Oh, You’re An Indie Writer.

Yesterday, while attending a conference, unrelated to writing, I was asked to introduce myself by name and to share something I had achieved in my life. So, I told them I had published two novels and that my third was due out in late summer / early autumn. This gathered a lot of interest, and during the first coffee break the gentleman who was leading the conference approached me to find out more.

So, how did you get into writing?
I have been writing for about fifteen years, but only got published two years ago.
Who is your publisher?
KDP select.
Never heard of them.
Kindle Direct Publishing?
Oh, you’re and indie writer.
No, I am an indie author.

This man was very pleasant and went on to talk about his own writing and his search for a traditional publishing contract. As he spoke, I remembered the thirteen years until I released my first book. During that time I once had a short story published. I had written six novels and submitted them all to hundreds of agents only to have every single one of them return my synopsis and the initial few chapters in the self addressed envelopes I provided. I came close twice to securing a contract with two top agents in London, but on both occasions they stalled the process days before I had to sign on the dotted line. However, it was one of these agents that encouraged me to publish Pontifex Maximus through kindle. She believed in the book, but struggled to find a publisher willing to commit to a debut novelist. So that’s what I did, and went from being a writer to being an Indie author.

It makes no difference if you are self published, or if you are writing for a small press or are a London / New York publishing sensation - we are all authors. Indie authors are the revolution in the process. Any one can publish a book. But the success of your book depends on the strength of the story you have written. People will judge what you have published and your book will flounder or flourish. I have seen many indie writers succeed on Amazon, Barnes and Noble etc… They have written such amazing books that people have downloaded their work in the hundreds of thousands and sometimes in the millions. I have not had that level of success yet, but one thing I have noticed is that over the past eighteen months I have tracked five traditionally published authors and to date I am outranking three of these authors on Amazon, both in terms of sales and reviews - I should point out that these authors are well established too.

Anyone can become an indie author, but it is important that you find your voice. Don’t be someone else because they have already been taken. Some people on social media have referred to Damian North in the same breath as Dan Brown. I find this hugely flattering. Whether you love or hate him, I am a big fan of Dan Brown, but the only similarity between our works is that we have written a novel set in the Vatican. I believe my voice is my voice and in no way have I tried to emulate Dan Brown, others have and they have failed miserably in self publishing. Let Dan Brown be Dan Brown. Let Damian North be Damian North. Let you be you. Find your voice and your readers will find you, and once they do cherish them because that is were the magic is to be found, when you know that people across the world are reading your story on their kindles or in paperback.

The traditional publishing firms are struggling to keep up with the demand for indie writers. Close to 50% of downloaded books in 2017 were from Indie writers and that number is growing as readers are finding amazing talent in such authors.

If you want to become an indie author then I encourage you to give it a go. But, I caution you, don’t rush the process because as an author you want your book to become the best it can be before you deliver it into the hands of your readership. We authors begin the story, but in the end it is the readers who own it.

So, am I proud to be an Indie Author? - Yes, I am happier than I have ever been, because I am a writer who has become a published author.

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