Self-publishing - Part 5 - An interview with children's author, Debra J Edwards

In a week spelling impending doom and disaster for writers and authors, a week in which Ewan Morrison posed the question "Are books dead, and can authors survive?", I am struck, yet again, by the fact that is more important than ever for writers, authors and illustrators find a way forward for themselves that does not involve selling their souls or giving away their creativity for free. I am also struck by the reality that authors choosing to self-publish are upping their game. It goes without saying that anyone intending to self-publish has to be sure that they are putting out work that is of the same standard, or higher, than that which is being traditionally published. And there is no question that writers have to start thinking of what they do as a business and apply business strategies to their creative endeavours. It also seems to me that it is time for writers, authors, illustrators and editors to come together on a co-operative basis to find a way forward as the publishing industry changes.

And so, continuing the series on self-publishing, this week I interview SCBWI-BI's own Debbie Edwards, who has published her Aggie Lichen series through her own indie publishing company, Purple Ray Publishing.

Aggie Lichen: Pilp Collector
Part One of the Mirvellon Trilogy

Aggie Lichen faces the same dilemmas as any other thirteen year old. But while other teenagers are doing their homework or watching T.V., Aggie flits from house to house in search of prize pilps. That’s where Aggie is a little different. You see, Aggie Lichen is a pilp collector - a tooth fairy!
One nightsgritch - a tooth collecting evening – Aggie is attacked by a bright, mysterious light. Is is a low flying glow-worm or something more sinister? Unknown to them, Aggie and her gang have just thirty days to save their kind, but time is not on their side … neither are the sprites or the Grublins.

Debbie, what made you decide to self-publish, and had you tried to traditionally publish (or been traditionally published) before going the self-publishing route?

I had had enough rejection letters to fill a small room in a rather large house! Some came back with little comments, others were just blank slips. I had hawked the first book around to several adults and lots of children and they seemed to like it. I decided then that I wanted my book out there whatever the cost so looked into self-publishing.


There is a lot of talk about the publishing industry being in a state of change, did this influence your decision to self-publish in any way and what do you think the changes taking place in the publishing world mean for writers and for writing/literature per se?

My reason to self-publish was purely to get my book out there in the big wide world. I think the changes that are happening are really exciting! Yes, it may be that some crap gets published through self-published or e-book means, but the public will ultimately decide what they like and buy it. Simple as!


Is your book published as an e-book, Print on Demand, paper book, or all three?

All three of my Aggie Lichen books are published as paperbacks. Only the first book though, is published on Kindle. It’s on at 86p at the moment. A bargain!


The criticism of many self-published books is the lack of editing and proof reading. Did you use an editor to polish your book before self-publishing, and if so, how do you feel this helped?

No, I didn’t have an editor, but I did use lots of critical friends and used the pupils in my class to test out the books. I also had the great Herbie Brennan, best selling international author of Faerie Wars. I sent the first book to him and he loved it. He gave me a lovely quote to put on the front cover - wonderful accolade that no editor could have provided.


Did you use a designer for create a book cover for you? If so, what difference do you feel this has made?

The first book – what a disaster! I was so eager to get the book out that I designed the cover myself – in word, enough said! I was rescued by my daughter’s friend at university who was an art graduate. She redesigned the first cover and went on to design the second and third book covers too. Lesson learnt; yes, you DO judge a book by its cover. When I give book talks in schools I always hold up both book covers. The response is overwhelmingly for the redesigned cover – always!


How did you decide which self-publishing option to use? What were your reasons for your selection?

I did look briefly at POD, but I thought it worked out rather expensive when compared to other self-publishing options. Financially, I was in a position to go straight to a printer and after looking around on the internet, I found the wonderful folk at York Publishing Services. We conversed through email then I went up to York to meet them, got shown all the processes involved and was treated to lunch – told you they were wonderful!! It worked out better financially to do this and I have found that the quality of paper is much higher. Okay, so I have an issue with shoddy paper!!


How do you feel about the less than complementary remarks so often made about self-published books vs. traditionally published books – and do you think this perception is changing?

I can understand the worries about crap being published, but let’s be honest, there’s a lot of crap published through mainstream and don’t even get me started on celebrity ‘writers’. I have been to conferences, attended workshops, suffered critiques etc. I have tried to develop my writing to the highest standard and will continue to do so. I chose this route because there was no other option; publishers don’t like my books yet 7000 children/adults clearly do. There’s room enough for everyone and like I said, the public will decide what they want to buy. As for change, personally I don’t think this perception will change until self-publishing and e-books are truly embedded in publishing.


With self-publishing, you carry all the risk – the onus is on you to create as “perfect” a book as possible and to market it. How have you found the process of being your own publisher, and what have you particularly learned?

It has been one of the steepest learning curves ever! Yet, I have learnt so much. I know all about bastard pages, recto and verso, ISBNs, sending six free, yes free, copies of each book to the British Library and lots more. When I first started out, I bought a copy of How to Self-Publish by Peter Finch. It had everything you needed and provided a step-by-step guide on how to get published. I owe a lot to that little book.


What marketing platforms are you using to promote your book(s), and how much of your time does the marketing take?

The best way of promoting my books is through author talks in schools. Unfortunately, I am only allowed out of the asylum on a Wednesday afternoon which limits the events I can complete. I also do signings on Saturdays at bookstores. This can be quite lucrative as I can sell around 70 books in four hours. For an unknown, that’s not bad. And, if I am in a town where a store has my book stocked, I will also hang around and wait for an unsuspecting victim, usually selling to them after a quick chat. Many people are delighted to see a real life author – even if she is self-published. All my books are on websites such as, Amazon, Waterstones, W H Smith etc. Did I mention that my first book is available as a Kindle e-book …
All in all, it takes up a lot of my time, but it’s worth it.


It’s a personal question, but do you feel you’re making, or are able to make money by having self-published your book? Do you feel you are making more than you would be being traditionally published?

I’ve sold around 7000 books so far and yes, I think I have made money from it, but it’s all ploughed back in for the next one. Does that count? Selling to schools is better financially. With events at Waterstone’s there is a percentage to negotiate depending on the terms you have with them. It’s the same with W H Smith, but I get a better deal with them – with self-publishing comes knowledge …


Are you happy with the level of your sales? Do you think there is more you could do to improve your sales?

Oh, there is always something I could do to improve sales. Sort out the website, do more school events, do more bookstore events. It all comes down to time or in my case, the lack of it!


Will you continue to self-publish, or do you want to be traditionally published (and self-publish), and why?

As much as I have loved the experience of self-publishing, a part of me still hankers after traditional publishing. When I reason with my self, it seems to come down to time. The time I spent promoting my books is often valuable writing time missed and the more books I have, the more time it takes. I have just finished my new novel, Marvin’s Curse, my first YA novel about a boy who talks to the dead. I’m now torn between sending off to agents and self-publishing …


Would you recommend self-publishing to other writers?

Absolutely! It’s definitely not the easy option and you need to be prepared to work your socks off, but it’s all yours and what have you really got to lose? (Okay, perhaps some money, quite a bit of time, your sanity …)


What do you see as the pitfalls in self-publishing?

Financial problems, possibly. Personally, lack of time.

Do you have any tips for writers thinking of self-publishing?

Stop thinking about it! Get on and do it!


Thanks to Debra Edwards for participating in the series!


To find out more about Debra J Edwards, please visit her website, Purple Ray Publishing
Or you can become a Facebook fan.
Or you can contact Debbie by email.

All Debra J Edwards' books are available through Amazon (both paperbacks and Kindle e-book), Waterstone’s and WH Smith online. Some branches of Waterstone’s do stock her books, but check online for availability. The Aggie Lichen books are also available through Debbie's website/email.

Self-publishing - Part 4 - An interview with YA author, Mike Lewis

Continuing the exploration into self-publishing, this week I interview SF and Fantasy author, Mike Lewis, who's YA novel, Changer's Summer was self-published in June this year, and ask him the questions I am be putting to all my interviewees.

Changer's Summer

Tom is twelve and all he's ever known is a world with acid rain and constant cloud. His world is a place where people try to scratch out a living; surrounded by the wreckage of the past.

One hundred years ago a group of mysterious scientists took charge of the Earth's weather in order to control climate change. They burned the planet and in the ensuing chaos they disappeared.

When one of the "Changers" appears on Tom’s farm, his life changes and he is forced into an adventure where he must choose between his family and helping the Changers repair the damage they have done.

But can the Changers be trusted this time?

What made you decide to self-publish, and had you tried to traditionally publish (or been traditionally published) before going the self-publishing route?

I have been writing SF and Fantasy for a number of years (since 1998 in a serious attempt to be published). I have sold a number of short stories to anthologies and magazines but never managed to sell a novel despite having some interest from agents.

I run a small wargaming company (Black Hat Miniatures) and was also working one day a week as an IT consultant (which was my original career). When the IT Consultancy finished I looked around to see what else I could do to make some money and realized that it was now possible to self-publish on the Kindle. So my initial prompt into self-publishing was to explore the possibilities of making some extra income from writing.

As I had one completed novel which had been seen as a whole manuscript by a couple of agents, I decided to try self-publishing Changers’ Summer to see what happened.


There is a lot of talk about the publishing industry being in a state of change, did this influence your decision to self-publish in any way and what do you think the changes taking place in the publishing world mean for writers and for writing/literature per se?

It didn’t affect my decision to self-publish, but I do think that it has a lot of implications for writers. Those writers who want to succeed long term will have to do the same things successful writers have always done – write the best books they can; revise them until they are as close to perfect as they can be and use the services of editors and proofreaders.

I am slightly concerned by some indie writers who seem to revel in the fact that they can write a book in two weeks and put it out immediately. I don’t think this produces the best books or a long term career.


Is your book published as an e-book, Print on Demand, paper book, or all three?

It is an e-book and will very shortly be produced through Createspace as a POD.


The criticism of many self-published books is the lack of editing and proof reading. Did you use an editor to polish your book before self-publishing, and if so, how do you feel this helped?

I didn’t use an editor on Changers’ Summer – partly because this was an experiment in what it was possible to do to earn some money and I didn’t want to invest too much into the production of the book. However, Changers’ Summer has been through two writers’ groups, plus a number of beta-readers. The first draft was completed in 2001 and it has been rewritten through a number of drafts since then as well as having been commented on in detail by an agent.

I am looking into using an editor for The Rat King, book two of the Changers Trilogy/


Did you use a designer for create a book cover for you? If so, what difference do you feel this has made?

Yes I used a cover designer. I am not a graphic artist and feel you should stick to what you do best. It made a huge difference to the look of the book and a number of people have commented on how they like the cover.


How did you decide which self-publishing option to use? What were your reasons for your selection?

I started with Amazon and the KDP platform for the Kindle because that was the first option I found. After reading extensively on the web, I also went through Smashwords to get distribution into Apple, Sony, Kobo and B&N, etc

I have now produced a Createspace version as a paperback because it seems to me that the Young Adult market, particularly the “tween” younger YA readers are still very keen on physical books and have not yet moved to ebooks in large numbers.


How do you feel about the less than complementary remarks so often made about self-published books vs. traditionally published books – and do you think this perception is changing?

Doesn’t bother me. I think that there will always be slight perception of vanity publishing from traditionally published authors as the feeling is that the indie author hasn’t been “chosen” from the slushpile. They have just thrown their novel out there.

This will change as midlist authors start to self-publish their backlists as well as traditionally publishing their new books.

I am intending to self-publish my YA books because it is so hard to get a YA book accepted – especially a younger YA book. At one point a leading London agent wanted one sentence in a letter to pitch your children’s book!

I am working on a couple of SF/SF thrillers and I will be submitting these to traditional publishers/agents initially and may end up self-publishing them if nothing happens on these in a year or so.


With self-publishing, you carry all the risk – the onus is on you to create as “perfect” a book as possible and to market it. How have you found the process of being your own publisher, and what have you particularly learned?

Promoting your book is hard and it takes time away from writing. You have to be disciplined about the time you spend on the web doing promotion and not let that cut too heavily into your writing. There are a few indie authors I have seen who have published one novel over a year ago and still have not produced new work because they are spending all their time promoting (as they admit). I think the adage that the best promotion is a new book is very true.


What marketing platforms are you using to promote your book(s), and how much of your time does the marketing take?

I am on facebook and twitter but don’t excessively push my books. I also have a blog which I aim to update once a week.


It’s a personal question, but do you feel you’re making, or are able to make money by having self-published your book? Do you feel you are making more than you would be being traditionally published?

I am still very new at this having only published my first novel on June 3rd this year. But I think that at 70% royalty on my ebooks I will make more money than I could if traditionally published – if I could have ever managed to get a contract for Changers’ Summer anyway. In which case any money is more than I would have received.


Are you happy with the level of your sales? Do you think there is more you could do to improve your sales?

Again, only 6 weeks or so of sales to comment on. The sales for June were okay I thought for an unknown book but they have dropped dramatically in July. I have some advertising and blog appearances and reviews coming out in August and September so I hope that, coupled with the paperback, will push sales back up.


Will you continue to self-publish, or do you want to be traditionally published (and self-publish), and why?

I will continue to self-publish my YA books, as I have mentioned. This will include the other two books in the Changers trilogy (hoping for January and June 2012) and a stand-alone Victorian fantasy which is written but needs some heavy revising.

I am intending to still submit my adult SF work to traditional markets and my SF shorts to the likes of Asimov’s magazine, etc.

I would like to see my name on a book in a big booksellers which is something you don’t get through ebooks, etc.


Would you recommend self-publishing to other writers?

Yes, if you have the self-belief in our book to do the best job possible on it and to put it out there. You have to be willing to put up with the possible bad reviews and initial lack of sales but the good reviews will keep you going (as I am finding on Changers’ Summer as the reviews from review copies have started to hit Amazon.com).


What do you see as the pitfalls in self-publishing?

That people will publish too early, when a book isn’t ready. That your book can be brilliant but if it doesn’t get the breaks and people find out about it will sink without a trace into the other 1m self-published books out there.


Do you have any tips for writers thinking of self-publishing?

Read the Kindleboards.com forums, especially the Writers’ Cafe board – I have found it an invaluable source of knowledge and stories from people who have been self-publishing for a number of years.


Many thanks to Mike for participating in the series!


To find out more about Mike Lewis, visit his website.
You can follow Mike Lewis on Twitter, or on Facebook.
You can find Changer's Summer at Amazon.com,
or Amazon.co.uk,
or Barnes and Noble,
or Smashwords.

Self-publishing - Part 3 - An interview with author, Kathryn Brown

The more I continue the exploration into self publishing, or indie publishing as it's increasingly becoming known, the more writers I discover who've elected to go the indie root and the more resources I find on the subject. I'm left in no doubt that self-publishing is becoming both more acceptable and a far more viable option for many, albeit not all, writers - both those previously traditionally published and those who are unpublished. I'm also increasingly aware that self published authors are significantly upping their game, and thereby banging down the elements of elitism that sometimes lurk in the hallowed corridors of traditional publishing and amongst those who insist that if you're not traditionally published you're not a "real author". It seems it's open season and the games have begun.

In this, the second interview with a self-published author, I talk to Kathryn Brown, a writer whom I've known through the blogosphere for several years. I knew Kathryn was writing a book but only more recently discovered that she decided to self publish after receiving the usual spate of rejections to her submissions to traditional publishers.

Discovery at Rosehill

Finding your dream home is difficult enough, but what if you found it and then discovered it was haunted? Medium Camilla Armstrong is led to the beautiful Rosehill country estate after communication with her deceased grandmother. On first inspection she senses tranquillity within the house; the gentle atmosphere of a Georgian manor that is crying out for new life. But when she moves in, Camilla discovers the house contains a dark secret, one which is to change her life forever. When The Reverend Marcus Calloway introduces himself to her, a friendship develops and Camilla realises she could at last have found her true love. But all is not what it seems when further spirit contact confirms that Marcus harbours a guilty secret. Spirit communication, manifestations and an eerie atmosphere all add to Camilla's new surroundings as she tries hard to decipher mixed messages and a life she never knew existed.

What made you decide to self-publish, and had you tried to traditionally publish (or been traditionally published) before going the self-publishing route?

I originally wanted to traditionally publish and sent eleven submissions away and spent a long time perfecting each one. After receiving five rejections I decided to self-publish. Six months on, I still haven’t heard from the other six agents to whom I submitted my work.


There is a lot of talk about the publishing industry being in a state of change, did this influence your decision to self-publish in any way and what do you think the changes taking place in the publishing world mean for writers and for writing/literature per se?

This did influence me because I realized that new authors have a hard time being traditionally published. I wanted to be in control of my book and was somewhat reluctant to wait a further two years to see it on sale, probably after a few re-writes. I don’t think there is the same stigma surrounding self-publishing as there was because more authors prefer to have the final say on their work.

Is your book published as an e-book, Print on Demand, paper book, or all three?

All three.


The criticism of many self-published books is the lack of editing and proof reading. Did you use an editor to polish your book before self-publishing, and if so, how do you feel this helped?

Yes, I used a professional editor and we spent around three months getting it to, what I class as publishing standard. It cost approximately £500 which is most definitely money well spent. In my opinion, it is imperative to have your book edited before self-publishing. The competition is huge and unless you have a polished manuscript your book stands little chance amongst the masses of books available.


Did you use a designer for create a book cover for you? If so, what difference do you feel this has made?

Yes, Andrew Brenton designed the cover and also did the formatting for paperback and eBook versions. This made a massive difference to the appearance of my book. I am thrilled with the cover and could never have done something like that myself.


How did you decide which self-publishing option to use? What were your reasons for your selection?

I chose Lulu because I’ve used them before when publishing two children’s books. They were recommended to me by a fellow self-published author.


How do you feel about the less than complementary remarks so often made about self-published books vs. traditionally published books – and do you think this perception is changing?

I think it’s quite insulting if I’m honest. The only difference between a self-published and traditionally-published book is that the traditional one has been scrutinized by several professionals in their field and past from pillar to post before appearing on the shelves. An author of a self-published novel is still an author. I do think the perception is changing because more and more self-published novels are coming onto the market. There are some incredibly talented authors out there who deserve recognition and unless they are established, well known or in the celebrity status, they find it very difficult to be taken seriously.


With self-publishing, you carry all the risk – the onus is on you to create as “perfect” a book as possible and to market it. How have you found the process of being your own publisher, and what have you particularly learned?

It is difficult to market a self-published book, I have learned this during the past few months. You have to really push yourself and to an extent, boast about your achievements, which I personally find hard to do. Making announcements is something one has to do as second nature; selling yourself becomes a way of life. I have thought about contacting a PR consultant but up to now, I’ve persevered by myself.


What marketing platforms are you using to promote your book(s), and how much of your time does the marketing take?

I mainly use my blog, Twitter and Facebook but I have recently branched out and made enquiries in local book stores. Many local shops are keen to encourage and support local authors which does help. We are inundated in my area with gift and souvenir shops, some of which I will be approaching soon. I tend to give my book a mention every other day on Twitter but I have a page dedicated to it on my blog (Discovery at Rosehill Information).

It’s a personal question, but do you feel you’re making, or are able to make money by having self-published your book? Do you feel you are making more than you would be being traditionally published?

I’m not sure because I’ve never been traditionally published and don’t know how much in comparison I would have made otherwise. But I very much doubt I will make much money from my current novel; I have made a few hundred pounds so far but I’ll never make back the amount I spent on editing and cover design, which totaled approximately £750.


Are you happy with the level of your sales? Do you think there is more you could do to improve your sales?

I don’t think, unless you sell thousands/millions of copies, an author will ever be happy with the level of sales. I would very much like to sell mine to a much wider audience and definitely think there is more I can be doing to improve sales. It’s hard though; I’ve had one very small article published in my local paper after writing to three local newspapers and two local magazines. Two of the newspapers haven’t replied after three months. The magazines weren’t interested even though they compliment themselves on promoting local authors, businesses and talents. I found this very disappointing and not at all encouraging.


Will you continue to self-publish, or do you want to be traditionally published (and self-publish), and why?

I’m not sure right now. I have started my next novel and will see where it takes me. I would like to think I’ll be offered that contract of a life time by a well-known publisher but I won’t hold my breath. In the meantime, I’d be happy to self-publish again.


Would you recommend self-publishing to other writers?

Yes, I would. But I would also emphasize to them that there is a lot of hard work involved with self-publishing and it doesn’t just stop once you’ve sold a few copies. The sales soon dry up if don’t market and advertise and this becomes a very disheartening aspect of self-publishing.


What do you see as the pitfalls in self-publishing?

I think mainly, the marketing aspect. If you don’t market your book in the right circles or to the right audience, you don’t stand a chance of selling it. You have to do your research in order to reach the right people.


Do you have any tips for writers thinking of self-publishing?

As above, do your research. Think carefully about the genre and who you’re targeting as your readership. Be prepared for the hard work “after” you’ve published and remember you’re on your own. Join writer’s websites where you can share information, get tips and advice, promote your book. Be cheeky; ask people to do a review on their blog or their website. Write to newspapers, magazines, publications that you feel will offer some relevance to your work. Make your work stand out from the rest; visit other writer’s blogs and websites, get an idea of what readers want, the best ways to talk about books. Also, be prepared to send out free copies for people to review. Maybe even do a few giveaways which occasionally encourage people to buy. I have done this and sold a few copies to people who didn’t win a free copy!




To find out more about Kathryn Brown and her books, please visit her personal blog, Crystal Jigsaw, and her blog about the paranormal, Marvellous Mable.

You can also follow Kathryn Brown on Twitter or on Facebook.

Kathryn's book, Discovery at Rosehill, is available on both amazon.co.uk and amazon.com in both paperback and Kindle formats.
Discovery at Rosehill is also available from Lulu and Smashwords.
Or you can obtain a copy directly from Kathryn Brown.

Self-publishing - Part Two: An interview with YA author, Megg Jensen

Following on my previous post about self publishing, I've had a rush of interest from so many people, which leads me to believe that not only is the face of the publishing industry changing but that more and more writers are becoming disenamoured with traditional publishing and want to "go it alone".

As a writer pal and former critique partner recently said to me: "I firmly believe [self publishing] is the way forward for authors. The good old traditional publishing path and paperbacks are on a slippery slope to becoming niche and non-mass-market. Trying to get published in the traditional way is not a viable business model any more, unless you're very lucky. It just doesn't make sense to send out your novel and sit around for years hoping that somebody might notice it. In no other business do you make products for 'years' without any return. You'd be bankrupt."

From a purely business perspective, and speaking as a former business and marketing strategist, the effort put in by most writers - intensive training, research, product development, and marketing, and all with little or no gain - is nothing short of madness. It remains pretty much as crazy when you think that even those who are published generally don't earn enough to give up their day jobs. Perhaps in the more recent past our options were seriously limited and traditional publishing was the only way forward. But with new doors opening and other gatekeepers appearing, and a more professional approach taken to self publishing, indie publishing starts to look increasingly like a smart choice.

On that note, I'd like to introduce my first guest, YA fantasy author, Megg Jensen, in this series exploring self publishing.


What made you decide to self-publish, and had you tried to traditionally publish (or been traditionally published) before going the self-publishing route?

For six years I made a good living as a freelance parenting journalist. In 2008 I decided to pursue my first love - fiction. I had no idea it would be so difficult to find an agent. After years of training in writing, I thought getting a novel published would be hard, but not impossible.

I pursued representation with an agent, but nearly every agent told me the same thing, “I love your writing, but the market for your type of fiction is too small.” I even had one agent offer representation if I switched genres, but I turned her down.

In fall of 2009, my friend Karly Kirkpatrick chose self-publishing and she brought me on board with her.


There is a lot of talk about the publishing industry being in a state of change, did this influence your decision to self-publish in any way and what do you think the changes taking place in the publishing world mean for writers and for writing/literature per se?

The changes in publishing made self-publishing a viable option for me, but it wasn’t the catalyst for my choice. I wanted my work out there and I was tired of fighting against the machine. I’m not against traditional publishing, not by any means, but it wasn’t the path I wanted to take at that time.

Is your book published as an e-book, Print on Demand, paper book, or all three?

My novels are available in nearly all formats, except hardcover and audiobook.


The criticism of many self-published books is the lack of editing and proof reading. Did you use an editor to polish your book before self-publishing, and if so, how do you feel this helped?

As a freelance journalist, I spent years editing my own work. Most of my published articles (by large circulation magazines) were not edited beyond the draft I turned in. I also have a large circle of professional writers, who have the same skills as freelance editors, working on my manuscripts. My books go through at least seven or eight drafts before publication.

Editing is essential to good writing. No one should ever publish a book that hasn’t been fully edited. Do I claim perfection? No, but I can also show you quite a few examples of traditionally published books that have typos. Anathema is already in its second edition because I found three typos post-publication and corrected all of them.


Did you use a designer for create a book cover for you? If so, what difference do you feel this has made?

Absolutely. I have no artistic skills and hired Robin Ludwig Design, Inc. to create my covers. It’s a very collaborative process and I am very pleased with the results.


How did you decide which self-publishing option to use? What were your reasons for your selection?

I followed in the footsteps of my friend Karly by publishing paperbacks through CreateSpace and publishing ebooks through Amazon, Barnes&Noble, and Smashwords. Karly blazed the trail for me. With our other colleagues at DarkSide Publishing, GP Ching and Angela Carlie, we spend a great amount of time re-evaluating the industry to be sure we are using the best publishing options.


How do you feel about the less than complementary remarks so often made about self-published books vs. traditionally published books – and do you think this perception is changing?

Having been on the receiving end of some very rude comments (I’ve been called a traitor and a cheater), I hate it. I honestly can’t understand why any traditionally published author would take their time to bash an indie author. The traditional publishing scene was exclusive before self-publishing went viral. Every single traditionally published author struggled at some point. Why they would disrespect another struggling author is beyond me.

I do think attitudes are changing, but there are many people who still look down on independent authors.


With self-publishing, you carry all the risk – the onus is on you to create as “perfect” a book as possible and to market it. How have you found the process of being your own publisher, and what have you particularly learned?

I’m having an amazing time. I honestly enjoy every aspect of publishing. I’ve learned a lot about editing too. I thought I was a good editor before, but there’s been so much room for personal growth. I look forward to learning even more.


What marketing platforms are you using to promote your books, and how much of your time does the marketing take?

I use Facebook, Twitter, my blog, Google+, message boards, etc. If it’s out there, I’m probably a part of it. I’m not sure how much time marketing takes. I can do a lot of it on the run with my iPhone.

I do want to say that there’s a fine line between constant marketing and just getting to know people. I hate saying, “Buy my book!” Instead I prefer to chat with people and connect with them on a personal level. It makes the whole process much more interesting than being an author on a pedestal.

It’s a personal question, but do you feel you’re making, or are able to make money by having self-published your book? Do you feel you are making more than you would be being traditionally published?

I’m making more money each month now than I was after six years as an established freelance journalist. Based on a blog post by agent/author Mandy Hubbard, I’m doing better financially than I would have as a traditionally published midlister. View Mandy’s post here.


Are you happy with the level of your sales? Do you think there is more you could do to improve your sales?

I’m thrilled that someone other than my mom has bought my books. I’m overwhelmed that complete strangers are contacting me and telling me how much they love my work. Can I do better? Of course I can. I will continue to work hard every day to reach new readers.


Will you continue to self-publish, or do you want to be traditionally published (and self-publish), and why?

For now I’m continuing with self-publishing. Will I change my mind in the future? Maybe. I guess I’m a little Justin Beiber in that I never say never. ;)


Would you recommend self-publishing to other writers?

I’ve been happy with my experience, but I don’t think it’s for everyone. If a writer has no interest in the business end, then they shouldn’t pursue self-pub. I grew up in a family of entrepreneurs and have worked and managed in many small business. I like that portion of self-pubbing, a lot of people don’t. If you’re not passionate about the whole process, then don’t do it.


What do you see as the pitfalls in self-publishing?

It is very easy to become discouraged. We have near-real time reporting of our sales. It’s easy to check four thousand times a day. Let me tell you, checking sales constantly during the day isn’t rewarding unless you’re selling a lot of books. It’s frustrating to see a big fat zero four or five times throughout the day.

It’s also a bit lonely. As a self-pub, you don’t a team of professionals singing your virtues and telling you how awesome you are. Every self-pub author needs to surround herself with friends who are encouraging and honest.


Do you have any tips for writers thinking of self-publishing?

Talk to other self-pubbed authors and think very hard about the path you want to take. It’s not for everyone.


A huge thanks to Megg for participating in this series.

Thank you for having me!!!!


To find out more about Megg Jensen and her books you can view her website/blog
You can follow her on Twitter
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To buy Megg Jensen's books, please go here.

YA author, Megg Jensen at her first book signing


All images courtesy of Megg Jensen