Hi All! Audra here. No doubt you've heard the buzz over Indie publishing. Heavens, where can you go on the 'net and NOT run into it? Today's Indie Publishing is not your ancestors' answer to being published anymore. Despite Sue Grafton's disparaging comments over those who chose this route, many respected authors and hard-working, anticipating authors are now diving into the waters of the unknown and electronically publishing their work with success that varies from mild to astounding.Really, the epub market is taking the publishing world by storm. I've invited LA Sartor (also know as Leslie Ann and my friend through thick and thin) to share her journey today. LA is no overnight glory hound. She's written for years, honed her craft, attended conferences and workshops, written many books and won contests...in essence, she's paid her dues and wants to share her love of writing with the world. LA is giving away 2 downloads of her debut book, Dare To Believe. Please be aware this is not an Inspy romance and contains mild adult content. When you leave a comment indicate if you'd like to be placed in the drawing. My Story, My Way.
Does that sound egocentric and arrogant or perhaps, as some havesuggested, desperate?
None of the above apply in my decision, my choice, to goIndie. What did factor in was I own mywork, I'm completely taking all the risk…and all the reward, and I really cancreate my story, my way.
I'm not going into how traditional publishing works, you allknow that information. What I am goingto try and convey is the thrill and the difficulty in choosing this route.
A little backstory. I've been telling stories since I wasold enough to talk, really. Mom wrotethem down, and I have a bunch of them. Then in Jr. High, a teacher told me and my parents in a parent/teacherconference that I would never be a writer because I wanted to tell stories, notlearn the fundamentals of grammar. I stopped writing immediately anddidn't begin again until I was in my 30's. I've been writing a long time.I joined RWA and my local chapter, and realized I knewnothing about the industry. My first manuscriptwas even single spaced…but enough, you get the picture. Then I found screenwriting, and novel writingtook a back seat for many years as my screenwriting career took off, but I wasmaking almost zero money.
Then my husband found article after article about indiepublishing in the Wall Street Journal, of all places. I read the articles, found the links andstudied the pros and cons. There wereplenty of both and I know you've read or heard many of them.
So what made me take the jump? Make this choice?
Things change.
We had reel-to-reel tapes, then eight-track and at themoment we have mp3's to download. We'vegone from VHS/beta to streaming.
My blood burned. Changeis inevitable. I wanted to be in theforefront. I could do this, couldn’t I?
Yes I could. I wasexcited with my decision. And then people started questioning that decision. Wasn't I caving? Aren't most of "those" books badly written? Why would I want to risk my career by beingbranded as an indie writer?
My answer is this: I'm embracing a new technology, I'm notcaving and waiting to be published by a traditional publisher. I'm creating my own business and I'm makingmoney. It's my choice, it's my way.
I knew from the get-go that I needed a group of talented people surrounding mebecause I would be putting out into the universe, in perpetuity, the bestproduct I could, at that moment. I paid for a great editor, and actually tookher advice. I had a formatter do thedigital formatting and have decided tocontinue that way.
My strength, despite what my Jr. High English teacher said,is to tell a story. I can hire a greatteam to fix what needs to be fixed, and I did.
However, this you have to remember; in the end it's you and your story, alone inthe room. You make the final choices.And that is scary.
When I got my edits back, I was terrified. I was paying hard earned money to this talented woman, and mind you, I was anewbie at this editing thing and I didn't know a good edit from a lousyedit. What if I didn't agree, what ifshe wasn't right, what if… the doubts went on. But her report was good and madesense to me. After I read it, I had aglass of wine and simply thought. Sometimesyou have to jump and know the net is there. This was one of those times. So Iwent through the story and made the edits and re-read it.
The story was stronger and flowed better. I felt so invincible, so strong. She didn't change ME, she made me stronger. She didn't make me a reflection of her voice,she strengthened MY voice.
My cover designer had some great thoughts, and I know what Ilike, and I can be bullheaded about it. She melded her knowledge of digitalartwork and space design with what I wanted. (I'm actually going to do a blog with her about cover design.) And while a watercolor with shadow silhouettes may not be your cup oftea, it's my brand from now on. MY BRAND,made by better by Neringa.
It's a brave new world out there, and frankly it's not allthat easy to make sure you're doing all the right things. But with help, I know I'm doing my story, myway, and that is the best of all…for me.
The Pulitzer prize winning writer …Catherine Hemstead Malloy had it all – riches, glamour and happiness – or so it seemed. When her husband dies in an accident, she discovers she never really had anything at all. Now with nothing but a dismal bank account and her precious daughter, Cate fights to rebuild her life—until her daughter is kidnapped. Cate has no money, no resources – why would someone target her child?
And the knight in shining armor …
Jason St. Pierre doesn't think of himself as a knight, just a man who does what must be done, lives by his rules and damn the consequences. He'll move heaven and earth to protect the innocent, and his heart—he loved once and lost and won't risk it again, especially to Cate Hemstead.
Their reunion pits them against a kidnapper who is always one step ahead and takes them on a hunt from the majestic mountains of Colorado to the idyllic beaches of Hawaii. Can they solve the who-dunnit turned why-dunnit kidnapping in time to save Cate's daughter?
L.A. Sartor's website: http://bit.ly/Msu6J8
Amazon: http://amzn.to/Qjzzgm
Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/QNQCh2
Smashwords: http://bit.ly/MlYSSA
And your favorite e-reader store.
Paperback copy available now.
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