An Indie Voyage
by Nancy Popovich
Thanks Bri, for the opportunity to write a
guest post on your website.
After reading the great posts already present,
I rethought what would be appropriate for my contribution, but found myself
with writer's block. Writer's block?
This is a virtually unheard of phenomenon for me while writing, my mind
is always churning with ideas to forward the story.
But this was different. Perhaps something
witty and tongue in cheek, something wise or even something intellectual would
do the trick. Alas, no sudden inspiration. So, I decided to follow the advice
the ubiquitous they give to write
what you know.
Not long ago, I had no practical knowledge
whatsoever regarding ebook publishing, indie or otherwise, other than the view
from my Kindle as I read other people's books. A sharp learning curve from my
initial "I can do that" to
seeing my books on Amazon and Smashwords was climbed, step by step, sometimes
well, sometimes not.
Four or five stories languished on my computer
for almost ten years, and several more floated through my mind on a continual
basis. Having gone the traditional route and able to paper a room with the
rejections received (many other inquires never answered) I resigned myself to
the fact that these stories would never see the light of day.
Two factors kick-started my renewed wish to
publish the stories in which I believed. My husband was diagnosed as terminally
ill, and my laptop became a permanent fixture in our great room. I had the
perfect combination of time and un-encumbered access to my computer, then
discovered the wondrous world of Smashwords. The possibility of self-publishing
opened a new door.
As anyone who has gone this route will
confirm, it's not as simple as finishing your book, checking for typos and
uploading to a website. Publishing a polished book acceptable to readers is not
a solitary process. Beta readers, critiques, professional editing and a great
cover are all crucial parts of the package. You become your own publisher and
as well, publicist, which necessitates learning social media if you don't
already. It's all part of the steep learning curve.
But the world of indie publishing is a
generous one, and there is a wealth of expert writing and publishing advice
freely available on the internet. You can subscribe to sites such as this one
and learn more than you thought possible about the world of writing, marketing
and building a platform. Who would have thought several years ago when I had my
aha moment, that my latest book,
Malice & Murder would have five-star ratings on Amazon. That alone makes
the climb worthwhile, missteps included.
Malice & Murder is a tale of friendship, loyalty and a
determined quest for a murderer. In the act of saving the life of his friend
and fellow agent during an intelligence mission, Steven Hunter is badly injured
by a bullet. When he surfaces, it is in a familiar childhood place where he
sees his lifelong friend, Charlotte. There is a small wrinkle. Not only did
their torrid affair end badly, she’s been dead for five years. Charlotte’s
ghost asks for his help to find her murderer, but will he agree?
Bio of Nancy M. Popovich
A native of
Montreal, Nancy has lived and worked in Western Canada for over forty years. An
author of fiction, mostly mystery/intrigue, the book that began the family
dynasty upon which most of the books are based, is most accurately described as
historic fiction, possibly even a love story.
An artist, mostly of flora and
fauna, Nancy has works in private collections in many places around the world.
Nancy is an all-breed Dog Show Judge
licensed through the Canadian Kennel Club, and has had the privilege of judging
in many corners of the world, including Australia, Taiwan, New Zealand, South Africa and the United
States.
Information:
Website: http://www.nancypopovich.com
Twitter: @NancyP48
Facebook: Nancy.M.Popovich
Thank you ever so much for guesting and sharing your journey Nancy. I too have had similar experiences and I can say that I've found to not feel alone is a great comfort to many. Thanks again.
No comments:
Post a Comment