Indie Author

Now that I've published a whopping 2 books independently, I wanted to share my feelings on the subject. The thing is--someone has done that for me. :)

I like being an Indie Author. That's not to say I'd never sign another book contract, but I like the control afforded me as an independent. Knowing what I know now, it would take a significant draw on the part of the publisher to entice me to give up some measures of that control. Because right now--for better or worse--I decided how the cover looks. I decide what editing points to accept/reject. I say what the interior looks like. I'm working with amazing people on each of these segments, and together we bring together an amazing product.

And I LIKE that.

So here you go, my friend KAREN E. HOOVER's poem about being an Indie Author. She says it best.

"I am an Indie Author"

Not because I have to be,
And Not because I’m not good enough,
But because I choose my own way.
Just as Indie Music smashed the mold
And sang its unique song to a hungry world,
I write my own words
And hold them high against bestsellers
And traditional publishers.
I am not just good enough, I am great!
I beat and smash and build my work
Until it shines like the art it is.
The greatest joy comes from the word itself,
Because I am an Indie Author.

Because Words are Powerful

Ugh. I'm coming down with something and right now would rather be curled up in my bed than doing anything.

But I am here. Why?

Because I believe in my dream. Because words are powerful and outlive their writers.

Because I have to be here. It's something that resonates so deeply inside of me I can't properly name it.

And because I want to give you an update on what I'm doing.

The Tyrant King is flying off shelves (mine, at least--lol). I've ordered 38 copies so far and mailed away 37. I have another order of 10 wending my way soon, but until then this one lone copy sits with The Wild Queen and The Peasant Queen waiting for a reader. :) It's pretty cool.

I'm also hearing great things from readers. One said she'd have read it in a day if she hadn't had to go to school. Another liked it better than the first. Always things a writer loves to hear.

I had decided to focus some time editing my creepy Halloween story when I got blindsided by a fun sci fi YA adventure. Here's my "elevator pitch"

Shape-shifting alien Kelle, long believed to be the last of her kind, is about to face her toughest assignment yet--an American high school on a tiny little planet called Earth.

Now, you know that any creature believed to be the last of their kind is absolutely not--I'm not giving any spoilers away here, since Kelle learns that in the first two pages. The funny thing is (and I'm not trying to be punny here) that as I plot out this story a LOT of humor is coming out. Right now it's shaping up to be a funny and dangerous story, set on Earth but liberally sprinkled with sci-fi elements. And, right now, even as sick as I feel I want to work on it. 

I think readers will like Kelle. She's a calm sort of person who's cool under pressure and--though she can choose any form in the galaxy--her preferred shape is that of a shorter humanoid, powerfully built rather than skinny, with dark curly hair and dark eyes. 

And I'm going to take her completely out of her element and make her find her place in high school--as a spy. 

Even I'm getting excited at how fun it sounds. :)

Buy The Tyrant King Today!

Any work day that ends with your book going up for sale on Createspace and Amazon can't be all bad, right?

RIGHT!

Here's the LINK that will take you right to the book's Createspace project page so you can place your order.

Come on, do the happy dance with me. :D

On Its Way

Somewhere in the Eastern US, some unsuspecting postal truck is carrying my proof copy of The Tyrant King to me. That it's on its way has me full of butterflies and other various, wriggly things.

Which is good, since I have succumbed to that horrible feeling that authors have when they don't write anything new for a few days/weeks/months/years. Yesterday I even caught myself thinking, "Why am I doing this?"

I know it's bad when I start going down that road. And making awesome cinnamon rolls did not help. I need to write again.

I don't know why trying to get edits done and corrections fixed on a print book freezes all my other abilities to write. Logically I can write while waiting. I mean, really. But for some reason my brain shuts off and I can't get the creativity flowing at all.

In other news, I did accept the promotion at work and I passed the drug test (I don't know why they always freak me out when I take them, even though I know I have nothing to hide). Had my first training night Monday. I will be training tomorrow and likely Friday, and will possibly have my first "on duty" day Saturday.

And I'm only freaking out a little. The last episode was the worry that no one wants me in the position and they won't listen to me as a manager. Making management happy by relieving their burden doesn't necessarily mean the regular staff wants to see me in charge.

Honestly, the likelihood is that they won't care. But you know how your brain can be mean sometimes.

The kids start school tomorrow. They are 99.5% ready. Looking forward to things settling down a bit.

And waiting for The Tyrant King to arrive. Patiently. Kinda.

Meh-ish

I want so badly to share good news with you today. Rest assured I'm still moving onward and upward, as they say. It's just that I feel like I'm moving in a pool of molasses.

That is, s-l-o-w-l-y.

Thanks to everyone who responded so positively to my POST last week. I'm still in that mind set and still working toward my goals. School is about to start and my assistant is going to be swamped with calls and schedulings for my personal visits to wherever and whenever.

So if you live within 100 miles of Waurika, OK and want an author to come to your school or your kid's school, give me a shout-out. I love talking to kids--they have so much energy and enthusiasm and we have a ton of fun together. That part of being an author is not about selling books for me. It's about inspiring the upcoming generations to follow their dreams and be better, smarter, fuller.

I'm working feverishly on the ABSOLUTE FINAL read-through for The Tyrant King print version. It is literally the only thing I can focus on, which is making the rest of my life kind of crazy. So, in short, I *have* to finish it this week or I will probably go crazy. Fine. CraziER. ;)

Happy Tuesday!

Will You Be One of My 100 Today?

I'm tired of being invisible.

Don't get me wrong, I love my fans. I adore my fans. I just think they may be a little lonely. ;)

This week, I hired a personal assistant. He's going to spend his time booking school visits and calling stores to see if they will carry my books and/or let me do signings. I'm also putting plans in motion to branch out online and extend my presence.

I have a singular goal in mind: to drive up my print and ebook sales.

Why?

Because I have a deep, dark secret. It actually is a secret with two sides.

And I am going to confess all to you here today.

I write books and stories and poems because I have a deep desire to share my words. Not because I think I'm any kind of genius or that I stand above all other authors out there (quite the contrary, actually) but because my heart, soul, and spirit BURN to share the stories born from my imagination.

Whew. That was heavy. In short, I write because I love it. But somehow it's more than that. So much, much more.

Here is the other part of that deep, dark secret. I have a need to make more money than I am right now. Why? Because I have kids that need braces next year (yes that's *kids* plural and *next year* as in 5 months from now). There are other things--like car repairs and home expenses, and that burning need to never lose another home--but I won't go into all that right now. What I want to do is to share with you my plan.

Which is simply to sell 100 copies of any of my print or ebooks a day (except Sunday). As many of you know, I don't believe in working or shopping on Sundays, and I wouldn't ask anyone to do that for me whether they share my belief or not.

I've done the math for you. In a year, that's roughly 31,500 copies of my books. Since by the end of 2012 I plan to have 5 books or stories available for purchase, that gives my readers quite a selection to choose from. And, with success, I will have time to write more books for the next year, making it a perpetually self-sustaining plan. I also plan to offer free ebook codes for "secret" books I'm writing with each purchase to add incentive for the buyer.

Why am I doing all this? Besides the burning desire to write and the very mundane need for money?

Because I write good books. And I'm getting better with each one. I want to make good use of this talent God has given me, and what better use of it than to spread good books while supporting my family? That is truly the limit of my ambition. I don't need to be a bestseller, or be an award winning author. Those things are nice, I'm sure, but not on my goal list.

I've tried to be completely honest with you. If my plan offends you, I am sorry. It's not my intention to offend. I am only being myself, which is an open person with very mundane needs--like everyone else.

So, will YOU be one of my 100 today?

So I'm a Day Early...

...but I couldn't wait to share the news.

The Tyrant King is an ebook!

Click this link if you have a KINDLE.

Click this link if you have a NOOK.

Click this link if you have another e-reader, or simply prefer SMASHWORDS formats.

If you're holding out for a print copy, rest assured I have the typeset file on my computer all ready for me to review. I expect to have print books available online before the end of the month, and IN MY POSSESSION by the first week of August.

Yeah, I'm a bit excited. :)