You might not have realised this, but I’m an Indie Author.
Don’t look so shocked…
Yes, I know I don’t make a great deal of fuss about it – mostly because I don’t have the money to. It costs more than I ever expected to promote your own work. And this is where the Big Publishers have us Indie authors over a barrel.
They can afford to put adverts into magazines, send out Advanced Review Copies of the books they are publishing to the big papers and top book reviewers. They can set up events in which they can place authors to do talks or signings. They can pay to have the books they’re publishing submitted to the big book awards …
…well how else do you think that the awards get the cash to pay the prizes?…
Marketing is big business. It actually requires a certain amount of knowledge to be done properly, which is why there are actual companies out there that charge large amounts to the big publishers to do their marketing for them.
As a little Indie Author…
…and before anyone gets upset with me, as things go, I am a “little” one; I don’t have the fanbase of the Big Indie Authors, just the few people who visit my blog and FB page…
… as a little Indie Author, I don’t have the cash to splash upon adverts and events and awards. I can barely pay for the upkeep of my Coffee Habit. Marketing for me is something that cuts into the time that I need to use to write / edit / publish. So I don’t do a lot of it.
Currently I am in the Spotlight at Bookshop Bistro, a website dedicated to bringing readers and Independent Authors together. The Heir of the Dragon, my foray into the murky world of werewolves and vampires published under my A. E. Churchyard pen name, is on special offer for 0.99p. Once the Spotlight is over, I’ll put the price back up to £2.99.
This is one of the few marketing opportunities that I can access you see; everything else costs money.
Clearly I need to do more – I’m running out of coffee – but where to go next? I’m a lone voice shouting into a cacophony, trying to be heard and while I love writing, I adore being able to eat – and writing just isn’t putting the money on the table.
It’s depressing.
Just in case you’re interested, here’s the information for The Heir of The Dragon:
Turn a city upside down and shake it – what falls out?
The Treaty that binds the Vampires, Werewolves, Humans and the rarely seen True Dragons is over 1000 years old. It provides stability and safety for all the citizens of the city of Te Ling. Triads and Yakuza are not welcome here and Tourism flourishes amongst the bright lights, Night clubs, Temples and leisure facilities.
But many lights cast a multitude of shadows and they just get darker as you get deeper. Li is as deep into the darkness as you can get: cop by day, shadow by night, he eats and drinks the lifeblood of the city. A threat to the current Te Ling Triang Leader is a threat to the City and The Black Dragon cannot be risked. Li is handed the responsibility of tracking down and removing the threat…preferably permanently .
The special deal is only on Amazon UK – the book is available elsewhere though; just search for A. E. Churchyard…
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I’m in the middle of writing more than one thing again, despite my stated intention to focus on one project at a time! Glutton for punishment, me…
Last month I wrote a short story as a kind of wake up call for my muse Puff. He’d been too somnambulant recently and I needed his input into “The Black Forest” (TTATE Sequel WIP) because I was trying to write a fight scene and it never works properly without him…
Anyway, I posted the story up on my personal Facebook page to see what my writing friends thought of it. Long story short – the story has been selected for inclusion in a charity anthology and I am now officially a Cake & Quill writer!
This is the beautiful cover that my story will be appearing behind –
All proceeds will go to HOME, a charity in Singapore which works for the rights of migrant and domestic workers, and against sex trafficking.
The book itself is currently in the hands of the Editor and will be published later this month, so I’ll post the links etc then!
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And Finally…
Do you have a blog? Would you like to interview me about my work or maybe would like to take a break from writing posts – let me write a guest post for you…
If so, pop over to my Facebook Page – The Ramblings of Kira Morgana – and drop a message on my lap – I promise to get back to you as soon as I can to discuss the particulars…
The World of The Teigr Princess 