Why I LOVE Being Indie - #PoweredByIndie

Happy Tuesday, everyone! An impromptu post today, brought to you by a fantastic event being held over on Amazon. As you know, I love celebrating the Indie author by reviewing, sharing their bookish things, and doing interviews and readings and such. Because I'm also an Indie, I know how difficult it is to find the support you need anywhere in order to get your books out.

Huge shout out to Amazon for doing this: POWERED by Indie

How amazing is that?

So, what they've asked us authors to do is tell everyone why we love being Indie authors and use the hashtag #PoweredByIndie in our social media shares. I'm in. It's a beautiful thing.

You need to get on that right after you read my lovely post below. HA! Seriously, keep reading.

Why I LOVE Being Indie

I published my first book back in 2012. When I started, I didn't know up from down, where to go, or what to do with what I'd written. I've made mistakes along the way, but because I'm Indie published, I learned what to fix and how to fix it. Then, I went on to write a book about those very things, hoping others wouldn't have to struggle as I once did. I pay it forward.

• I don't live under deadlines other than the ones I self impose.

I have the creative freedom to unleash my design prowess on my books (and covers) and make them something unique. Not only in the pretty I put on the interior pages (did you know I was one of the first Indies to add imagery to my print books?), but also in the stories I write.

• I write for myself first. All my books are stories I want to read. If other folks enjoy them, that's the cream on my pudding.

Self-publishing is FUN! Writing, designing, being a leader in so many new ideas that are emerging... It's all rather exciting. I get to try new things, like my Ferocious 5 projects, and watch others follow in those footsteps.

• There's only one rule in this world: Produce the best book you can each and every time you publish. That's it, and that's so amazing!

If I need to take a day off to do something for myself, I can. No one is breathing down my neck to get anything done. When I finish a book, if I don't think it's ready, I can push the publishing date out--unless I've announced it, of course (that would be rude). But it's really and truly up to ME.

I love that freedom.

• My royalties are my own. I don't have to share a darn thing with anyone. Any money I spent getting my book ready to hit the hands of my readers can be recouped more quickly, and I can start making a profit pretty early on.

Self-publishing platforms are amazing. They're the reason I can do what I do without having to jump through gigantic, flaming hoops while riding a one-wheeled bicycle that's also aflame, without sending out a million query letters only to end up cowering under a table in the corner, sucking my thumb, gripping my blankie at the form letters declining my submissions.

But there's one thing I have to say about being Indie that takes the cake over all else. Stay with me here!

I LOVE THE COMMUNITY.

I bet most of you are scratching your heads at that, huh? Well, allow me to explain!

Indie authors, whether best-sellers or those just starting out, understand the struggles of being Indie authors. Several, if not most, of them reach out, offering help when and where they can, helping others avoid the red spot of shame we get from banging our heads into our desks too hard.

They read. They share. They lift you up when you're feeling down. It's an amazing thing to be a part of such a vibrant, creative community.

Dedicated readers of Indie-published works throw themselves into their work, reading, reviewing, and loving the thing that brings us all together: books.

Most Indie folks are just nice people.

I can't begin to tell you about all the amazing people I've met by being Indie. Folks I'm not sure I would've ever had the opportunity to get to meet in real life if I were traditionally published. Authors, readers, bloggers, superfans, booktubers, editors, designers... The list goes on and on! Each one of those people are cherished (probably more than they know), and I wouldn't trade them for the world.

So, there you have it. This is why I love being Indie.

I want to hear YOUR stories! Post them in the comments below so I can read and visit your blogs, and don't forget to share them all over the web with #PoweredByIndie.

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Being Indie

Happy Friday, everyone! Today, I'm gonna talk about something a very dear friend of mine brought up yesterday. I'm hoping it'll give everyone something to think about over the weekend. It's all about being an Indie author and why it doesn't make us crap or mean we're not awesome. So, sit back, relax, and let's get going.

Now, this conversation happened on Facebook, and many authors chimed in to say why they love being Indie (self) published.

I'm gonna start with a paraphrase of the original situation (kindly keep in mind the original poster was only seventeen when she published her first book):

She was sitting and talking with some of her college friends, and they were discussing being traditionally published. Someone mentioned that if you aren't with a big six house, you must not be a good writer (validation and all that). Because of this, my friend began to doubt her Indie ways and wonder if she was selling herself short.

Again, that's a short version of the situation with the same outcome and setting.

So, she asked: "Why do you self-publish? Am I selling myself short?"

Overwhelmingly, the responses were more about the community as a whole, maintaining control over one's work from soup to nuts, and keeping more of the profits from sales. There were also some most excellent points made. Some of the authors shared horror stories from friends who signed with publishers, some folks talked about the lack of publicity by presses both large and small, and others pointed out the aspects of film and big actors in crappy movies.

Everything kinda clicked together, and an epiphany hit me right between the eyes.

Know what I realized?

Indie isn't just about self-publishing.

There. I said it.

Allow me to explain. *grin*

Indie is a badge we wear on our chests with pride. When someone comes at one of us, for some reason or another, we go a little bananas. We're fiercely loyal to the title, love our brethren, and dare anyone to challenge our dreams. Because we're living those dreams. Each and every day, we get out of bed to do something we love. We set our own deadlines, work with editors we choose, and hire cover artists we know will do our work proud.

We have an amazing community around us that's a little like a family. People who get that we're a little strange, introverted, and hermit-like.

And they're okay with it.

As a matter of fact, they embrace us for our differences.

But wait! There's more!

As Indies, we get to know our book bloggers. They aren't just blurry faces in a sea of reviewers. They're a lot like us. Every single one of them has a passion that can't be squelched. Their passion is reading. Books. Literature. And we have the unique market insight to what those people are looking for. It's right there at our fingertips. All we have to do is nurture the connection and envelop them in the fold. They become part of the family and are celebrated.

Only Indies can put out a call to arms and have masses of others knocking over little old ladies with purses to rush to our aid (politely, of course).

Sometimes, an Indie will behave badly and get into a situation that's public and disgraceful.

But the community will punish that author so others don't have to. There's really no need for the public to go crazy and berate the person acting up. We do it for you. In that way, we're a lot like family.

Your mother doesn't hold her tongue when you screw up. Guess what? Neither do your peers. We're not afraid to tell you how wrong you are or how ashamed we are of your behavior. But it's done with the understanding that you're shaming the name we've worked so hard to build up.

Bad review? Someone will listen to you rant or give you a shoulder to cry on.

Writer's block? There are masses willing to talk you out of that corner of fear.

Struggling with a storyline? Ask. Someone will have a great piece of advice.

Got a huge deal? Your peers are gonna celebrate and pop champagne in your honor. Why? Because you'll always be an Indie.

So, yeah, Indie isn't just about self-publishing. It's about community, support, and family.

It's a way of life that lodges itself in your heart and refuses to let you go. Even when you push us away, we're there if you need us later.

Indie is in your blood.

You have been assimilated.

So, the next time someone asks you why you're Indie, the simple answer is:

"Because it's the only way to go."

What's your favorite thing about being Indie?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Being an Indie Author - Why I Love it

Happy Wednesday, good people of the blogosphere! I do hope you all enjoyed N.L. Greene's author interview from Monday. If you missed it, click here and take a look. She's an awesome Indie you should all get to know! Today, I'm going to point out a few things I love about being an Indie author and a few things that drive me batty. Strap in and sit back, this may get hairy!

Things I love about being Indie:

• No sick days needed! I don't have to take sick days if I need a break
• I can write whatever I want, whenever I want
• There's no boss breathing down my neck because my deadlines are self-imposed
• My covers are exactly the way I want them because I have the freedom of choice
• Friends I've made via the Indie network (you know who you are)
• Being able to take every weekend off and have time to spend with my family or coming up with new ideas
• Dust bunnies tremble in fear of my weekdays off (I call them mental health days), and my house is clean as hell
• My office, where I can do whatever I want and post stuff on the wall at my leisure
• Changing up what I'm doing on any particular day just because I feel like it
• Having promotional freedom
• Keeping more of the money from my sales for myself

Now, with all that said...

Things that drive me batty about being Indie:

• No signings or fabulous book stores that know my name
• Not having a team of people to do things when I just don't have enough hours in a day

As you can see, my pros far outweigh my cons. Does that mean if a traditional publisher approached me about my MS I'd turn them down? I don't know. But I do know it would have to be a major press to even tempt me. I can say with 100% assurance I'd have to keep one foot in the Indie doorway no matter what. It's being able to write what I want that would keep me self-publishing.

My Mystic series has an agenda. Probably one no publisher would touch with a fifty-foot pole. I wrote it because I hoped people would read it and understand things aren't always binary. They need to walk in someone else's shoes to truly understand what those people go through. If just one person tells me someday that one of my books changed the way they looked at the world and the people in it, I'll be happy as a lark.

Riches aren't my goal with my books. Telling a great story that moves someone is what I'm after.

VIVA LA INDIE AUTHORS! I love you all so much!

Why do you love being Indie?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Why Indies ROCK Blog Tour

Hello, people of the blogosphere! Welcome to the eighth stop on the Why Indies ROCK Blog Tour! To start us off, we've been given three specific topics to address. I hope you're enjoying your tour so far and are loving reading about rockin' Indie authors! Let's get going... 

Why I ROCK as an Indie author:
I give back. When I'm invited to an event for another Indie, I participate and push their books as hard as I push my own. I do a blog party now and then in celebration of great Indie authors. When asked to participate in a giveaway or other such thing, I always donate something to the cause to add value to their promotion. When I win a book via a giveaway, I do my best to read it and leave a review. After all, we want to expand our readership and gain a few fans and reviews by doing a giveaway, right?

When I saw this tour, I couldn't pass it up. It gives me a chance to name other awesome Indie authors and help out. I'm going to do my utmost not to include those on the tour (though I know many of them and they, too, ROCK) so you can get a broader spectrum.

I've also written seven books so far this year and have an eighth scheduled for release on 12/21/12. It's the third book in my Mystic series and is titled Shelia. Here's the cover and synopsis for you all.

Synopsis:
After a horrible accident takes the lives of her parents, Shelia Morgan is placed in the care of her Aunt Ivy and Uncle Melvin. For six years they work her like a slave. On her twelfth birthday, Uncle Melvin makes Shelia an offer that will destroy her life.

When she turns 19, the ugly truth about her past comes out during a therapy session, Uncle Melvin is arrested, and she's placed in the sights of everyone in town. Hurling insults, objects, and threats, the townspeople side with her uncle and call Shelia a liar. She loses her job, her boyfriend, and her freedom in one day. When a girl named Markaza shows up and tells Shelia she's part of a group of young women destined to save the world, Shelia begins to dream of a new life and true freedom from her personal demons.

She tells the jury her story and boards a plane destined for New York and her new life. Once there, she meets Bronya and Lily: Two other young women with special powers they must learn to harness in order to fight an evil that will rise on December 21, 2012, and destroy the world.

Markaza boards a plane to Atlanta to save the life of a young lady named Melody before her mind destroys her from the inside out. As Markaza fights for Melody's life, Shelia, Lily, and Bronya throw themselves into their studies and learn that even power from within can get out of control.

You can pick up a copy of Bronya or Lily over on Amazon.

Now, before I answer the next question, enjoy a video!



On to the next prompt!
Other Indie authors that ROCK:
Tia Silverthorne Bach - You may remember her from my blog party (if you happened by) or you may have been over to her blog Depression Cookies and had a read. She rocks because she gives back to the Indie community however she can, is an active participant over on She Writes, and went through quite an ordeal to get her book published but never gave up.
Heather Topham Wood - Heather has never been a guest on my blog (I'm hoping one day she will be) but I see her help other Indies out by tweeting their books, giving reviews, and providing useful information about promotions she's done to get her books out there. Heather's Book Chatter is a blog I follow to find new Indie reads and she does a great job of giving us a boost.
Crystal Lee - I met Crystal via comments on another blog and we discovered we had a lot in common. It was a fast friendship from there. We trade editing services and promotional activities in an effort to help one another out. She's a great indie author and has written unique books I love to edit (because I get to read them, duh!). Check her out over on her blog Crystal Lee Author and tell her I said, "Hiya!"
Janiera Eldridge - I know I promised to try not to include anyone on this tour on my list, but Janiera is the exception to the rule, people. She rocks because she's always around to give a helping hand with a promotion for someone else or just a quick re-tweet or share telling folks how wonderful the book is and urging them to check it out. She also writes reviews when she wins a book and that's HUGE in my eyes.

Before I move to the third and last prompt, have a lookie at our schedule!

Now, for the last prompt
Screw you, negative people!
For all you naysayers who think Indies are uneducated wannabes, I'll have you know the vast majority of us are very intelligent. A whole bunch of us take care when writing our books and preparing them for public consumption. So you stumbled across one book that was poorly written? Don't give up on us as a whole! We write because we're storytellers with something to say. If you don't like us, keep it to yourself, please, and don't read our books! We're sick of hearing your mouth run with, "Blah, blah, blah!" We've heard it before. You're neither having an epiphany nor communicating profound intelligence to the world at large. However, if making yourself look bad is your game, go for it. We don't hear you! *sticks fingers in ears*

Take a moment and click the Thanksgiving MEGA Giveaway button over on the right-hand side there and enter the rafflecopter giveaway. We have some great prizes!

I do hope you all make a stop on the next blog on our tour tomorrow and enjoy the insights of Ms. Tammy-Louise Wilkins!

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo