"Why Indies Rock' Blog Tour

Welcome everyone to my stop on the Why Indies Rock Blog Tour! 

I wasn't sure what I was getting myself into when I signed up to be a part of this whole deal, but as I read the posts of others on this tour with me, I have had a chance to see and experience exactly what it is all about. 

To be honest, I never set out to be an author. As a kid, I always wrote things, but I never put much stock into it. What I dreamed of being was a veterinarian. I cared for hordes of animals of all species and I still have that tendency to this day. I eventually traded that dream in for indie car racing, which turned briefly into a desire to be an Air Force fighter pilot, then settled into wife and mother. Today, I dream of becoming an editor. Notice that writer still isn't on that list of dreams. 

I kind of fell into this job. One day a close friend of mine decided to get back to writing, so I thought it might be fun to see what I had in me too. I created a trilogy that has since been locked in a vault where not a soul except my own will ever find it. 

The thing is, writing is so unbelievably hard sometimes. Ideas come and go so fast that I can't even write them all down, but executing them is sometimes a torturous affair. I agonize over every single word, revise until my brain aches, and take frequent breaks to recharge my batteries. Yes, I am a perfectionist. 

During my journey, I have met some amazing people, but I have also met a few scrooges who try to diminish my work because I don't have the backing of a House. I have had countless people ask me if I would ever want to be published.  A novel idea to be sure. I mean, who wouldn't want to have the recognition a House brings? Who wouldn't want to be told your work is so good, someone wants to represent you? In fact, when I first started out, I took that path. I contacted all the houses and agents I could, sent out countless letters and even got some hopeful feedback, but it wasn't enough. It would never be enough. It took some soul searching, and one day I came to the conclusion that the answer to that question is a big fat no. I don't want to be anything other than an indie author. Why? Because I love setting my own pace. I am a rule breaker. I don't like walls around me, I don't like guidelines, and I don't like time frames. I work at my own pace, I develop my own ideas and I write what I want to write. I don't ever want to be the person who has to watch the market trend and try to capitalize on it. I want to march to my own drummer. Doing it my way ensures that I never get bored. I create my best work when I listen to to what I want. I can be closer to my audience, hands on, if you will. It is hard work. Such hard work! But for all the times when it isn't, it is rewarding.

Today I write and I know I will never stop. I can't. I love creating and I love what I have created. It is a challenge, and I have always enjoyed a good challenge. Each time I create another person, another world, I see myself getting better and I love that. I also know how important it is to have praise and feedback and a constant stream of support. That is why I give back. Not only do I share my work with others, I work to share other indie's work with the world. Because who are indies but another Anne Rice or Donna Grant or some other popular author looking for recognition? It's not the path but the journey that matters. 


  

Schedule

November 1st- Tamara Beard http://theindieshop.blogspot.com/

November 2nd- Amber Garza http://ambergarza.wordpress.com/

November 3rd- Alli & Laura http://sparringstepsisters.blogspot.com/

November 4th- Lori Parker http://contagiousreads.blogspot.com/

November 5th- Jennifer Bogart http://remembernewvember.blogspot.ca/

November 6th- Coral Russel http://alchemyscrawl.com/

November 7th- Supagurl http://www.supagurlbooks.blogspot.com/

November 8th- Jo Michaels http://jomichaels.blogspot.com/

November 9th- Tammy-Louise Wilkins http://tammy-louisewilkins.blogspot.co.uk/

November 10th- Matt Gannon http://www.mattwgannon.blogspot.com/

November 11th- Brianna Lee http://www.briannaleereviews.blogspot.com/

November 12th- Katie Shelby http://katieshelby19.blogspot.com/

November 13th- L. Leander http://lleander11.wordpress.com/

November 14th- Cynthia Hill http://cynthiahillbooks.com/

November 15th- Mandy Anderson http://twimom101bookblog.blogspot.com/

November 16th- Jamie Loeak http://www.jamieloeak.blogspot.com/

November 17th- Amy Miles http://amymilesbooks.com/

November 18th-Karly Blakemore-Mowle http://karlenebm.blogspot.com.au/

November 19th- Steph Brentson http://starrynightbookreviews.blogspot.com/

November 20th- Annie Walls http://www.anniewalls.com/

November 21st- Becky Elizabeth Searson http://theindieshop.blogspot.com/

November 22nd- Ivana http://willingtoseeless.blogspot.com/

November 23rd- Jamie Cross http://www.kainas.com/

November 24th- Teresa Gabelman http://teresagabelman.com/

November 25th- Jennifer http://indiesupporter.com/

November 26th- Ren Reidy http://www.alittlebitofrnrreviews.com/

November 27th- Delphina Miyares http://www.delphinareadstoomuch.com/

November 28th- Nikki http://www.vampandstuff.com/

November 29th- L.a. Freed http://www.delphinareadstoomuch.com/

November 30th- Patricia Lynne http://www.patricialynne.com/blog.html

December 1st- Mary Smith http://www.booknerdsacrossamerica.com/

December 2nd- Danielle Banister http://daniellebannister.wordpress.com/

December 3rd- Janiera Eldridge http://janieraeldridge.blogspot.com/

December 4th- Caddy Rowland http://www.caddyrowlandblog.blogspot.com/

December 5th- Shanora Williams http://shanorawilliams.blogspot.com/

December 6th- LM Preston http://lmpreston.blogspot.com/

December 7th- Candy Ann Little http://candylittle.wordpress.com/blog/

December 8th- Jill Cooper http://jillcooper.drupalgardens.com/

December 9th- Martina http://virginiebarbeau.wordpress.com/

December 10th- Shelly Pratt http://www.shellypratt.net/blog.html

December 11th- Kelley Grealis http://myarttoinspire.com/

December 12th- Michelle Hughes http://www.tearsofcrimson.com/

December 13th- Allison Medina http://deebestbooks.blogspot.com/

December 14th- Angela http://readingcave.blogspot.com/

December 15th- Jennifer Martinez http://booksnbrownies.blogspot.com/

December 16th- Brandi http://twistingyourmindonewordatatime.blogspot.com/

December 17th- Kristina Snyder http://everandeversight.blogspot.com/

December 18th- Jolene Perry http://www.jolenesbeenwriting.blogspot.com/

December 19th- Stephanie Constante http://stephanieconstante.blogspot.com/

December 20th- Jessica Gibson http://www.bookonthebrightside.blogspot.com/

Getting Through the Tough Times...

“Imagination is the golden-eyed monster that never sleeps. It must be fed; it cannot be ignored.” –Patricia A. McKillip

I think everyone who has ever written a line, be it poetry or story of some kind, knows the truth of this statement. I cannot count how many times I have hit a block in the road where frustration gets the better of me and I say to myself, “Maybe I’ll just quit.” Writing, that is. Because it is hard, and all too often those who devour books don’t appreciate the sheer amount of blood, sweat and tears we authors, published or indie, go through to put our creative minds to work and produce something amid the chaos of life that continues to speed by at an increasingly alarming rate. 

It takes vast amounts of courage to put yourself out there, to subject yourself and your brain child/children to criticism and the harsh words that inevitably come to all of us, because everything is relative. What one loves, another hates. I have been the subject of much criticism, and yeah, some of it hurts, but I try to treat all of it as a learning opportunity. Look at it as a lesson in character development. This is an opportunity to find out what you’re made of. Can you take the heat? Do you have what it takes to bounce back and come in harder and stronger next time? Do you have the willpower to withstand the next blow, or will you crumble under the pressure. 

Every time I feel that nagging self-doubt niggling at the base of my brain, I stomp it down brutally, because I know better than anyone that I am not going to quit. I love writing. It is hard work. Sometimes I get tired and I want to quit, but then I get hit with another idea or one of my characters pleads with me that it will be better next time, just give it another chance, and so I do, because I love them. I love my brain children. I love that they take me places I have never been, scary, dark places, fun and humorous places, and most of all, loving and warm places that transport me into their world. Just as they cannot live without me, I cannot live without them. They give my thoughts and emotions a voice they might not have otherwise. Through them I feel more complete. That is what self-expression is all about—being able to share a piece of your innermost self with the world. Damn the criticism. The world is more colorful for both the world we live in and the world we create. 

Forge ahead my fellow creators, and don’t let anyone stop you!