To all the indie authors who are wondering if you should quit...

I'm not going to lie to you.

I'm not going to tell you things will get better.

Indie publishing is an uphill battle. Every single day, something is changing. Algorithms change how much they'll show our content to readers. Readers change their reading and reviewing preferences. Distributors change fees, royalty cuts, and audiences. Even our core team of editors, cover designers, and formatters may need time away from the book world at some point, or change careers entirely.

But here's the thing: Our writing lives ARE our own real-life 'stories'. And stories are never smooth sailing all the way through, are they?    

To all the indie authors who are wondering if you should quit...

I'm not going to tell you that your book is 'good enough'.

Let's be real, if you've been writing for any length of time, you know what a 'garbage draft' is. And you know that ten years from now, if you keep writing everyday, your best book today will be nothing compared to the work you would craft then.

But if you don't ever write 'early works', 'latter works' can never follow. Besides, there's editors to help us!

To all the indie authors who are wondering if you should quit...

I'm not going to tell you that you're 'worth it'.

In truth, our worth is in no way tied to a dream scribbled on paper or sprawled across a screen. Our worth is not summarized in numbers of followers, downloads, or dollars. It's not even tied to our ability to succeed as an indie author.

Those are all ACHIEVMENTS. Achievements are part of our life's highlight reel, not our life itself.

To all the indie authors who are wondering if you should quit...

I'm not going to tell you that you shouldn't quit.

But know your 'why'. If you can't be honest with anybody else, be honest with yourself before you walk away.

Are the sacrifices that go into this journey (time, money, emotions) more than you can afford or want to pour out at this point in your life? That's okay! Is this a 'later', more than a 'goodbye', to recoup what you've given away during this process? Or are you tired of writing your genre, themes, or in general? Do you need to give yourself permission to change into the growth this journey has taken you through, or give your brain and heart time to catch up with that growth?

Finally, to all the indie authors who are wondering if you should quit...

I am one of you. I am proud of you. And whether or not you choose to rise above this moment of darkness and doubt, I am cheering you on.

Just please, if you quit, please don't ever let your light go dim.

​~Katherine D. Graham

She doesn't know which vision people hate more—the tale of six lords falling from the heavens and bringing balance to the world, or the accompanying warning that three other-worldly goddesses want to see the mortal world turned to ash. 

Either way, stumbling across the very men she had been seeing for years in her dreams changes everything. A powerful prophecy is now in motion—a prophecy that could doom them all.  

Can the lords from Nariah's dreams stop the destruction she so fears?  
Or will their very presence bring about the end of her world? ​

The dreaded one-to-two week period after a new release where the weight of this career comes crashing back down on you. 
The moment when you judge your success (and often your value as an author/creative) based on little ticks and sales charts, or the lack of those little ticks and sales.

It's in those days following a release that you breathe, you try to celebrate, but an undying question of "will readers connect with my work?" "will they like my work?" "was it worth everything I just went through to put it out in the world" comes crashing down on you.

"Am I worth it?"
"Should I keep writing?"
"Why am I doing this?"

Publishing books is not about the money for me. It never has been. I edit for a living, and I adore my job. I could edit books for years and never tire of the excitement of cracking open a new book and helping a new author bring their world to life.

No, I'm looking for something more.

Connection.
Representation.
Relatability.

To find my "tribe", as it is. 

When you cross the publishing finish line, which you've been pushing for like a marathon runner up hills in the blistering heat, there's no relief. The finish line moves. It drags you along to the next book, the next project - the next step in a staircase that will only end when you walk away.

But I don't want it to stop. Not really. 

If you're reading this as a fellow author looking for a reassurance that this is normal and it will pass, here is your encouragement. It is normal. It does normally pass. But you have to make your "why" front-and-center. You have to keep writing for you. 

Money comes and goes. So can fame. But the joy of knowing at least one other human being on Earth read your book and said, "yes! This is what I've been waiting for." is enough to make it all worth it. 

If you think of me this week, a note of encouragement means more than I can ever say. 

Dear Readers, thank you for reading my books. Thank you for making my journey one worth taking. I would happily go through a hundred slumps just to share my worlds with you.

​~Katherine

P.S., if you'd like to see which books I should be finishing right now instead of fighting the Slump, check out:

-The Slayer Queen
-Splitting Dawn
-Starfire Express

Now that my second year as an indie author is officially rolling, a new chapter in my writing journey is here. 

When I began this journey in October 2020, my mentorship with Lindsey Teske from Of Ink and Pearls Publishing set me on my path and gave me the tools to make it where I am today. To say Lindsey's advice was invaluable is a gross understatement. I truly believe that without her foundations, I would not have had the success I did as a debut Epic Fantasy author.

Once The Vow That Twisted Fate launched, though, and Lindsey and I parted ways, I found myself riding the waves that are the highs of a book release and the lows of imposter syndrome. 

Self-publishing isn't necessarily easy.

Who am I kidding? It's downright challenging.

But it's the most rewarding thing I've ever done as an author.

With that being said, after 7 months of trying to find my place in the indie author scene, of writing multiple novellas and participating in interviews, live chats, and more, I am ready to move into a new chapter in my writing journey. 

I have signed an Elite Mentorship contract with Dragon Realm Press!

One of the most important lessons I've learned as an indie author has been to be humble and teachable. There are always new things to learn, always ways to improve, and being open and eager to learn from those who have achieved what I myself wish to achieve is the key to growth.

How does this affect my book/publishing schedule?

For already-scheduled books, it doesn't affect the schedule.

-The Slayer Queen is still in the works to be included in an anthology this summer
-Angel's Abdication (April 9th) and Angel's Ascendance (August 9th) are both still on schedule for release as planned
-Splitting Dawn is still a part of the Realm of Darkness box set, which comes out in October

What this new chapter does mean, though, is that I will be learning how to better share my work with the world, and how to make the most of the non-writing time I have. I am ready to be more intentional with my time, and move beyond 'coasting'. 

I am excited for this new step into potentially becoming a full-time author in the future! My hope is that this means I will have more books for you without the long waits, and that those books will find homes on new shelves, too. 

Thank you for joining me on my writing journey!

If you're an aspiring author or indie author who'd like to hear about some tools/tips that have helped me make it this far, check out my YouTube series (the March schedule can be seen HERE ).