When my dear friend Greta asked me to write a post and suggested I tell the story of my writing journey it could not have come at a better time. After completing my fifth novel, I needed a break … but maybe I should start at the beginning.
Waaaay back, when I retired from paid work and decided I had a story to share I researched getting published. What I learned sent me on the path to self-publishing as I discovered that finding a traditional publisher who would edit, create my cover and promote me was unlikely in the extreme. Nor was I willing to give up control of my work to a publisher that would have me fit their idea of what sells.
Since I had neither the confidence nor the knowledge to go it alone, I sourced out “assisted publishing”. That led me to sign a contract with iUniverse, which turned out to be a vanity publisher that only wanted my money. After my three years were up, having learned a thing or two, and when I was ready to publish my second novel, I got my first book back and republished it with a different cover and some fresh edits. I self-published with both Amazon and Smashwords. Amazon has both paper and e-versions, Smashwords offers only e-books but in several formats. (They have recently merged with D2D. which will offer a paper option.)
Some writers are far more prolific than I. It takes me two to three years to get a new novel out. Much of what I learned along the way came from other writers, from Indies Unlimited (a wonderful group that supports Indie authors), Sandra Beckwith and several others. I owe them a lot.
Things went fairly smoothly with the Earth’s Pendulum trilogy and my fourth book, Labyrinth Quest. I had an editor who became a friend, great cover designer and formatter. Life was good. That changed with the fifth book, Altered Destinies. The man who did my formatting died. My editor retired. Many other smaller issues crept in. I became very discouraged.
Waaaay back, when I retired from paid work and decided I had a story to share I researched getting published. What I learned sent me on the path to self-publishing as I discovered that finding a traditional publisher who would edit, create my cover and promote me was unlikely in the extreme. Nor was I willing to give up control of my work to a publisher that would have me fit their idea of what sells.
Since I had neither the confidence nor the knowledge to go it alone, I sourced out “assisted publishing”. That led me to sign a contract with iUniverse, which turned out to be a vanity publisher that only wanted my money. After my three years were up, having learned a thing or two, and when I was ready to publish my second novel, I got my first book back and republished it with a different cover and some fresh edits. I self-published with both Amazon and Smashwords. Amazon has both paper and e-versions, Smashwords offers only e-books but in several formats. (They have recently merged with D2D. which will offer a paper option.)
Some writers are far more prolific than I. It takes me two to three years to get a new novel out. Much of what I learned along the way came from other writers, from Indies Unlimited (a wonderful group that supports Indie authors), Sandra Beckwith and several others. I owe them a lot.
Things went fairly smoothly with the Earth’s Pendulum trilogy and my fourth book, Labyrinth Quest. I had an editor who became a friend, great cover designer and formatter. Life was good. That changed with the fifth book, Altered Destinies. The man who did my formatting died. My editor retired. Many other smaller issues crept in. I became very discouraged.
My books all fall into the Fantasy category, with the first four including elements of magic realism. They all take place in “old world” societies, (all but Labyrinth Quest) in a world similar to late Norman or early Medieval times, but with strong female characters who explore non-traditional roles.
Character and character development are key for me, secondary to plot and setting, though those are important, too. I am most proud of the fourth book, Labyrinth Quest. I reread it recently and discovered, to my surprise
that M’rain, the protagonist, is so much like me it’s scary. Haha. The Earth’s Pendulum trilogy has my favourite character, Klast. Can a spy and an assassin be a good guy? If you read Back From Chaos, I think you’ll fall in love with him. I’m told women do – and men respect him.
My most recent book, Altered Destinies, departs from the magic realism angle. It takes place in a world re-emerging from a near-total apocalypse. Unlike many of these, which are dystopian, this is a book of hope with society struggling not to make the mistakes of the past.
While I was writing Altered Destinies, I also began my memoir. My life has been, shall we say, challenging, so my history of abuse and recovery might offer hope to someone else facing similar issues. I let that go for a while as it became difficult to revisit some of those times. Now I think I am ready to take up the torch again.
Anyone know how to write a memoir? Just kidding.
You can check out Yvonne's website here: https://yvonnehertzberger.com/
My most recent book, Altered Destinies, departs from the magic realism angle. It takes place in a world re-emerging from a near-total apocalypse. Unlike many of these, which are dystopian, this is a book of hope with society struggling not to make the mistakes of the past.
While I was writing Altered Destinies, I also began my memoir. My life has been, shall we say, challenging, so my history of abuse and recovery might offer hope to someone else facing similar issues. I let that go for a while as it became difficult to revisit some of those times. Now I think I am ready to take up the torch again.
Anyone know how to write a memoir? Just kidding.
You can check out Yvonne's website here: https://yvonnehertzberger.com/
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