Interview with author Tansy Boggon

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Tell me a bit about yourself….

I am an Australian who now calls Christchurch, New Zealand home. I have lived in New Zealand for four years and love writing, traveling and cooking. I feel most content when I am creating.

I am a published author and have more books in various stages of completion.

What genre/s do you write in?

I write non-fiction, women's fiction, and children’s books. I enjoy the variety. However, all my writing revolves around my passion, our relationship with food, and our bodies.

How long have you been writing?

I loved writing stories as a child. However, I struggled with English, especially spelling and grammar. I was creative and could conceptualize a story, but putting it on paper was a challenge. I knew I wanted to write a book in my twenties, and I’ve created many outlines. However, it took me giving myself the space to write and permission not to be ‘good’ to get to the point of creating publishable works. My first book, Joyful Eating, was published in 2019.

Do you have any published books or articles? Tell me a bit about these and what publishing route you took.

I have two published books, Joyful Eating: How to Break Free of Diets and Make Peace with Your Body and The Superheroes on Your Plate. In July 2022, I will be releasing my first novel, The Weight of a Woman.

Did you use an editor? If so, who?

Absolutely. I wouldn’t publish without an editor. I believe editing is an essential expense.

For Joyful Eating, I used an editor who specializes in non-fiction, Jennifer Lancaster of Power of Words. She was brilliant. She not only edited the book but ensured consistency of voice throughout, which can be hard in non-fiction, where you can get a bit bogged down in the nitty-gritty.

I then used my publishers’ editors for my children’s books and my soon-to-be-released novel.

Did you use a book formatter and cover designer?

Yes.

The first version of Joyful Eating didn’t have a well-designed cover, mainly because I didn’t have the budget for a good designer, and I had no idea what the cover should look like. It was cheap, and it looked like it.

I have since engaged the services of a professional designer, Melinda Childs of Studio Orchard, to create a new cover design. I think it took a year of the book being out in the world for me to really know how I wanted the cover to look.

Having said this, I am getting more proficient with Canva and designed the cover of my husband’s book, Downriver Nomad: A Triathlete's Adventures and Adversities into the Rapids.

I would be happy to do my own covers if it was just a photo and text required, but something that requires illustration—that’s something I’ll leave for the professionals.

Did you self-publish or get traditionally published? How did this go for you?

I have self-published and hybrid published. I think all forms of publishing have their advantages and disadvantages. It is important to know your personality and skill set when deciding whether to self-publish or traditionally publish. I never realized how much say I wanted over the finished product until I hybrid published!

How do you market your work and promote your brand?(Include links)

I enjoy sharing my work by connecting with others, whether bloggers, other authors, bookstagramers, or professionals that align with the concepts I share in my books. There is a supportive community, and it is way more fun than dealing with technology.

What social media and writing platforms would you recommend?

I’d say focus on the social media or avenues to share the work that you enjoy. There are so many ways we can share our work, and there is no right way to connect with readers. So, focus on what you enjoy and can sustain.

I am active on Facebook @joyfuleatingwithtansy and Instagram @tansy_joyfuleating

I use WordPress for my blog, www.joyfuleatingnurition.com, and share a monthly newsletter using Mail Chimp.

Do you use an agent?

No.

Do you use paid advertising? If so what?

No.

Do you have a blog or website?

Yes, www.joyfuleatingnutrition.com

I began blogging to establish a regular writing practice and to determine if I had it in me to write a book. Once I was blogging regularly, I began writing my non-fiction book, Joyful Eating.

What inspires you most to write?

I am inspired to write because of the joy and energy that I feel after having spent time writing.

What do you do to help with writer's block?

The first block is to sit down to write—making the time. And knowing that fifteen minutes is enough to begin the practice of writing. We don’t need to carve out hours to begin.

Then, in the time allotted, write. Some say you shouldn’t edit, but I find rereading and doing a brief edit of the page or a few paragraphs I had written previously gives me somewhere to start, and then the writing flows. Once I start writing, I do not edit—I just get into the flow and allow my thoughts to stream onto the page.

How do you plan your writing and start?

Ideas often come to me when I am cycling or on my yoga mat. I might jot down ideas in a notebook or record them on my phone voice recorder. Although I may or may not come back to these when I start writing, I find that the process of recording solidifies the ideas in my mind.

Is writing your full-time job? If not what else do you do?

No.

I am a nutritionist and work two part-time roles writing recipes and preparing meals. Working part-time roles gives me the flexibility to write and market my books.

What are you working on at the moment?

I am about to release my first novel, The Weight of a Woman. Therefore, most of my time at the moment is focused on promotional activities, including writing blogs and articles.

What is your target audience?

Most of my writing is for women who struggle with body image and their relationship with food. Although I write children’s books, the intention of my work is to connect with and engage the parents, caregivers, and educators.

How long does it take you to write a book?

A children’s book may only take a few months to write and edit. Non-fiction or fiction books take me one to two years to write. I like to take extended breaks between writing and editing so that I can come back to the work with fresh eyes to edit it and assess whether the story is worth publishing; and whether I am still passionate about it.

When did you first discover you enjoyed writing?

I loved writing stories as a child. However, I struggled with English, especially spelling and grammar. I was creative and could conceptualize a story, but putting it to paper was a challenge. I knew I wanted to write a book in my twenties, and I’ve created many outlines. However, it took me giving myself the space to write and permission not to be ‘good’ to begin with, which got me to the point of creating publishable works.

What is your writing schedule look like?

I love to write in the morning when I’m most fresh. Often it is the first thing I do in the morning, writing for one hour.

What does your family think about you writing?

My husband can see that writing lights me up and encourages me to keep writing, whether to publish or to keep that bounce in the step I have for the rest of the day after writing.

What do you do when you are not writing?

When I’m not writing, I’m generally cooking or on my yoga mat. I intersperse these activities throughout my day as I write and develop recipes. I enjoy time outdoors, hiking, and cycling.

Where do you get information and ideas for your writing?

I love learning and researching. I am a curious and empathetic person. I think this enables me to write from other perspectives.

What do you think makes a good story?

Oh, this is so personal!

I enjoy stories that reflect reality and share different perspectives on a situation. I love stories that make me reflect on my own options and life experience and enable me to be more empathic and open toward others. But that’s just me. “-)

Interested in Tansy’s books or philosophy on food and body image?

Learn more at www.joyfuleatingnutrition.com and sign up for her monthly e-newsletter. You can also follow her on Facebook @joyfuleatingwithtansy and Instagram @tansy_joyfuleating

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