Welcome to another Indie Life post — where indie authors get together to inspire, motivate and inform one another. You’ll notice the linky tool at the bottom with links to other indies’ blogs — we’re posting the second Wednesday of every month. Go to the Indelibles site if you want to participate. It would be awesome to have you!
I just reached a major milestone. I published my first fantasy novel. This is the genre I always dreamed of writing in. It has taken me a long time to hone my craft to the point I felt I could release a fantasy book. I kinda screwed up my first couple of attempts, actually. All part of the game, my friends. To write a book, you must ere. You must.
I have published the first two novellas in a paranormal romance series, with two more books written that will be published in 2013. In some ways writing paranormal romance comes easier to me, even though it isn’t the work that touches me most.
I JUST released this fantasy novel. And people are so cool! They popped out of the woodwork to help me promote the release. People amaze me with their generosity and kindness.
I could leave it at that. It’s a big thing I’ve learned in my nearly two years of blogging. I learn it from my real-life friends, too, on big days like this. People are amazing; their willingness to share and their enthusiasm for the work that gives me such joy….people continue to surprise me in wonderful ways.
And yet, no one but another new indie author really understands what we’re doing here. There’s plenty of guidance, but no one road to indie success. It is a truly entrepreneurial venture. My friends and family are incredibly supportive, and I know I’m lucky in that. They support this independent publishing because they know it makes me happy, and they care. So I’m lucky.
When it comes to late nights working on blog posts or early mornings waking with thoughts of all I could do for my writing career if the day was mine….and then I go to work; you know, the day job. After that I pick up my kids, make them dinner and spend some quality time together, and before I know it 8:00 has rolled around, and I can tune into my business for 20 to 90 minutes, depending on other priorities.
I will tell you this: other indie authors get this stuff — the struggle to fit in everything we feel we should do. We have to juggle progress on our writing with promotion of books we already have out, with keeping a live platform so people can find us in the midst of everything out there, with connecting with more and more likeminded people. It would be a lot of fun to have more time to focus on the business side. However, we also understand if you have a day job, and family commitments you will not sacrifice to meet the whim of the social media now. We get it, even if no one else does.
Have a great month indies! Keep it rockin’! I can’t wait to see you succeed. 🙂
Congrats on the release! I saw that it was out, but I haven’t had a chance to pick it up yet.
Thank you! I’m excited. Friday is my 33rd birthday, and it feels good to have published a book in my favorite genre. 🙂
Congrats on the release! How exciting. 🙂
I love indies. I love BEING an indie. 🙂
Good luck with Queen Witch. It is a REALLY good book.
Chocolate hugs to you! And yes, life getting in the way of what we really want to do is frustrating. All we can do is to keep going forward. We’ll get there.
Hugs and chocolate,
Shelly
Found you through Indie Life.
Congratulations on your release!