I’ve been an indie author for three years now, and I’m here to say that publishing my own books has been the best way to go… for me. There are many pros and cons for going indie or trad. I encourage anyone to research both options as well as the various hybrid options as thoroughly as possible.
I’m a creator at heart and the control I have over every aspect of my product is necessary as a creative outlet as well as extremely satisfying and fun. That is not to say it isn’t a ton of work, but what better way to spend my time!
Check out these astonishing statistics at Wordsrated.com like the 300 million a year number in the title of this blog, or that the number of self-published books has increased by 264% in the last five years, and up to 34% of all books sold are self-published.
I started in a time when more amazing tools than ever are available to help authors publish on their own, and I’m extremely thankful for services like Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Draft2Digital, Reedsy, and BookBaby that offer so many resources for indie authors–many of them completely free.
The other fantastic resource for indie authors is us–our community and all the amazing collaboration opportunities. I’m taking part in one starting Friday, April 12, and running through April 15. The Indie Authors Spring Spectacular Event. Indie authors are amazing when it comes to supporting each other and you can be part of it. In addition to the volume of affordable reads for .99 or less, there will be fun giveaways and other events.
With all this said, nothing beats a reader’s review for spreading the word. That goes for all authors no matter how you publish. It always comes down to what our readers like and want. I’m an avid reader, so I can attest to that from a reader’s perspective as well. I’ve got my shopping list going. Happy reading!
This month I’ve got two romance writers from two continents stopping by to give us a dual chat on a day in the life of writing sizzling hot romance, marketing sizzling hot romance, and publishing sizzling hot romance. Abigail Hunter from the U.K. and Meg Stratton from the U.S. are writing buddies and have been collaborating on some exciting projects.
We will dive into their works and projects and find out how amazing they are at supporting and welcoming up-and-coming indie authors into the fold. I met these two through dark romance writer and previous guest, Gigi Meier, thanks to Gigi’s mission to shine the light on indie authors in her Let’s Go Live interviews.
I’m benefitting from this now as I get to know them while working on a new romance novel, which will be part of an anthology of novels with Abigail, Meg, and other great writers in our romance writers group.
Born and raised in Scotland, Abigail has always been surrounded by green hills, forests, and fairy stories. First a gardener, then a carpenter, now an author, she writes steamy stories about passionate and heartfelt characters who fight for what they believe in, especially love.
I absolutely loved reading Tearing You Apart. This book was so beautifully written I seriously couldn’t stop reading til the very last page. I’m still reeling over this book.
Meg is a new author looking to share her dream that spiraled out of control and has turned into a book or two. She enjoys time with her husband and four children and working on maximizing her way too large urban garden on her tiny plot of land in the Pacific Northwest, spending far too long in her commute thinking of new storylines for her heroines.
Here’s what a reviewer has to say about Oracle: Mia.
Really enjoyed this book so much that I finished this in the same day. If you enjoy: Why choose, spice, aliens, sci-fi/romance, you should read.
Let’s Get Started
Hello Abigail and Meg! Thank you so much for joining me today. I’ve been looking forward to our chat for weeks. You might guess my first question. How did you two get together?
MS: I’m not sure if I found Abigail or if she found me. But at one point about 6 months ago Abigail joined my babyromanceauthor group on IG. There she joined my first anthology book, contributing our spiciest story to the lineup of Fairy Tale stories retold. We have also joined forces to bring a world-building, fate-marked series with many other authors from the IG group and other author friends, coming out in 2024. Abigail has a wealth of book knowledge and is an excellent writer and editor. I’m so happy to have met her this year!!
AH: I feel like Meg has answered this one pretty succinctly!
DLL. I can’t wait to see what comes out of the new fate marked collaboration!
Now we’ll back up a little. How did you each get started on your writing journeys and what moved you onto the spicy path in the romance genre?
MS: I have always been a romance reader, coming and going throughout the years as I had more or less time to read, but I really got into why choose stories during Covid. I was reading so much that I had a very vivid dream that stuck with me when I woke up the next day. I started to write out my dream on my phone, in a week I was parked on the couch with my PC while my partner played games next to me. Within a year, I had written a very rough 300,000 word story. My partner turned to me one day and said why don’t you try and self publish whatever you have been writing over there. ;) He hasn’t read a word of my writing but was willing to back my ambition. The best author support partner.
AH: I was in a pretty bad space in my life last October, and, quite like Meg, I started seeing snippets of scenes and ideas swirling around my head until I decided to write them down. And, when I started writing, I couldn’t stop. Then, in February, I woke up in the morning and said “Right, I’m going to do it.” and by May, Tearing You Apart was published. I don’t feel like I actively chose spicy dark romance. I let my characters guide me, and that’s the direction they take me in. I love writing about intense, emotionally-charged love, and sex and angst are the pinnacles of that in my character’s relationships.
DLL. I love these stories! Thanks so much for sharing. So many inspiring journeys got started during the pandemic. And I can relate. I started writing after reading voraciously all things paranormal romance during the summer of 2020. I had that epiphany and started writing by the end of that year.
How would you each categorize your level of spice and the tone you like to strike with your romance?
MS: I didn’t know what my level would be when I started. I would classify myself as a solid 3 pepper spice level today. As a why choose author, it could be higher as there are multiple players in the relationship though I haven’t explored MM or FF relationships in my books yet. I like how in why choose stories, the characters need to overcome a lot of stigma and standard beliefs around how relationships should be. I love the discovery that the parties go through as they find their partners.
I write post-destruction/apocalyptic stories where the characters are trying to survive and find their way.
AH: Er…that’s kind of a hard one. When I finished Tearing You Apart, I thought it was at least a 4 out of 5 in the spice rating, but some reviewers were rating it 2. I’d say my anthology piece, Blood Princess, is at least a 4. Now that I’ve had time to think and develop my WIP list, I’ve got some very extreme books coming that I’d definitely say were 5s, so much so that I can’t publish them on Amazon! But, at the moment, I’m writing fluffy smutfics and longer books that are heavy on drama and angst.
DLL. This is the kind of insight on spice levels I was looking for. I see so many different ratings and rating systems that it’s easy to get a little lost on how to compare what I write. Thank you!
For each of you, tell me who your favorite character is to date in your respective works.
MS: J (Jaco) from Oracle: Mia, book 1 of my Oracle’s Journey series. Tough, tattooed but obsessed with the FMC and fated to meet her. His looks remind me of Wentworth Miller when he was in Prison Break.
AH: That’s so difficult! I absolutely adore all my female characters. Whether they are strong, meek, powerful, broken, I love exploring their lives and journeys. Out of my published male characters, there is a wolf shifter from my anthology piece called Lucien who I really enjoy reading and writing about. He is incredibly angry and despises his love interest, Ruby, which results in some very intense sex scenes, but, when he opens up and really falls in love with her he basically explodes with softness and will do anything for her.
DLL. Writing book boyfriends in addition to hording them from my favorite books was one of the best surprises in becoming a romance author.
Which character is your favorite in upcoming works?
MS: Wolf in Red is for Roxy. This is my anthology piece that is coming out Nov 15th. He is fun loving, but wants to be called daddy and call the shots with the FMC.
AH: I have a huge list of books I’m planning on publishing over the next few years, but one who really stands out is Sasha. She is a mafia princess, and she falls in love with three men who have been sent to take down her family. Her body is absolutely littered with scars from abuse, she is missing two fingers, and has a huge scar that slices up her face. Her personality is just fantastic. She is so tough, no matter how bad it gets she will fight, she loves her men and her friends so deeply that she will (and does) do anything for them. And her relationships with the three men are so different but so beautiful at the same time. I absolutely love writing her, and I can’t wait to publish her story next year so other people can meet her too.
DLL. Ah… to hear the passion from writers about their stories and characters. One of my favorite questions to ask. These sound fabulous. Thank you!
Can you share more about your respective works in progress?
MS: I will be finishing the second half of Red is for Roxy so that it can be fully published when the anthology is done. Then I will be either working on the fate marked world building story or move onto my gods/goddesses anthology work. So many stories in my head but I actually consider myself a slow writer, I need to maintain a consistent goal plan so that I can manage it all.
AH: Yeeeah, it’s a lot… I have a solid publishing plan until at least 2028. My anthology piece grew to become a fully formed series featuring each of the main fairy tale princesses and that is at least 14 books. I’m writing an omegaverse series which is at least 17 books. I plan on publishing one book of these two series alternating once a month starting next year. The Lovers and Liars series will be five books, (Tearing You Apart is already out, Book 2 is coming in May) but I’ve planned a few spin off series which could be another 8. Then my MM novellas, the first being published December 13th, which is looking to be at least 10 books. And my fated marks book too. So, yeah, you could say it’s a lot…
DLL. Wow! You are both on fire! I will enjoy following your progress. Abigail’s Book 2 in the Lovers to Liars series, Calling You Out, is available for preorder!
Where do you each see your writing careers in five years?
MS: This is so hard to say. I have had a lot of fun with all the projects and writing. The very best part is meeting and helping other new authors find their way. I really enjoy bringing people together to support and rally around each other. Being a baby author is so intimidating. I want to complete my Oracle series in the next 3 years but don’t have a set timeline on that. I think the hardest part is the fact that everyday I think of a new writing idea.
AH: My goal at the moment is for people to love my books. I’m very nervous about publishing so much but I want to put myself out there and tell my stories. Ideally, in 5 years time, I’ll have built up a solid following as well as having a large back list. I want to be earning a steady income, enough that I can call it a job. If I have roughly 40 books out, that feels very achievable!
I see some authors having instant success and I get jealous at times, but, at the moment, I’m approaching it like a slow burn. If I keep working hard and writing good quality books, I’ll see the returns. I mean, obviously, getting instant success would be amazing too. But I’m thinking long term (hence the publishing plan to 2028)
DLL. I love this! Slow burn is a smart approach and building that solid following. I see you both doing well with this right now and I know you’ll meet your goals and then some.
Having gotten involved with you in the Marked Mate Romance project, I’ve seen how much work is involved with shepherding something of this magnitude, but you both have been so awesome to work with and endlessly patient. You’ve got one of these projects well underway. And I must say, I am in love with the idea and the name of your Fairytale Reloaded anthology series… and its cover art. Fabulous!
Tell us about that project and how you put it together, including artwork, marketing, and publishing efforts.
MS: In January of 2023 we (babyromanceauthors) all began talking about doing an anthology together. We decided on the topic of spicy fairy tale retellings. I had already made a publishing company for myself and my books, so I took on the position of organizer and publisher. We all agreed to work together to beta read each other’s stories, design the cover art work, format our works in 3 volumes and promote it throughout. The authors all supported with the ARC reader groups and building up a following.
I started with a calendar of major steps to hit our release date of November 15th. This helped us all know when we needed to support and complete our beta read, final read, formatting, and publishing steps. I supported each other by reading all of the submitted stories and giving tips and guiding the steady increase of spice that I was going for in the volumes. Artwork was provided by Charlotte Mallory who was part of the anthology but had to step out for personal reasons. She took some time to listen to our feedback and build out the 3 covers that get steadily darker as you go.
For the marketing, I wanted to showcase the fairy tale theme throughout the promotion period. I began with fairy tale dresses, shoes, then jewelry. I also wanted each one to give a piece of the story it was supposed to represent but from the author’s new story, a quote, the tropes, etc. I have blended all three of these themed graphics with an image of the author and called out their other works and how they supported during our anthology work. I made many of these graphics available to the ARC group members and my fellow authors to use for reels and their own posts.
Finally, the publishing efforts were times 3. Due to the 3 volumes and the 14 authors, I feel that I have spent a lot of time managing this process. I have learned a lot about Amazon and how this part could go more smoothly in the future. I will say that the covers have been the most difficult to fit the book sizes.
AH: Meg is 100% the show runner for this series. She has done an incredible amount of work to get the project off the ground and keep the momentum running. It’s truly awe-inspiring!
How would you compare the Fairytale Reloaded short story anthology project to the new novel project? Is it more complex? Do you have bigger or different goals? What would you say are the benefits of this kind of collaboration? And what’s next on the author collaboration horizon?
MS: The Fairy Tale Reloaded project was more of a true anthology design whereas the Fate Marked will be a series. The Fate Marked Series will be published under each author with the author setting up the Amazon pieces and completing their own editing. The covers will be designed to be similar and interconnected. Each author will support the others’ launches by promoting on their sites and building ARC readers groups.
I think this new project will be a bit less complex. I also think the goals change as we will be slowly promoting the series over a few months. This may help relieve the pressure of a mass promotion or draw out the promotion piece for longer. Not sure which way will be better to be honest.
The benefits from collaborations on projects like this are the knowledge and support of many minds, writer support in times of frustration and lack of focus, a network of more followers to gather interest in your stories, learning many marketing tricks from each other, and many other perks.
I will be starting another anthology for a goddess/god collaboration in January 2024, to be published tentatively in June 2024. This will be a spin on an existing god story that will be a spicy read. More needs to be discussed in this project as it hasn’t really been worked on yet. I have had a lot of focus on publishing Reloaded.
AH: I agree with all of Meg’s points. The idea for the Fate Marked series is that it is also a long-term project that ideally works around the participating authors own WIPs. The books themselves will most likely be longer than a standard anthology piece (15-50K) (I’m aiming for at least 100K) and there is also a huge amount of freedom to write. The deadline stretches all the way until the end of 2026, with each book being published a month apart, meaning that we’ll organise publishing schedules based around the needs and readiness of each author, as opposed to handling 12 or so full length novels at once. And participating authors can easily work around their own WIPs at the same time.
DLL. Again. Wow! Ambitious and oh so many benefits in collaborating. Truly remarkable and impressive.
Can you each share what you have learned about growing your indie author communities? What has worked best for you? I believe you both do well with Facebook groups. How are those working out?
Meg, maybe here you can share your goals for your publishing company.
MS: For me I started with Facebook and IG. On IG I grew with select follow trains and engaging the bookstagram community. I think I work best and more consistently with IG as it is easier for me to use and connect with.
For Facebook, I and another baby author, Lark Hersey began a group that I have since taken over. I use this group for parties and sharing other authors’ work and book launches. It is mostly designed to be a Spicy readers group so most posts are romance author posts. I also run 1 sometimes 2 Facebook Parties in the group a month. I will be running my next one on Dec 10th for Rhea Ryan’s book launch.
For Stratton House Publishing, I always intended it to be the place where my books can be showcased and as I learn more about self-publishing, I have added a promotions page and a page for the anthology work. I will continue to work on anthologies and possibly open a shop to sell designed stickers and other bookish content.
AH: I stay mainly on Instagram. I gave a lot of group chats I’m part of and friends there, and I also focus on growing my ARC reader list by contacting people directly. I’d say the beat community I’ve found is through the baby romance author group Meg runs, as well as the Fairy Tale anthology group.
DLL. So many exciting ideas and ways to connect. And more follows in the next Q&A! Wow! Thanks you two. I’m sure our readers will get a lot from this section. I know I have.
I would like to dig into your respective writers’ lives. I’ve been eager to chat with two writing buddies from such different locations and backgrounds to enjoy your side-by-side accounts of your daily schedules, favorite places to write, how you stay productive, and how you balance writing with other aspects of life. This is a tall order, but take all the space you want and give us your best tips and practices.
MS: Finding time to write is the hardest part for me. I have a real job that requires me to commute up to 4 hours a day. So if I’m not at work, I’m in my car. When I wrote my first two books, I was working from home and had no commute. Times for writing are hard to find now.
Recently I have been trying dictation as I drive to see if it will help me at least get ideas out. I am a pantser so this may not work as I need to let the characters speak but I’m loving the ability to be creative in a down time. I really get my best work done when my partner plays video games and I sit and write next to them. I work best with a plan, specifically a calendar of due dates. I also have learned to not push myself too hard as it does cause me to burn out.
Tips and Tricks:
Beta readers- I found some amazing ones on the Facebook groups Beta Readers/Proofing/Editing, Beta Readers find Authors, and Indie, Alpha, and ARC readers for ALL Genres. When you find one that works for you, lots of communication and praise for their efforts is important. Hang onto a good beta reader. They are your super fan and will bring others to your stories.
Find an author who writes works similar to yours. They will help you when times are dark, when you don’t feel motivated, or want to bounce ideas off someone. That is how I started the babyromanceauthors group.
Read other writers’ blogs on their writing journey, Facebook groups for authors and see what questions are asked and the answers given, write a short story or novella as a free magnet reader story to gather subscribers to your newsletter and use Bookfunnel promotions to get that free read into people’s hands. Just like anthology, people will read a bit of your writing, like the story and go buy your other books. And while it feels counter productive to give away a book or story, it really does draw people in. Quick personal Bookfunnel fact, I gave away 800 copies of a prequel to my Oracle’s Journey Series (a total of 11k words) in a year. That is 800 people who checked out my story and could have turned around and bought one or both of my books. It’s hard to capture that much of an audience without a magnet story.
AH: I live a really free life. I persist, so I travel around the UK staying in other peoples houses, and it gives me the space to write for however long I want. Sometimes I’m working 12 hours just because I can. I know I’m very blessed to be in this situation so I hope it will continue. I am pretty much a hermit. Unless it’s walking, I don’t really do much with myself apart from write and manage my social media accounts. I live vicariously through my characters. My schedule tends to vary depending on what I need to do. If I’m writing I will take a lot more breaks. If I’m editing I may work for hours without stopping. I prefer lounging on the sofa with my laptop whatever work I’m doing. Unless I really need to smash something out, then I’ll sit at a table!
Meg mentioned dictation, and that’s one of the fastest ways I work. I will spend hours talking out play-by-plays of scenes to my phone and then past them into a google doc and write out the story. Sometimes I spend an entire day planning out a full book just by dictating. It’s an incredibly useful tool and I highly recommend it.
Tips:
Number 1 – always, /always/ get a sample from any editor you’re thinking if hiring. I essentially lost over £1,000 publishing my first novel because I didn’t properly vet my editors. And make sure you keep checking in with them too. (one actually canceled on me 5 hours before I was due to send her my manuscript)
Number 2 – if you feel like you are blocked or stuck, stop writing. Go for a walk, go do some laundry, watch TV, cook, do something to put your brain into cruise mode and wait for the idea to come to you instead of forcing it. The ideas will feel better and more naturally. You’ll soon be able to tell when you’re in the flow.
Number 3 – your first draft is going to be absolute trash, so own it. Even if you use the same word 5 times in one paragraph, you’ve already written a whole paragraph, and that’s great! Dont edit, dont delete anything more than a paragraph. If you need to change a scene, make a new file and call it “Scrap” or “Scenes for later” so you can reference it. Even if your first draft is the worst thing you have ever read, it lays the foundation for you, because you’ve already made a huge achievement
Number 4 – self edit like mad. Before you send it to betas, get your story tight. After betas, tighten it up even more before a dev edit (though I see debs as optional). Do character edits! If you have more than one POV, copy all of their individual POV chapters into one document and run through the whole thing to develop their internal voice. For a copy/line edit, go through every single line of text yourself and look at character movements and see if there are lots of repeats (eye movements is a huge one for any author). And, use Prowriting Aid!! The subscription fee is 100% worth it and you will save money when you send it off for edits. Also, by the time I get to the publishing stage, I absolutely hate my book because I have read it so many times that I don’t want to see another word of it.
Number 5 – always ask for help if you need it. YouTube is great for learning, and there are tons of authors around who are happy to share their knowledge.
DLL. I am definitely going to have to try dictation. Easier on the eyes too, and my eyes need all the help they can get. And again, thank you for sharing so many wonderful ideas here. This is an excellent example of how you both are so responsive to your community. Thank you!
Thank you both again for visiting! And all the best to you on the great things coming your way. Do you have any last words of advice for those getting started on their writing journeys?
MS: Write for you. You will get criticized, people will be mean and will give poor reviews. Know what you can handle. Have a friend or your beta read the reviews and share the most important takeaways. Don’t take random strangers’ thoughts as a personal attack. One comment sent me on a 2 day spiral of why do I do this, I’m the worst author. It took another author to remind me that I write for myself, I write for my super fan, I write for my future super fans. Hold on to what drove you to write and publish your work.
AH: Agree with Meg. And don’t try and change your story to fit other people’s likes and dislikes. It’s your story, you know what’s right and wrong. Feedback can be amazing, but don’t go overboard. Find a people you can trust to give you honest feedback and criticism to make your story better, not just turn it into what they want. And, make sure you are proud of your work. When it comes to the publishing deadline, make sure you’re sitting back and thinking that you have done your best and you are happy with the end result. Every review is someone’s personal opinion, and, even if it’s a negative review, if you are proud of the story you’ve written, then everyone else can fuck off.
DLL: Fantastic advice! Both of you. Are you sure you’re baby authors?? Thank you so much.
Get your copy of Magick & Mystery featuring Prinpricks: An Adult Fairy Tale
A prince finds himself deep in the Shangthorn forest one morning, facing three foul and warty hags who peer at him with purpose in their eyes. When they pose probing questions and offer him peculiar choices requiring intimate sacrifices, everything he’s certain of—everything he knows about himself—flies in the face of mystery, magic, and these creatures who are more than they seem.
I enjoy the blogs from Writers Write immensely. When the one below popped up today, I totally related. Do you find yourself swooning over morally grey antagonists, those nasty villains with a vulnerable side and a broody brow? Do you secretly hope they will win in the end?
Writing the antagonist is probably more fun than writing the hero. Hmmm. I think that’s a confession that will prompt more soul-searching. Well, at least I can accept that it’s all part of the learning process as I continue this writing journey. And whew! I’m thankful for these blogs assuring me that I’m not the first writer to struggle with dreaming up steamy scenes with the antagonists more often than the heroes.
These blogs gave me more clarity. Heroes and antagonists are not all black and white. They are the perfect blend of both with one topping the other only after they take all those twists and turns in their destiny, and it’s what they do with that heady mixture of imperfection that makes the story.
This means my heroes can be a bit of both good and bad, so I don’t have to struggle with choosing which one to fall in love with. Wait… I still need a villain. Sigh… I’ll keep working on it. That’s the joy of being a writer.
After reading this blog, I searched for more. Enjoy these great insights into loving your antagonist.
Retire I said. Write full time, I said. Get up when I want. Eat when I want. Listen to books when I want. Go out with friends when I want. Eerrk! Wait, back up. Write full time? That’s work, right?
Did I really think my pod people (aka book characters seeded in my brain by aliens) would let me retire? Get up when I wanted, go out with friends when I wanted. eat when I wanted? Okay, so that stuff is actually happening, but yikes! I am really writing full time!
Like get up, stay in my jammies, bring a cup of coffee to my office, and start writing, until I want to stop kind of full time writing. Oh Yeah!
It was a great month to retire from the old day job because it’s Camp NanoWrimo! I passed my goal yesterday and I’m closing in on a finish to a story I have been dying to write since Book Two in my series, The Starlight Chronicles (slipping in an announcement here – my series relaunch is happening in May!!), because there’s a vampire, one of those secondary pod people you fall in love with from his very first introduction. And he only gets better all the way through to his cliffhanger ending (coming in Book Three!!).
So what better Camp project is there than giving Mortas his own short story. And events unfold that include another great secondary pod person, Ember, the witch. But pod people beget more pod people when writing fiction. And that’s what’s happening in this story. New compelling pod people!
I’m trying to keep it short, which means its 15,000 if I want to submit it to an Indie Press anthology. But it’s pushing the boundaries really tight. So, we’ll see.
Let me know what you think of the story description that follows my beautiful teaser. I would love any help with using it for my submission.
Mortas
Description:
No one remembers how Mortas came into existence, least of all him. Due to his vast age, he can command magic, and his vampire urges. His other inexplicable ability? He can exist in daylight. These skills mean Lord Aramis, the ruler of the North American Vampires, often assigns his favorite emissary to missions involving humans.
But Mortas has not always been at the pinnacle of vampire perfection. He’s done a lot of things in his thousands of years he would rather forget.
When he meets a witch in San Francisco in 1969, he wonders for the first time if it’s possible to live life without being plagued by dreams of regret. But Ember has another calling and leaves their bed one afternoon, never to return.
When you’re immortal, you move on.
An assignment leads Mortas to Selena Aires. He’s captivated by the beautiful, marked maiden with a prophetic destiny. Turns out she needs his help. But Mortas’s help is never free. When she pays the price without question and joins him on a dangerous mission, his fascination turns into purpose. A purpose that sends him into the worst predicament of his life.
~~~
Ember grew up in Fisherman’s Wharf, part of a coven who told fortunes for sailors as cover to more lucrative work, like picking their pockets. When two of her marks got the better of her at fourteen, she got rescued by a bear. To this day, she would do anything for that bear shifter because Andras Johns is one of the best men she knows. When he calls on her to help a vampire in trouble, she doesn’t hesitate to answer.
APRIL! Better weather – NaNoWriMo Camp Month – Retirement entered, full-time writing commences… Can’t wait to finish book three of The Starlight Chronicles! I’m simultaneously writing a spin-off story that continues where book three leaves off, which is helping me write my closing scenes. I love how this stuff works!
Oh! And check out this precious pen from my workmates as a send off today. They even inscribed it with my pen name.
Book One – polishing… nearly done… Click image for an excerpt!
She pelts him with bunchberries the first time they meet. The black wolf would suffer the sticky mess an entire day if it meant listening to her sweet laughter and the soothing sound of her wings, but he has a job to do.
After all is said and done, 2022 turned out to be a great year because that’s when I got involved with the Fantasy Sci Fi Writers Alliance (“Alliance”) and met you and many other wonderful hard working creators offering invaluable support, and so many resources.
And you published a fantastic story with Funemployment Press. We’ll talk more about Braza and the Funemployment Quarterly in a bit. But to start us off, Can you summarize your highlights for 2022?
Isa – Thank you for having me, Darci, I love your blog and interviews. This is a great way to get to know new authors and projects. Last week’s interview with Madeline was great, it really inspired me to look at how history can shape our stories.
2022 was the year I came out of my shell, or so to speak. I had been writing for a few years by then, but hadn’t had the courage to show my work to the world. When I found this incredible community in April 2022, everything changed. Their support and unwavering kindness was exactly what I needed to break through the layers of self-doubt I had built around myself. I started sending my stories out and, incredibly, one of them was picked up. Braza was accepted and published in the Funemployment Quarterly Summer edition, my first publication ever and I could never have done it without the Alliance´s help and encouragement.
Also, in December, my story Dea Sulis Minerva got second place in the FSF Writers Alliance Short Story Contest, which was a most welcoming surprise.
I´d say that being able to show what I’ve written, and learning to deal with the “ups and downs” of being a writer was the biggest highlight for me. Successes are awesome, they fuel our confidence and all, but I learnt to cherish every step of the way, even rejections, because they mean I’ve been working towards something I love.
Darci – I can already say this month’s conversations with you and Madeline will go down as a highlight for me in 2023. I enjoyed Braza and Dea Sulis Minerva a lot! So, I’m super glad you have come out of your shell. I can’t wait for more. Congratulations again on Dea Sulis Minerva. It had its own elements of history in its setting and mythology. There is more about it below and our audience can click here to read it!
Like so many writers, reading is the passion that started the journey. Your book review reels are awesome, and I enjoy every one of them. What are your favorite reads for 2022?
Isa – There are three books that I discovered through the Alliance and that had a huge impact on me: Awakening, by Lucy A. McLaren and The Worthy, by Anna K. Moss — Dark Fantasy at its best; and Pariah´s Lament, by Richie Billing — a High Fantasy story with an incredibly compelling plot.
What I love most about stories is the possibility of discussing real life issues through the lenses of fantasy. Awakening, for example, has a cast of painfully human characters with real-life struggles that truly resonated with me. Same with The Worthy, when we follow morally-grey characters, rooting for them to change and impact their world in a positive way. I am always amazed by the universes writers are able to craft. Richie´s world is immense — a study in world building.
When I read great books, I feel inspired to do the same.
I also discovered that I love reading short stories, something I hadn’t paid much attention to in the past. E. B. Hunter´s short horror stories are among my favourite reads, and also your Priss Starwillow & the Wolf. I´ve become somewhat of a “fan girl” again, because now I can chat with authors whose stories I love, and that’s something I could never have done before. It is truly awesome.
Darci – Thank you for sharing what you love about these books, and short stories, Isa! And I totally agree how wonderful it is to avail ourselves of this community and the vast experience it encapsulates and then have the opportunity to give back. Anna and Eric (E. B. Hunter) chatted with me here last year and I really appreciate revisiting their work through your perspective. I look forward to more of our community visiting me in future. I’ll include the links to all books you mention in the titles.
Richie also offers a Fantasy Writers’ Toolshed Podcast and a huge amount of resources on world building and fantasy writing on his website. He even offers free books if you sign up for his newsletter.
Can you expand on that and tell us your all time favorites?
Isa – I´ve always read fantasy so any book which has magic and compelling characters — I´m in. His Dark Materials, by Phillip Pullman is one the first trilogies I fell in love with and that I still revisit whenever I have the chance. I also love Neil Gaiman. Anything that man writes, I´ll read, but I particularly enjoyed Neverwhere and The Ocean at the End of the Lane. Susanna Clarke´s Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrel makes the top of my favourite reads too, along with Patrick Rothfuss´ still-to-be-completed trilogy, Kingkiller Chronicle.
Since I started writing, and more specifically, learning about crafting stories, I´ve been thinking about what makes a story a good one. What is it that makes us root for the characters we follow, what drags us to these new universes and keeps us immersed in their stories to the point we cannot put a book down until it is over?
I came to the conclusion that the answer is the emotion stories bring to the surface, and that it can only be achieved with characters rooted in their humanity. The world and setting might be interesting, the plot engaging, battles and war nerve-wracking, but without humanity there is nothing. Phillip Pullman, Neil Gaiman, Susanna Clarke and Patrick Rothfuss are experts in humanity, and I think that is why their stories are great. They make me cry as often as they make me laugh, with characters that are real in every sense of the world: they are real because they cause a real effect in the reader, and they live in our minds and hearts forever.
Darci – Wow! I love to get recommendations. Now I’ve got more to add to my TBR. I have to admit, my preferred reads typically fall more into the supernatural romance genre, but I have been slowly building a great epic fantasy story list. You can follow Isa on Instagram for her current reviews and posts.
Isa – I also love a good paranormal romance and great romantic subplots. Give me characters slowly falling in love with each other, and you´ll have me swooning over them. One of my favourite fantasy/romance novels is a duology called The Wrath and the Dawn, by Renee Ahdieh, a retelling of Arabian Nights. Book crushes are simply the best.
Darci – Awesome. You made my day, adding a good romance series!
How many books do you average reading a year? Do you like to set goals for the year and if so, what is your goal for 2023?
Isa – I´m a mood reader, as they say, and though I read pretty fast, I don’t have much spare time to do it, while balancing work, writing and, well, living. I genuinely only read what I want to read, and never force myself to finish something I´m not enjoying. I´d say… ten books a year? That’s not a lot, but it doesn´t include rereads, so an average of fifteen in total.
I also read a lot of short stories — a lot a lot. At least one piece a day, sometimes more, which might be flash fiction, drabbles, or longer pieces. I subscribe to flash fiction magazines and get daily emails with the latest releases. Short stories are like little pocket universes where we get to dive in and surface on the other side with a different perspective, a different mind set.
It’s fascinating to realise how a hundred words in a drabble can change your view of an entire celebration. That same awe feeling happened after reading another Neil Gaiman short story Snow, Glass, Apples, a retelling of Snow White. I promise you won’t regret reading it — or you might, because you will never be able to look at the fairy tale the same again.
Another thing that I love doing is beta reading for fellow writers. Stories that are not released yet, in their developmental stage. Sometimes, the briefest ideas can be a lot of fun to work with. One of the most delightful things I find is to discover a new voice who hasn’t even discovered themselves. They share their work with apprehension, not sure if people will like it. Then I get to tell them how amazing their story is, and how much I enjoyed it — it is the best feeling in the whole world.
My goal for 2023 is to read more indie books and find those secret gems — new authors, new voices, new characters to fall in love with.
Darci – This reading strategy really makes sense. I for one have experienced and appreciated enormously your generosity in reading my stories. And getting your perspective on your enjoyment and the benefits you get from it is a real treat. I’m sure this will encourage others to engage in the same exercise. Thanks for spreading the love, Isa! And for adding more to my TBR list!
Isa – I have to say, Darci, that our beta reading session yesterday was incredible. I am still thinking about the selkie and her lighthouse man. You craft such a beautiful romance — it’s really hard not to fall for your characters. I look forward to reading more.
Darci –Wow! Thank you for that, Isa. Writing powerful romance is my dream. And there is no way I could achieve it without the generous feedback you and the members of the Alliance provide.
When and how did you start writing?
Isa – I’ve been writing most of my life, journals, articles, thesis, dissertations and scientific papers for work. But I had never actually written stories, and definitely not fantasy stories. I consumed them, but also believed I could write something as good as the stories I read. I thought about it, often, crafting tales in my mind before falling asleep, which helped me cope with anxiety and insomnia, something that I´ve been struggling with most of my adult life. I don´t know exactly what changed, but in 2017 something clicked inside my brain and I decided to put pen to paper and write about those characters I had only dreamt about. Things escalated from there.
Darci – I certainly hope the insomnia and anxiety have let up on you, and thank you for sharing that. I don’t know if it’s insomnia for all of us, but I have come to understand more about my fellow writers through our community, and the most surprising thing to learn is that many of us are night owls and really could do with a magic pill that allows us to go on without sleep. There is simply too much writing to be done!
Who and/or what were your biggest influences?
Isa – My dad used to tell me bedtime stories every single night: I would not fall asleep without them. But instead of fairy tales or tales meant (and appropriate) for children, I’d listen to ancient mythology, Greek and Roman heroes and gods. Funny enough, I learnt as an adult that instead of being rescued and learning his lesson, Icarus (spoiler alert) actually died after flying too close to the sun. See, my dad would change the endings so I´d not be too scared — or scarred for life.
Mum and Dad were always supportive of my passions, and would take me to the bookshops every month to find a new story, a new book. I grew up in a household filled with books, so it´s not surprising my love of literature. They were, and remain to this day, my biggest influences.
As for literature influences, I´d say the friends I made in the Alliance. After reading E. B. Hunter’s horror stories, I started studying the genre and tried a couple of horror pieces myself. Lucy and Anna are my role models, strong women whose works I desperately love. I want to be like them when I grow up.
And the Masters, of course, Neil Gaiman and his uncanny sense of humour, Phillip Pullman and his incredible world-building, Susanna Clarke and her beautiful prose. Giants, who I hope to walk along with one day.
Darci – I’m grinning from ear to ear on this one, Isa. Amazing parents indeed! And it reminds me of my childhood and my Dad. He has a fabulous reading voice, and loved to read me to sleep, mostly the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen.
Isa – I do think that is how a reader/writer is born. First we fall in love with the stories, then we seek them by ourselves. If there is love, nothing can get in the way.
What drew you to the Alliance? What do you think are the biggest benefits of belonging to a community of writers? What other communities have you found beneficial to your growth as a creator?
Isa – It was one of those happy accidents, I guess. I had finished writing a novel and had no idea what to do next. While trying to figure out what sub genre my novel was, I found Richie Billing’s page and blog. I subscribed to his newsletter, we started corresponding, and he invited me to join his discord channel. There was where I met the incredible people who would soon become the Alliance.
I believe the biggest benefit of belonging to a community is precisely that: belonging. Meeting people who are having the same struggles as you, who understand your pain, your heart, is something that can change your life forever. It changed mine. I used to feel quite lonely, even when surrounded by people. Friends and family might humour you, listen to your half crafted stories, but they don’t necessarily get what you are trying to do. Being able to have long conversations with someone who is going through the same as you is fantastic. I remember thinking “That’s it, these are my people, here is where I belong.”
A community offers the support we all need to put ourselves out in the world. They offer feedback on your work, help you solve those unsolvable problems that come with every new idea, offer advice on things you are facing or will eventually face.
Richie´s community and the FSF Alliance are the most supportive groups of people I’ve ever seen. Everything I achieved this past year was because of them.
I also find YouTube a great source of learning. Not a community, per se, as interactions there are more difficult and one-sided, but there are great booktubers offering amazing advice over there. I often watch video essays on word building or character development, full classes by the master Brandon Sanderson, book reviews so I’m up to date with new releases, and so on.
As I have never had formal training in fiction writing, I had to find the knowledge I needed somewhere else. YouTube proved to be quite useful, along with reading books on writing, of course. I will eventually enrol in a formal course, that is one of the goals I have for the future, but until then, I will absorb knowledge however I can.
Darci – Thank you for sharing all these resources and insights about community! I want to add here as I’ve done in a previous post that the Alliance recently launched its own website, and there are so many good things to explore, like the book club, and short story contests. Isa contributed to its first blog in addition to her winning short story. Check it out.
Now about Braza. Wow! I absolutely adored it. The stories in the Summer Quarterly by Funemployment Press were all fabulous, and I was truly impressed. I hope you have more stories like that planned. How did Braza come about?
Isa – Thank you, I really appreciate that. Braza was a surprise for me, from the beginning to the end. I had never thought I could write a comedy before a couple of jokes spurred in that piece. Who knew I had a sense of humour?
I was thinking about the fantasy genre and its common tropes, how heroes are always trying to slay monsters, and how the monsters would probably oppose being slain. Wouldn’t it be sort of funny if they stated so? A dragon who needed a break and refused to be killed by a silver knight felt like a good place to start. I had a plan, but my characters had a different one, and the ending surprised me just as much as it might have surprised you.
I´m very fond of that story, and ended up calling my dragon Braza, as a tribute to my home country, Brazil (which I dearly miss), and because brasa (spelled with an s) is Portuguese for embers or fire. I really love that story, and I´m really happy you enjoyed it too.
Dea Sulis Minerva is another short story that uses humour to discuss something important, and it got second place in the Alliance contest. The prompt for the contest was God vs. Mankind, and I knew all those bedtime stories from my childhood would come in hand. I had also watched a documentary about the Roman Bath in Bath, England, called Aquae Sulis, and inspiration hit me.
Back then, Romans would worship Dea Sulis Minerva as one goddess instead of two, a combination of the ancient gaelic goddess Sulis and the Roman goddess Minerva. More interestingly, citizens used to ask the goddess for revenge, writing petitions in little sheets of lead called Curse Tablets, and throwing them in the holy spring the goddess dwelt.
The story was there, I only had to carve it out.
Where can we find more of your stories? What are your works in progress and plans for them?
Isa – Dea Sulis Minerva has been published on the Alliance website, so I´d say that is a great place to start. I also keep a blog where I post short stories and news about upcoming publications, so I’d love for you to visit me there. You can also find me on Instagram and TikTok at @isa.ottoni.writes
I´ve been working on a novel, but it’s miles away from being ready for anyone but my writing group. They are the ones who suffer through my edits and help me become a better writer. It´s a passion project, a story I really love, but I still need to improve my writing skills to be able to make it justice. Novels are the hardest thing to write, and I applaud the ones who can make it to the end. I also love writing short stories, so I´ll be doing that and trying to publish as much as I can.
Can you tell us a little about Funemployment Press and how you ended up submitting a story? What is the magazine’s goal and do they have any submissions opening up this year?
Isa – I saw their summer submission call on our discord channel, and ruminated on the prompt for a couple of days. The theme was Sabbatical, and I tried a couple of pieces before ultimately dropping them off. I find that forcing a story to happen does not work for me, so I often try more than one project at a time, feeling them out, and choosing the one I most resonate with. Then, Braza was born, and I was really excited about it while also trying to be realistic. I had had so many rejections until then, that one more would not discourage me, but I deeply hoped it would work out. It did, and I got that most expected email saying “We’re very pleased to accept your work ‘Braza‘…”
I was over the moon.
The editors are incredibly friendly and kind, and it was a pleasure working with them. I got my hard author copy and a second one too because my husband, without knowing about the author copy, bought one to surprise me. Being able to place a physical copy of something I have written among the loved titles on my bookshelf is a feeling I cannot describe.
Funemployment Quarterly holds four open submissions a year, one for each season, and you can check their website for information on themes and deadlines. They ask for science-fiction and fantasy short stories, and according to them “We release quality things, some of which are virtual abstractions, some of which are objects you can actually hold. We hope you enjoy your stay, make yourself at home, and find your time here useful!”
I sure did.
The cover arts are always fantastic and the story selection wonderful. Within the Summer edition I particularly love Academic Emulators, by Franco Amati; When Death Met The May Queen, by Benjamin Thomas; and Azimuth, by Matt Cantor.
No matter what edition you pick, you are in for a lot of fun.
Darci – Click wherever Funemployment is mentioned to link to the Press and they are also listed on my website under Communities, Indie Presses.Submissions are open! The Theme is Autonomy.
How do you balance all your pursuits with life and work? Do you have any tips on time management and how to fit in what you love doing with what you must do on a day-to-day basis?
Isa – Organisation is the key, I believe. I have a board on the wall of my study where I place different colour post-its with the different things I have to do throughout the month. That way I can see where my free periods are and make the most out of them. I´m fortunate enough to have a job where the schedule is flexible and I can move things around to fit my responsibilities and my passions. There are days when writing is impossible, and that’s okay, because my board tells me that tomorrow or the next day I will have an entire afternoon just for that.
Different people will have different goals and different needs, but one thing that I believe unite us writers is the passion for our craft. With passion, anything is possible, even carving time out of a crazy schedule. We write because we love doing so, and I think that is enough. If you can write everyday, great, but if not, great too, because there is nothing that will stop you from finding the time to do it.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Isa – I spent most of my adult life setting goals for myself and my career, working like crazy to meet those ideals — and I have achieved what I had set out to achieve. I have reached a point in my life where I’m perfectly content with what I have so I don’t want to stress over my writing too. I write because it makes me happy, so I´ll be happy as long as I’m doing it.
That being said, I do want to publish a novel some day, but if that is going to happen in five, ten or twenty years, I don´t know. Whatever happens, happens, and I will keep writing, keep learning, and keep loving every step of the way.
Thank you so much for visiting with me. Do you have any parting advice for our readers who want to pursue their creative passions?
Isa – Creativity is a strange thing, it may hit you when least expected. I would say that an attentive mind is the key to igniting those creative juices in our minds.
So pay attention. Pay attention to the people around you, to the silly things you watch online, to the changing seasons. Pay attention to the beating of a heart and the flap of a bird’s wing, to the cold of the morning wind and the warmth of the summer sun on your skin.
Pay attention to the world around you, think about it, then make it yours.
For me, inspiration comes in those quiet moments of contemplation, where your mind is still and yet focused, so thoughts spark in your brain and your entire body reacts to it. Did something make you laugh? Write it down. Did it make you cry? Write it down. Did it make you bored? Look again because you´re not paying enough attention.
To pursue a passion is redundant,because if it’s a passion, you will have no choice other than pursuing it. It´s in its nature, this calling that won´t leave you alone until you do what your mind and heart are begging you to do. So do it. Be brave and do it. Even if you´re doing it entirely for yourself – or especially if you’re doing it entirely for yourself.
Then, you go back to thinking about it. What worked, and what didn’t work? What was it that you needed to make it work? Talk to people, ask questions. Leave the self-doubt behind. Follow the advice that works for you, and ignore the ones that don´t. Do you. Be unapologetically yourself. And love every step of the way.
Darci – Wonderful! I can’t wait to see more of where your passion leads you, Isa. All the best to you!
By D. L. Lewellyn 