Why I Love the Indie Book Revolution


First and foremost, because I have a writing career.


How specifically has the rise of available indie/self publication helped me with this? As many of my close acquaintances can tell you, patience is really NOT one of my virtues. Also, while I love to write, without some sort of deadline, I don’t necessarily love to to finish something before starting on the shiny new story idea takes hold of my imagination. The traditional publishing model requires me to finish a project and then HOPE and PRAY that someone, agent or editor, will like it enough to argue with other people that is should get published. I love being an indie author, because now I can write a project with a specific deadline, get it through my beat readers, and now my editor, publish it, and see instant results. If I’m not liking those results, I can take personal steps toward changing the results.


The second reason I love the Indie Book Revolution, is because so many other writers are also getting a shot to live their dreams. Here’s a little known factoid about the tradition publishing model, with a slant toward science fiction and fantasy publishers. I might have an epic fantasy book that’s going to be bigger than Robert Jordan and George RR Martin put together. I submit to publisher after publisher, and editors like it, say one or two even LOVE it; however, all their big-fat-fantasy-uber-epic slots are filled for the next three years. Well… then… I get the unpleasant “Thanks, but not for us right now. Best of luck finding a home somewhere else.” Publishers have a finite amount of room for each sub genre of fiction they handle. The result, many fine and talented writers aren’t getting publishing deals simply because of space on the bookshelf.


The Indie Book Revolution changes that. Truly, for the first time, writers are in control of their own destinies. I’ve discovered some great writers, who are developing into good friends: I count Christopher Kellen, Jen Wylie, and Shay Fabbro among the closest of them. On the other hand, I’ve read some bad stuff too, I mean REALLY bad indie books. Though this is not unique to indie writers. The last Stephen King book I listened to on audio made me want to SCREAM. Oh wait… I did. A lot. Over and over. But this serves to further my point. In many ways, control over what books get read and become popular are in the hands of readers and a writers, rather than publishers. Readers have access to more books, written by more writers, than we ever dreamed possible before.


With readers in mind, I’d like to direct you, my readers and followers, to the Magic Appreciation Tour. You can get there by clicking the tour badge on the from page of my blog. The tour is a celebration of fantasy fiction going on from now through the end of May. I’m taking part in it, as are some writers I know and enjoy reading their work. I don’t know everyone, and I haven’t read everyone’s work. I won’t say one way or the other, so I don’t rob you of the joy of discovering new writers who may grow into new favorite writers.


Check out the site. Stop by the writer’s blogs and book pages. Who knows what you might discover. If you do discover someone you like, post a comment here. I’m so busy working on my own writing, I won’t be able to get to all the other writers right away, and as most of you read my stuff, I’d be interested to hear who gets your imaginations flowing.

Cart