Hunched behind a cluttered desk in a dim, dusty room; or perhaps on a veranda overlooking the ocean typing away on a laptop. Both scenarios an easy lifestyle?
Whatever you see, the reality for most of us is this. There are many days when a writer has no time to write. Running an author business may, on the surface, seem like an idealistic way to spend your time. While it is such a gratifying career, there are many challenges and learning curves constantly pulling an author away from the craft of writing. In September 2017, I was excitedly ready to publish my first book, The Royal Tournament—a prequel to the Soul Forge Saga.
The self-publishing process seemed daunting and I had several questions, not to mention, the many roadblocks that appeared when attempting to publish my book. Through a Facebook group I belonged to at the time, I posted a request for advice about getting through the more complicated aspects of Amazon and getting my book uploaded. It’s not easy the first time you do it! A fellow member, Science-Fiction author, David M. Kelly, reached out. We had a lengthy discussion through private messaging and eventually, he gave me a call to walk me through the upload process, as well as tackle the treaty part of the financial aspect with the U.S. based Amazon. That phone call lasted over an hour. David’s long-distance phone bill, I am sure, suffered as a result! We discovered that we live 5 hours apart, me in Cambridge, Ontario, and Dave in Sudbury, Ontario. Soon, through that simple act of collaboration and support, we became fast friends. kudos to...As I am wrapping up the third book of the Epic Fantasy series, Soul Forge, I am humbled by the many people who come together to bring my fantasy books to publication. I also wonder how I actually find the time to write with all the other tasks I need to attend to. That’s where my team comes in. A team that I am so fortunate and grateful for.
At age 51, the decision to leave my position in the police sector for a full-time writing career was not easy. The pay, the pension, the health benefits, the vacation time was all great, but the stress was killing me. I’m grateful for the opportunity to follow my dream and passion for writing and now this is my full-time job. No pay, no pension, no health benefits, I work at least 12 hour days and can’t afford a vacation! But I am happy. Reflecting on this as I take a break from polishing the suggested edits, I realize just how much people power it takes to put a book out there. Reecah's Flight |
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