Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to Heather Day Gilbert, indie author of two very different novels God's Daughter and Miranda Warning. Tomorrow on the release date of Miranda Warning I will present my review and offer you an opportunity to win a copy of the book in e-form or softcover. So . . . here's Heather!
Five Top Reasons I'm Thankful to be an Indie Author
By: Heather Day Gilbert
Thank you so much for letting me visit your blog, Nicole. And thank you for being an early reader for my mystery, Miranda Warning.
Despite the strides indie authors have made over the past several years, I think most indies have run into at least a few less-than-stellar reactions, even in the Christian community. Reviewers who refuse to read self-published novels. Award contests that won't accept indie nominees. Agents who say they support indies but have no clue how to promote them.
Today, I want to focus on why I'm HAPPY to be an indie author. Yes, it took me a while to get past that dream of being traditionally published. But now, seven months after my novel debut, I spend most of my time counting my indie blessings. I'm going to name them, one by one…
1) Books go out on my own schedule. After spending over a year and a half on submission in the traditional publishing world, I can say that I'm so thankful my first book didn't get picked up then. It would've taken another year to get it into production, and I wanted to get my novel (God's Daughter) out when Vikings were trending. Thanks to that, I've had some opportunities I wouldn't have had otherwise, such as my book being carried in the Royal BC Museum in Canada for their Vikings exhibition–going on now through September.
2) I control when my books are free or discounted, and I have immediate feedback on the sales fluctuations that occur after this. I don't have to wait months to know how my books are selling or if my marketing strategies are working. I can be hands-on and responsive to what readers are looking for.
3) I can set up my own early reader pool. As an indie author, I try to hunt down readers in my genre, who enjoy my writing style. It doesn't mean I always get five stars. But it means those first reviews are thoughtful and thorough for Goodreads and Amazon, and that's critical since those are the first ones people will see. Often, traditionally published authors can't offer ARCs to readers until about a month pre-launch. I try to make sure I give readers at least 2 to 3 months, so they can have plenty of time to read and formulate reviews/endorsements. Not to mention, it builds buzz if they like your book.
4) I can be responsive to my readers. My readers have offered input on varying aspects of publication, from series titles to book blurbs. If not for my readers, I wouldn't know that they rarely read endorsements for non-debut books, because they already "know" that author. This gave me freedom on my second book, so I didn't focus so heavily on endorsements.
Not to mention readers have an unerring sense of what will sell. Time and time again, I see the majority veer toward the most marketable choice. It is tremendously helpful to me as an author, and I express my appreciation for my readers every chance I get.
5) The indie community is one of the most well-informed, most supportive communities out there. Yes, I have many traditionally published friends, too, and I love them! But indies have to stay abreast of the latest marketing strategies/formatting tools/cover trends, and the list goes on. Not to mention we are all fairly independent-minded. We might occasionally disagree, but we also learn from each other. We develop our own strategies of writing and marketing. We grow together and lend support.
These are just a few reasons why I'm so thankful God led me to be an independent publisher. There are so many more–from controlling your cover art to choosing your editors–but I won't get into those now. I just hope this encourages writers who might feel traditional is not the ideal route for them. There are options nowadays, and though indie publishing is a lot of work (like a full-time job!), the rewards can be rich.
AUTHOR BIO:
HEATHER DAY GILBERT enjoys writing stories about authentic, believable marriages. Seventeen years of marriage to her sweet Yankee husband have given her some perspective, as well as ten years spent homeschooling. Heather regularly posts on Novel Rocket about self-publishing.
You can find Heather at her website, Heather Day Gilbert–Author, and at her Facebook Author Page, as well as Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, and Goodreads. Her Viking novel, God's Daughter, is an Amazon bestseller. You can find it on Amazon and Audible.com. Her Appalachian mystery, Miranda Warning, releases June 20th.
Father, please continue to bless Heather's hard work and good writing. Meet her needs and supply your inspiration. Be her champion and counselor in all she does for you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Into the Fire 
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