Why I Chose to go Independent!
Book Blogger, Reviewer & Author
Hello! My name’s Alyssa, but I normally go by my pen name, A. Renee Hunt. First, I must say ‘thank you’ to Lisa for having me! I love sharing. and to be asked to share something of my journey is an honor. My story may be similar to yours. If not, I pray you never make the same mistakes I made.
So I have independently published one short story and currently working on a novel. I
know, it doesn’t seem like much, but this is major for me. You see, I’d previously published a novel and novella through traditional and what’s now known as vanity publishers, and got no where. Oh I’m let me elaborate, NO WHERE! They lied to me and manipulated me with so much glitz and glam, they conned $3200 from my pockets. Yes they did- then the product I received was so shotty, I ugly cried. Do you know what that looks like on a sista?
I argued and fought with them though and managed to retrieve my title, but the damage was crucial. Your first impression on the reading world is significant,yet I’d botched it with crap work. The editing was abysmal, the cover wasn’t what I’d originally asked for and they didn’t produce anywhere near thirty-two hundred dollars in work. I also did everything myself: scheduling the book signings, advertising, even my own website generated more traffic than the one they’d created for me!
I was devastated and wanted to crawl beneath a rock. Thankfully I did not. Being a greenhorn is good for one thing: Learning. I read so much, my eyes burned and I needed butt implants from all the phone calls and interviewing people, satiating my hunger for information. I’m kidding about the implants, btw. I have no butt, but I digress…
I did what I thought I’d originally done in research, but I tripled that mug. I refused to repeat my mistakes. I dominated my social media and treated the marketing aspect of my work like a job, (a job I loved) and it paid off! I sold more books as an independent author than as a traditional one, and that’s something to be proud of.
©A. Renee Hunt used with permission
Today, I’m working on my first indie novel, but a lot has changed. My work ethic and gathering of information comes from a professional point of view, and I feel it represents who I really am. My current and past indie works are of a quality, unlike anything I’ve ever written and I feel it’s because I chose to take the reigns. By not allowing someone else to control my story’s destiny, I became the B.O.S.S. I’m proud of both positive and negative reviews. and I’ll never stop working to make my dreams reality.
I hope you, the reader and aspiring author, can do the same. Whether publishing traditionally or not, you have to be in control. Don’t pay someone else for what you can do; don’t allow them to use your name and title without producing proper work, and don’t ever quit!
Best to you and thank you for reading,
Alyssa
©A. Renee Hunt used with permission
http://www.facebook.com/AlyssaHunt40
Singer, songwriter, mother, actress and fashion icon… all of these describe the artist known as Solange Knowles. When your name means “Angel of the sun” you are destined for greatness. This woman has a very eclectic mind that is able to translate the weary ways of the world into a beautiful tapestry of melodies and words. Quickly becoming a voice of her generation, Solo had taken her talent to new heights with her latest project “A Seat at the Table”. She won a Grammy for Best R&B Performance for “Cranes in the Sky” from the same album.
This week’s lessons are getting more involved with the rules of writing! So last week we worked on the study bible and fleshing it out. Now we are working on how to begin writing the script. Shonda explained her process for coming up with the details of her script and how to pitch it to network execs.
This week picked up where last week left off. I am still finding the course very stimulating, which is rare for me. I usually lose interest after a bit, but this course is living up to my expectations so far. Shonda makes it easy using reference from her work on Scandal and Grey’s Anatomy. It is a lot easier to follow the lessons when you are familiar with the case studies she is referencing.
This past week I shared with you all that I started my Masterclass for TV Writing instructed by the great Shonda Rhimes. I received some feedback asking that I keep you guys informed on my progress and how I like the course.
Sexy! Shocking! Beautiful! Dangerous! Icon Grace Beverly Jones is all of those things and more. She ruled the 80s and is still going strong today. Whether she is tearing up the runway, smoking up the silver screen, rocking the concert stage or gracing us with her loud and proud personality on the tube, Grace is undeniably everything!
what we want. She broke barriers in interracial dating, being from Jamaican descent and dating Swedish twins. Her four year relationship with actor Dolph Lungren was buzzing all over the world. She was also the talk of the town when she starred opposite The Roger Moore in “View to a Kill” as bond girl “Mayday”. And yes, there was a sex scene!
Lisa W. Tetting 