It all started with an invitation and an impulse decision. 

I was chatting with a friend about self publishing, picking her brain a bit because she’s been an indie author for 2+ years. It’s something I’ve been considering and I never pass up a chance to ask someone who has personal experience versus going to Google. 

She mentioned this thing called a Publishing Derby to me, hosted by Inkfort Press. It was an interesting premise. A competition where everyone starts at the same point that ends with a self published novella and a grand reveal. 

I decided to go for it, if only because it sounded fun. 

We were given 100+ covers to choose from, all gorgeous, in a variety of genres with their own covers and pen names. The first task was to rank them according to which ones we most wanted to write a story about. There were so many amazing cover options that I agonized over my ranking for a few days before I finally settled on what I wanted to submit. 

Then a few days later, we got our assignments, and I got my second choice. I got Desolation Among the Stars. 

We had 2 months to write the story. Half a month for a beta reader period, then about a month to revise and be ready to publish on September 25th. Any discussion/promo we could do had to be done under the pen name that went with the cover. That put everyone on an even playing field. 

It was kind of cool operating under a persona, like I had a secret identity. I also desperately needed the outlet so I could talk to SOMEONE about what I was working on. 

Because the story very quickly became important to me. I found myself growing attached to this group who chose to do what was right, to fight to make a difference in the face of loss and destruction. When the peace finally came, something happened to snatch some of the joy from that victory. 

It was surprisingly therapeutic. We all have moments where something happens and the thing we want, the thing we have been working towards, is placed firmly out of our reach due to circumstances outside of our control. It’s happened to me so many times, where something happens and my plans have to change. I have to let a dream go, or find a new way to try and make that dream happen. 

I wrote the first draft in 19 days. Then I sent it to a few people to get some feedback. Got some first hand experience with handling critical feedback, some of which hurt a little, but all of which went to helping make the story better. It helped me find the spots that were weak or where something was missing. 

There is something energizing about knowing that I can, in fact, do this, and that I actually did it. I wrote, revised and published a book. And I am really proud of it. 

I wrote the sequel during the second half of the writing period. I plan to publish that one in late spring/early summer of 2024. 

I have another duology, a trilogy, and a few stand-alones planned, as well as what could turn into a longer series. Most of my ideas are in the realm of urban fantasy and space opera, dipping into the various flavors of those genres. 

I still have a lot to learn and a lot of work ahead of me, but this is just the beginning. There will be more.

Because I am an indie author, and I am just getting started.