Why I'm an Indie Author

A few months ago at a book fair, another author asked me why I chose to self-publish. I responded something like it was the opportunity that presented itself and I didn’t like the offer given by a hybrid publisher. But later, I thought more on her question. It’s true that I could have paid a few thousand dollars to a hybrid publisher and they would have been glad to publish my first book, Potatoes, Papaw, and Me. But instead, I decided to learn more about self-publishing and being an indie author.

An indie author, or independent author, is one who publishes his or her own books. There are many levels of being an indie author. Some do everything on their own, while others hire out parts of the book-making process. I hire an illustrator, who also formats my books and creates my book covers. I work hard on getting the text just right, being my own first editor, before sharing with someone else to edit my work. Next, I work with my illustrator on the book itself. When she’s done, it’s up to me to get the book on Amazon or other platforms and to continually market my book.

So now, three years after starting this author journey, and four children’s books in, I can’t imagine working any other way. I like the independence of being an indie author and mostly the creative control I have over my books. I enjoy working closely with my illustrator, allowing her creative freedom but also ensuring her illustrations align with the text and adhere to my vision of the book. At times, we collaborate and that vision changes a bit.

Although it has been challenging to start from scratch and learning all that is necessary to establish an author business - writing, working with an illustrator, uploading books, creating a website, a blog, and an online presence, I wouldn’t want to change this experience. I love that I continue to learn and grow as an author each day. I work extra hard as an indie author to create quality books that can compete with traditionally published books any day of the week.