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Written by JJ Barnes
I am so proud to share my interview with inspirational author and speaker Tamuri Richardson. She discusses her true life book, Trusting Someone Else’s Heart, and the process she went through to write it. She also offers words of advice to inspire and support others.
Tell me a bit about who you are.
Im a mother of 2 teenagers, Im a Professional Public Speaker, Certified Mental Health Advocate and International Best Selling Author. I also Coach Communications and Storytelling to Speakers and Entrepreneurs
When did you first WANT to write a book?
I wrote my first book “10 Steps to Becoming a Highly Effective Public Speaker” in 2018. I started it in 2015, and it wasn’t that it was a complicated book, but life kept happening and I kept putting it off.
When did you take a step to start writing?
It literally was in 2015, I never wanted to write a book or have an interest in being a writer or author, but I loved Public Speaking so much and I saw people struggling to do something that was so effortlessly for me, that I wanted to give them the tips that allowed me to cross the start line.
How long did it take you to complete your first book from the first idea to release?
Once I really dug into it, keep in mind, this is a simple to the point book, I finished it in literally a few days. I didn’t want to add a lot of unnecessary commentary, I’m just a straight to the point kind of girl.
How long did it take you to complete your latest book from the first idea to release?
This latest book came with triggering my current and past emotional state, I was required to reflect on a very hurtful time in my life that was intended to break me, so for me to complete it, it took 3 years, to make sure that I wouldn’t emotionally set myself back and could continue seeing the beauty and the triumph from my story, but for me it was a story that had to be told.
Focusing on your latest release. What made you want to write Trusting Someone Else’s Heart?
I realized that no matter how well we plan out our lives, tragedy and despair can creep in, parading as something else, often as a partner and often as love and its intent is only meant for destruction. I wanted other women specifically, but also men to use my story as a cautionary tale and look for the signs that either I missed or overlooked and run.
What were your biggest challenges with writing Trusting Someone Else’s Heart?
Trying to tell my story coming from a place of care, empathy and compassion for myself and the audience and not hate for the perpetrator of the misconduct. I wanted to make sure that the audience understood this is coming from a place of clarity, there is NO HATE, NO LOVE and NO MALICE. So I had to make sure I stuck to the facts, was honest to the bone and that I didn’t villainize the party in the story even though his acts towards me and others were egregious, because he really struggled with severe mental illness.
What was your research process for Trusting Someone Else’s Heart?
I was the research, this is my true to God story of what I endured.
How did you plan the structure of Trusting Someone Else’s Heart?
Carefully, I tell the story as things actually happened, so people can follow the sequence of the story up until my departure out of this marriage.
Did you get support with editing, and how much editing did Trusting Someone Else’s Heart need?
I hired an amazing Editor to edit my book. No one should ever edit their own book, BIG MISTAKE and then the publisher re-edited, but they didn’t have much to edit.
What is the first piece of writing advice you would give to anyone inspired to write a book?
DO IT. If you have something to write about, someone needs to hear it, regardless the genre.
Can you give me a hint about any further books you’re planning to write?
Absolutely, my 5th book will be about Storytelling, most people don’t understand the importance of being a good storyteller.
And, finally, are your proud of your accomplishment? Was it worth the effort?
I am proud of everything that I do, including the mistakes, they help to continue to elevate me to a much better version of myself. This book will be the closure that I wasn’t given and deprived from the trauma I endured, but I continue to share and uplift with my story.
Pop all your book, website and social media links here so the readers can find you:
https://www.facebook.com/TLeanneSpeaksLLC
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamuri-richardson-b61abb132/
https://www.facebook.com/Trusting-Someone-Elses-Heart-by-Tamuri-LeAnne-Richardson-102218445430977
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