Intros Please!

[Gabriel]

Since I don't get enough of myself and my words on my own pages and blogs, I recently invaded somebody else's site to write a guest blog on making characters believable. (I clearly have no shame.) I'd be interested in reading how other authors bring realism to their characters. My guest blog can be found at: http://www.blog.kybunnies.com/gabriel...

[Isabella]

Hey guys! I'm Isabella, I literally just signed up a month ago in order to promote my new book 'Rouge' - which you can view on this page: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18...
I have a giveaway going so please enter!! Glad to be a part of an Indie group :) Here's to doing it our own way!

[[deleted user]]

Welcome Isabella!!!

[[deleted user]]

Awesome cover for Rogue by the way ;)

[Isabella]

Thank you Jessica :)

[Hazel]

Hi to all the new people! So sorry I haven't been around, I've been working on a huge pile to to-read books among other things. Glad to see lots of new people though. Welcome!!

[Erica]

Hi, I'm Erica Pike. I decided to self-publish my series of short stories after one of my publishers quit. They still owe me over a year's worth in royalties (and those titles sold well!), but that's not exactly why I decided to self-publish. After I got the rights back, I contacted some publishers, and they were interested, but I've been toying with the idea of self-publishing for over two years now. I'm pretty tech-savvy, so I was looking forward to learning about formatting and such. I also have an undergrad degree in business and marketing, so I figured that could help (and it has, with my traditionally published titles).

Anyway, I've only been self-published for a little over a week now, with five titles out (nine, if we include the free ones). I've been working with an editor and a cover artist for about a month and a half, so it's been a process. I formatted all the books myself and I'm currently in the process of putting together a couple of anthologies for print via Createspace. Next up is the task of tackling the Smashwords formatting monster. Bring it on!

So, yeah, I'll probably keep my novels with traditional publishers, but self-publish the shorter titles.

Anyway, I write M/M (erotic) romance and here's my website: www.ericapike.com

[chucklesthescot]

Hi everyone, I'm chuckles and I'm a reader, not a writer. I read, review and do what I can to promote Indie authors on my group and book blog.

I love to read action packed urban fantasy, gory and slasher horror, apocalypse/plague and Hunger Games style harsh society dystopian, and paranormal depending on plot. I'm not keen on books that are very slow, gothic, historical, ghost story or all sex no plot. I hate erotic PNR. I like nosing around authors pages to see if their books might appeal to me so I think I'll be doing a lot of nosing in this group!

[chucklesthescot]

D.R. wrote: "Hello everyone. Just thought I would drop by and say hi. I'm fairly new to Goodreads and I'm looking for a home. (This is actually my first Goodreads post ever.)

I love the whole indie community. ..."

I think your book looks interesting and I've downloaded it from Smashwords. I'm not sure when I'll get to read it as I have a bit of a list to get through but I'll review when I've finished.

[chucklesthescot]

EEK! I'm already adding books to wishlist!!!

[[deleted user]]

Lol! Love the name Chuckles and welcome to the group!

[chucklesthescot]

*waves*

[Pam]

Hello, all! I'm Pam, and I'm an indie author. I have four books out so far - three novels in my Wishing Rock series, plus a compilation based on the series. In a few months I'll be launching a travel series with books on Ireland, Switzerland, and Iceland, with hopefully many more to come!

My books are available at Amazon, B&N, iTunes, Kobo, in both print and ebook.

I love being an indie author! It wasn't the path I'd originally planned on, but I wouldn't have it any other way now. LOVE LOVE LOVE.

Except I am a little exhausted. Anyone else?! Ha!

After the novels and the travelogues I'm planning a YA adventure and a memoir/essay book. So my genre is ...? :) Hopefully my books are good, that's the main thing I am concerned about.

Looking forward to getting to know everyone! I've avoided Goodreads because it has intimidated me, but I'm diving in!

[[deleted user]]

Hahaha! I'm exhausted too, Pam! Sounds like you're doing well and loving being an indie author. I'm excited about these travel books! Ireland is a goal of mine but its going to be a while before I can get there so I'd love too live it through you ;)

[Pam]

Thanks, Jessica! The travel books are a real experiment. One of the things that I find hard about all the publishing business sometimes is there's no "right" answer, no right way to do it. Am I doing it right? Is the format I've chosen okay? No one can say! Ha! I've been listening to Seth Godin's "The Icarus Deception," though, and in it he talks about the fact that there's no art if there's no risk. I'm trying to get comfortable with being uncomfortable, I guess! Not easy!

[[deleted user]]

I couldn't agree more! I was always trying to conform my writing to feel like the published authors but I couldn't really tell the story my way if I tried and after self publishing I discovered that even though it didn't fit the mold, people still likes it :) do what you do, Pam!

[Siena]

Hi,
I'm Siena. I enjoy reading a wide range of genres, but romance novels are my favorite. Recently I kindle-published a young adult romance novel. I'm a newbie to the self-publishing world, so I'm really glad I found this site. I'm looking forward to interacting with everyone here and discovering new books.

[Hazel]

Hi to Siena and anyone I missed =)

[[deleted user]]

Hello! My name is Kristine, and I published The Last Dance of Caitlyn Murphy last month on Kindle and Createspace. If you're interested in dark fantasy, email me at kristine.croto@gmail.com for a free ecopy to review. You can find me on twitter (@kristinecroto) or at my blog at http://www.kristinecroto.com.

I'm glad to be here!

[Hazel]

Hello, Kristine glad you found us!

[Jane]

Hello, Group! I love the name! I am definitely Indie and most assuredly Proud. My name is Jane Taylor Starwood and my debut novel, a romantic thriller called "Shattered Blue," has been getting really wonderful reviews. I'd love to connect with readers here, and if anyone wants to write a review, of course I'd be very pleased to send a free review copy in any digital format. Email me at janestarwood@optonline.net. Thanks for this opportunity to spread the word. My website: http://RomancingTheThriller.com

Shattered Blue

[Ryan]

Hi all, my name is Ryan Stockton and I am an indie author of a book of children's poetry called In The Sandbox - Poetry for the Child at Heart. Below are the links to it on Goodreads and Amazon, as well as my website. Glad to join the community!

Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/In-The-Sandbox-...

Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17...

My website:
http://ryanstockton.weebly.com/

[Hazel]

Hello and welcome to Jane and Ryan, I hope you enjoy the group!

@Jane, would you like to set up a Read&Review for your book? Just go to the R&R thread and put down your info and I'll set up a thread for it and message it to all the members.

[Garrison]

When I first signed up for this group, I automatically assumed the “Our Indies” board was in lieu of an introduction. My bad! My name is Garrison and I’ve been writing since 2002. I currently have two anthology books published on Lulu and a blog published on Blogger.com (where else would it be?). The reason I joined this group was to get as much exposure as possible for my writing, which involves lots of social and professional networking as I was told in another group. Making a few friends and discovering new talent along the way would be cool as well. Here are the links to my creative works:

Red Blood, White Knuckles, Blue Heart: http://www.lulu.com/shop/garrison-kel...

Foe vs. Blade: http://www.lulu.com/shop/garrison-kel...

Garrison’s Library: http://garrisonslibrary.blogspot.com/

[Hazel]

That's okay, Garrison, welcome to the group!

[Garrison]

Thanks, Hazel. :)

[M.M.]

Hello!

I am M.M. John and I am working on publishing my first novel The Death of Ink, a young adult paranormal novel, via Createspace.
It is a lot of work, but I am super excited about it! :)

[Hazel]

Hi MM Welcome! Yep it's a lot of work. If you need any help, don't hesitate to ask. We've got lots of experience here ;)

[M.M.]

Thank you Hazel!

[Brenda]

Hello all. My name is Brenda. I'm an indie author of paranormal romance--vampires. The series I'm currently writing is called The Prophecy Series. I published the first in the series, Love's Prophecy, in to 2012 and the second book in the series, Prophecy's Child, at the end of July 2013. I'm currently working on book 3.

I'm so happy I found this group.

[Hazel]

Hi Brenda, glad you found us!

[Brenda]

LOL, me too. Thanks for the welcome.

[Mike]

I am a retired college professor. As a retiree, I now write books. I am also an avid reader. I have very eclectic tastes, as can be evidenced by the kinds of books I have published thus far: international mysteries, humorous fiction, and a memoir about my return to life after the death of my wife. I look forward to interacting with all of you.

[Hazel]

Hi Mike, welcome!

[Mike]

Thanks, Hazel!

[Sandy]

I'm a reader who has found some great indie authors. I'm looking forward to some recs!

[Brenda]

Hello, Sandy.

[Hazel]

I Sandy Welcome =)

[Laura]

Hi, I'm an Italian freelance translator and a book lover that is really interested in the indie publishing world.
I'd really like to translate a self published book: this is something completely new in Italy, but I think it's gonna be our future!
Ciao!!! ;-)

[[deleted user]]

Welcome to the group, Laura! Translating self published novels into Italian sounds like a big job but such a great way to branch out. I'll spread the word to the group :) thanks!

[D.S.]

Hi! I'm DS McKnight but you can call me Deb. I'm the author of a YA paranormal novel Of Dreams and Shadow: Forget Me Not.

[[deleted user]]

Welcome to the group Deb!

[Anne]

Hi everyone! My name is Anne Colwey and I´m an avid reader and writer of romance novels from Germany. *warmwavingtoyou*
I like to read contemporary / modern romance and historical romances as well. Recently, I finished writing my second contemporary romance novel and am on the editing process now...
Best wishes,
Anne

[Bree]

Hi! I'm Bree. I just am self-publishing a children's picture book that I've been working on a very long time. I just put out the ebook and will publish the hardcover in March. I haven't linked to my book on Goodreads yet, but it's Bubba the Bulldog Tries to Smile.

I like reading: new age, marketing (as of late), drawing, writing, humor, thrillers, dark stuff.

[Randy]

Hi, I am Randy Charles. I write and love reading psychological fiction ranging from women's fiction titles to psychological and suspense thrillers. I am most fond of dark, twisted characters. No idea why. I work in mental health so that may have something to do with it. Anyway, my debut novel will be released in the first half of 2014 and I am working on the second. Nice meeting you all!

[Lorena]

Hello everyone. My name is Lorena and I am an aspiring writer. I do have a finished novel, but I am too chicken to publish it. Lol. I have a broad range of books that I love to read, but my favorite genres would have to be gothic, romance, suspense, and horror. Right now, I am writing a new novel based on the Marquis de Sade. I don't have a blog yet, but am in the process of creating one as soon as I can get settled long enough to breathe.

I would love to connect with you all and get some insight into the Indie genre.

[Therin]

Hi, everybody! I'm Therin, and I've just self-published my first book, Echoes. I mainly write sci-fi and mystery, but I do dabble in other genres as well as short fiction. Nice to meet you all! :)