1. What can you tell me about your experience as a writer?

I wrote my first book when I was eight, typed on our old typewriter with several missing keys. It was a Cinderella retelling, only it was also a murder mystery with a tax evasion twist. I’ve been making nonsense ever since. LOL

2. What made you decide to write a book?

My first real book came about when I was working at a sewing factory, back- breaking, mind-numbing work that I got through by coming up with plots and dialogue that I’d write at five in the morning before I had to get to work. It will never see the light of day, but it’s the first full-size novel I finished.

3. What circumstances brought you to the decision to self-publish your book?

My first published book came because I shopped it around for a year and got back that it wasn’t marketable, too creative, too unconventional, so I went my own way. I’m actually going to publish that first book again after a complete rewrite where I *ahem* make it more marketable. LOL. It only took me ten years to come to terms with reality. I do love to self-publish, because I like to do the art, and work with artists, and see the whole book come together according to my vision.

4. What has your experience as a self-publisher been like?

It’s had its highs and lows. I’ve had books that were bestsellers, and others that I felt would hit the market perfectly that flopped. There’s no guaranteed formula for success, except probably persistence. Apparently, I have that, because after 11 years, I’m still at it.

5. How do you respond to the negative stigma attached to self-publishing and self-published books?

I don’t tell people that I’m a writer, self-published or otherwise, because I write fantasy, and there’s a stigma attached to that, like there’s a stigma attached to everything. When people do judge me, I try to take it as a compliment, that they are thinking about me so much.

6. What is one very important lesson you have learned as a self- publisher?

It’s not about one book, but about the whole spam of a career that I hope lasts a long time. I’ve learned so much, about working with other people, juggling a hundred different pieces, marketing! Oh, marketing is a beast that I’m still fighting, but eventually...

7. What do you know now about self-publishing that you wish you knew at the beginning?

Marketability is a real thing. Write what people want to read. It’s not about you, but about the reader. Always respect the reader.

8. A lot of authors of self-published books have reservations about promoting and marketing their book. Some even feel that it is a form of vanity or self-importance. What is your opinion about this?

I understand this deeply, but I’m working on getting over it, because people want to read books like mine, and how will they find them if I don’t tell them about it? I guess you have to believe that you have a book that someone wants, that has worth for some reason.

9. How do you promote your books and what form of book promotion has worked the best for you?

I’ve promoted using almost everything, and the results aren’t truly consistent, sadly. I thought I had Amazon ads down, and then when I did a launch, their platform was down and my book never took off. I thought I knew Facebook ads, and then I launched during a voting year, and that didn’t work. I would say to definitely build your newsletter, because you have the most control over that. Ads, social media, and of course publishing that next book and making sure your backmatter links everything are all important.

10. What are some other important things you have learned as a self-publisher?

Save your money when you have a good seller for the times when it’s not as profitable. Don’t buy too many covers because they’re so pretty. Treat it as a business. Enjoy the surprises.

11. Do you feel that self-publishing is a viable choice for other authors?

Many authors are making full time wages with self-publishing, but it’s important to pick a genre to write in that has hungry readers that can support you. Writing a book and then looking for an audience is much more difficult than targeting from the outset.

12. How do you feel that self-publishing their books has helped many unknown authors finally get the recognition their books deserve?

I don’t like that term, ‘deserve’ because it comes with judgment that I’m always fighting against with myself. Does my book deserve to be popular and make money? Do I? I like thinking that self-publishing helps more variety be published, which suits smaller audiences, as well as those who have a broader base as their target. :)

ABOUT JULIANN:

Juliann Whicker is the author of quirky magical fantasy such as her Watergirl series, the Butcher, Baker, Vampire Slayer series, Her Dark Fae Prince series and the Darkly Sweet series as well as others. Juliann lives in New Mexico where she enjoys the sunsets and tacos. Juliann is the chauffeur to five children and enjoys most random artistic pursuits. Her website: https://www.juliannwhicker.com/