Why did you decide
to publish independently?
Publishing a book on
my own was fate. When I quit my
full-time job and began writing novels, the best advice I received from a
published author was don’t wait to secure a publisher for your first book.
Begin your second.
I took her advice and
began writing my second book, Dream Wide
Awake, as soon as I finished my first. I completed Dream Wide Awake’s first draft not long after I signed a contract
with The Wild Rose Press (TWRP) to publish my first novel, The Suicide Gene.
Instantly, I loved TWRP.
They were a wealth of knowledge. But like all publishing presses, TWRP’s road
from submission to publication was long. So, while I waited for “release” day
of my first novel, I worked long hours on Dream
Wide Awake.
Fate has a funny way
of aligning life’s puzzle pieces. I came across a class taught by that same author
who originally offered me that initial advice to “keep writing.” This time? She
was teaching self-publication. I took that as a sign. (Read Dream Wide Awake and you’ll find I don’t
believe in coincidences.)
Another influencing
factor? Prior to TWRP accepting my first novel, several small presses turned it
down. While most encouraged me, none offered publication. Then I happened
across a great little writing competition called Ink & Insights. I submitted my first novel to that competition.
What sets them apart from other competitions is that for a reasonable fee, they
give extensive feedback from four editors. (Love Ink & Insights.) I heeded every word those editors offered, revised
my book with their suggestions, submitted the final draft to TWRP, and they
accepted it.
So, now with one novel
on the path to publication, I submitted my second novel to Ink & Insights, 2018. My scores came back high. I took every
suggestion of the editors again, revised Dream
Wide Awake, edited it again and again, and hired a fabulous proofreader.
She cleaned up the novel, and I sent it to ten beta readers. They loved it. So,
when The Wild Rose Press contacted me and asked to read my second book, I had
done so much work on the book already I couldn’t bear waiting another eight
months for publication.
I jumped in and self-published.
What are the biggest obstacles?
Having a publisher for
my first novel helped. When I decide to try self-publishing, I felt a bit
disloyal to TWRP. However, when I told them I was self-publishing my second
novel, they were understanding and supportive. Through them, I had met other
authors, some who had also taken both routes: traditional and self-publishing.
A few answered questions for me. I can’t say how much I owe to TWRP. If I
hadn’t gone through the process with them, the road would have been tougher.
Second, you must do
everything a publisher does.
Thirdly, Dream Wide Awake is a totally fictitious
novel, but some of the information is based on my life experiences. Chapter
three, for example, was very personal. I based the experience of one of my
characters on something that happened to me as a child. I did not want a word
of that chapter changed and with self-publishing? I was the boss.
Last but certainly not
least, I alone had to decide when my book was ready, which was to put it
mildly, nerve-racking.
What do I like best about indie publishing?
I also have the
opportunity to use Kindlepreneur (I’m purchasing Kindle Rocket), and Kindle
Select (in which I will set up a ninety-day test period).
Do I like traditional or
self-publishing more? I still can’t answer. There are advantages and
disadvantages of both. TWRP has been wonderful to work with and my indie book, Dream Wide Awake, just finished third in
Ink & Insights, 2018 Apprentice
competition. So, I’m not complaining.
The bottom line is,
publishing is secondary to writing. As long as I can continue creating stories
to keep people up at night, I’m happy.
What a great story. Let's find out about your new book -- Dream Wide Awake. Here's the blurb:
Dream
Wide Awake
Is someone looking
for six-year-old Mikala Daly?
Mikala has visions.
Years before she was born, her father, detective Jack Daly, married into a
family rumored to see dead people. Jack didn’t believe in their psychic
abilities until that gift—curse—befell his daughter.
Now their normal,
mundane life spirals into mayhem as Mikala relays her dreams to him about three
missing boys. Jack struggles to keep her visions secret. Is he risking her
life?
He works to locate
the boys before American government officials realize Mikala’s sixth sense is
aiding his search efforts. Jack knows that in 2002 after 9/11, the CIA expanded
an adult remote-viewing program to include children. When the project’s results
stunned the White House’s secret commissioners, the adult program was
discontinued and the childhood program, Project Dream, was born.
One daunting question haunts Jack.
Is it true? Is death the only way out of Project Dream?
This sounds like a wonderful story! Thank you for bringing it to us and for sharing with us your road to independent publishing. Here are the information links for Cyndie as well as the buy links for her new book.
Author Links:
Author interview: http://bit.ly/CJZinterview
(Hear
about my 9/11 premonition that influenced Dream
Wide Awake.)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorcjzahner/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TweetyZ
Purchase Links:
Again, thanks for sharing your story. Any questions or comments for Cyndie?
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Fascinating Blog. Thank you for your insights into the self publishing world. Sounds like your learning curve was steep, but you persevered and succeeded. Well done!
ReplyDeleteInteresting, Cyndie. Congrats on expanding your horizons into indie publishing. Wishing you all the best.
ReplyDeleteInteresting, detailed discussion of a difficult choice.
ReplyDeleteGreat blog post. Best of luck with your books. They are fantastic reads.
ReplyDeleteYou present some good arguments for both sides. I liked how you were honest about your experiences with a publisher and self-publishing. I'd like to read about your reflections after a year or two and see if your feelings have changed.
ReplyDeleteInteresting blog. I too would like your reflections after a year or so. Best of luck with Dream Wide Awake.
ReplyDeleteGreat topic, CJ.
ReplyDeleteI've been debating about going the self-publishing route for years. I've gotten the rights back to a few of my stories, so I'm going to try it with those since they're already edited and I can keep my original covers (that'll save money).
Self-pubbing seems like so much work, but very rewarding too.
Thanks for telling us about your experience. Good luck to you! :)
I've been kind of daunted with the extra work and expense of self-publishing. TWRP makes it easy, but you're right, it's a long journey. Best on your new book!
ReplyDeleteThank you for all of the responses. I will let all know how I feel a year from now. I too am anxious to know! If anyone has questions on self-publishing email me. cyndie@cyndiezahner.com. If I can answer, I will. I'm still learning myself. And yes, daunting.
ReplyDelete