Talli L. Morgan is a writer, artist, and librarian who believes that books make some of the best friends. You can almost always find Talli buried in books (literally and figuratively), but they can also be spotted running around attempting to pet as many dogs as possible.
You can find Talli on Instagram @tlm.books and visit them at tallimorgan.com.
CONNECT WITH TALLI
Welcome to SPFM, Talli! Since we already have your bio, describe yourself in three words.
Daydreaming chaotic entity.
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Summarize your book, The Oracle Stone, using one gif.
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If you could recommend three self-published books, which would you choose and why?
Stormbringer by Erinn Harper –– Fantastic worldbuilding, spectacular magic, and a dimensional plot with twists I didn’t see coming. Also, the main character is kind of a bastard and I love him.
Amulet of Wishes by Rita A. Rubin –– Lovable and well-developed characters, vivid worldbuilding, and a fun adventure/mystery plot that is simultaneously unique and familiar.
Cute Mutants by SJ Whitby –– Simply FUN! Outstanding voice on the page, messy and authentic characters, and a rapid-paced plot that left me demanding the next books immediately.
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What is your favorite part, and your least favorite part of self-publishing?
My favorite part of my self-publishing experience is easily the community of fellow authors I’ve found, especially on Twitter. The writers in my circles are some of the kindest and most supportive people I’ve ever met, and I love being in the same publishing boat with them. In addition to that, I enjoy the freedom that comes with self-publishing. I like having full control, so I don’t have to force my book into a mold in order to keep up with industry trends. On that note, however, the downside to all of this is being entirely on my own for the whole process. Keeping up an online presence and consistently marketing my book in creative ways is tough! It takes a lot of time and energy, and I think that’s one of the biggest misconceptions about self-publishing. It can be just as difficult as traditional publishing, in its own way.
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Why did you decide to self-publish?
I thought self-publishing was the best route to take for this book, since I don’t think there would’ve been a place for it in the world of traditional publishing. Again, I didn’t want to have to force it into a certain mold or trend and lose sight of what I wanted the story to be. Self-publishing gave me the freedom to keep my book exactly how I want it.
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When did you start writing?
I started writing in high school, around age 15.
A well-known fact about me, if you know me, is that I can’t enjoy things a normal amount. If I watch/read something and love it, I don’t just love it, I let it consume my life. So when I was 15, I watched Doctor Who for the first time and it promptly became my entire personality for like, five whole years. I was INSUFFERABLE. But one of my outlets for this obsession was writing fanfiction. I wanted more content than I had, so I made my own stories. These fanfics soon moved away from the source material and evolved into original stories with original characters, and all of a sudden, I had my own worlds. That got me into writing novels, and here we are!
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Tell us about the hardest scene you’ve written. What made it so difficult?
The climax scene of The Oracle Stone was easily one of the most difficult scenes I’ve written. I’ll keep this vague to avoid spoilers, but that scene has my three POV characters plus a supporting character facing off against five additional characters in this big, messy, chaotic battle. I had to draw a diagram to keep everyone’s position straight, and then writing the actual showdown was the biggest challenge. I probably rewrote that scene half a dozen times before I was happy with it.
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How do you celebrate when you finish your book?
I do a happy dance! I scream at my friends! I reward myself with a little break, and then I go make a revision plan as I try to let the draft sit and simmer for a bit.
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You feel uninspired and you’ve sat at the computer for an hour without conquering any words. How do you get your creativity flowing?
Oof, been there too many times. If it’s been a whole hour and I haven’t gotten anywhere, that’s usually my cue to stop and do something else. I might go for a walk and try to work out what’s getting me stuck, or I’ll simply put down the draft for the rest of the day and read a book. Reading is my go-to way to get words flowing in my brain when the creative well has been drained.
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What’s the best way to market your books?
I’m no expert on marketing, but I have found that an excellent method is to simply make friends! Seriously, get some writer friends. So many of us are introverted, awkward little entities hiding behind our screens, but listen, we crave interaction!! Hop onto your social media of choice and actually interact with the people you follow –– reply to/comment on their posts, reply to their stories, etc. Chances are, the more you interact, the more likely it is for that person to follow you back if they don’t already. Instead of waving your book in your followers’ faces three times a day, let people discover it naturally through being friends with you first. You’d be surprised what a difference that makes.
Also, stay active and engaging, but focus on one platform of choice. Mine is Twitter. It gets exhausting trying to keep up a presence on a hundred different apps, but choosing one to focus most of your attention makes it manageable.
About The Oracle Stone (The Windermere Tales #1)
SOME LEGENDS NEVER DIE.
JEKKU AJ’ERE can see everything from the start of time to the end, and it’s an agonizing curse. His only chance to bargain for freedom is to find the Oracle Stone, a magic artifact that was split into four pieces and hidden centuries ago.
LILYA NOOR wants to forget her past and be immortal, so she agrees to a blood oath that will grant her eternal life if she delivers the Oracle Stone to her Master of Magic. Failure is not an option, but what if the stone offers a better deal than simple immortality?
VAELTAJA IEVISIN has one chance for redemption: the Second Savior. Presenting the Savior and the lost Oracle Stone to his gods will end his banishment, but the Savior isn’t at all what Taja expected, and neither is the stone. And how much is forgiveness worth, anyway, when the gods are never satisfied?
There are higher powers at play, and Jekku, Lilya, and Taja must pull themselves together or risk losing everything to the vengeful spirits trapped in the stone. But it’s hard to save the world when you can’t trust anyone, including yourself, and certainly not the gods.
From debut author Talli L. Morgan comes a page-turning epic fantasy filled with magic, mythology, and high-stakes adventure.
