Who’s That Indie Author? Richard Lyntton

Richard Lyntton

Name: Richard Lyntton

Books written: North Korea Deception, Book 1 in The Deception Series: Hyde Park Deception (Book 2); Leningrad Deception (Book 3 – April 2023)

Genre: Commercial thriller – spy thriller, political thriller

Books Published: From Cottage to Palace, This Was Our Malvern and Upton-Upon-Seven Recollections written by my aunt, Margaret Bramford.

Genre: non-fiction and local history royal memoir

When did you first decide you wanted to be a writer? I have always wanted to be a writer ever since a wrote a “cowboy epic” of about 40 pages, aged 8, in my primary school, London, UK.

I read a lot when I became a professional actor. I love John le Carré, Robert Ludlum, and Daniel Silva. In about 2005, I started writing North Korea Deception, which was based on real-life adventures as a Russian student in Moscow, serving as a captain in the British army, and working as a UNTV producer in Bosnia.

Do you write full-time? If not, do you have an outside job or other responsibilities? Between auditions, yes, I write every day, 2-3 hours in the morning after a 45 min walk along my local creek. I also spend 3-4 hours marketing and working on the other books I am publishing under Malchik Media (which means “Boy Media” in Russian. I have two sons, so I just made up the name.)

Where do you get your ideas for characters and plots? Probably 30-50% is autobiographical in terms of locations and experiences. But I also need a theme or topic I feel passionate about and use historical research to weave the above into a gripping story. I write thrillers, so there must be an exciting, nail-biting, and roller-coaster plot!

Have you ever written yourself into a story? Yes, Jack Steele, the hero in my series, is 30-50% autobiographical.

Tell me about your nonfiction projects. What subjects motivate you? I publish non-fiction (3 to date) in memory of my aunt Margaret Bramford. She wrote ten local history books about: a) my great aunt Florence who served as a ladies maid in the British royal household for thirty years, travelling the world with two Queen Elizabeths – The Queen Mother and Queen Elizabeth II, (think Downton Abbey and The Crown (Netflix), and, b) local social history and biography memoirs from the Worcestershire and Malvern area in UK.

What kind of research and preparation do you do before you write? I read non-fiction books and watch documentaries on the subject(s) I am interested in. e.g. Leningrad Deception is a story based on President Ronald Regan’s “Deception Committee” during the end of the Cold War during the Reagan-Gorbachev period in 1989. I had never heard about or read about the “Deception Committee,” and found it fascinating to weave a plot based around this little-known part of the Reagan-Gorbachev era. I draft an outline of each scene before I write the first draft: POV, Date/time, location, characters, plot and most importantly, the “kick” – what propels the story to the next chapter?

What is your editing process? Do you hire an outside editor? Two things any author or indie author must spend money on – hiring a professional editor and a professional book cover designer. I go back and forth one or two chapters at a time with my editor as I write each draft.

How do you decide on your book covers? Do you outsource? I hire a professional book cover designer. Before I published North Korea Deception, I spent the afternoon in Barnes and Noble screen-shooting thriller covers and the info inside the cover. Then I reached out to some cover designers on LinkedIn and found a great fit.

How did you come up with the title of your latest book? Great Question. My thriller series must have the word “Deception” in the title, so that’s 50% of the job. The rest of the title speaks to the story location, or one of the locations – e.g. North Korea, Hyde Park, Leningrad etc.

What route did you take to get published? Describe your experience. I watched tons of videos on YouTube. David Gaughran’s FREE course, Starting From Zero is fantastic. I also purchased a couple of on-line courses on Amazon ads and Facebook ads.

Have you ever tried to get an agent? If so, what steps did you take? I tried to get an agent for many years and gave up. It might take two years to get an agent because most of them take weeks, if not months to reply to a submission or query. Once they sign you, you might wait another year for them to find a publisher and publish. The process – if you are lucky – might take three years. However, if you do it yourself, once you have a polished, finished manuscript, you can self-publish in about 6 months.

What kinds of things do you do to promote your book? Amazon ads, Facebook ads, my website, “reader regiment” newsletter, and discount promo sites are the main ways I use to market.

Have you ever had a book-signing event? Tell us about your experience. Yes. Local indie bookstores and Barnes and Noble are very welcoming to local authors in my experience. They like to have “real” writers in the store, that bring foot traffic and the human touch to books. They don’t seem to care if you are traditionally or self-published. It’s always a very positive experience for me but you must be “high-energy” and know how to hook your potential readers.

Have you taken writing courses? I did take a writing course many years ago and read every writing book I could find on writing when I first began about fifteen years ago.

Do you belong to a writer’s group? I did try once, but I didn’t find it helpful or useful.

Are you in a book club? I do book signings and talks at local book clubs. People are always very eager and pleased to have a real author!

Do you ask friends/family to read your WIP? I did used to ask a couple of well-selected and carefully chosen writer friends to read my first draft of book 1. Now I rely mainly on my editor for the WIP.

Name three unread books on your bookshelf. The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson; The King’s Pawn by Lucy Hooft; Beyond the Cobblestones by Luisa Livorno Ramondo.

What is the last book you read? Portrait of an Unknown Woman by Daniel Silva

How many pages do you think a book of fiction/nonfiction should be? About 400pages – 90-100K words

What is the riskiest or wildest thing you’ve ever done? I once tried to secretly film General Ratko Mladic, and Dr. Radovan Karadzic, leaders of the Bosnian Serbs in Pale, Sarajevo, during the Bosnia war. I wasn’t a spy, I was filming a video diary for the BBC about life as a United Nations Military Observer in Bosnia. I got caught and my camera was confiscated but considered myself lucky not to be arrested or worse.

What is the hardest thing you’ve ever done? Writing, editing, narrating the audiobook, and marketing a book TO BE PROFITABLE!

What advice can you give to new writers entering the writing and publishing arena? Be very, very clear about your goals – do you just want to write one book and “be published” or do you want to write several books and make a business. Huge difference.

You gotta love the actual process of writing. You gotta START writing every day. You find a time that works for you, and you gotta do it every single day, or most days of the week. Find a great editor and a great book cover designer. That’s where you spend your money. Never pay a “publisher” to publish your book unless you really understand what is involved and what you are paying for. Writing is 35% writing and 65% marketing. Most so called “hybrid-publishers” do NOT do the most difficult part of marketing your book.

You gotta believe and know that people want to read your stuff! I told myself early in the process – I know there are people out there who will enjoy these stories – I just gotta find them.

Website and social media links:
Website: richardlynttonbooks.com
Twitter: @richardlyntton
Facebook: Richard Lyntton Books
Instagram: @richardlynttonbooks
YouTube: @richardlyntton – Author Hour with Richard Lyntton – I interview other authors about writing and publishing.

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Who’s That Indie Author? Jaq D Hawkins

Jaq D Hawkins

Name: Jaq D Hawkins

Books: Dance of the Goblins, To Dance With Dragons, Power of the Dance, The Wake of the Dragon, The Chase For Choronzon

Genre: Fantasy

Background: Traditionally published author gone full indie. Publishes non-fiction occult and Fantasy fiction.

When did you first decide you wanted to be a writer? As a child, though my first book was published in 1996.

Do you write full-time? I juggle film editing with writing, but yes, my creative work is full time.

Where do you get your ideas for characters and plots? They plague me constantly. I have many partial projects on my computer, all vying for attention. Ideas are the easy part.

Have you ever written yourself into a story? I think all writers lend some of themselves to favourite characters.

Tell me about your nonfiction projects. What subjects motivate you? I’ve had an interest in occult subjects since an aunt first introduced me to astrology at age 8. My first published pieces were for specialist magazines in that subject matter and I’ve had a few books out since then, mainly about chaos witchcraft and nature spirits.

What kind of research and preparation do you do before you write? It depends on the project. For example, The Wake of the Dragon is set in an alternative Victorian England and apart from the airships, much of it is effectively historical fiction. The East India Company and their involvement in the opium trade was very interesting indeed!

What is your editing process? Do you hire an outside editor? Every writer should hire an editor. The first pass I do myself though. I make a PDF and put it on my Kindle, read one chapter a day and take notes on any typos I find and anything else that needs changing.

How do you decide on your book covers? Do you outsource? My Fantasy covers have art from very talented artists. I do my own titles and graphics as I’m an old Photoshop addict. The one exception was The Chase for Choronzon, as the whimsical nature of that one was given to a photo manipulation.

How did you come up with the title of your latest book? The latest release was The Chase For Choronzon. That reflects the plot of the book itself, as two magicians chase the demon Choronzon through time and space to return him to his duty, guarding the gates between the worlds.

What route did you take to get published? Describe your experience. The fiction was a lucky accident. I was deciding what route to go with that when someone starting a small publishing company ended up sitting at a table with me at a social event. He had a look, got some of his people to read my manuscript and decided to go with it.

Have you ever tried to get an agent? If so, what steps did you take?  In my early writing days I sent things to agents, usually to be told they didn’t handle genre fiction, even if their listings said they did.

What kinds of things do you do to promote your book? Not enough. I’ve got them on book sale lists and more recently have tried Bookfunnel while assessing the more costly options.

Have you ever had a book-signing event? Yes. I’ve done book signings for my non-fiction on occasion.

Have you taken writing courses? In school. I regularly read articles online about various aspects of writing.

Do you belong to a writer’s group? Tell us about your experience. A few groups on Facebook. I find them very friendly and supportive.

Are you in a book club? Not at the moment.

Do you ask friends/family to read your WIP? No. They’re the least likely to read it and if they do, they’ll tell you it’s wonderful no matter what.

Name three unread books on your bookshelf. The ones at the top of my tbr at present are The Other Magic by Derrick Smythe, Reign of Shadows by Angel Haze and A Thief in Farshore by Justin Pike. I do read other genres but there’s some awesome indie Fantasy out there and I’m trying to catch up.

What is the last book you read? Finished? Crucible of Shadows by Jon Cronshaw. It was third in a series well worth reading.

How many pages do you think a book of fiction/nonfiction should be? It depends. Non-fiction is totally down to how much information needs to be conveyed on the subject. Fiction is fairly subjective. I like books under 400 pages best. Some people like huge books and I will read them if they’re good enough to hold my attention that long.

What is the riskiest or wildest thing you’ve ever done? Either running away with the carnival at age 16 or initiating court proceedings on my own, using my writing ability to copy format on papers sent against me in a custody case. I won in the end.

What is the hardest thing you’ve ever done? Physical or mental? Mental, definitely the custody battle. Physical, was probably a printing job I had where I didn’t realise the first night I was doing the work of two men. I just threw myself into the work and didn’t think about the fact that it wasn’t really a lady’s job.

What advice can you give to new writers entering the writing and publishing arena? Learn to take criticism. Your first draft is never going to be perfect. Writing is hard work, not an easy buck.

Website and social media links:
Website: jaqdhawkins.com
WordPress: goblinsandsteampunk
Amazon: Jaq-D-Hawkins
Smashwords: jaqdhawkins
Facebook: GoblinSeries

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Who’s That Indie Author? Valerie Ormond

Valerie Ormond

Name: Valerie Ormond

Books: Believing In Horses; Believing In Horses, Too; and Believing In Horses Out West

Genre: Young Adult Fiction

Background: I am a writer living in Maryland. I retired after a 25-year career as a naval intelligence officer and founded my current business, Veteran Writing Services, LLC where I provide companies and organizations professional writing, editing, and consulting services.

When did you first decide you wanted to be a writer? After I retired from the Navy, I realized writing a book had been on my list of things to do.

Do you write full-time? I own a small business, Veteran Writing Services, LLC, which provides professional writing and consulting services. My creative writing endeavors are a small part of that business, although the part I enjoy the most.

Where do you get your ideas for characters and plots? Usually my characters and plots are based on situations I’ve encountered, and sometimes they simply come to me. I’ve also fictionalized stories from the news or from history.

Have you ever written yourself into a story? I’ve never written myself into my stories with me as a character, but my characters have taken on my personality traits. My main character in my books does things a younger version of me would have done—good and bad.

Tell me about your nonfiction projects. What subjects motivate you? My nonfiction projects are stories I feel should be told, such as my grandfather’s WWI service and my adventures as one of the first women onboard U.S. Navy aircraft carriers. My news articles are on subjects I care about including how the connection with one of our horses ended up with a young woman entering the U.S. Air Force Academy and one about the future of the once-famous Bowie Race Track.

What kind of research and preparation do you do before you write? Too much! Even for fiction, if I am depicting scenes I have not experienced, I go on site to a similar scene to ensure authenticity. If that’s not possible, I research and speak to knowledgeable people. I’m an outliner, so that’s part of my preparation.

What is your editing process? Do you hire an outside editor? I self-edit first and recently started using Auto-Crit to point out problem areas. I’ve used beta readers, developmental editors, and copy editors. For books, I believe a copy editor is essential.

How do you decide on your book covers? Do you outsource? My first two books were published through a small press, and I was fortunate to have had some say on the covers. I did not want to have an image of the main character on the cover, leaving that up to the reader. I self-published my last book and outsourced the cover working closely with the designer.

How did you come up with the title of your latest book? My first book, Believing In Horses, was supposed to be one book, not a series. So when I wrote Believing In Horses, Too, I had a title theme. The latest title became Believing In Horses Out West since it is an adventure to a dude ranch in Montana.

What route did you take to get published? Describe your experience. I looked for publishers who published the same kind of work as mine starting with The Writer’s Market, then looked on the internet, and stumbled into my publisher. I wrote asking for advice, and they offered to look at my manuscript and liked it. I got lucky, and the things I learned gave me the confidence to self-publish later.

Have you ever tried to get an agent? If so, what steps did you take? In The Writer’s Market, I found an agent I thought might like my first book. I emailed the query letter, and she was polite enough to respond it wasn’t for her. I learned I didn’t have the patience for that process.

What kinds of things do you do to promote your book? Blogs, book awards contests, news releases, discussions at writing workshops, social media, occasional ads in horse magazines, and talking to people about them.

Have you ever had a book-signing event? Tell us about your experience. I’ve had lots, and my most fun was at a year-end horse competition banquet for my target age, selling out in less than one hour.

Have you taken writing courses? Yes, many, learning from each. I was also an English major, so that helped.

Do you belong to a writer’s group? If so, is it in-person or online? Tell us about your experience. The two I attend most have been both in-person and online. I recommend everyone join a writer’s group to help stay motivated, on-track, and get honest feedback.

Are you in a book club? No

Do you ask friends/family to read your WIP? Yes, when done.

Name three unread books on your bookshelf. Opening Up by Writing It Down by James W. Pennybaker, Burn You Twice by Mary Burton, and The Horse Who Changed My Life: My Serendipitous Journey through Equus by Nancy Lee Gerson.

What is the last book you read? The Maid’s Diary: A Novel by Loreth Anne White.

How many pages do you think a book of fiction/nonfiction should be? 80,000 words/30,000 words.

What is the riskiest or wildest thing you’ve ever done? My husband and I went on a self-guided horse travel trip to Ireland in 2008 where we rented horses, and they gave us a map to get to our B&B locations for the next four days. Without the luxuries of GPS on our phones, it was quite the experience where we galloped on beaches, entered a live shooting range, and ended up in desolate places. But we have memories that will last forever.

What is the hardest thing you’ve ever done? Losing both of my parents.

What advice can you give to new writers entering the writing and publishing arena? Everyone has advice, but only you have your voice. Listen, learn, but be true to yourself in the end.

Website and social media links:
Believing In Horses Website: BelievingInHorses.com
Amazon Author Page: valerieormond
Blog: valerieormond.com
Facebook: BelievingInHorses
Twitter: @BelieveInHorses
YouTube: @ValerieOrmond

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Who’s That Indie Author? Deborah Jay

Deborah Jay

Name: Deborah Jay

Books: The Prince’s Man (#1 The Five Kingdoms), The Prince’s Son (#2), The Prince’s Protégé (#3), The Prince’s Heir (#4), The Prince’s Legacy (Boxset books 1-4 inclusive), Desprite Measures (The Caledonian Sprite stories #1), Sprite Night (#1.5), The World and the Stars (multi-author anthology), The Building Blocks of Training, and The Successful Dressage Competitor

Genre: Epic and Urban fantasy, plus horse training.

Background: I am a former professional athlete, now coach, trying to retire in my dream home in the Scottish Highlands. My plan is to do more writing as I do less outdoor work, but I find it hard to say ‘no’ and so my planned reduction in coaching isn’t yet happening.

When did you first decide you wanted to be a writer? As a child I was a voracious reader and just assumed I would also write. I started at around 8 years old, and never stopped.

Do you write full-time? If not, do you have an outside job or other responsibilities? I’ve been a professional athlete all my life (riding dressage horses) and I’m so used to being super active that I don’t think I could tolerate being a full-time writer, but it does fit in very nicely when the weather is bad and gives me an excuse to be indoors!

Where do you get your ideas for characters and plots? Ooh, I always dread this question! My entire life I’ve had a busy and demanding imagination, with both plots and characters appearing fully formed from my subconscious—so many that I will never get them all onto the page! Occasionally a news story will prompt a new idea to kick things off, but equally, I’m never short of my own material.

Have you ever written yourself into a story? No, although my values and opinions may sneak in at times.

If you write nonfiction, tell me about your projects. What subjects motivate you? I write non-fiction text books about my specialist area of knowledge: training dressage horses.

What kind of research and preparation do you do before you write? When I began my writing career I was a true pantser—writing ‘by the seat of my pants’ with no idea where the plot was going, but these days I do a vague outline, laying out the start and finish, with a bit of the middle, plus my characters’ motivations and story arcs (how they will change during the story). For me, part of the enjoyment of writing is being surprised by what a character does, and where the story leads, so I don’t like to be too detailed before I begin.

What is your editing process? Do you hire an outside editor? I do all my own editing, although these days I’m pretty good at producing a fairly clean first draft that needs only some minor tweaks. For advice on this I rely on my awesome writers’ group: we’ve been working together for 30 years! Most of us are published in one form or another, so we expect nothing less than professional work from each other, and we are very good at critiquing positively, and discussing how to solve plot and character issues. 

Once a story has been though the group and I’ve made any changes they think necessary, I send it to a handful of beta readers for final opinions, which might result in some small changes in emphasis and copyedits but no major adjustments.

How do you decide on your book covers? Do you outsource? Oh yes! I am no artist, and having an awesomely attractive book cover is one of the most important things every author needs. I use Ravven – Book Cover Art and Design

How did you come up with the title of your latest book? The Prince’s Heir is part of a series, so follows the series pattern of relating to more than one character in each book.

What route did you take to get published? Describe your experience. Back when I began, the only route (apart from vanity publishing) was with a traditional publisher. I was fortunate to be taken on by the first U.S. agent I approached, who sent the book to the (then) Big Six publishers. It took 6 months to get all the responses back, and they all loved my writing style, but the book wasn’t a fresh enough concept for them, so they all passed. In the meantime, I had approached a UK publisher directly with a proposal for a non-fiction text (on horse training) which they took. I have published 2 books with them and have a third coming out this year.

When indie publishing became a practical option, I published my first novel myself, and continue happily with that route for my fiction.

What kinds of things do you do to promote your book? I run an annual price promotion over Christmas each year with paid ads, and in between I blog on my own site, and do guest blogs such as this one.

Have you ever had a book-signing event? Tell us about your experience. I have done a few, but I’m not a natural at small talk, or at attracting people to come and talk with me, so I’m not overly successful unless I’m selling to people who are already fans.

Have you taken writing courses? No

Do you belong to a writers’ group? If so, is it in-person or online? Tell us about your experience. Yes, we meet once a month, in person before Covid, and now on Zoom. Doing the meetings online has enabled a few former members who moved away to rejoin.

Are you in a book club? No

Do you ask friends/family to read your WIP? No

Name three unread books on your bookshelf. The Selkie Spell by Sophie Moss, California Demon by Debra Dunbar, The Author Estate Handbook by M.L. Ronn.

What is the last book you read? The Palace of Lost Memories by C.J. Archer

How many pages do you think a book of fiction/nonfiction should be? As long as it needs to be to tell the story!

What is the riskiest or wildest thing you’ve ever done? I took myself and my best horse abroad to compete at an international show in Spain with no idea how we were going to get home again!

What is the hardest thing you’ve ever done? Made the decision to put my best ever wonderful horse partner to sleep when he developed a mystery illness. It proved to be the right choice as a post mortem revealed kidney cancer.

What advice can you give to new writers entering the writing and publishing arena? Read widely, both good and bad, and particularly in the genre you intend writing in, then figure out why some books work well, and others don’t.

Website and social media links:
Website: deborahjayauthor.com
Facebook: @DeborahJay
Twitter: @DeborahJay2
Pinterest: @debbylush
Goodreads: Deborah Jay
Amazon author page: Deborah Jay

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Who’s That Indie Author? Debra Purdy Kong

Debra Purdy Kong

Name: Debra Purdy Kong

Books: Casey Holland mystery series: The Opposite of Dark, Deadly Accusations, Beneath the Bleak New Moon, The Deep End, Knock Knock, The Blade Man, A Gold Satin Murder

Genre: Crime Fiction

Background: I live near Vancouver, British Columbia and I’m the author of eleven mystery novels (three of them are out of print). After many years spent learning the craft of writing and the business side of things (I’m still learning), I now mentor newer writers through workshops offered by my local community center.

When did you first decide you wanted to be a writer? In 1979 I spent a year travelling alone through Europe and working as a legal secretary in London, England. I wrote a lot of letters home, kept a journal, and began writing my first short stories to fill my evenings. I wound up with a roommate who encouraged me to keep writing. By the time I came home, I knew I wanted to write fiction for the rest of my life.

Do you write full-time? If not, do you have an outside job or other responsibilities? For most of my adult life, I’ve either raised kids, volunteered, and/or worked part-time at various jobs. It was never my goal to write full-time, since much of my inspiration comes from getting out in the world and doing things. As a retiree, I still don’t write full time, although I now devote a fair chunk of my days to marketing and promotion, blogging, and book reviewing. I also have two young granddaughters whom I love to spend time with.

Where do you get your ideas for characters and plots? My ideas come from real-life crime stories happening here in Vancouver and other parts of Canada. Some ideas are also inspired by my experiences. For example, my fourth book, The Deep End, is largely set in a youth detention center, so I relied heavily on my volunteer experiences when I was a criminology student. I’m so glad I kept journals back then.

Have you ever written yourself into a story? I can’t say that I’ve ever written myself into a story, but when I first started writing the Casey Holland series many years ago, Casey and I shared some traits. My character hasn’t aged the way I have, and I find that we have less in common. I did use my work experience as a security and communications officer to create the character of Casey. She’s a transit security guard and I worked security on campuses, however, the basic training would have been the same.

What route did you take to get published? Describe your experience. Like many authors, my publication journey has been a roller coaster, starting with two agents I worked with on two series. When that didn’t pan out, I eventually found a small press to publish the first four books in my Casey Holland series. But the publisher decided to cut a number of authors, so I self-published the following three books. I’ve also worked with another small press who published two of my novellas until health issues forced the publisher to shut down. With the fantasy I’m currently working on, I might try the agent route again, well aware that the odds are long and that it’ll take patience.

What kinds of things do you do to promote your book? My promotion strategy is fairly straightforward. First, I connect with local writers and do both online and in-person events with them such as readings, launches, book signings, or workshops. I find that working with others is much more fun. I also connect with the rest of the world through my blog, newsletter, and social media. Book promotion sites that are recommended by marketing guru David Gaughran have also proven to be helpful. One of these days, I’ll learn how to properly advertise on Facebook and Amazon.

Have you ever had a book-signing event? Tell us about your experience. I’ve had several book signings, one at a library, others at community centers, and virtually. My favorite and first launch was held in my home one autumn evening. We had food, wine, and lots of laughter. I loved It, as did my guests, so maybe it’ll happen again some time.

Do you belong to a writer’s group? If so, is it in-person or online? Tell us about your experience I’ve belonged to at least three writers’ groups over the years, but my current group is a small online group I formed when Covid restrictions kept us all at home. I chose three people I already knew through creative writing workshops. I chose them for their commitment to writing, their willingness to give honest feedback, and because I thought we’d work well together. It’s been amazing.

Name three unread books on your bookshelf. Three unread books on my shelf are Playing the Long Game, which is a memoir of Canadian soccer legend Christine Sinclair, The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner, and The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware. I’ve actually started that one.

What is the hardest thing you’ve ever done? One of the hardest things I’ve ever done is watch my mother go through dementia and then pancreatic cancer. On the writing front, the hardest thing I ever did was write my grandfather’s eulogy, as requested by my aunts. They were quite the editors, but in the end they were happy with the piece.

What advice can you give to new writers entering the writing and publishing arena? First, practice writing as much as you can. One good way is to keep a journal. Also, read all types of books, including how-to books on writing. Take courses and workshops. You’re not going to get it right the first time, or even the second or third, but if you focus on just one thing, you’ll make progress. Second, connect with other writers in your community. One good source are libraries some of which host book clubs, writers’ groups, and writing-related events. Attend events either online or in person. Third, take care of yourself physically and emotionally. The writing life isn’t a sprint but a marathon filled with twists and turns that you can’t control. Writers can let self-doubt paralyze them. Negative self-talk is inevitable but see it for what it is and carry on. The journey is everything, not the endgame.

Website and social media links:
Website: debrapurdykong.com
Twitter: @DebraPurdyKong
Facebook: facebook.com/DebraPurdyKongAuthor
Blog: debrapurdykong.wordpress.com
Newsletter: https://sendfox.com/debrapurdykong
Amazon

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Who’s That Indie Author? Kimberly Wenzler

Kimberly Wenzler

Name: Kimberly Wenzler

Books: Both Sides of Love, Letting Go, The Fabric of Us, Seasons Out of Time

Genre: Women’s Fiction / Contemporary Fiction

Background: I live on Long Island with my husband and rambunctious, needy puppy, Archie. When not working or writing, I dabble in gardening (is there anything better tasting than a homegrown cucumber?) or I’m reading on a beach under an umbrella, by the fire, with wine or spending time with friends and family. 

When did you first decide you wanted to be a writer? I’d kept journals for years, so I’ve always been writing. When my younger son stepped onto a school bus giving me a few hours to myself, I thought I’d try to write a full novel.

Do you write full-time? If not, do you have an outside job or other responsibilities? I wrote full-time for a few years and then returned to work. Now, I work full-time in a high school and write in the evenings and on weekends.

If you write fiction, where do you get your ideas for characters and plots? I get ideas from my own life and experiences, from friends and family, the news, dreams, conversations I may overhear in a diner…  Everywhere, really. I keep my ears open. You never know when you might overhear a juicy tidbit that might be worth exploring.

Have you ever written yourself into a story? I think some part of me finds its way into every book, not necessarily the characters’ choices, but maybe a personality trait here and there. How could it not?

What kind of research and preparation do you do before you write? My stories are very emotional so it’s hard to research that. However, if a character has a career or job that I’m not familiar with, I’ll research what it’s like to perform that job. I spend a lot of time searching on Google.

What is your editing process? Do you hire an outside editor? I write the first draft and step away from it for as long as I can. When I’m ready, I’ll make a few more passes before asking my beta readers to read it. I’ll edit further based on their critiques and then hire a developmental editor, followed by a line editor, and if I can afford it, a proofreader. If not, I look to my writer friend for help.

How do you decide on your book covers? Do you outsource? I work with a wonderful graphic designer, Suzanne Parrott. We come up with the covers together, but she designs them.

How did you come up with the title of your latest book? My last book is about a woman in her forties who falls in love with a much younger man. I wanted a play on words about where they each are in their lives, so “seasons” seemed descriptive. Of course, nothing is as it seems, so we came up with the title, Seasons Out of Time.

What route did you take to get published? Describe your experience. I self-published all four books. I sought advice from other authors I’d met, read countless blogs and websites and ultimately, found my graphic designer, Suzanne, who is knowledgeable in indie publishing and helped me. She does all my uploading, formatting and cover designs. It took a long time to put my first book out because I had so much to learn and wanted to make a good first impression.

Have you ever tried to get an agent? If so, what steps did you take? Yes. I queried my first book to 80 agents. I had no idea what I was doing and though I received a lot of positive feedback and full requests, I was told I needed to get my manuscript edited first. When I did that, I figured, let me go the rest of the way on my own and see what happens.

What kinds of things do you do to promote your book? I use social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and recently joined TikTok), enter contests, do giveaways and participate in interviews on wonderful blogs like this.

Have you ever had a book-signing event? Tell us about your experience. I haven’t done a book signing, but I’ve been invited to over two dozen book clubs on Long Island which is always an amazing experience. To meet readers in person and hear how they respond to my writing is everything.

Have you taken writing courses? Not really. One adult ed course in the beginning of my writing journey and one with Gotham Writer’s Group in Manhattan. I learn a lot by reading.

Do you belong to a writer’s group? If so, is it in-person or online? Tell us about your experience. I joined a writer’s group before I put my first book out, and met some great people, but it has since disbanded. Now, I have two critique partners who are an integral part of my process.

Are you in a book club? If so, tell us about it. Is it in-person or online? Friends or acquaintances? Yes. In fact, I was in two for eight years, but had to leave one due to scheduling conflicts. I’ve always been an avid reader and love to talk books. We’re a close group of neighborhood friends and have so many lively discussions…with wine, of course.

Do you ask friends/family to read your WIP? Yes. My mom, my husband and my reader friends are my first readers. They’re not afraid to hurt my feelings and that’s exactly what I need.

Name three unread books on your bookshelf. Ready Player One by Ernest Kline, Well Behaved Wives by Amy Sue Nathan, Never Meant to Meet You by Alli Frank & Asha Youmans

What is the last book you read? The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid.  I really enjoyed it. I’m currently reading The Winners by Fredrik Backman.

How many pages do you think a book of fiction/nonfiction should be? This is a tough one. I tend to write an entire manuscript and then go back and tighten the prose as best I can to keep it within the suggested guidelines for my genre. However, I’ve read amazing books that were eight hundred pages and equally wonderful books that were one hundred. So, I don’t really have an answer.

What is the riskiest or wildest thing you’ve ever done? I wrote four books and put them out for public consumption. It never gets easier.

What is the hardest thing you’ve ever done? Being a mom is hands down the hardest job in the world. I have two wonderful sons who are grown. But the mothering never ends.

What advice can you give to new writers entering the writing and publishing arena? Do your research. Believe in yourself. Don’t give up. And read!

Website and social media links:
Blog: kimberlywenzler.wordpress.com
Twitter: @kimberlywenzler
Facebook: facebook.com/kimberlywenzler
Instagram: kimberlywenzler

Thank you very much for allowing me to participate in Who’s Your Indie Author and be a part of your amazing site!

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Who’s That Indie Author? Mary Anne Edwards

Mary Anne Edwards

Name: Mary Anne Edwards       

Books: The Charlie McClung Mystery Series

Genre: Clean Traditional Mystery (not cozies)

Background: Mary Anne and her husband live in Canton, GA with an ill-tempered Tuxedo cat named Gertrude. Mary Anne volunteers at MUST Ministries and is a library liaison for her local chapter of Friends of the Library.

When did you first decide you wanted to be a writer: In 2009, my sister was involved in a shooting. That was how the Charlie McClung Mystery Series began.

Do you write full-time? If not, do you have an outside job or other responsibilities? Yes, I write full-time, sort of. Once a week, I volunteer for a non-profit who help those who are financially and food insecure.

If you write fiction, where do you get your ideas for characters and plots? The first idea for my fiction series began with the tragic shooting of sister, fortunately she lived. The other plots originate from a combination of music lyrics, news stories, and the devious side of my brain. My characters are like Frankenstein, bits and pieces from people I observe.

For fiction writers, have you ever written yourself into a story? Some people who know my husband me and have read my books asks if the two main protagonists are us. Yes, they are, well, the wish-we-were versions.

If you write nonfiction, tell me about your projects. What subjects motivate you? I’m writing a cookbook inspired the Charlie McClung Mysteries. My fans wanted it.

What kind of research and preparation do you do before you write? The series is set during the 1980s, so I do a lot of research to ensure things did or didn’t exist during that time period. I have a team of subject matter experts, a forensic pathologist, FBI agent, retired chief of police, a doctor specializing in poisons, a nurse practitioner, and the internet. I want my stories as accurate as possible down to the weather and what the crime scene would look like.

What is your editing process? Do you hire an outside editor? I cannot self-edit. My husband does two edits. Then I send it to an outside editor.

How do you decide on your book covers? Do you outsource? I outsource my book covers. I give them the short description of the book, genre, and a few ideas, then they work their magic.

How did you come up with the title of your latest book? From song lyrics, mainly Tom Petty

What route did you take to get published? Describe your experience.: I spoke with indie/trad writers who steered me toward indie. It’s been an eye-opening adventure.

Have you ever tried to get an agent? If so, what steps did you take? Nope!

What kinds of things do you do to promote your book? Amazon ads, social media, paid promotions, blogs, and word of mouth

Have you ever had a book-signing event? Tell us about your experience. I’ve had successful ones and some embarrassingly duds.

Have you taken writing courses? Yes, lots of them

Do you belong to a writer’s group? If so, is it in-person or online? Tell us about your experience. I used to be a member of Sisters in Crime, in person group, which I enjoyed.

Are you in a book club? If so, tell us about it. Is it in-person or online? Friends or acquaintances? I’m a member of an in-person mystery book club with friends and neighbors.

Do you ask friends/family to read your WIP? Friends and fans

Name three unread books on your bookshelf. Dark Tide Rising, Evil Never Dies, and Tidewater Inn

What is the last book you read? Defending Jacob

How many pages do you think a book of fiction/nonfiction should be? I don’t care if the book holds my interest.

What is the riskiest or wildest thing you’ve ever done? I went sliding down the side of a dam like all the other kids were doing.

What is the hardest thing you’ve ever done? Having to plan my mother’s funeral

What advice can you give to new writers entering the writing and publishing arena? Save a lot of money for your writing expenses. Don’t worry about writing every day. Family comes first.

Website and social media links:
Website: https://www.maryanneedwards.com/index.html
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authormaryanneedwards
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maedwards58/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/maedwards58
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/maryanneedwards/

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Who’s That Indie Author? Paula Light

Paula Light

Name: Paula Light

Books: Ghosted (latest), various poetry and short story compilations

Genre: general fiction, romance, poetry

Background: I’m a writer in Orange County, California. My interests include fiction, poetry, movies, painting, and cupcakes. I enjoy reading and writing about a variety of topics.

When did you first decide you wanted to be a writer? I have always written, even as a very young child.

Do you write full-time? If not, do you have an outside job or other responsibilities? I have a “real job” and write in my free time.

Where do you get your ideas for characters and plots? Everywhere. Real life, fiction, movies, songs, etc.

Have you ever written yourself into a story? Most of my protagonists have an aspect or two of me built in, but I have not appeared as me.

What kind of research and preparation do you do before you write? Whatever is necessary, such as researching a city online, checking major events of the past, organizing dates/timelines, etc.

What is your editing process? Do you hire an outside editor? I do my own.

How do you decide on your book covers? Do you outsource? I do them myself on Amazon KDP with free photos.

How did you come up with the title of your latest book? I was literally ghosted in a dating experience and it went from there.

What route did you take to get published? Describe your experience. I self-publish on Amazon KDP after spending a few years chasing romance publishers.

Have you ever tried to get an agent? If so, what steps did you take? I briefly attempted this in the early 2000’s. It’s too time-consuming and energy-draining to chase agents and publishers. I just want to write!

What kinds of things do you do to promote your book? Not much. Mostly I just mention my books on my blog.

Have you ever had a book-signing event? Tell us about your experience. No. My books are all in electronic format.

Have you taken writing courses? Way back in college I took poetry and writing workshops.

Do you belong to a writer’s group? If so, is it in-person or online? Tell us about your experience. I am not currently participating in writing groups, though I have in the past.

Are you in a book club? If so, tell us about it. Is it in-person or online? Friends or acquaintances? I belong to several book clubs ~ romance, general fiction, philosophy. I don’t always want to read the assigned books, but when I do it’s enjoyable to meet up and discuss them.

Do you ask friends/family to read your WIP? One of my daughters will read a portion of a WIP if I ask for her opinion. She helped quite a bit with Ghosted.

Name three unread books on your bookshelf. This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub. The Last Lie Told by Debra Webb. Marley & Me by John Grogan

What is the last book you read? Philosophy of Nature by Paul Feyerabend

How many pages do you think a book of fiction/nonfiction should be? However many it takes to tell the story in an entertaining way

What is the riskiest or wildest thing you’ve ever done? Online dating

What is the hardest thing you’ve ever done? Getting divorced at age 50

What advice can you give to new writers entering the writing and publishing arena? Make sure your father owns a publishing house.

Website and social media links: http://lightmotifs.wordpress.com

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Who’s That Indie Author? Heather J. Bennett

Author Name: Heather J. Bennett

Genre: Women’s Fiction/Historical (1970s)/Romance

Books: Letting Go, Expecting to Fly

Bio: As a music fan, Heather focuses her writing on the undisclosed lives of musicians. She is the author of Letting Go and Expecting to Fly and the award-winning short story “Amsterdam” published through Southwest Writers. A native of Long Island, NY, she has been transplanted to Dallas, TX (y’all), where she works as a Marketing Coordinator.

What got you started as a writer? My 1st-grade teacher gave us an assignment and I’ve been a writer ever since.

What is your writing routine? I belong to a writing critique group that meets every Tuesday. A Zoom writing session every Thursday, another writing guild that has an ongoing café to use, plus a full-day writing retreat on the 2^nd Saturday of each month, and in between, I try to write/edit at least 1-2 hours after work and on the weekends.

What route did you take to get your book(s) published? I am a self-published author learning more and more each day!

What things do you do to promote your books? I have a Facebook page, and an Instagram page, and am currently working on getting out now that the world is open again. I’d like to do some tabling events and readings. I just moved to the Dallas area and am still learning what it has to offer to authors.

What is your favorite genre to read and why? I like reading a variety of genres from YA to paranormal/supernatural to romance. I think I tend to read mostly YA because of the storytelling and they feel the most relevant to the world today.

Do you prefer to write dialogue or description? Oh, I much prefer dialogue!

Have any of your characters ever surprised you? Did this change the plot of your book? My characters surprise me with every book! In Letting Go, my main character did something completely unexpected and I ended up crying at my desk – in the office because I was writing on my lunch break!

What is the most difficult thing you have accomplished in your life? Getting a job offer here in Texas, finding someplace to live in Texas, flying home, packing up my house and storage unit, finding a mover, loading it all up and moving from New York – in FIVE DAYS. My new employer had no idea I was in New York – but I made it happen and it’s the best thing I’ve done.

What three events or people have most influenced how you live your life?  1. Moving to the Netherlands for 4 years. 2. Moving to Philadelphia for 18 years. 3. Moving to Dallas. With each move, I discovered more independence, and more places to explore, and learned that most people want the same things in life no matter where they’re from.

What would you tell your younger self? You don’t have to be the next greatest American author – you just have to keep writing. It will still bring you joy and the most interesting, amazing people will come into your life through your efforts.

Have you ever met up with a bear on a hike? If so, what did you do? If not, are you looking up what to do right now? I’ve never met a bear on a hike – but there is that meme… if you see me running, you’d better run, too!

You’re locked in your local library for the night with no dinner. Thank goodness you have water, but you only have enough change to buy one item from the vending machine. Choices are limited to: Fudge Pop Tarts, Snickers or Doritos. Which would you choose and why? Oh, I always go for the Pop Tarts! They’ve got vitamins and nutrients, right? Almost healthy, even! (Doritos are a second choice, in case the vending machine gets stuck, but then I’d have Dorito breath….)

What’s the largest number of people you’ve had in your kitchen at one time? My kitchen only holds about 3. My friend’s kitchen, however? We had about 20 for Friends Thanksgiving each year.

Closing thoughts: I hope to be able to speak with you all soon!

Website and social media links:
Website: HeatherJBennett.com
Facebook: Heather J Bennett Novelist
Instagram: heatherjbennett_author
LinkedIn: heather-j-bennett

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Who’s That Indie Author? J.Q. Rose

J.Q. Rose

Author Name: J.Q. Rose

Genre: Mystery, Nonfiction, Memoir

Books: Your Words, Your Life Story; Girls Succeed! Stories Behind the Careers of Successful Women; Arranging a Dream: A Memoir; Deadly Undertaking; Dangerous Sanctuary; Terror on Sunshine Boulevard; Quick Tips on Vegetable Gardening

Bio: I’ve always been a writer in my heart, but being a mom and making an income were top priorities. I taught third graders until my husband and I decided to pursue our dream of being entrepreneurs in the floral and greenhouse operation. After we sold the shop, I had time to pursue another dream, writing as we traveled full-time in our fifth-wheel camper. 

What got you started as a writer? My mom. She was my second-grade teacher. When I finished my assignment, I’d visit my classmates. My mother was not happy with me for interrupting them in getting their assignments done. She told me to stay at my desk and write stories. So I did. And I guess I never stopped.

What is your writing routine? I set aside time to write every day after lunch. Sometimes it’s research when necessary. At first, it was difficult to sit down and write instead of finishing the laundry or reading a book. Now, if I have to miss my writing time due to an appointment or a meeting, etc., I resent it.

What route did you take to get your books published? After receiving 22 rejections from publishers, I self-published an eBook on Smashwords. I thought I would pull out all my hair before I accomplished this chore in 2010. For my first mystery, I decided to find a publisher after going through the frustration of self-publishing. I queried one who turned me down. I sent the second query to a startup eBook publisher who accepted the book. The publisher said they “liked my voice.” I’ll never forget that. Now I am a hybrid author with self-published nonfiction books and with mysteries and a memoir published by a traditional publisher.

What things do you do to promote your books? Virtual book/ blog tour, book signings and presentations, social media, an author website for blogging, hosting authors and being a guest at their blogs and podcasts. Plus, I publish a quarterly newsletter.

What is your favorite genre to read and why? Historical fiction to learn about 19^th and 20^th-century history.

Do you prefer to write dialogue or description? I love to write dialogue when the characters banter back and forth.

Have any of your characters ever surprised you? Yes, I thought I was writing a character who was so kind and helpful until it turned out she was a manipulator only looking out for herself. Did this change the plot of your book? Yes, she did. For the best, I might add.

What is the most difficult thing you have accomplished in your life? I haven’t really accomplished the job of being a mother, but it IS the most difficult challenge I’ve ever had and can still be today! I think one is always a mother even if the kid is old enough to collect social security. Grandmothering is so much more fun…

What three events or people have most influenced how you live your life? My Grandmother, Maw, really encouraged me to be a writer. My husband, Ted, has led us on a life of adventure and worldwide experiences. My friend, Bernie, instilled in me to be the best floral designer I could be and a businesswoman of integrity.

What would you tell your younger self? Stop spinning my wheels. Realize there are times when there is nothing I can do about a situation.

Have you ever met up with a bear on a hike? If so, what did you do? If not, are you looking up what to do right now? I have never met a bear on a hike; however, I have been in places with warnings that bears are in the area and read the posted signs that say “do not run.” To follow their advice seems impossible to me. I love to see bears but from the inside of the tour bus. 

You’re locked in your local library for the night with no dinner. Thank goodness you have water, but you only have enough change to buy one item from the vending machine. Choices are limited to: Fudge Pop Tarts, Snickers or Doritos. Which would you choose and why? Snickers! What a treat to have loads of library books to read while munching a Snickers bar!

What’s the largest number of people you’ve had in your kitchen at one time? Actually helping in the kitchen? Probably 3. But sitting at the breakfast counter or standing in the way e.g. in front of the refrigerator? Probably 10.

Closing thoughts: Thank you for the opportunity to be a guest on your series, Who’s That Indie Author? To the readers, thank you for stopping in today. I look forward to reading your comments and answering questions you have about writing. Please, keep in touch via the links below.

Website and social media links: 
Blog: Focused on Story
Facebook: J. Q. Rose, Author
Amazon Author: JQ Rose

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