Welcome Natalie, it is so good to have you at my virtual café.

Natalie: Thank you Sherri, it’s a pleasure to be here.

Sherri: Natalie and I met through our Twitter group Shameless Self-Promo. I am so glad I got involved with this group. I have met some wonderful people.

Natalie: It has been a very supportive community, and I’m glad I found it.

Sherri: You are an author, poet, and priestess. Do these three connect?

Natalie: In my mind they do. I am a sea priestess by training and with that came a dedication to verse and poetry. But because of my novels, I’ve had to put the poetry on the back burner. I have been able to work some poems into my stories, generally by weaving into the tale by way of a spell, all my stories have magic in them some how.

Sherri: When did you first discover your love of writing?

Natalie: I first started writing poetry in high school, the stories were a bit later. Even though I enjoyed writing stories, I could never finish them A poem was quick (for me anyway), and it was done. I found I liked that, the immediate release from getting that which was in my head, out. When I got into college, the first time around, I started having recurring dreams, very specific, very repetitive dreams. I was forced to start writing them down. Most of the ones from that period (2005-2008) are lost, but a couple from my time in university (2008-2015) survived and I am working on finishing them. That in and of itself is exhilarating. Coming back to a project, realizing what I was trying to convey, and then having the voices return to get me to finish the project.

Sherri: When did you first become a published author?

Natalie: My first book, Love and Pain in Zion, was published on December 13, 2019 on Amazon.

Sherri: Are you indie published or traditionally published? What obstacles did you face when you first began your career as a published author?

Natalie: I’m independently published, through Amazon KDP. My main obstacle is marketing, honestly, I’m not very good at putting myself out there. Just publishing has been a nerve-wracking experience for me. But I’m trying, and I’m getting a few sales here and there. Having a couple more books up certainly helps.

Sherri: What are some of the things you’ve learned along the journey that you wish to tell others who are hoping to become published?

Natalie: Don’t stop. Don’t think you can’t do it. Because you can. Keep pushing forward, because the only person who is truly stopping you from doing what you want, is you.

Sherri: How do you juggle real life with your writing, publishing, and promoting?

Natalie: I haven’t, really. I wrote while I was in class, or working. Not so much that it distracted me from finishing my work or school work, but I wrote whenever I could. And now, with three books up on Amazon, I’m really working on the promotion and marketing aspects. I’ve been a little lucky. My job contract ended while we are in quarantine/lockdown, so I’ve been able to devote more time to my writing and promotion. But it has still affected my family life, I haven’t been as engaged in helping my stepson with his schoolwork, and it’s straining our relationship.

Sherri: Do you have any writing/business tips or tricks that have helped you that you’d be willing to share?

Natalie: Keep a book or a journal with you to scribble down ideas, because I’ve been out someplace and had an amazing idea for how to connect two plot points, and nothing to scribble on. And yes, I know that all phones have a notepad, I never seem to remember that. Then I lose the connection and must struggle later to recall it. Also, no idea is too silly. It may not fit with one story, but it may start off a separate one.

Sherri: Share with us one of your favorite moments as a writer/author.

Natalie: When my first book was officially published, I cried a little. Also, when I received the first author copy of “Love and Pain in Zion!”

My second favourite memory, was when my friend told me that he bought the eBook of Apotheosis, but then stopped reading it when he found out there was a paperback, and ordered the paperback. He put reading it on hold until the physical book came in.

Sherri: If you could turn back time, what would you do differently?

Natalie: I’d focus on finishing my stories earlier, get them published sooner, and focus more heavily on promotion and marketing. I think that if I had devoted more active time to my writing, I’d have more finished, and may be a little more along than I am.

Sherri: What do you have in the works now?

Natalie: The next one to finish, hopefully, is The Domed City (working title), is currently up on Wattpad, along with my other works in progress. I don’t see the end to it though, but I am enjoying the ride that Jillian is taking me on. Also, I would very much like to work on my poetry some more.

If you enjoyed our chat, follow Natalie on social media and check out her books. Her links are below:

Facebook/Instagram/Twitter: @NatalieBAuthor

Website: www.nataliebartley.ca

Amazon Page: https://www.amazon.com/Natalie-Bartley/e/B085B66PJ9

Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/user/ElysiaWaterchild

Thank you for having me!