Empowered Wednesday: Tarah Burrell

Welcome back to another Empowered Wednesday Bookworms!! I'm really loving these features I've been having and it seems like they all come at the right time! This amazing author and I have been following one another for a seriously long time, and she's been such a huge supporter of my blogging, and I could only return the favour! But seriously, with her family, work and writing, she adds in more things making her one bad-ass mom!



Q: Can you tell our readers about yourself and what you do?
A: I am a home-schooling mom of four, as well as a professional lifestyle photographer, with a side of paranormal romance author. As of now, I am focusing on being an advocate for children, such as my son, who have been diagnosed with Cockayne Syndrome. A lot of my time has been going into this, as of late. 

Q: How did you first get into writing and when did you decide to take the leap and go for it?
A: Well, I’ve always had an extremely active imagination. When my twins were just a few months old, I had a crazy vision of myself with a sword and a shield, face to face with a demon. From that moment on, I began creating a story around a girl in a similar situation. Fast forward to about three years after that, I began writing my rough draft of my story. And, the rest is history. 

Q: Who or what inspired you to do what you are doing now?
A: I believe it was a divine experience, in a way, what sort of catapulted me into writing. Also, a lot of the movies that I love inspired my beloved character, Brynn, and what she is about. I took bits and pieces of those characters and infused their abilities and experiences into who Brynn is and what she can do. 

Q: What would be your ideal working environment?
A: A desk space without any clutter! And a lot of very good and inspiring movie scores. Listening to movie scores is a must for me when writing. 

Q: How would you describe your style with writing?
A: I have a lot of chaos in my head usually, so I make a lot of notes and lists, which helps me to address plots and what my characters are going to experience. Everything has to make sense and have a clear purpose. 

Q: What is one thing you wish you knew starting out with writing or something you could have told your past self?
A: Oh, man. I would’ve told myself that it isn’t going to happen overnight. I think that I have a terrible need for everything to go from zero, to ninety fairly quickly. I would tell myself to be patient, realistic and to not set the bar for what you can achieve! Just have fun with it. 

Q: What do you do in your spare time?
A: I am always creating, whether it’s photography or art. I am constantly trying to grow and enrich myself with God’s purpose for me. I am a Secular Franciscan, which is an order of the Catholic Church, and being a spiritual advisor is a huge part of who that I am. So, if I’m not creating, guiding others or focusing on personal growth, you could probably find me outside, or binge watching something I’ve watched a gazillion times before. I’m a Lord of The Rings junkie, and I could watch it over and over again. Maybe add in The Walking Dead. I just started that series over again, too. I also, watch a TON of BBC and PBS. We love British murder mysteries in this house. 

Q: How do you motivate yourself to keep the novel going?
A: Imagination. I’m a big daydreamer, so I’m never short of creating stories or plots up in my head. A lot of what I imagine up comes when I am fully engaged when working out, or in meditation. 

Q: What do you find the most frustrating and/or challenging aspect of writing?
A: I am not a professional writer, so it’s difficult for me to push past writer’s block. I am often stuck with how I’m going to develop a story line, which is very frustrating to me. 

Q: How much time do you spend writing and is it a hobby or job?
A: Writing, as an author, is definitely a hobby. 

Q: Can you name some of your favourite authors and explain why they’re your favourite?
A: If I had a better attention span, I could probably come up with more people to mention. I will say this; Tim Burton, though not exactly an author, has always been a big inspiration to me. His dark imagination is just beautiful and I can relate to him in that way. Anything he creates, I am a big fan of. I am also a fan of Syrie James Jamie McGuire. When they release anything new, I’m pretty quick to purchase their work. I’m more of a subject driven reader. I will go with whatever truly sounds good to me. Paranormal romance, as well as near death experience books, or NDE’s, are what I am most interested in, when it comes to reading. 

Q: What would be your go to meal, outing and Starbucks/Tim Horton’s Drink
A: My go to meal would have to be anything seafood! I don’t shop at Starbuck’s. I know! I’m worthless. 

Q: Kiss, Kill and Marry:
(Uncle Jesse from Full House, Jake Ryan from Sixteen Candles, and Jess Mariano from Gilmore Girls) 
A: Oh, my GOSH. Jake Ryan, ALL THE WAY! Hello, childhood dream! 

Q: If you were stuck on an Island what would be the three things you would want with you?
A: A Lifestraw, a good knife, and tent. 

Q: What sort of advice can you give to anyone out there that’s thinking about starting a novel?
A: Just DO it! You only live once, so go for the dream. 

Here's Where You Can Find Tarah

Website

Instagram

Facebook

That's all for this week's Empowered Wednesday's! I hope you enjoyed this new feature! Check back here next week where a brand new creator will be featured on the blog!!

So until the next time, Keep Reading!

Your Graduated Bookworm!! :)