This week I’m posting an interview of indie author, Anna Del C. Dye, whom I met through the LDS writing community. You guys read my jabbering every month, so this month I thought I’d give someone else the spotlight! Many thanks to Anna for participating.
First off, can you tell us a bit about your background?
I was born and grew up in Chile, so my first language is Spanish. I came here to marry my husband and that is when I learned the English language. I am not an expert on it but with the help of editors I do fine.
How long have you been a writer and how did you get started in the business?
I started writing eight years ago because my husband wanted to live to a ripe old age and he said my imagination would kill him before that.
Can you tell us a bit about your books?
I wrote a series of seven Young Adult books with elf characters as the main subject. Their lives, hopes, culture and beliefs are all there. They are Medieval fantasies or High Fantasy.
I also wrote a pre-teen book called Emerine’s Nightmare which has a Halloweeny feel to it.
I just started a new series of books called “A Royal Romance.” The first book in the series, “Once Upon Two Kingdoms,” was published January 30th 2015
What made you decide to self-publish your work?
My husband made that decision for me. He studied the options and we chose a printing house. Though, I know that my English is basic so not many publishing companies would pick me over English majors and so forth, so I just didn’t bother with them. My fans like my writings and that is good enough for me.
As you prepare a book for publication, what are the steps you go through? What kind of help do you hire?
First and most important a good edit. I have a few editors that do it for free but my professional editor is the last to see my book and she is paid.
Then you have to format your book to look professional and to follow the guidelines of many printing places. They all like it a certain way.
That is when you submit it to Amazon, B&N, I-tunes, Smashwords and any other place you want to. Kindle and Nook have their own guidelines and you need to format accordingly, and then submit it to them.
Then the printers send it to you for a final edit and when done you approve it for printing.
What kind of publicity do you do for your books? Is it always for the newest one out, or do you also publicize your backlist?
I usually do the newest book with a bunch of people featuring it on their blogs. The reason you do your new book is that people like new things, and then they realize you have more books and ask you to tell them about them.
I set the blog tour for a two week period. This spreads the word about your book especially if you offer a few ebooks or electronic copies of your book.
A GoodReads giveaway that entitles you to give three physical copies of your book to three winners randomly picked by them.
Of all the things you’ve done in the course of self publishing, what has been the most useful?
Blog tours and reviews.
Though reviews are hard to come by. Many people like your book but aren’t willing to write a review for you.
Least useful?
Radio advertisement and paid reviews.
Any words of wisdom for writers thinking of taking the plunge into self publishing?
Study the rules of each publishing options but remember that the more places your books is the more chance for you to find your audience.
Also do unto others as you would like to be done unto you. Review other peoples’ books so they will invest time in reading yours. Participate in other author’s blog tours so they will feature yours in their blog.
Don’t be afraid to ask for or to give help.
Join a writer’s group. You will learn a lot about writing there.
Go to all the writing seminars or symposiums you can. They are an awesome way to learn your craft.
Any last words?
Never stop learning and you will be the best that you can be.
Anna’s website is: www.annadelc.com