Indie Life- Chanda Hahn

Indie Life is a monthly blog post where we as Indie Authors share a little of our life.

So you want to be an INDIE AUTHOR?

When I typed the very last sentence of my book, I jumped from my computer chair and did a little dance. Yesssss! But now what? I studied the market, found my dream list of agents, wrote personalized query letters for each of them and sat and waited. I queried for a very long time on my first book The Iron Butterfly, but the agents weren't big into YA Epic Fantasy.  I never even dreamed of self publishing until UnEnchanted. 

After I wrote UnEnchanted (which was the third book I wrote total) I was querying to agents and getting manuscript requests. Yesss (Fist pump) but then nothing. Then I noticed there were tv shows that were coming out that were super similar to my idea. Fairy Tales were becoming big. So I self-published just to preserve my copyright. Not to actually become an indie author permanently, but just so I had the copyright. It was cheap and easy.  I still had dreams of getting a publishing deal somewhere. But there was one problem, my book was becoming a success! It was hard after I became Indie to go traditional. I've had agents call me, worked with one even, but by then I was making to much money as an Indie author and the traditional publishing route began to loose it's shine. So now what? Now I have to forge ahead on the route of what it means to be an Indie Author and how it would effect my life. 

So how do I become an Indie author and live this glorious Indie life? I'll try to tell you, I'm not going to tell you how a get rich, become a best selling Indie author overnight, because I can't. Even if you follow every one of the steps below, if you don't have a great book, then you won't sell.  If your book sucks? Well not much I can help you with but if your book has a story, has a voice and has an audience, then I can help you.  But for those that just typed "The End" onto the last page of their book. I may be able to direct you in what steps you need to take. 

I will also encourage any of my fellow Indelibles to open and edit this post and insert their own resources. I don't mind really!

1. Write a GREAT BOOK! Figure that is kinda the point and self explanatory. If your reading this far along in the blog than you probably already wrote one. 

2. Edit your own book. Read your book out load to yourself and try the best you can to catch your own mistakes. Thanks to author Lisa Nowak, I suggest using WORDTALK if you have a PC. And GHOSTREADER if you have a MAC. These program will read your book out loud to you. So you can take notes and make changes on pacing. I tend to skip over my own writing when reading and miss a lot of mistakes.

3. Beta readers- You are not ready for anything until you find beta readers (beta readers are test readers that will read your book and give you their opinion and even help with basic editing). Family and close friends don't count. You can find Beta readers from library groups, writing groups or even a few online. I found my very first Beta Reader Jane Hawkey from Australia. She helped me, a newbie, that had been out of college for 8 years reconnect with basic story telling and editing.  

***(Always research each site yourself before choosing. Some may charge money, some maybe free, some change hands and policies)

Places to find Beta Readers:

PERFECT IMAGINATION (This site keeps going under new management, but I use it)

PASSION & PERFECTION

READ 2 REVIEW

4. Repeat step 2 & 3.

5. Hire an editor. I've been burned by having volunteers/friends edit my book. I've even had fans email volunteering to edit and it doesn't work out. HIRE SOMEONE! (These are editors we've worked with, find the one that works best for you.) It usually runs me around 300-500 to edit my books.

BETHANY KACZMAREK

VICTORY EDITING

INDIE AUTHOR SERVICES

LOOKING GLASS EDITING

6. Hire a graphic designer to make your cover. A cover sells your book. Don't make it yourself. Believe me the readers can always tell. Here are some fab cover artists...in no particular order.

STEVEN NOVAK

ROBIN LUDWIG

MAE I DESIGN

7. Format your ebook, and upload to a publishing platform.   Find the one that is right for you. Each publishing site has different ebook formatting rules and you will have to format your document for each site. They are all listed on the site.

KINDLE DIRECT PUBLISHING  a.k.a. KDP  (Amazon)

PUBIT soon to be NOOK PRESS  (Barnes & Noble)

KOBO This is the BIG Ereader for Canada

ITUNES (Apple) Kind of a pain to upload to, you need a mac.

SMASHWORDS  If you upload to smashwords and get into the premium catalog, they will distribute to Itunes, BN and KOBO for you. 

8. Wait, I'm stuck on formatting my ebook? Hire an Ebook Formatter.

ALI CROSS (Yes our very own Indelible)

LUCINDA CAMBEL

9. Upload your ebook if you haven't already.

10. Format your book for paperback.

You can use an independent print publishing to make your books into paperbacks. Using Print On Demand. It's cheaper than other paperback distributers.

CREATESPACE

LIGHTNING SOURCE

10. Promote Your work doesn't stop. You need to blog, tweet, facebook and promote your own book. Because you are your own agent. You can do BLOG TOURS. BLOG HOPS and do give aways on your own blog using RAFFLECOPTER But I think going into promoting your book is for a different day and post. We could fill up pages and pages on what to do after you publish. But this is what it takes to become an Indie.

So this is what it takes and all the hard work we do for each and every single book we write. This is the true life of an Indie Author.

CHANDA HAHN
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Chanda Hahn is the author of the popular Unfortunate Fairy Tale Series which includes UnEnchanted and Fairest which have topped the ebook charts in 5 countries. She also has a passion for writing YA epic fantasy. She's been a children's librarian, children's pastor and costume mascot. She lives in the beautiful but rainy northwest that is Portland Oregon with her husband and twin childre

BONES: The answer to Everything! Well not really.

So I was procrastinating coming up with my blog topic because I am in a writing pickle myself. So whenever I get stuck I turn to one of my many series of crime dramas and begin watching them from season 1. Which brings me to what is currently in my DVD player.

BONES SEASON ONE 

and in my humble opinion, probably the best.

One of the reasons I love Bones is because it is produced by Kathy Reichs who is an American Crime Writer and a forensic anthropologist, just like her character Temperence Brennan. So I think she is living the ultimate dream. Kathy writes books about what she knows and also produces a show based on her books. 

So I will answer some of my most frequently asked questions, using direct quotes from Bones Season One.



So let's get on with the Interview....

How do you juggle your writing career with being a mom?

SEASON 1: 11
Stacey: How do you juggle twin careers as a best selling author and crime fighting scientist? 
Bones: Well I do one, then the other. 

ME: Many people know that I'm a mom of young twins who are almost 5 and they take a lot out of me and sometimes my brain feels like mush, but I'm also heavily involved in my church and run a kids choir and do huge musicals in the Spring. So I'm juggling being a mom, pastor's wife, choir director and best selling author. Well, like Bones said. You do one and then the other. Schedule time out of your busy day for yourself, for your kids, for your family and then for your writing career. If you can't do it each day then give yourself a few hours over the weekend. It is truly impossible to do it at the same time, you must do one then the other.

Can you give me writing advice?

SEASON 1:11
Stacey: Do you have any advice for budding authors out there?
Bones: Well the first thing they should have is an idea. And then...well first they need something to write with... uh they know that. Well, obviously you need a writing instrument. I'm just not sure.... which should come first?

ME: I think they go hand in hand. If you want to be a writer always carry around something to write with, a notebook, journel, iphone etc. For when you get those epiphany's in the middle of the shopping mall while pushing a stroller full of kids, diaper bags etc. I've lost many a great idea's, plot points and even character names, because I didn't have something to jot down my idea, then when I get home it's too late. I don't remember it. It's the same with dreams. I have the most awesome dreams but if I don't write it down in the morning...poof it's gone by midday.

What is the meaning behind the color of this....Did you choose that location because of the signifigance of.....etc. etc. etc.

SEASON 1:12

Goodman: All writers reveal more of themselves then they intend on their page. 
Booth: You know, I’ve gotta tell you, I never bought all that English 101 stuff. Sometimes a river is just a river.

ME: Yeah, um I write for relaxation and to release creative energy. Sometimes something someone is wearing or a place that a scene takes place is just that. I'll get some really deep technological question about how the Fae planes work in my book or how is travel possible exactly...and truthfully that is what magic is for...the unexplained. A river is just a river.

What is your favorite writing snack?

SEASON 1:10
Zack: I have something for you.
Angela: (sighs) Is it chocolate? 
Zack: No. 
Angela: Then I find my interest has flagged.

ME: Chocolate and coffee are my habit of choice. So much so...that I think I need to go to a coffee-aholic anonymous group.

Who do you base your characters on?

SEASON 1:5
Booth: I have a question regarding the FBI in your book. Who do you base brilliant and insightful Special Agent Andy Lister on? 
Dr. Goodman: Oh, for God's sake.
Booth: 'Cause, you know, I'm pretty sure it was me.

ME: Yes, I do base some characters off of people in real life...but not like you think. I love taking the names from reality tv characters and putting them in my books. Sometimes if I can't think of a teachers name or someone for a certain profession. I will use the name of a friend or one of my high school teachers. So far I have names and villains from the Bachelor, Criminal Minds, My Dad and Uncle, and a few friends. But they are not based on the people in real life, just the name.

Can I get an advance copy and read your book? I promise not to tell anyone about it?

SEASON 1:22

Booth: Can I read your book?
Bones: After it comes out.
Booth: Not before?
Bones: No.
Booth: I let you drive.

ME: Sometimes authors do need Beta Readers, but they usually have a select few that are trusted friends or fans that have been with them from the beginning of a project. Usually it's anywhere from 3-5. I have 3, and it will be awhile before I grow it to more.

So that was fun and it was all from Bones Season 1.  I could spend all day answering questions from my favorite shows, because in reality that is where we get inspiration. And will help me get through a writers block. Maybe next time I will pick a different show and a different season.But now back to Bones...

I really only loved the show until my favorite King of the Lab- Intern Zack Addy left. As much as I love  Booth and Brennen and the other Squints it's just not the same.  Though I still watch it, but only after there is nothing left in my tivo, and only if i'm still having a terrible writers block.

Chanda Hahn

Blog Twitter Facebook Goodreads

Chanda Hahn is the author of the popular Unfortunate Fairy Tale Series which includes UnEnchanted and Fairest which have topped the ebook charts in 5 countries. She also has a passion for writing YA epic fantasy. She's been a children's librarian, children's pastor and costume mascot. She lives in the beautiful but rainy northwest that is Portland Oregon with her husband and twin children.