#IndieAuthorApril – Why I LOVE Indie Authors!

So, why did I choose Indie?

There are dozens of reasons why an author chooses to go Indie rather than pursue the traditional publishing model.
I could talk about how the Querying process is a chore, or how long the process takes, or how your profit share is reduced, or how unless you’re a BIG name in the industry you’ll not get much marketing help anyway… 

But for me, the biggest advantage of going Indie was

CREATIVE CONTROL.

I had a very specific vision for ‘Hunters’. The story, the arc, the cover art…
If I’d gone traditional, I’d likely have had little say over all those details and, as I’ve said before in other blog posts, my reason for putting my books out into the world is more about LEGACY than it is about money or success.
I want to put something out into the world that will outlive me. And I want it to be something I’m proud of. Something that represents me, who I am and what my vision was.
It’s not been an easy path, and in many respects I’m still trying to figure out quite a lot on the road I’m travelling.

But…

And I’m going to say this for ALL the writers who want to follow in my footsteps (I’m looking at you Steve!)… IT IS SOOOOOO WORTH IT!

When you hold that first proof copy of that book in your hands and know that it is the result of YOUR work. That you made no compromises, that you cut no corners and that this is YOUR dream made real…  You’ll feel amazing.

My Indie Influences…

Prior to this adventure, I confess I’d never read an Indie Author’s book.

I, like most people, got my books predominantly by walking into a bookshop and plucking something I fancied off the shelf. I’d never even considered that there were such things as Indie Authors.
I was very naïve back then… Fine, okay, I still am!
My first gentle tiptoe into the Indie arena was when Wifey bought me a book for Christmas a few years ago called…

What had previously been a flight of whimsy in my head, suddenly became more real. Tangible.

If Jim Bernheimer could do it, then why couldn’t I?

At this point though, I was still more focused on the traditional route to getting my books out there. I dived into Twitter, trying to create a Social Media presence that I could boast about to any prospective Agent who might show an interest in my work.

Since that day, I’ve found many an Indie Author, who I’d like to call friends, who have influenced me. Maybe not so much with ‘Hunters’ (as that book was already pretty much done) but in the follow up book ‘Blood To Earth’ and beyond. As writers, reading is part of what we do. We devour the written word with gay abandon because it makes us better at what we do. We learn. Every book we read informs and enhances a part of our skillset.

Maybe it’s just reading something that inspires you. Maybe it’s finding a moment or aspect in someone elses work that you want to replicate somehow. To try your own hand at. Or maybe it’s something that pushes you to raise your own game…or at least strive to.

The books I list below, all gave me something. Their work has enhanced mine (hopefully) by pushing me to try harder. Be better. For that reason I will promote and push these guys at every opportunity, because here’s what their creative endeavours gave me…

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SEX…I thought that might get your attention!

Apart from the aforementioned help and partnership, there’s something else. Something particular to book 2 of my series…  Sex.
Nikki’s first book, ‘Acts of Closure’ is a romance novel with a fair amount of rumpy-pumpy in it. Helping her with her story development and edit, we worked on the sex scenes to try and make them…classy – for won’t of a better word. The final result is that Nikki has written something, I feel, is truly exceptional in it’s genre.
Now, I knew that while ‘Hunters’ had pretty much skirted the issue of the ‘sex scene’ I also knew that ‘Blood to Earth’ had two such scenes in it. Scenes where I couldn’t really avoid being a little graphic because they are important plot wise. But I did not want them to be gratuitous. Reading Nikki’s work gave me the confidence that I can do those scenes justice in my book.

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A FUNNY thing happened when I read Eaton’s book…

(I also like to give Eaton a massive shout out of thanks, as he was a font of advice regarding my formatting woes. Telling me what settings to use, what software, etc. I’m eternally grateful for his help.)

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It’s a MYSTERY why I didn’t read Dzintra’s book sooner…

There’s a throw away line in my second book about something called ‘The Holloway Horror’ and it’s the perfect jumping off point for a murder mystery spinoff book set in the ‘Songbird’ universe.  
I’m not sure how Dzintra did it (I think she’s more of a ‘pantser’ where I’m more of a ‘plotter) but she wrote a book that keeps you guessing AND is funny to boot! I am, however, finding it’s harder than Dzintra made it look!

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It’s not the SIZE that counts, it’s what you do with it…

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I cut about 80k words out of the original Hunters draft. Mostly prequel stuff. I’d always figured on making them into a prequel novel or two, but now I was certain about it. Kayla had proved to me that you CAN tell a cohesive story in a shorter format. It CAN be done.

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Anna’s book made me want to get in on the ACTION!

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Her books, oddly, share a lot of similar, though subtle, through lines with my ‘Songbird’ saga, but it’s these scenes that have really made me try and up my game in the action moments. Especially as I write book 3 ‘Tooth & Claw’. My edit for Book 2, I’m sure, will also be heavily overhauled in a few areas because of Anna’s influence.

 

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I can only DESCRIBE Halo’s book as deeply disturbing!

She writes lyrical and gorgeous prose like no one else I’ve ever read. Halo’s book makes me utter that profane word at least once a chapter! Then I have to read that line over and over while shaking my head and thinking… “I should just get out of this writing game right now!  I can’t compete with that!”

But I am going to try, dammit!! 

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Ah, the lessons I’ve learned…and it doesn’t stop there.

It’s funny now.  I’m still fairly active on Twitter, my follower numbers are closing in on 10k (which is popular, but nothing compared to some of my ‘peers’), but honestly I’m not that bothered about my reach. The Twitter #WritingCommunity has become something very different to me these days.
No longer simply a means to an end, now it’s a place where I can enjoy a chat with people I consider friends. I can promote THEIR work as well as mine (buy ‘Hunters’ NOW!!!). I can ask for help or advice with the things I’m stuck on, and offer my help and advice to those who are going through the same things I am.
Even more than that, it’s become a primary source of where I find out about new Indie books I haven’t read yet.

Over the past year, I’ve probably ordered around 30 books from Amazon and over 80% of those books have come from Indie Authors.

And I’m fucking LOVING them.

Yes, sometimes the books may not be as polished as the ones that have spent time running through the traditional publishing system.

Doesn’t matter – Don’t care.

I understand that this isn’t easy when you’re trying to do it all yourself on a budget. If I’m picking up Stephen King’s latest then I’d be pissed if the book was rife with mistakes! There’s no excuse for that when you have thse kind of resources behind you. Indie Authors rarely have that luxury
But for those that hold that against them…you’re truly missing out.
These are some of the best, most imaginative tales I’ve EVER read. Some of the steamiest bittersweet romance. Some of the most beautiful prose. Some of the funniest moments and characters. Some of the most fantastically written action.

And then there’s Halo Scot…  Who’s writing makes me question her mental state!

(Just kidding, Halo!)
The point I’m making here is… BUY INDIE.
Forgive the little idiosyncrasies of creation on a budget and just read.
You WON’T regret it.

Love & (Indie) Books