M.L. Stephens's Blog, page 8

Voice of an Indie author

Traditional publishing is awesome! I would love to have a deal, but I don't. I’m not knocking you if you do. I envy your luck. If you're one of those amazing people that can describe your novel in 20 words or less…my hat is off to you. I wish I could do the same. This is for those who haven't yet.
After DOZENS of rejections because of genre crossover, word count, story line being too "unique," I stopped. This is the era of self-publication. Do I wish I could walk within the borders and land a deal? Yeah! Hello? Don't we all.  I just haven't figured out a way to contain my voice enough to do so.
For some of us, traditional book deals seem to be a "whisper in the wind." We want to write the stories and characters that scream the loudest—regardless of the genre. We're the bold, the unconventional, and the ones that are committed to having our voices heard regardless of the guidelines.
What does it take? If you're like me, and I'm sure you are, you've done the research. You've paid the editors, the cover artists, the book marketers, and you've spent more time on social media outlets that you care to admit.
I think I know the answer to our problem. We love to write, create, and transport our readers to a place they've never been, but we're also SHY. We're afraid to ask bloggers to post our cover reveals, to review us; and we think that published short stories, poetry, aren't worthy enough to mention as publications when we submit to agents. I have yet to tell an agent that I'm a published poet. (I even made the Who's Who in poetry in 2005 and have written several news articles.) To me, as someone who loves to write stories, I never even considered poetry or news articles as who I am. I write stories. I did the others for fun.
I've spent several days writing and deleting emails and requests to bloggers. I have two eBooks coming out within the next few days, yet all I can do is request for them (via FB) to request to do my reveal. I'm scared. I'm not a social butterfly and so I'm afraid. Am I afraid of rejection? Not so much. Afraid that the one thing that I love to do most will be met with a, "You're not in the "in" crowd?" Perhaps I am. In the end it boils down to one thing. They can't hang us on the stake and roast us. Chances are they want to hear from us as much as we want to contact them.
Take the chance. Let your voice be heard. I have it on good authority, that I have a gift for writing and that my stories are unique and entertaining. I'm sure you've heard the same. It's time for Indie authors to believe. It's time for YOU to believe. Take the next step. You deserve to be heard.
Ask, network, and don't be afraid to promote yourself. You own your authorship. It's your business. It's your right. It's time for you to feel as important as you are.

My Indie journey

Writing and storytelling has always been a part of who I am. Every since I can remember, I've been spinning campfire tales (on demand for the family) and putting pen to page to create poems. It took until the ripe old age of 40 before I decided that it was impossible to contain what was in my head. I had stories, events, characters and plots that wanted to be shared…created…told.
A year ago, I put my fingers to the keyboard and did just that. I wrote the story that had been screaming at me for 12 long years…and it was speculative fiction! Imagine my surprise. I submitted it to dozens of agents and waited. "That's it," I told myself. My writing…my story…means nothing. I'm not talented enough or good enough that people will read or care what I've written. I was wrong. It did mean something. It meant that a story that had never been told…was told. It meant that I had accomplished something. I had created characters and an environment from my imagination. I had created a place that was separate from reality. I created a place that the readers could escape to.
Like many others before me, I did the research.  Finally, although reluctantly, I ePublished my first trilogy.
More stories and characters started shouting at me. More voices wanted to be heard and so I started writing…and writing…and writing. The more I write, the more the stories come. So I write them.
The most difficult thing is when people ask me, "Where can I buy your printed copies?"
Well…you can't, at least not yet. I'm ok with that because my story is out there and people are receiving it with open arms.
Did I let the agent rejections stop me? No. What I have done is allow the rejections, the reviews and the kind words from the readers make me stronger so I can grow.
I'm still a baby when it comes to the world of ePublishing, but I have learned that there are people who want to hear the stories that only YOU can create. Find your voice and share it. Learn from your mistakes. Most importantly…learn from the mistakes and advice of the ones who went before us.
Indie authors rock! Our synopses and blurbs might suck…but if we could tell a story in just two sentences, we wouldn't need to write a novel, so write on!
Live. Create. Write. No one can tell your story better than you!

Erotica??

Make sure to stop by my Facebook author wall today and type in your vote for my debut erotica pen name!

Who would have thought?

Click to vote!

I love to celebrate!

In celebration of: Cyber Monday, Tackful Tuesday, and Wacky Wednesday, The Perfect Clone (Book One), is available as a free download for your Kindle or PC  through 11/28/12!

A bit of Holiday advice!

Thanksgiving Thanks!

Because family, friends and acquaintances, gather JUST to enjoy each other's company, Thanksgiving has ALWAYS been my favorite holiday. I also love the guilt associated with Thanksgiving: Guilt because you DIDN'T eat enough, or guilt because you ate TOO much!Thank you to all of the readers who have emailed, messaged, twitted, Facebook messaged, or left reviews. Hearing from you is what makes everything worthwhile! Keep those messages coming!The last half of this year has been a whirlwind...to say the least. The world of ePublishing was strange and unfamiliar territory, but I've navigated the foreign land and survived! I have been blessed enough to work with some amazing people who have helped me along the way. Claudia at  http://phatpuppyart.com/ and Ashley at http://www.bookish-brunette.com/ who helped create the gorgeous cover for my first Speculative Fiction Trilogy The Perfect Clone, and to Ashley at http://freelance.mcconnell05.com/ for agreeing to be my editor on my yet to be released New Adult Paranormal/Romance (The Broken Series).I've also been blessed to have met-through the power of social media-some wonderful authors who have inspired and encouraged me along the way!Thank you for giving me so many more blessings to count this Thanksgiving!

Erotica???

After completing my NaNo project and doing the rereads and rough draft edits to make it editor ready, I decided to write a steamy adult contemporary romance short story titled, "Swinger's Club". Confession: maybe it's erotica and I'll need to use a different pen name. (I'll keep you posted).

 If all goes well, I should have it editor ready by the end of the week and then I can begin work on the third installment of the yet to be released Broken Series-a new adult paranormal/romance.

Ghosts

Ghosts! Can I even explain how much I love them? Not the creepy lurking stalker demonic spirits of horror films and nightmares, but the light hearted playful ones that tap your shoulder and hide your keys.

The door that opens in the middle of the night acts as a reminder that not all things can be explained, but that some ghostly energy has attached itself to you and wants to be acknowledged.

Should I toss it?

The party wasn't at all what I'd thought. A white tie party with co-workers is what my husband had told me. I'd dressed in my most dazzling white evening gown and came prepared to rub elbows with the elite social crowd of Houston, Texas, while putting on the façade of happy housewife, but this had turned into my biggest nightmare. The drinks flowed freely, the décor was fabulous, but the guests were clad in swimsuits and thongs. Granted, the swimsuits and thongs were white, but still…not what I'd pictured. Not to mention that my husband was rubbing everything but elbows.

What do you think? Short story or scrap pile?

Vote for your favorite books!

There have been some amazing books this year! I hope you'll take the time to vote for your favorites!

Goodreads choice awards 2012