When and why did you begin writing?

I was in 6th grade when I took an interest in writing. That was around the time Twilight came out in theaters and my brother wouldn’t let me go see the movie until I read the book. Crazy thing happened, I didn’t want to watch Twilight after that. So I read the entire series which started my love for reading then I came across the Cirque Du Freak series by Darren Shan which started my interest in writing. When I was 22 that was when I took writing seriously. I see writing as more of a hobby, but when I was in 10th grade I had a creative writing teacher kindly tell me I wasn’t good. For a while that really stuck to me and I stopped for years and joined the Army because I couldn’t see myself pursuing the author-life. While I was in the military, I was so upset that I tried writing again as a healing mechanism, and I took more classes and one teacher told me I was a great writer. It pushed me to ignore everyone’s voice around me and follow my own. Writing became a coping tool to help with anxiety and fears.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I published two books in the past 2 years, and even then I couldn’t find the words to call myself a writer or an author. When people asked me what I liked doing, I said reading because I was so embarrassed of myself. It took confidence and trust in myself and my work to really call myself one. This year, I finally could call myself a writer and an author. I am very proud of myself that I made it this far.

Are you a full-time or part-time writer and how does that affect your writing?

I am a part-time writer. I feel as though if I make writing a full-time gig, I will lose my love for it. I think being a part-time writer helps because I give myself plenty of time to think, come up with the story, plenty of breaks, and a lot of me-time which everyone needs. I lost my love for writing once, I don’t want to lose it again.

How do you think you’ve evolved creatively?

I have evolved in everything. Call me dramatic, but I learned what my strengths and weaknesses are. Since I have learned what they are and what I can do to improve them, that’s all I ever do. When I first started writing, character development was not one of those things I took seriously or went in depth with. Now, based on reviews, character development is my strong suit. There is always room for improvement. Such as story building, plot twist, pace, show vs. tell. And I think, from when I first started, my work has changed drastically. My reviewers used to say I write like I’m in a dream and it bugged me so much. I did everything to learn a new style and my voice is as beautiful as ever now because I worked on myself. I love my new voice. It’s exactly how I dreamed I would be.

What have you written so far?

I have written a poetry and flash fiction anthology called Dawn of the Absent. An Epic, young adult fantasy called Faction of Time, and my new book The Silverback releases next April. It is an Urban Fantasy series about a young Mexican woman who’s seeking revenge on the person that murdered her family.

What are some ways in which you promote your work? 

Instagram is a big platform where I market my work because there are tons of bookstagram accounts who review books on their page. I have been taking classes and since I have, Instagram has been the platform that is boosting my ratings and making me noticeable.

Did you make any marketing mistakes that you would avoid in the future?

Yes. I put so much money into ads and they did nothing. I learned from other successful indie authors that you shouldn’t pay for so many ads if you don’t have that many books. Most readers do not want a book from an author who is rarely going to publish something new. And they were right. I spent too much money on ads when Instagram was the right platform that could boost my work. I am slowly learning that TikTok is starting to help.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

Just do it, even if it scares you.

Can you share with readers a little bit about your latest book?

The Silverback is about a young Mexican woman named Ramona who has always been the boy’s eye candy and that has to stop! She doesn’t need favors to get ahead in life, but when people keep asking and expecting from her she decides to take life by the horns and figure it out on her own. And just when she has a handle on life, werewolves murder her family and red is all she sees. At first it’s revenge she wants, but now she doesn’t know what to do when destiny throws a plot twist her way. The silverback will be a trilogy following ramona as she battles demons, werewolves, and some inner demons. It is an adult fantasy with explicit language, and sensitive content.

What is your next project?

Right now, I am doing a collaboration with the awesome Epic fantasy author Jason Hein about a peasant boy that outshines the greatest hero.

---

How can you learn more about Tilly and her work?

Website | Facebook | LinkedIn | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page