Today we’d like to introduce you to Taya Baker.
Taya, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
After getting married, I moved three times in four years. After my last move, my job literally had no work for me to do. Out of boredom, I began writing a story. As avid readers, my bestie and I began discussing the next book we were going to read, so I read the first chapter of my story to her. She liked it and wanted to know who the author was so that she could buy the book. When I told her I had written it, she told me I was an author and encouraged me to finish the story. It took approximately seven years to see my book in print — from the time I began writing until I was finally published. After another move, a co-worker, who read my manuscript and liked it, introduced me to a publisher.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The first couple of years of my publishing experience was wrought with difficulties: I never signed an Author Agreement with the publisher, before he had 5,000 copies of my book printed. Though, I was able to acquire 1,000 books because of guest author appearances at book club and schools; I ended up spending a few thousand dollars in an attempt to protect my story but ultimately concluded that it was only a sentimental loss. I owned the copyrights and there was no signed contract. The publishing company never paid me a penny.
Sometime after moving on, I joined two writers’ clubs and spent the next few years taking classes on the technical aspects of writing as well as learning as much as I could about the publishing industry. As a self-published author, I eventually re-released my first book with a pen name and a different cover — to totally disassociate myself and all of my future books from my first publisher.
It seems like just yesterday that I started writing, but too many years to number have gone by. During that time, I never marketed my books because I was more interested in the creative process. I find writing extremely cathartic — almost an extension of journaling. As a result, I haven’t sold many books, even though all of my stories are very well received, and those in my market are always asking for the “next” book. Three years ago, it occurred to me after my third release that it didn’t make sense to continue writing and not generate an income. After receiving professional advice regarding marketing, I’ve updated my website, had a photoshoot, and created a logo, but I still haven’t made that giant leap into marketing…baby steps, though, right?
Tell us about your work – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
My stories are considered contemporary fiction – just regular life stuff, that my friends and I can relate to. The female protagonist in my stories is always a virgin or celibate, which I think sets my stories apart from other books. I liked the idea that my mother could read my books and comfortably share them with her friends. I also like the idea that the age market for my books is 15 years old and up. My books have been used as chapter books in middle schools, and high schools, and featured at books clubs, with members as old as 70 years old. My stories are appreciated by women as well as men.
Regarding my most proud moments, aside from seeing my books in print and receiving positive feedback from readers, it would have to be assisting new authors with getting published. It’s an amazing experience to see your own book in print, and it’s as equally fulfilling to experience someone else seeing their book in print for the first time. As a result of providing affordable copy-editing services to new authors because it’s such an important process before getting published, I naturally gravitated to publishing. New authors don’t often know how to get to the next step. In the years that I’ve been writing, the publishing industry has changed so much that it’s much easier to publish your own book(s) if you don’t want to go through the long, arduous query letter/agent process.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
One proud moment was actually seeing my book in print for the first time and having my book release party in the Georgia State Capitol. Each moment that I see one of my books in print is a very proud and emotional moment for me. To be honest with you, I don’t think I’ve experienced my “proudest” moment yet. I’m still looking forward to it.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.simplytrbaker.com
- Email: simplytrbaker@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/simplytrbaker
- Facebook: facebook.com/simplytrbaker
- Twitter: twitter.com/simplytrbaker
Image Credit:
Cover Art Credit: Every Time I Close My Eyes & Daddy’s Big Girl – Keith Saunders; Yet to be Determined – India Nabarro
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