By Edie Ramer
I’m an indie author and proud of it. In addition to RWA-WF, I belong to two chapters and several loops, and quite a few of the writers in those groups are either self-published or interested in it. That includes mystery, paranormal, urban fantasy, romance, romantic suspense and erotica. A friend who writes erotic romantic suspense and paranormal suspense is writing series with two NY publishers. Yet she’s taken time to write an erotic short story to self-publish. She told me “Too many writers I know are making a killing on sexy 12K word shorts. I want a piece of the pie.”
So it’s surprising that I’m not hearing more women’s fiction writers jumping for that piece of the pie. After all, we write books about strong women taking hold of their lives. Empowered women. That’s what self-publishing is about for all authors. Ever since I published my first book, I’ve felt empowered.
I’m sure it’s going to happen soon. One well-known WF writer will take that step, and then another, and another. I’m guessing that backlists are already up. We have a lot of savvy women in this group, and I don’t think they want to miss out on that pie slice, either. But for the writers who aren’t published yet, self-publishing is an option to seriously consider.
My books that are for sale now are paranormal romance, but I have two women’s fiction manuscripts I plan to revise and self-publish sometime. And I know of indie authors who’ve published women’s fiction and are doing very well.
One is Karen McQuestion. Reading about her success on J.A. Konrath’s blog last April was one of the reasons I decided to self-publish. Karen came close to selling (like me!) but never quite made it. So she did what the heroines in our books do when they hit a wall. She found another way around it and published her own books. A Scattered Life by Karen McQuestion ranks #84 on the Amazon Bestsellers List for Kindle books. That’s out of ALL the books in Kindle. Here’s the description:
Free-spirit Skyla Plinka has found the love and stability she always wanted in her reliable husband Thomas. Settling into her new family and roles as wife and mother, life in rural Wisconsin is satisfying, but can’t seem to quell Skyla’s growing sense of restlessness. Her only reprieve is her growing friendship with neighbor Roxanne, who has five kids (and counting) and a life in constant disarray – but also a life filled with laughter and love.
Much to the dismay of her intrusive mother-in-law, Audrey, Skyla takes a part-time job at the local bookstore and slowly begins to rediscover her voice, independence and confidence. Throughout one pivotal year in the life of Skyla, Audrey and Roxanne, all three very different women will learn what it means to love unconditionally. With the storytelling ingenuity of Anne Tyler, the writing talent of Jodi Picoult, and the subtlty of Alice Munro, McQuestion offers a satisfying debut that proves she is a gifted portraitist, a natural storyteller and an author to watch.
That’s classic women’s fiction. I’m currently reading Devil Moon: A Mystic Romance by Dana Taylor. It’s Southern women’s fiction with a mystical element, along the line of Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen. Here’s the review of Devil Moon by Romance Junkies:
Ms. Taylor’s DEVIL MOON is a wonderful book that you will want to read over and over again. Maddie and Phil are two confident and secure adults who happen to, at the same time, fall off kilter for one moment of mad passion. In their reality at school they bicker and argue like an old married couple. Phil can’t help but want to shatter Ms. Harris’ picture perfect exterior. Maddie can’t believe that the muscle bound football coach does everything to needle her, get under her skin and then expects her to be nice to him. With the help of two very unusual entities, these two find each other at every turn. I enjoyed watching them fight their growing attraction and looked forward to the moment when they discovered that the other was the fabulous one night stand that they had indulged in. DEVIL MOON will give you a dose of moon madness and is a very enjoyable read.
I’m halfway through it, and I’m loving it. I think it’s very much women’s fiction.
With all the uncertainty in publishing, e-publishing is the one bright and shiny spot. And it’s going to get brighter and shinier. To all the women’s fiction writers who are hesitating, all I can say is “What do you have to lose?”
Is this something you’ve been considering or are already doing?
I self-published my first novel and I think the fact that it acquired an agent and was offered a contract from an epublisher gave me the confidence to take the plunge. The reason I self-pubbed it and didn’t go with the publisher? I wanted control and, ironically, they went out of business and I was happy I’d taken that control. But after that, I was willing to surrender some control for a digital-first publisher. In both cases, it was important to me that my book also be available in print so I didn’t want to go with a digital only publisher – there’s a difference so be sure you’re getting what it is you really want.
Kathy, you made some great choices. Good for you! And it is wonderful that we have all these choices now.
I’m seriously considering it. Reading a lot and have revised the ms I think I’ll do. Now just get a few readers to got over it and all the other details involved which I’ve been learning about. Here’s to 30 hour days. If the astrological signs can change, I want the day lengthened.:-)
Mary Jo, you should! It’s interesting, that’s for sure.
I could use a 30 hour day, too.
Wonderful post, Edie!
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Self-publishing ebooks is a brand new world and I’m fascinated by it. I become more intrigued with each passing month, especially seeing the fine quality of writing by many of the authors (your stories included!) who have taken the plunge recently.
Thanks so much for sharing more about the process
Marilyn, if you have any old, unpubbed books languishing in your computer, you know what to do with them.
Hi Edie! Thanks so much for mentioning me and for featuring A Scattered Life in your post. I’m always tickled to hear when my story has encouraged other authors to go for it.
I completely agree with your summation –> With all the uncertainty in publishing, e-publishing is the one bright and shiny spot. And it’s going to get brighter and shinier. To all the women’s fiction writers who are hesitating, all I can say is “What do you have to lose?”
Frankly, I don’t know why someone WOULDN’T go the e-publishing route.
Now I’m off to buy your book, DEAD PEOPLE. Great title and cover!
Karen, I feel like squealing. lol I live in Washington County in Wisconsin. Not too far from you. Maybe I’ll meet you in person sometime.
I don’t understand why someone wouldn’t e-publish either. Once I did, my only regret was that I didn’t do it earlier.
Edie, if you’re in Washington County, you’re not that far at all. I’m in Hartland (Waukesha county), close to I94. I’m sure we’ll cross paths at some point in the future.
Karen, I’m in Richfield. I’ll keep alert for your next speaking engagement in the area.
Edie,
Thanks for the thoughtful post, and Karen’s story is certainly inspiring!
Edie, please do! I need to update my site because I have a few more things coming up closer to summer. If you can make one of the events, email me ahead of time–maybe we could meet for coffee/tea right beforehand?
Rosemary, it is inspiring. I kept reminding myself that in the beginning Karen was hoping to make enough to take her and her husband out to dinner once a month.
I love success stories!
Karen, I’d love to meet you before an engagement. I’ll be sure to check out your site! Without becoming a stalker. lol
You guys should submit your eBooks to the Chick Lit Club website, I use that site to find books I’d like to read. They seem really fair on their reviews and it’s a great way to get yourself noticed more…thousands of women (and some men even) use their site to find books to read. Good luck and happy writing to you all!
Annabelle, thanks for the suggestion. I’ll check it out.
Edie,
thank you for your post. I’m so glad I found this site. I, like you, have come close, in the traditional pub world to no avail. I’m getting ready to e-pub my first women’s fiction manuscript in July.
Just finishing up with a line edit and I should be ready to go.
I’m excited about the possibilites that e-publishing holds for us. After all, I write these books so that other women can read them, enjoy and relate. I don’t write them to languish on my hard drive forever. So if some read my book and enjoy it, that’s a success for me.
I had no idea that Karen McQuestion was self e-published! I downloaded and read A Scattered Life a few months ago, and loved it! It’s so inspiring to hear of success.
Thanks again for your post!
Elena, I haven’t read A Scattered Life, but I’ve read other books of Karen’s. I need to get that.
Since I wrote this, more WF authors have self-published, and some are doing very well. I hope you do, too. Good for you for taking the plunge!