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Saturday, October 1, 2016

#PoweredByIndie


Why do I enjoy being an Indie author?


A lot of people asked me why I remain Indie. It's not that I haven't ever been offered a traditional publishing contract. I have. Especially in the very beginning, after writing my Zombie Games series (yes, I wrote horror and fantasy long before my steamy biker stories). But, after publishing twenty-nine books, I feel like I've accomplished a hell of a lot on my own and it's an exhilarating feeling.

Other reasons:

*I don't have to answer to anyone but myself. I am my own boss. For some writers it doesn't always work well. Yes, I still have deadlines and need to remain focused, but at the end of the day, I'm answering to myself. Whether I fail or succeed is in my hands.

* I can write what I want and when I want. In fact, I write several different genres, including horror, fantasy, romance, and YA. My pen names are Cassie Alexandra, K.L. Middleton, and Kristen Middleton.
*I'm leaving it up to the readers as to whether my books are enjoyable, and not someone at a publishing house who just might not "get" my writing. Not everyone is going to like my books. I respect that. But, I want to publish something that I've enjoyed writing and not get any road-blocks or forced to make plot or character changes.

*I am making the decisions on my book covers, my pricing, and where I want to sell my work. I can also hire my own editors, pay for my own advertising, and market the way that I want to market. I'm in charge and if I fail, I learn from the experience and move forward.

*I've motivated others to publish their own work. There are so many people out there who have wonderful stories to tell and do not realize that they can bypass a traditional publisher. Especially if they've been turned down. No, you might not be able to make a living on your self-published book, but on the other hand, if you do have a real talent for storytelling, you just never know what the future might bring.

Finally...

I've always loved reading, especially horror stories. From early on, I had my nose buried in Stephen King, Dean Koontz,  F. Paul Wilson, and Peter Straub's books. I can still remember how disturbed I was, at the young age of nine, after reading Ghost Story. To this day, I don't think I've ever read anything so creepy and fantastic. Now, over thirty years later, I'm writing and publishing my own books, which is something I would have never dreamed possible. It's a dream come true and if it wasn't for Amazon's self-publishing platform, I'd never be where I am today. I am so very grateful and honored to be included in Amazon's Powered By Indie this October. They have changed the writing industry and for me, it's been nothing but joy and success.