Book Launch for Destination: Unknown

Come and join in the fun here at the #DarkerSideOfFiction2017 Facebook Group!

HAPPY 2016 GIVEAWAY!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

OPENS: Monday 25th January at MIDNIGHT GMT
ENDS: Monday 1st February at MIDNIGHT GMT

ENTER NOW AT THE LINK ABOVE!

The Trials Of An Indie Author: Outsourcing Is Expensive

The Trials Of An Indie Author: Outsourcing Is Expensive

When you get published by a traditional publishing house, you get a lot of stuff done for you, as I've talked about in my series of the After Process (links can be found here). When you go with a small publishing press or as an indie author, a lot of things fall to you (again discussed here). One of those things is paying for stuff like an editor, cover art, taxes and all that jazz. It also means that if you want to give away books or any other kind of "swag", then you're paying for that out of your own pocket too.

As an indie author, I've had to find my own editor, who I pay per book, as well as a cover artist, who I also have to pay. I also designed and paid for my bookmarks and all the other giveaways I do for for promotion. Basically, it's not cheap to market your own books and it comes at a cost, one which for some people is not something they are willing or able to do, and I respect that wholeheartedly.

For me it was not an easy choice, but at the same time I didn't lie awake at night worrying about it. Due to my many health problems, I am not able to work to the same deadlines that would be expected of me through a traditional publishing house. Although I do have deadlines I have to meet, they are beyond flexible because I'm in charge of them. 

I try to write four chapters (two of each book) over a two week period. You'll have seen me mention my progress on my Facebook page. Some weeks I do really well and do what I call "bonus" chapters. Other weeks it's a struggle to get the chapters done and I find that when I get into the last hours of the fortnight, I start to meet roadblocks with my writing. It's only when I take the pressure off that I'm able to start writing again. So for me, using a traditional publisher was not something I could do. I made the choice to go Indie and it's not one I regret because it's the best fit for me. Your mileage may, of course vary, and that's great.

The point is that part of being an indie author is working for yourself in many ways. You need to make sure you have what people need to get yourself noticed. So I have swag for giveaways and I offer up free books for both my own and other authors promotional events. It's all about getting yourself noticed and the word about your work out there and into the public eye. I haven't yet cracked the code to instant success, but I'm happy with what I'm doing.

It's not just those things that make being an indie author an expensive choice but the little things that you don't think of, like doing your own website stuff, or organising a blog book tour. You can hire someone to help you and/or do it for you, but that costs money too. I can't speak for authors who are published through smaller presses, but I know that for me being an indie author means that a lot of the final bills rest at my feet. I made the choice and I'm happy with it and for that reason I stick with it, but man, outsourcing is expensive!

Follow Joey on Facebook or here on her blog to be kept up to date with the latest news regarding Joey and her books.

BOOK GIVE-AWAY!

I've decided that once I reach 80 LIKES on Facebook, I will do a book give-away. Basically I am offering the winner the choice between BLACKOUT, DYING THOUGHTS - FIRST TOUCH, THE FRIENDSHIP TRIANGLE & DYING THOUGHTS - SECOND SIGHT in whatever e-book format they wish. You can read about the books at the links above and it only applies to books available on Smashwords.

The rules and such are:

1. Once my page has reached 80 likes, I will post and ask everyone who wants to take part to pick a number between 1 and 100.

2. I will use a random number generator to choose a number and the person with the number wins. If the number hasn't been picked, I will re-roll until a winner is chosen.

3. Everyone can pick ONE number and enter ONCE. Repeat entries will be ignored.

4. I will contact the winner via Facebook and post the winner on my blog AND Facebook. They will then be able to chose ONE of the above books in the format they wish. 

5. If I am unable to reach the winner within 72 HOURS, I will pick another winner using the same generator.

6. Prize not transferable, worth money or any of that stuff.

Good Luck and feel free to share the link with friends!