My Story, My Way

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 have suggested, desperate?

None of the above apply in my decision, my choice, to go Indie.  What did factor in was I own my work, I'm completely taking all the risk…and all the reward, and I really can create my story, my way.

I'm not going into how traditional publishing works, you all know that information.  What I am going to try and convey is the thrill and the difficulty in choosing this route.

A little backstory. I've been telling stories since I was old enough to talk, really.  Mom wrote them down, and I have a bunch of them.  Then in Jr. High, a teacher told me and my parents in a parent/teacher conference that I would never be a writer because I wanted to tell stories, not learn the fundamentals of grammar.  I  stopped writing immediately and didn'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 knew nothing about the industry.  My first manuscript was even single spaced…but enough, you get the picture.  Then I found screenwriting, and novel writing took a back seat for many years as my screenwriting career took off, but I was making almost zero money.

Then my husband found article after article about indie publishing in the Wall Street Journal, of all places.  I read the articles, found the links and studied the pros and cons.  There were plenty 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 the moment we have mp3's to download.  We've gone from VHS/beta to streaming.

My blood burned.  Change is inevitable.  I wanted to be in the forefront. I could do this, couldn’t I?

Yes I could.  I was excited 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 being branded as an indie writer?

My answer is this: I'm embracing a new technology, I'm not caving and waiting to be published by a traditional publisher.  I'm creating my own business and I'm making money. It's my choice, it's my way.

I knew from the get-go that I needed a  group of talented people surrounding me because I would be putting out into the universe, in perpetuity, the best product I could, at that moment.   I paid for a great editor, and actually took her advice.  I had a formatter do the digital formatting  and have decided to continue that way.  

My strength, despite what my Jr. High English teacher said, is to tell a story.  I can hire a great team 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 in the 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 a newbie at this editing thing and I didn't know a good edit from a lousy edit.  What if I didn't agree, what if she wasn't right, what if… the doubts went on.  But her report was good  and made sense to me.  After I read it, I had a glass of wine and simply thought.  Sometimes you have to jump and know the net is there.  This was one of those times.  So I went 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 I like, and I can be bullheaded about it. She melded her knowledge of digital artwork 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 of tea, 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 all that easy to make sure you're doing all the right things.  But with help, I know I'm doing my story, my way,  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?

Let's talk Indie Publishing over cheese danish and croissants. My characters do their best thinking over food. Audra mentioned a Seekerville buffet??? Remember, leave a comment and you'll be in the drawing for a download of my debut book!

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.