This has been quite the journey…

I’ve learned a lot, made a lot of mistakes, researched a ton, and I want to share what I’ve learned with all of you. I know we have a lot of writers in this community, so today I’m answering all your questions about being a debut indie author…

Q: Were you afraid at some parts of the process?

A: Absolutely! Working with an editor was a new experience for me, so I was pretty nervous handing over my manuscript (but Jane was awesome!). I struggled with some doubts during the editing process, wondering if my story was really ready to publishing this year or not. Just second guessing myself a lot. And of course, release day held its own fears along with the excitement. There’s something so thrilling and terrifying about sharing a story with the world.

Q: Is it scary or what you expected it to feel/be like?

A: I guess this is pretty similar to the first question. But I guess I could add that I didn’t realize how busy I would be during release week (and basically the whole three months from preorder day to release day). I mean, I knew indie publishing is a lot of work, but I didn’t realize just how much random things had to be done surrounding the release (including unexpected problems that arose). So yeah, things were a little scary. But one things I did expect was a sense of relief. Relief that after all this work over the past 2 1/2 years, my story is finally out there and people are reading it and enjoying it.

Q: How many editors did you hire throughout the process?

A: I had two editors. I had planned on just one, but what happened was that Nadine Brandes (who used to be a freelance editor) opened up just two slots for her editing services. I got developmental feedback on the story from her, and then hired Jane Maree for the other stages of editing. I highly recommend Jane, she is awesome and really whipped Ignite into shape!

Q: Hardest part of the process?

A: The editing, lol. XD Editing has never been my favorite part of the process, so doing as much editing that needed to be done on a story prepping for publishing was a bit of a struggle sometimes. Fun fact: it took me about 2-3 months to write the first draft of Ignite, and about 1 1/2 years to edit.

Q: Is there anything you wish you did preparing for your release that you didn’t do in the end?

A: I wish I’d done a bit more researching about ads. I knew some, but not quite enough to start my own campaigns. And with everything else that needed to be done, that one kinda got pushed out. But that’s okay; I still intend on learning more about that and starting ads of my own soon. 🙂

Q: What is the weirdest subplot/detail you had in the first draft of Ignite?

A: It’s hard to say…so many things have been changed since the first draft it’s hard to remember. I guess one thing that comes to mind is how the first draft started out in chapter one. Originally I had the Marley family having car trouble, forcing them to have to stop in Rapid City. Long story short, Dylan’s curiosity about criminal supers got the best of him and he ran off. Scarlett ran after him to get him back, which is when she was attacked. Pretty different than the current book.

Q: When did you decide to indie publish?

A: It’s really hard to say exactly when I decided. I went back and forth so much over the last several years. I’d say maybe in the last 4-ish years I decided that indie publishing was the path I wanted to take.

Q: What is the most difficult thing you encountered in the process?

A: …Editing. XD But besides editing, just all the random things one has to do leading up to preorder/release. Setting up the book with the printing companies, preparing marketing things for email and social media, etc.

Q: Did you ever think of traditional publishing, or were you set on indie from the beginning?

A: I was for sure set on traditional publishing the first several years I started writing (before the aforementioned going back and forth between trad and indie). During those early years, I didn’t realize that indie publishing was, in fact, a legitimate publishing option (and didn’t mean that you “couldn’t make it” with the publishing houses).

Q: What’s it like working with your own deadlines?

A: I work much better on my own deadlines than ones other people set for me (good thing I chose indie publishing, am I right? XD). Even though my own deadlines were hard to meet sometimes, I still liked being able to set them myself, and I think generally it went pretty well.

Q: How did you gain publicity for your novel as an indie author?

A: I’d already begun building my platform years before publishing. Things like starting a website/blog and social media presence, as well as growing my email list (very important). I learned more about branding and finding my target audience and just connecting with fellow readers and writers. Along with social media and email marketing, so many people volunteered to help spread the word about Ignite’s release. <3

Q: Did you ever feel discouraged in the process?

A: Just see my answer to question number one, lol. I’m thinking about doing a post about my personal publishing process, and the struggles that come with it…

Q: How unreal does it feel after all the work?

A: I don’t even know if it’s fully hit me yet lol. After so many years of dreaming about this moment, to see people’s excitement, to see them actually holding the book in their hands, telling me how it’s impacted them…it’s just surreal. Unreal is a good word. It makes me so excited to keep creating.

Q: Are you worried that fewer people will read your book than if you had traditionally published?

A: I knew going into this that it would be much harder to find readers as an indie author than if I was with a publishing house with a team of industry experts. So yeah, my reach is much smaller, but that’s okay. Of course I’m marketing things as best I can, but I’m also. learning to trust that God will take the book where it needs to go. 🙂

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These were fantastic questions! Many thanks to everyone who submitted questions! Thank you all again for all your support during the publishing process for Ignite. <3 I hope you all are having an awesome summer!

What are you reading this summer?