing to specific writing goals. If you sit down and write for a specified time or to get to a certain number of words, it will add up, and the book will come together. I have met other authors who now come to me for advice, and that’s the first thing I always tell them: Make a goal and stick to it. Even if you miss a day here or there, it’s okay but if you set a goal it will happen.
Yes, that’s so true about goals. I’m wondering, where do your story and character ideas come from?
Everywhere. For book two, Love Unfailing, I had an idea sitting in church one day listening to the worship band, and the book ended up having a worship leader who wasn’t who he seemed. For a new series I just started, the whole concept came about by a comment someone in my writers group made about how hard it is for a single woman to find a group where she fits in the church. That’s now the basis for my storyline.
Great examples. What do you think makes your style of storytelling unique?
I’m not exactly sure, but I write what I like to read. I love characters that jump off the page. I love romance that draws me in and pushes me to root for the characters. And I love books with language that leaps off the page. I know I get better in that regard with every novel.
Wonderful! What message do you hope readers take away from Love Reunited?
In all my books, I aim to leave the reader with the message that God is with you through everything if you trust in him even through the difficult times. And my characters always suffer through difficult times. But in the end, God, and love, prevails.
A strengthening and encouraging message. Are you a plotter or a pantser?
For my first three books, I was more of a pantser. I just started a new series and am using an outline method I discovered through a speaker at the Fiction Marketing Academy. I’m excited to see by the end of this novel which approach I liked most. I think I will end up falling somewhere in the middle.
What is your writing routine? Any quirky habits or must-have snacks?
I have to write in the morning before my full-time job or it just won’t happen. I have no brain power left at the end of my day. Right now, my daughter is in summer swim, and I write in my car every morning when she is there for an hour. Last year, I met another local author through the swim team, and she writes as well. So, we sit next to each other with our windows open and pass a comment every now and again. But it’s awesome to know we will keep each other accountable every day. I end up getting a good number of words in because I’m not tempted to look at my phone. At the end of the hour, we always share our word count.
How nice that God sent you a writer friend like that! What do you enjoy doing when you are not writing?
I like to exercise and enjoy paddle boarding and bike riding. I’m trying to find time to get back to that. Before I started writing, my mornings before work were spent exercising and now, they are spent writing. I wish there were more hours in a day! I haven’t had time for much else besides my job, writing, and of course, spending time with my family.
I know, eh? If only it were possible to order more time! What books are on your nightstand right now?
Advantage by Joe Solari. It’s all about building your reader base and hanging in there for the long haul. I listened to him speak, and his advice helped me loosen up and not stress out so much about all the things that need to get done on the marketing side. I’m only a few chapters in but look forward to going through it. The other is The Path Not Taken, by Ruth Logan Herne.
Advice about marketing without stressing sounds good. Well, thank you for the interview, Tara. I wish you a great summer, and I hope you find time to fit in some paddle boarding and bike riding!
_________________________
Pearl Fredericksen lives on the beautiful west coast of Canada, where she enjoys photographing the scenery and writing about her favourite places. She also loves to read and post reviews to spread the word about good books. Her little dog, Bear, sits under her desk to keep her feet warm while she writes. He's very cute, and you can see him in quite a few photos at https://PearlAdaPridham.com
* * * * *
You’ve said that your first novel was in your head for 20 years before publication. But suddenly you set your mind to completing it. Now the third one is coming out only two years later. Wow! That amazes me. What made it all come together so quickly in the end?
It all came down to making it a priority and committing to specific writing goals. If you sit down and write for a specified time or to get to a certain number of words, it will add up, and the book will come together. I have met other authors who now come to me for advice, and that’s the first thing I always tell them: Make a goal and stick to it. Even if you miss a day here or there, it’s okay but if you set a goal it will happen.
Yes, that’s so true about goals. I’m wondering, where do your story and character ideas come from?
Everywhere. For book two, Love Unfailing, I had an idea sitting in church one day listening to the worship band, and the book ended up having a worship leader who wasn’t who he seemed. For a new series I just started, the whole concept came about by a comment someone in my writers group made about how hard it is for a single woman to find a group where she fits in the church. That’s now the basis for my storyline.
Great examples. What do you think makes your style of storytelling unique?
I’m not exactly sure, but I write what I like to read. I love characters that jump off the page. I love romance that draws me in and pushes me to root for the characters. And I love books with language that leaps off the page. I know I get better in that regard with every novel.
Wonderful! What message do you hope readers take away from Love Reunited?
In all my books, I aim to leave the reader with the message that God is with you through everything if you trust in him even through the difficult times. And my characters always suffer through difficult times. But in the end, God, and love, prevails.
A strengthening and encouraging message. Are you a plotter or a pantser?
For my first three books, I was more of a pantser. I just started a new series and am using an outline method I discovered through a speaker at the Fiction Marketing Academy. I’m excited to see by the end of this novel which approach I liked most. I think I will end up falling somewhere in the middle.
What is your writing routine? Any quirky habits or must-have snacks?
I have to write in the morning before my full-time job or it just won’t happen. I have no brain power left at the end of my day. Right now, my daughter is in summer swim, and I write in my car every morning when she is there for an hour. Last year, I met another local author through the swim team, and she writes as well. So, we sit next to each other with our windows open and pass a comment every now and again. But it’s awesome to know we will keep each other accountable every day. I end up getting a good number of words in because I’m not tempted to look at my phone. At the end of the hour, we always share our word count.
How nice that God sent you a writer friend like that! What do you enjoy doing when you are not writing?
I like to exercise and enjoy paddle boarding and bike riding. I’m trying to find time to get back to that. Before I started writing, my mornings before work were spent exercising and now, they are spent writing. I wish there were more hours in a day! I haven’t had time for much else besides my job, writing, and of course, spending time with my family.
I know, eh? If only it were possible to order more time! What books are on your nightstand right now?
Advantage by Joe Solari. It’s all about building your reader base and hanging in there for the long haul. I listened to him speak, and his advice helped me loosen up and not stress out so much about all the things that need to get done on the marketing side. I’m only a few chapters in but look forward to going through it. The other is The Path Not Taken, by Ruth Logan Herne.
Advice about marketing without stressing sounds good. Well, thank you for the interview, Tara. I wish you a great summer, and I hope you find time to fit in some paddle boarding and bike riding!
_________________________
Pearl Fredericksen lives on the beautiful west coast of Canada, where she enjoys photographing the scenery and writing about her favourite places. She also loves to read and post reviews to spread the word about good books. Her little dog, Bear, sits under her desk to keep her feet warm while she writes. He's very cute, and you can see him in quite a few photos at https://PearlAdaPridham.com
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