As a successful writer of non-fiction, I found myself a few years ago with more time to write fiction and set to work with a will. I'd always written fiction,but stories,novels and poetry were finished and filed carefully away.
Then one day all that changed. At my first Scottish Association of Writers conference, my crime novel was actually placed!Not long after a writing friend posted to say a publisher, funded by the Arts Council, was looking for novels and off my effort went.
Imagine my delight when almost by return the reply came to say they would indeed publish my novel.The whole process was straightforward and smooth ...and you could even choose one of the covers they supplied.
Then,just before Christmas that year,someone told me my novel was for sale on Amazon. Friends and family sent off for copies and back came...a novel by a completely different writer. Not only was it not the kind of novel I would write, it wasn't the kind of book most people I knew would read.
Friends began to look at me strangely, perhaps suspecting I'd adopted a pen name and had hidden erotic depths.
Eventually the problems (including some with the first edition) were resolved and copies of my novel were available. Yes, I had stumbled into self-publishing without realising it.
It took quite some time to sort everything out,but but by then I was hooked. And with the advent of Kindle, the publishing world became even more interesting.
It's not that I wouldn't like to have a publisher,but with all the scare stories about the difficulties that are going the rounds at the moment,I'm happy to keep writing and being an indie!
My latest novel Last Dance at the Rothesay Pavilion will be available on Kindle soon.
The 'real' Rothesay Pavilion.
Hi Myra, nothing is straightforward. My real name is used by several other writers and I did have to disappoint one lady who was introducing me as the poet she'd admired. Alas, no.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, you could spend your life sorting out all the peripherals and not actually doing much writing -as I am today!
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to Last Dance. I read the 2 previous Bute novels and liked them. They'll be mentioned in the Cosy Crime section when I do my Crime Residency for the Edinburgh Ebook Festival - that's the online one, not the physical one in Edinburgh. It runs at the same time though.
ReplyDeleteYes, Myra, as your posting shows, indie publishing does give you control of your material but I hadn't realised it also gives you control over your name and who you are. I love that pavilion, by the way, classic Art Deco by the look of it. Lovely.
ReplyDeleteYou're a good example of the success indie publishing can bring, Myra! I'm sure you're glad you decided to take control of your own publishing
ReplyDeleteAs Vikki says, you're a good example of Indie succes, Myra! More power to your pen and publishing enjoyment.
ReplyDeleteThank you for all the comments. I must say I do enjoy the control you have as an indie writer.Or perhaps I'm just a bit of a control freak!
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you ,Chris, for the kind offer. All help very gratefully received.
Myra, you say you 'stumbled' into indie publishing - but you've certainly found your balance. Retaining control of your published work is a big bonus of going independent, especially at the moment when the publishing world is in such a state of flux.
ReplyDeleteThank you,Joan. It's such a minefield,isn't it?
ReplyDeleteFascinating Myra. I didn't realise this was how it all happened - although I do remember the shennanigans with the wrong book being sent out! You're a great advert for indie publishing.
ReplyDeleteHi Gill,
ReplyDeleteIn my continuing learning curve re technology,I think I replied to you by e-mail!
There are probably advantages and disadvantages with all forms of publishing and we've just got to try and find what suits us best.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right,Patsy! One wonders what the next few years will bring.
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