Tamar Tremaine’s new book, Salty Flames: Tales of Modern Dating Fails, describes the experiences of the new generation of online dating and dating apps. From wildly romantic outings to spectacular fails, this book encourages readers to never give up, because “the one” could be just around the corner.
Is there a particular moment that SPARKed your interest in writing a book?
Over the years, I have made a lot of my friends feel better about their lives by telling them my dating stories. Guys at work used to plan lunches with me to talk about their dating lives, because they didn’t feel comfortable talking about it with anyone else. Many people have told me that I should turn my stories into a book, and during “Safer at Home” I finally had time to make it happen!
Tamar Tremaine on working with SPARK Publications
The SPARK design team helped me turn my text and illustrations into a beautifully crafted book. I know how to use InDesign, Photoshop, and the other programs necessary to create a self-published book, but I chose to work with SPARK because they know what it takes to make a book “feel right.” They have a wealth of knowledge on the rules of book design as well as an eye for good composition. In addition to the overall book design, SPARK also worked with my illustrations, adding text and other graphic information over the top in order to create the feel that I wanted for the book. So far, I have received many compliments on the book design from friends, fans, and bookstores.
What surprises did you encounter on the road to writing and publishing the book?
It was a lot more time and work than I anticipated! I never thought that I would spend so many hours writing and editing, and my book is not even that long.
How did SPARK Publications help in championing and publishing your book?
SPARK was amazing during the book design process. They have a very talented group of designers in the office! I myself am a designer, so it was fun to be the client for a change. My expertice is buildings, not books, and I felt it was important to work with a team that is knowledgable about the specifics of book design.
Now that your book is published, are there any goals or experiences you are looking forward to?
I’m most looking forward to reading people’s thoughts and comments on the stories – the good and the bad! (Hopefully not too bad!) Even though the stories are my own, my hope is that others will relate.
What advice do you have for other authorpreneurs and aspiring writers?
Find a good editor who specializes in your type of book. It is important to participate in the SPARK editing process as well, as it gets more eyes on the book. Before working with SPARK, I had four editors do 500-word trial edits. One, in particular, knocked it out of the park. We did developmental editing, and it really aided my personal writing process.
Tell us all about your future plans. What’s next for you?
Eventually, I might write another book. This time it will be with other people’s stories instead! I have already collected a few good ones.
What was the most interesting thing you found while writing the book?
I found a community of people who can relate to my stories and anecdotes.
Connect with Tamar Tremaine:
Facebook: /saltyflamesthebook
Instagram: /saltyflamesthebook
Goodreads: Tamar Tremaine