YA self-publishers - Come on in :)

lady_K · Jan 30, 2012

After many weeks of consideration and a few emails, I've decided to put together a group of inspiring individuals who are in the process of self-publishing their first YA novel and/or series. I think starting this group would be a great effort to support my fellow writers, as well as serve as a diary for our experiences. A lot of us feel like we're alone in the process, that there's no one to talk to, or no one who truly understands our passion to take matters into our own hands. Which is why I'd like to start this group, so people can realize they aren't the only one's with a dream. Together, we can make it through a very tedious and fun process. With advice and verbal support, we can all watch each other flourish.

So if you're self-publishing YA, don't be shy. We are all here to welcome and support and talk about the process.

I went into self-publishing thinking that I could do alone, that I wouldn't have to promote myself. But at the end of the day, I have to connect with other people, other than my family. There's no way you can go into self-publishing without some kind of support, and hopefully, this can be a solid beginning. Let's start supporting each other.

What's your name?
What's the name of your book?{Please post the first 100 words}
Why have you chosen to self-publish?
How many copies have you sold?
Where can we buy them?

Love&Light

Kyla Laufreyson · Jan 30, 2012

lady_K said:
What's your name?

My name (pen name at least, ha!) is Arianna Sterling. I don't have much of an online presence for writerly things, but I do have one in terms of anime blogging. And I do have a writing blog, it just doesn't get updated much at all.

lady_K said:
What's the name of your book?{Please post the first 100 words}

The title of my first novel is Weeping.

First 100 words--erm, 109 to avoid cutting off the paragraph:

Pressed against the black velvet of the grand curtain, I kept my eyes trained on the stage. Stolen glances at the crowd offered a sea of faces, every one of them transfixed on the performance in front of them. I doubted they’d be distracted even if I rustled the curtain with the force of a tornado.

Flames illuminated the stage. Fire jumped about freely, forming shapes in the air and spelling out words as it saw fit, manipulated by the hands of a woman standing in the center of one fire ring. A majestic bird born of the same fire dipped and glided through the air above the stage.

I'm also working on a NF book geared toward anime fans of all ages, but I won't get into that.

lady_K said:
Why have you chosen to self-publish?

I've chosen to self-publish my novels because I write mostly queer YA lit, with very few exceptions. I know the commercial market is really tough to break into when that's what you write, despite the fact that plenty of people do enjoy reading it (mostly girls, ha).

lady_K said:
How many copies have you sold?
Where can we buy them?

I haven't actually released the book yet. I'm planning a release of either April or May. We did a photoshoot for my cover over the weekend though, and I'm ridiculously excited about that.

Arianna S

McMich · Jan 31, 2012

I'll add my name to your listing here- I am not published yet, but plan to some time this year. Still at the editing stage. I have started a blog and twitter account to connect with people with similar interests online.

EnitaMeadows · Feb 1, 2012

lady_K said:
What's your name?

Enita Meadows

Nice to meet you.

lady_K said:
What's the name of your book?{Please post the first 100 words}

My first self-pubbed work is called Chainmail, a paranormal/dark YA.

lady_K said:
Why have you chosen to self-publish?

Mostly to get my shorter works out there. Chainmail is 10k, which is a long short story. It's too long to send out to magazines, too short (for me) to send out to publishers and go through the long publication process (again, for me).

lady_K said:
How many copies have you sold?
Where can we buy them?

So far, I've had a couple of downloads (as I write this, it's only been available a few days, and hasn't even had the time to get passed to premium catalog on smashwords), and it can be found right here for 99 cents: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/126545

ambermg · Feb 1, 2012

My name is Amber Garza. I just self published my first ya novel - it's the first in a trilogy. It's called PROWL.

The synopsis is:

Seventeen-year-old Mackenzie Smith is sent away to spend a boring summer at her grandma’s. But then she meets Wesley. He tells her exactly what she wants to hear and has information about her past that no one else knows. It’s almost like he can read her mind.

Only Wesley isn’t who he seems.

By the time Mackenzie discovers his true identity it may be too late. She’s in too deep and he won’t let her go. Now Mackenzie must call on the strongest power of all in order to save her life.

********
I chose to self publish after 8 years of trying to go the traditional route. After years of rejections and then finally obtaining an agent who was awful, I finally decided it was time to take control of my own career.

The book has been out since January 20 and so far I've sold 64 copies and I've been receiving the most amazing reviews. I should mention that the book isn't out in ebook yet. It will be in a couple of weeks. Right now it's only in trade paperback. Anyway, I'm happy I made the leap!

Here is the link to my book at Amazon:

Click here to buy PROWL

It's also available at my estore (I used createspace)

PROWL

lady_K · Feb 2, 2012

Hey there Enita, Amber, Kristin, and Arianna. Thanks for stopping by. All of your blogs are so wonderful and colorful. I'm not even kidding - they make mine look like an old washed-out rag.

By the way, I left my email on your blogs in case you need someone to help review or read your material. We all have that period in our lives when we want someone else's opinion, other than our family members. I know I do. This is my way of reaching out to people and making friends with those who are also writers. It'll help in the long run. Having a cyberspace family is probably the most helpful thing in self-publishing; having other people around me who actually give a damn. So don't be a stranger. I'm not the most popular person on the web, but I think with enough of us here, together, we can make a big difference in each other's creative venture

Love&Light

ambermg · Feb 2, 2012

Kristy -

Thanks for starting this thread! I welcome friends and supporters as I navigate through the world of self-publishing.I know I have a lot to learn and I would love to glean any advice from others that I can.

I checked out your novel and it looks great...and scary.

Look forward to getting to know all of you better.

Kyla Laufreyson · Feb 3, 2012

You know, I keep thinking it would be cool to start up a group blog of YA self-pubbers. But I haven't had anyone to go about it with. I don't suppose you guys would be interested?

ambermg · Feb 3, 2012

I'd be interested.

Kyla Laufreyson · Feb 4, 2012

Awesome! Hopefully a few others are interested as well

lady_K · Feb 5, 2012

That sounds like a lot of fun, starting an entire blog. I'm definitely interested. Let me know what I can do to help. I'm not blog savvy or anything, but I'd love to be a part of it.

SBibb · Feb 6, 2012

I'm not currently a self-publisher, (I'm trying to go the traditional route first, but I still consider self-publishing a viable option), but the subject intriques me, especially in the area of young adult stories. I plan to keep an eye on this, sounds intriguing.

Kyla Laufreyson · Feb 7, 2012

I'm going to PM the people who are interested in the blog so far later today

Windvein · Feb 11, 2012

What's your name? S.A. Hunter

What's the name of your book? Scary Mary

Mary’s steps echoed down the locker-lined hallway. Doors whisked shut as she passed. She caught snippets as the doors closed: Welcome back for a new school year; hope everyone had a nice summer; please turn to page sixty-four. She’d been in one of those classrooms, bored out of her mind and doodling pentagrams onto the cover of her spiral notebook. She wished that she still were.

When she shoved the door to the guidance counselors’ suite of offices, it bounced off the door stop and startled the attendance secretary Mrs. Higgins. Mary marched past the scowling secretary to Mr. Landa’s office.

Why have you chosen to self-publish?

I sort of backed into self-publishing. I originally posted my story online and then the ebook explosion hit.

How many copies have you sold? The book is free. The number of downloads would be misleading.

Where can we buy them?
Find many options here: http://scarymary.sahunter.net

I may be interested in the blog, but I have my own and don't know what I would contribute. What would be the aim of the blog?

Kyla Laufreyson · Feb 13, 2012

Windvein said:
I may be interested in the blog, but I have my own and don't know what I would contribute. What would be the aim of the blog?

PMed you the details I have.

Elena Andrews · Feb 14, 2012

Hi Kristy, very cool idea.

My name is Elena Andrews and my book is called Run Like Hell

My blurb: Seventeen-year-old Morgan Butler has already violated two of her mother's sacred rules. First, don’t talk to strangers and second, never get in a car with someone you don’t know. Now she's comtemplating rule number three - If taken, do whatever you can to get away from a captor – fight, claw, scratch, scream. . .then run like hell

My first 100 words:

Don’t die on me now!”

Panic clenches my chest and I glance around for any sign of help. There isn’t a soul in sight. Fear traps my breath. I’m alone and unprepared. Darkness surrounds me. This can’t be happening. Not tonight. Why tonight?

The car slows, despite the pressure I’m applying to the gas pedal. “Please, please, please,” I beg, wishing my pleas will miraculously help. One glance at the console confirms my fear. The gas tank is empty.

“Of all nights,” I groan as I carefully steer the car to the side of the road. Its pitch black outside and I’m alone on the rural road.

I wanted to self publish because while I am trying to submit books to publishing houses and editors I don't want to wait. I don't want to allow myself to hold myself back until I get an answer or to wait months/years to see my work published and get feedback. I like the (relative) speed of self publishing.

My book went on sale on Monday and I've sold about a dozen copies. To be honest I have no idea whether that's good or bad. It's better than zero but of course to continue to make my dream a reality those numbers need to climb at some point and I'm doing what I can to get the word out about Run Like Hell

My book can be found at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0076OUDIM/?tag=absowrit-20

and also at Barnes and Nobel
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/run...18?ean=2940014034036&itm=3&usri=run+like+hell

YA self-publishers - Come on in :)

lady_K

It's all about the F.A.M.I.L.Y :)

Kyla Laufreyson

Oops

McMich

EnitaMeadows

ambermg

lady_K

It's all about the F.A.M.I.L.Y :)

ambermg

Kyla Laufreyson

Oops

ambermg

Kyla Laufreyson

Oops

lady_K

It's all about the F.A.M.I.L.Y :)

SBibb

Kyla Laufreyson

Oops

Windvein

Kyla Laufreyson

Oops

Elena Andrews

figuring it all out