Liz's Lair: Mary Marvella Talks About Self Pubbing

Since this is a new day for authors with more and more going the indie route, I asked my friend and fellow author, Mary Marvella, to join us today and talk about her journey. I met Mary a lot of years ago on a loop dedicated to posting weekly goals. It has transformed into way more that that, and some of these women have become close friends like Mary. So, without further ado, I'll let my friend take over.

Good Monday morning, ladies! Thanks for inviting me to join you today, Liz. You look so tough on the header here. This is my second guest blog, a stop on my maiden voyage as a new Indie author.

Times are changing for a lot of us. 10 years ago I would have rolled my eyes at the idea of trying to e-publish my stories. I wanted people to hold my books in their hands and smell the paper. I wanted them to turn the pages rapidly and wipe tear- stains from those pages, sighing with each kiss and moaning…OOPS! Got carried away for a minute.

Each time a chapter member announced a sale to an e-publisher, someone nearby would smile sadly, as though that author had given up, sold out. There were folks who suggested no big publisher would take that author seriously. Self-publishing or using a vanity press were definitely selling out. Who would take an author seriously if she sold books from her trunk? Images slid in my mind of someone pulling me aside and mumbling as she glanced around, “Hey, I have some knock-off purses, luggage, and books in my trunk. Wanna buy some cheap?”

Well, e-publishers didn’t go away and I tried to sell to one. That publisher had me do edits and then said, “No thanks.”

Would I even consider self-publishing? No way. Too much up front expense. Really? And of course some folks were saying that the “real” publishers would never take me seriously as a writer if I published my own stuff. I am here to tell you that I have published a novel and a novella. Did I give up on selling to a New York publisher? Nah, I still have some books I think could work for the big guys. But there are books of my heart that I don’t see ever fitting the splashy, fast paced books editors and agents say they want.

HAUNTING REFRAIN and FOREVER LOVE are old-fashioned love stories with no super heroes, shape shifters, or kick-ass heroines. I loved the characters from the second they slipped into my brain and wormed their ways into my heart. My writing is about heart and love and family and southern storytelling. I do like to mix a little lust in, too.

From HAUNTING REFRAIN a reincarnation story with ghost facilitators

William seldom saw a sunrise. But this morning he watched the pink streaks grow along the horizon and intensify. He hadn’t slept a wink. Each time he’d closed his eyes he’d seen Sarah sitting in the moonlight, like an enchantress. He’d heard her siren’s song and been drawn.

How had he missed the way her lips begged to be kissed, the way her body had ripened to perfection?

There was no way he could let that Jackson jerk have her. Kissing her had been the most wonderful experience he could have imagined and the biggest mistake of his life. The kiss was all his dreams had promised and more. His dream lover had been Sarah, but different. His dream lover had known what he needed.
He had tried to sleep, even dozed a while.

Big mistake.


From FOREVER LOVE a story about redemption and love

Day after day Devon followed Sabrina to the hospital where she tended the sick, watching the way her touch calmed children and grown up people. But today she took the path to the road that lead to the Faith Baptist Church. Tall pines towered overhead. Though there were bushes and wildflowers on both sides of the road, they were sparse compared to foliage of Devon's time.

Each time he came here nostalgia overwhelmed him. Melancholy weighed him down. Parts of the wooden structure were old and familiar, like the small chapel and its steeple. It had survived so much. He had watched generations of local people enter this place of worship. Though the cat did not usually come here, Devon needed to be near Sabrina in spirit.

Sometimes he listened only to his memories. He and his father had helped cut the trees and make those benches. Then they had sat in the back of the sanctuary with his mother, the squaw.

What do you think about the changes in publishing? Have your dreams changed? How? Do you want to find books that are more like the books we loved years ago?

Comment for a chance to win one download of Haunting Refrain or one of Forever Love.

Mary Marvella has been a storyteller forhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif as long as she can remember. She is Georgia bred, Georgia raised, and proud of it.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif When Mary chose a career, teaching seemed perfect since she declared at age four that was her intention. She taught language arts (literature, grammar, and writing, all exciting and fun for her). In 1991 Mary decided to write for publication and joined Georgia Romance Writers. With more than 10 novels under her belt and tons of story beginnings, she is still writing. Her daughter loves her mama but won't read her sexy books. Love, Lust, Sweet Tea, or Southern Comfort anyone?

MaryMarvella.com
PinkFuzzySlipperWriters blogspot
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Mary-Marvella-Author/121044561311561
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/65206
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