Why Indie?
A little blog about St. Louis:
In which I close opened trad publishing doors like a ding-dong (or am I?)…
At the end of August I traveled out to St. Louis for the ACFW Conference, fully expecting to make industry connections and maybe get a foot in the door with an agent or editor. But while I was there, I didn’t get anything out of it I was expecting. After meeting with a few agents and being invited to submit my full manuscript, I was excited about traditional publishing...at least for a little while.
Not too long after, the thought of sending query letters, preparing submissions, and wooing the publishing world began to feel like a bad idea for someone who struggles with fear of man, people pleasing, and is trying to maintain sobriety. A niggle of doubt continued to prod me while I was out there, and I began to have concerns about walking through traditional publishing doors that were opening to me.
As much fun as it was to mingle with people in the traditional Christian publishing world, the best connections I made on my trip were writers within the indie publishing world. Business minded, content, and fully in control of every decision regarding their written works —I related to these authors and began to think that indie publishing might be a good path for me.
When I got back home I reached out to the connections I made. Beyond wanting to learn how it’s done, I wanted to sit at their feet and learn how they use their autonomy to conduct ministry and outreach, finding the one who needs their words.
It was Spirit-check time. Why was I doing this? Who was I trying to please? I knew in my soul that if I wasn’t trying to please God first, and trying to help my reader, my book was just a bunch of words. And that, perhaps, is the biggest reason I’ve decided to publish indie.
I’m really excited, and whew, a bit intimidated as I do all the things— finalize edits, form an LLC, submit for copyright, purchase ISBNS, set up vendor and author profiles, select a cover artist, prepare a launch plan… but honestly, it’s not that much harder than traditional publishing to do’s. Just different.
So that’s that friends! My book will be in your hands by the end of February, just in time for St. Paddy’s Day. :)
In the meantime, I am actively looking for people to help me with my launch and ARC readers/reviewers, so if you think you could spare time to read & review I’d be very grateful, send me a DM or an email and let me know so I can get you on my list. And if you’re reading this—-thank you already, for joining my newsletter, for supporting me, for praying for me.
Until next month—
Ashley
“Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling! Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God.
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.” -Psalm 43:3-5
