#PitchWars2017 #PimpMyBio
Confession (I’m a big fan of confessions and disclaimers): I actually have no idea how Tumblr works, so I’m kind of using this as an opportunity to explore a new medium as well as put myself out there for you fine people.
About My Book:
Title: A Garden of Light and Shadows
Sasha Chantry has always known that she would be a dancer, just like her grandmother. But when her beloved Baba Nadia dies, a host of disturbing visions and other neurological symptoms begin to threaten Sasha’s dancing career and her very life. As her mind and body weaken, Sasha falls deeper into Kingsgarden, the glittering but dangerous world of her nightmares, where she has been sold as a thrall: a mute and mindless source of magical power to be used—or abused—by wealthy citizens.
When the nightmare doesn’t end, Sasha finds herself trapped in Kingsgarden. Under the eyes of her suspicious owners and the corrupt House of Light and Shadow which first enslaved her, Sasha fights to win her freedom and find her way home. She isn’t certain if Kingsgarden is a real place or a construct of her fractured mind, but this distinction seems less important than her plans for escape—until the moment she realizes that “home” isn’t necessarily where she thought it was. Torn apart by conflicting bonds of love and obligation, Sasha must now decide once and for all if the line between reality and madness is as important, or as fixed, as one might think.
Previously titled Under the Willow Root (and, let’s be real, it might change again), this is my first original novel. I have a few fulls out, but I’m hoping that a mentor will be able to help me really make the manuscript shine for any future agent requests. I feel like I’ve made Sasha’s story as shiny as I can on my own, and I’m really hoping for some guidance.
About Me (and, yes, I was actually tearing up I was so excited about this baby goat):
I use the pen name Tamara Linden because my real name is over twenty letters long, not including my middle name. I won’t tell you what my real name is (if you’re a mentor you already know my real name) but I will tell you that Tamara is my middle name and Linden is the English translation of the root word of my last name, which is possibly the Greek-est thing you’ll ever see.
I work as an exam prep and college essay tutor by day (and evenings and weekends) and moonlight as a folk musician. In college I majored in music (primary instrument: flute, secondary: voice, concentration: composition) but when I got out I worked mostly office jobs until I started tutoring, which I love. I read like it’s my job--because it kind of is! Not YA Fantasy novels, though, and that’s what I read the most.
I’ve had a few short stories published, which has reinforced my desire to really commit to and invest in myself as a writer. As the consensus seems to be that a formal MFA program isn’t necessary to get published or even get a job in publishing, I’m trying to up my writing game on my own. I’m looking into conferences and workshops, and I’m working through Gabriela Pereira’s DIY MFA. And I’m here, diving into Pitch Wars!
Bonus: the video below is of me singing a song (written by moi) that appears in my manuscript.
Why You Want to Work With Me:
I will work hard. I’m very serious about growing not only as a writer but as an entrepreneur.
I take instruction well. I studied music for over fifteen years, and I was an athlete for at least as long as that. I’m used to people critiquing me and pushing me to dig deeper. I really value the mentor/mentee relationship because I’ve been on both sides and I know how powerful it can be.
I’m pretty nice =).
I might make you laugh, probably unintentionally.
Random Fun Facts:
Hogwarts House: Ravenclaw
Favorite Food: Soup (I really, really love soup)
Top 5 Books/Series (because who just has one): Watership Down by Richard Adams, Harry Potter by J.K, Rowling, His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman, The Lady by Anne McCaffrey, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon,
Favorite (Current) Shows: GoT, Outlander, Nashville, Jane the Virgin
Favorite Netflix: Sense8, Firefly, Scrubs, Hart of Dixie
Favorite Individual Animal: My cat Loki, pictured below
And that’s all I got. I hope you enjoyed this brief and potentially profitless exercise in getting to know me =)