The Heart of an Indie Author

The Heart of an Indie Author

As some of you know my name is Quinn Loftis and  I am the author of The Grey Wolves Series. I published my first book in June of 2011 and since have published 2 others. The fourth in the series will be coming out in 10 days. I am still very new to the world of Indie Authors but I have come to realize already what an amazing community it is. I have "met" so many awesome authors and heard their stories on how they came to be authors. We have shared frustrations, triumphs, fears, failures, joys, success, and our stories with one another. I have learned more about writing through these other authors than I ever did in a class room or book and I have been blessed to get to see them each be successful in their work. 

One of the things that I don't think readers understand (and I don't say this to be disrespectful) is the hard work that and Indie Author puts into one book. The hours of writing, the proofing, the cover, the publicizing, altering the website when necessary, blogging, responding to email, face book and twitter- all for the love of putting out a book that will bring a reader joy, sorrow, anger, passion, redemption, jealousy, fear, love. I can attest that there is nothing greater than finishing a book after all of the work, putting it out there and then getting positive reviews. When that happens all the hard work is more than worth it. The most amazing thing about Indie Authors is they don't resent the work, they don't hate doing all their own leg work and footing out all the money for give away's and swag and book tours. They do it because the genuinely love the art of writing.They do it because to them, to us, their is nothing more satisfying than writing a book and knowing you have invoked emotions for a reader, that you have created a world that they want to escape to and hate having to leave even if only long enough to put the clothes in the dryer.

The world of an Indie Author is exhausting no doubt. It is at times very painful when you read a harsh review. It is rewarding, but sometimes that reward is bitter sweet. Above all the world of and Indie Author is a dream come true. Thanks to the awesome invention of the internet, and then the electronic readers it is now possible for people to make their dream of being published a reality. I will not say that what I do now as an Indie Author is harder than being a nurse. But just as being a nurse had it's difficult points so does writing.
 I am so thankful to be able to share with other writers what it's like to do this day in and day out. I have a new respect when I read a book especially by and Independent Author for how much work goes into a novel and when I read a review that attacks the author I try to remember that if you have never written a book then you can't possibly understand the vulnerability and humility it takes to do so and to put it out there for the world to see. I believe Indie Authors are the future in literature. There is so much raw talent out there that gets over looked by agents and publishers who are in a hurry to find the next best seller. When you download an Indie Authors book, I hope that you will think back on these words and smile knowing that the persons heart was poured into the pages and it was done knowing they wouldn't become rich from it, they probably wouldn't become a New Your Times bestseller, they might not even sell more than a few dozen copies, but to have one person read their book. To have one person be affected by their words is enough. That is the heart of the Indie Author.

Thank you so much for your time, 

Quinn Loftis