Supporting An Indie Author and An Amazing Charity

It’s always a please to participating in author Jessica Bell’s virtual blog tours. This time around it’s extra special because the author is also helping an amazing charity. Here’s Jessica to tell you more.

The day I realized I’d been obsessing over my sales figures way too much was the day I closed my eyes and tried to think about the real reason I am an indie author.

Is my primary goal to make money? No. So why do I keep obsessing over my sales stats? I realized it’s because more sales means more people reading my work. What I really, really want is to be read. I want to share the one thing in this world I would cut my fingers off for. I know. If I didn’t have any fingers, I wouldn’t be able to physically write, but you know what I mean.
 
My passion for writing comes with a perpetual replacement button, attached to my side seam, just in case it becomes unraveled, and falls off, after a day gallivanting through the publishing jungle. It can be tough in there, but in the end, being an indie author is OH SO WORTH IT.
 
This made me wonder …  what’s everybody else’s story?

Then INDIESTRUCTIBLE was born.

Need motivation and inspiration to self-publish, or sign that contract with an interested small press? Have you done all the research you can, but still feel ambivalent about the idea? INDIESTRUCTIBLE: Inspiring Stories from the Publishing Jungle brings you the experiences of 29 indie authors—their passions, their insights, their successes—to help you make the leap into indie publishing.

This is not a how-to guide. This is the best of the indie tradition of experienced authors paying forward what they’ve learned, giving you information to help you on your journey. The personal essays in this book will leave you itching to get your work into the hands of readers and experience, first-hand, all the rewards indie publishing has to offer.

Not only is this anthology packed full of interesting, unique, and genuinely helpful information, and totally worth the 99c (only 99c!!!), 100% of proceeds will be donated to BUILDON.org, a movement which breaks the cycle of poverty, illiteracy, and low expectations through service and education.

Pretty amazing, huh? 

What are you waiting for? 

Buy INDIESTRUCTIBLE — support the indie author and an amazing charity — TODAY!

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE INDIESTRUCTIBLE

eBook: $0.99 USD
Publisher: Vine Leaves Press
ISBN 10: 0987593102
ISBN 13: 9780987593108
Language: English
Edited & Compiled: by Jessica Bell

Contributing authors:
Alex J. Cavanaugh <> Angela Brown <> Anne R. Allen <> Briane Pagel <> C.S. Lakin <> Ciara Knight <> Cindy M. Hogan <> D. Robert Pease <> Dawn Ius <> Emily White <> Greg Metcalf <> Jadie Jones <> Jessica Bell <> Karen Bass <> Karen Walker <> Kristie Cook <> Laura Diamond <> Laura Pauling <> Laurel Garver <> Leigh Talbert Moore <> Lori Robinson <> Melissa Foster <> Michael Offutt <> Michelle Davidson Argyle <> Rick Daley <> Roz Morris <> S.R. Johannes <> Stephen Tremp <> Susan Kaye Quinn

About Jessica Bell:
The Australian-native contemporary fiction author, poet, and singer/songwriter/guitarist, Jessica Bell, also makes a living as an editor and writer for global ELT publishers (English Language Teaching), such as Pearson Education, HarperCollins, Macmillan Education, Education First and Cengage Learning.

She is the co-publishing editor of Vine Leaves Literary Journal, and the director of the Homeric Writers’ Retreat & Workshop on the Greek island of Ithaca.

Connect with Jessica online:
Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter

Thanks Jessica for joining us today and telling us about this amazing book and charity.

The Inexperienced Need Not Apply

Did you work hard to get the job you have or were you just lucky being at the right place at the right time?

Looking at online job descriptions this week I was struck by the Catch-22 when applying for a job. You can’t get a job without experience and you can’t get experience without a job. Some companies will make allowances for the lack of experience, while others are very strict.

That got me to thinking about authors - those established and those just beginning.

As readers we can sometimes be a bit strict about what we expect from new authors. We can expect too much of them and fail to give them a second chance if they don’t meet our high expectations the first time around. While there are certain things we should expect, all new authors won’t be flawless their first time out. It takes time for some to find their rhythm and that little niche that transforms them into award-winning bestsellers.

I’ve even read new series by well-established bestselling authors that were a bit slow or the story didn’t flow as smoothly as possible. But 9 out of 10 times, with the second installment they had the kinks worked out and things fell into place.

With the ever-increasing new ways writers have available to publish their work, more and more inexperienced authors are in the marketplace. From a reader’s viewpoint this is a plus as it means more books to read. We just have to remember that all the works may not be perfect. Keep in mind you have to write to become experienced.

There was a time when most people wouldn’t even pick up a book that wasn’t printed by a major publishing company. Those writing for the ‘other’ companies weren’t even considered authors. Times have changed and that is no longer the case. Many well-established authors are now deciding to publish themselves.

This week I read a post - Let freedom ring: Indie publishing is becoming a more and more attractive alternative - by Terri Giuliano Long that gives great insight into this. The self publishing taboo is fading fast.

When searching for a new book to read, the author’s experience or lack of shouldn’t be a major factor. The plot and how the characters are developed, that should be an issue. If the story grabs you and draws you, that should be a factor. But remember to also look for potential if there’s a few flaws along the way.

As readers we are well blessed by the vast array of material that is offered from established authors, as well as just beginning authors. Are you willing to try a book by an inexperienced author? What has been you experience with both types of writers? Do you ever consider you might be reading works by the next great Hemingway when you try a new author that little is known about?

Thanks for reading my thoughts today. Have a great Friday and a wonderful weekend. Please stop in tomorrow for a book feature by a ‘new-to-me’ author.