- 2 days ago
From innovative marketing techniques to creative approaches to funding and distribution, these authors share their journeys of overcoming obstacles and achieving success on their own terms. Whether you're an aspiring indie author or simply curious about the indie publishing world, this panel promises inspiration, practical advice, and a celebration of the indie spirit that defies limitations and embraces creative freedom.
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LifestyleTranscript
00:00Up first, our amazing moderator, an award-winning content creator who uses
00:04her social media presence to send her books by black authors. Everybody say
00:08hello to Robin Reyes, aka sometimes Robin Reyes. She bad, she bad. Up next, we have
00:16indie contemporary romance novelist Natasha Bishop. Then we have hopeless
00:24romantic who knows how to pin love stories, A.E. Valdez. And lastly, we have novelist,
00:32educator, life coach, and author of our very first traditionally published Curvy
00:36Girl Summer, my girl Danielle Allen.
00:54It's so good to see y'all in person and not on a phone screen. So I'm going to start with a question that I feel is really important.
01:23Every author's journey is different. What made you decide to go the indie route?
01:42Okay, I'm good. Okay. There we go. Can you hear me now? All right. Okay, so I feel like every author's journey is different.
01:49What made you guys decide to go indie versus traditional? We'll start with you, Natasha. You closest.
01:56This was a mistake. I feel like, honestly, I didn't know anything about traditional publishing when I started. I was like, how do we do that?
02:06And I learned about querying. I said, oh, no. We're just going to do indie. And you have so much more control over your stuff, your covers. And it's a lot of work because you're doing it all by yourself. But it's so worth it, like, to see the project from start to finish for me.
02:23Same reasons? Okay, there we go. Mine are the same reasons. I like just exploring my creativity to a full extent with no bounds, no restraints. That's my favorite thing about being an indie author. And it just gave me so much more freedom, I feel like. Not to say that traditional published authors don't have freedom. But indie authors are in a whole different game, a whole other realm.
02:50It was 2013. And I was like, oh, I wrote a book. What now? And Google said Amazon would allow you to publish it. And so that's what I did. I didn't go through any. I didn't even look to see how to query or anything. I was just like, oh, here's how you do it.
03:08This one's for Danielle. Now, what made you start Curb Your Girl Summer off like that? Like, it was just chaos and confusion, but like, really sexy? Like, what were you thinking? I wish I was surprised, though. But like, why would you do that?
03:25So in traditional media, whether it's books or movies or TV, you don't really see plus size black women being the heroine, being the romantic lead. And so I wanted to make sure I let you know that this book is not that.
03:44And so that was the first reason. Second is I wanted to set the stage for who Aaliyah is. And Aaliyah is single by choice.
03:53And I wanted to show that she is not only desirable, she was desired. And because it's a slow burn, and she was looking for someone who was going to earn her,
04:04you were going to have to wait until she found that person in order to have the action happen again.
04:11But I wanted you to see that tipping point where she was like, okay, you know what, I'm not, this is not the life for me. I need to look for my main man, my number one.
04:21And so I felt like, you know, if you're in that situation, it's like, sometimes you take, that situation will take you there, and it'll make you be like, you know what, let me stop, let me reflect, let me do dating right, because this ain't it.
04:34I just want to say, in case you didn't know, Danielle is officially a USA Today bestseller.
04:48This one's for my girl Amanda.
04:56When it comes to a worthy love, I think your heroine Marissa got a lot of backlash, and I don't know why, because she's one of my favorite heroines.
05:05I think she's one of the most refreshing FMCs I've read.
05:09But, oh, sorry.
05:11Did you anticipate some of the criticism regarding Marissa?
05:13No, the, sorry.
05:19The criticism that I got was not anticipated.
05:22It was, like, so far removed from what I was expecting.
05:27And I think when, the more realistic a character is, especially a female character, the more backlash they receive.
05:38And I think it's because it just hits a little too close to home for some people.
05:42Or they may envy something in that character that they see or, you know, that they wish they could do.
05:49And so the criticism that I received around Marissa, I felt, was a lot of projecting.
05:56It wasn't necessarily, like, she's a bad person.
05:59She's just a woman who's strong in who she is.
06:02She's happy with who she is, and no one's going to shake her foundation.
06:07A part of why I feel like people had a problem with Marissa was how firm she was in her sexuality.
06:19She didn't really stand down from it.
06:21And Danielle and Natasha, you guys write FMCs like that, too.
06:26And I just want to know, is it hard to write a character where you know she's more sexually liberated than what's socially acceptable?
06:35I've noticed that when a female character is more sexually liberated, she is ran through the coal.
06:50She is tore down everything.
06:52But when the male main character is sexually liberated, there is no backlash.
06:56It is expected and accepted.
06:59And there is no, like, exception for women.
07:01So when a woman is sexually liberated, it's like, well, why is she like that?
07:08She's disgusting.
07:09She doesn't deserve the male main character.
07:10But there's no discourse around the male character.
07:17A lot of the times, the MMCs have to do the bare minimum to get acceptance from readers.
07:24And that is because we, as women, see ourselves in these characters.
07:32And so when you see something about yourself that you may not like or you think people judge you for, you project that onto your FMC.
07:40So the men, they can screw up the whole book.
07:42And by the end, they just throw you a simple sorry.
07:45And they're like, ooh, yes.
07:47I love that man.
07:48But the women, you never forgive her, even long after the book is done.
07:53So this one's from you, Natasha.
08:00Only for the Week has been a crowd favorite since its release.
08:03But besides Rome, because, you know, he is book boyfriend heaven.
08:08The girls love him.
08:10Why do you think readers loved Only for the Week so much?
08:16Only for the Week, I think it was unexpected because it was a short vacation, spicy book.
08:23But at the same time, it dealt with so many heavy issues like familial issues, these toxic relationships within your family that I think, especially as black people, we all have dealt with that and the trauma that comes with that.
08:35So dealing with those and the open-ended ending that Janelle has with her sister and her mom, it wasn't tied up in a bow.
08:43It was very true to life.
08:46And so I think people appreciated.
08:48I've had a lot of people message me who were like, I had a similar relationship with my mom or my sister.
08:53And, like, this made me feel good about the fact that I cut them off or I did this and that.
08:58So I feel like it's that personal trauma in there.
09:02So, in my opinion, and probably everyone here in the audience, you guys are successful authors.
09:13But is there ever a time where you experience imposter syndrome?
09:17And if so, has that affected your creativity?
09:20Is there ever a time we don't experience that?
09:27I think if you're, I don't, I won't speak for you guys, but every time I write, there's always a period of time where I'm like, this is trash.
09:36Nobody's going to read this, but you just have to push through it.
09:39I think I have it every single day all the time, but I just do it anyway.
09:45Do it scared.
09:45Yeah, that's how I feel about it, too.
09:49I experience imposter syndrome.
09:50I literally think everything is horrible until it's actually, like, out in the, yeah, it's working against me.
10:00Until it's, like, actually out for people to read, and then I'm like, okay, this is good.
10:04But I would not put out something that's not good.
10:07So, I'm always pleasantly surprised every time I put something out and people receive it well.
10:16I'm just like, good.
10:17They got it the way I intended it.
10:18Now, girl, why would you be surprised?
10:20Well, I'm just like, I write it and I feel good about it.
10:23Like, so I don't feel like I have imposter syndrome.
10:25I feel like I'm writing and I'm like, this is good.
10:29I hope other people feel the same way.
10:30And so, I'm just, like, very sold on it for me.
10:34And then when other people like it, too, I'm like, okay, we're here.
10:38Like, we, you got it.
10:40But if someone doesn't, then I'm like, oh, they missed, they didn't get it.
10:45But I'm still good with it, though.
10:52As long as I'm alive, y'all always gonna have a fan, okay?
10:55Y'all gonna have at least one fan.
10:56As long as I got breath in this body, I'm here for y'all.
11:00So, another question I have is, social media is a very important aspect of being an indie author.
11:06It's how you get your books out there.
11:07It's how you connect with other authors.
11:09Do you think that that has impacted your connection with readers?
11:16Yes, absolutely.
11:18I think that, I think that this mic is against me.
11:22I think that, yeah, okay, I'll use yours.
11:30But I think that social media has given me an opportunity to create a community that I wouldn't have been able to create without social media.
11:37And I think that social media gives a way to connect with readers that we're not able to because of time, distance, however you want to say it.
11:44But, yeah, I've created an amazing community, and that would not have happened without social media, even though it's very hard for me to post.
11:53I'm still there.
11:54I'll answer DMs and stuff.
11:55And I think social media has also given indie authors like us a platform to get ourselves more out there to readers than we would have had before.
12:07You know, we didn't, when we started, we didn't have money to run ads and things like that.
12:12And so, things like TikTok and Instagram allowed us to reach y'all and connect with y'all on a deeper level that works better than ads I think ever could.
12:21So, I agree with all that, but I also think that social media allows you to be able to showcase your personality as well.
12:28And so, readers are able to, like, see you and be like, oh, I like you.
12:32I want to support you.
12:33Like, regardless of what the synopsis is of the next book, they still want to, like, oh, I want to support that person because I like that person.
12:40All right, Danielle, this one's for you.
12:47So, Carvey Girl Summer was your first traditionally published book.
12:50Congrats again.
12:52Did you find the writing process for this book was different from your indie books?
12:56No, not at all.
12:57And I feel like because Bramble is such a blessing, I was able to write the book I wanted to write.
13:05I didn't have to change anything about who I am in order to have them want the book.
13:11And so, that was greatly appreciated because I know that's not everybody's experience.
13:15And the only thing that was different is that the deadlines, because when it's indie, it's like whatever the deadline I say it is.
13:24And then now it's like, you need to get this done by this time.
13:28I'm like, oh, all right.
13:30I'm on it.
13:34Okay, so, Amanda and Natasha, throughout this year, we've seen a handful of our favorite indie authors have their first books traditionally published.
13:43Is that something you guys want in the future for you?
13:50Okay, maybe eventually right now it's not in my sights.
13:54I feel like as an indie author, I already have so much on my plate, and I'm happy.
13:59And that's the main goal, is like I'm happy, I'm putting out work that I love, and the readers love it, and that's all I could ask for.
14:07For me, I am pursuing it.
14:11I have some things.
14:13So, I definitely am pursuing it, but for me, I would never want to not be indie.
14:18So, for me, it would have to be hybrid.
14:20I could never be 100% trad, just because indie has my heart.
14:28It got my heart to grow.
14:29Okay, so, now that I have you all up here, and it's, you can see it, I feel like indie authors are the backbone of black romance.
14:40Like, the black romance genre would be nothing without indie authors.
14:44Y'all are carrying that on y'all back, and I hope y'all got some kind of medical.
14:48But, I also noticed there's a sisterhood amongst you guys.
14:54I've noticed authors are very quick to jump in, and share resources, and promote books.
15:00Do you feel like that has shaped your career, or how has the support of your fellow indie authors shaped your career?
15:07It's been vital.
15:11It has been, like, there has been things that I've needed to know the answer to, especially whether it's, like, just things that I don't know.
15:19And there's so much to learn, and then you're never going to know it all.
15:23And there's always people willing to, like, be like, oh, like, I'll answer that for you.
15:27I'll be there for you.
15:28I had this, like, curvy girl confessions where these two lovely ladies were guests on it, where it's, like, I'm, like, hey, I need help.
15:37Like, I need somebody to interview.
15:39And then, and I had so many people willing to be interviewed, including this young lady and this young lady.
15:47And so, like, it was so, you can feel the support.
15:51And it's so lovely to be in that environment, to have so many people that are there for you and rooting for you.
15:57And I just, I love it.
16:01And I think a lot of this industry is based in competition, which, for me, doesn't make any sense.
16:08Because if you think about it, a reader could read 200 books a year.
16:13How many books are we putting out a year?
16:16There's no need for, there's room for everybody to eat.
16:20And so, having that community of authors who help you when you're stuck on something and even push you to be better.
16:27I know the authors that I've become friends with, like, these two.
16:30And this one sitting up front, J.L. Seegers, who came all this way.
16:37Just having them around has pushed me to be a better writer.
16:41They've improved my writing.
16:43And so, the community is essential.
16:45Oh, I got two mics now.
16:52Yeah, without my community of authors, I don't think I would be.
16:55I'm very quiet.
16:57So, they check in on me.
16:58They make sure that I'm doing good.
17:00They tell me to do things that are hard.
17:02Even to come here, I was like, Natasha's like, you're going.
17:05And Robin just texted me.
17:06She's like, you're going to Essence Fest.
17:07I was like, all right, we're going to Essence Fest.
17:09So, without these people, I wouldn't be who I am today.
17:16Say about AE is that she is so quiet and so private.
17:21She didn't even say her husband and children's names to us for the longest time.
17:26She would just say, my husband, my kids.
17:28We were like, and they are.
17:30You know, like, it was one time she said her son's name, and we were like, who is that?
17:38And she was like, oh, that's my son.
17:40I'm like, how was we supposed to know that?
17:42I'm sitting there like, you got kids?
17:43She's like, oh, yeah, and a husband.
17:46How did I know that?
17:47She's like, so introverted, but it's in a funny way.
17:51Okay, but each one of you guys' books, your whole catalog, they're quite spicy.
17:58They're very sexy.
18:00Does that make Thanksgiving dinner awkward?
18:03Like, do your family, like, I read Chapter 13.
18:06What was that about?
18:09My family doesn't talk to me about it.
18:12Like, I told my mom, like, read the book.
18:15She was like, where, what chapter should I skip?
18:17I was like, well, for Curio Summer, Chapter 1.
18:21But, like, for all the rest of them, it's just like, we did, we could talk about the, we could talk about the.
18:30We can talk about the story and the plot.
18:35But not the spice.
18:39Bye.
18:40My mom doesn't read my book.
18:42She read the first one, and she's like, and that was so nice.
18:45But that was enough.
18:46And then the rest of my family, the rule is, you can read them, but don't ever talk to me about it.
18:52Like, we're good.
18:54Thank you so much for supporting.
18:56My bank account appreciates it, but don't talk to me.
18:59My, yeah, my brother actually texted me and said that he read my book and was like, where did you learn all that from?
19:07I was like, that's none of your business.
19:09None of your business.
19:11Did you like it?
19:12Yeah.
19:12Okay, then that's all you need.
19:14What more do you need?
19:15If you enjoy the book, then that's it.
19:17The spice is just spice, just seasoning.
19:19What is something that you want readers to know about being an indie author?
19:29Like, is this the, it's one thing that you want them to understand?
19:33Because I know as readers, sometimes we are, not we, but they are very just like, not understanding.
19:39You drop a book, next week they're like, okay, we're part two.
19:42You're like, wait a minute, I don't even know what part two is.
19:44So is there something specific you would want readers to know?
19:49Okay, I think that the most important thing is like, we are human.
19:57There is a person behind the account, behind the book, behind all of that.
20:01And just to have compassion, understanding, empathy, because sometimes I understand and appreciate the excitement.
20:11But at the same time, it's a lot, especially as an indie author, we are doing everything ourselves.
20:17So just support and understanding.
20:22That's what I was going to say.
20:23We are doing it all.
20:25Like, we are financing it all.
20:27We are, outside of just writing the book, we're doing every other step ourselves and a lot of times by ourselves.
20:34So be patient with us.
20:36Just to trust us.
20:41Because you know when you're reading a romance that you're going to get that happily ever after.
20:45That's guaranteed for y'all.
20:46But everything else, their journey to get there is not guaranteed.
20:50We're going to get you there the way the characters tell us that you have to, but just trust us to get you there.
20:55I know we might make you suffer sometimes, but we got you in the end.
20:58Now y'all know us indie black romance authors, every other day y'all get on social media and somebody's like, oh my god, it's so hard to find black romance that's not rooted in trauma.
21:12So black love is revolutionary.
21:17And I know sometimes it's very hard to be, to see those criticisms and it's like, nah girl, I'm right here.
21:23Like, what's going on?
21:25So my thing is, how do you feel about being that pillar to show that black love is real, that it exists, and that it deserves to have the same care that you would with a white romance or an interracial romance?
21:42Um, I feel like it, it, black love is just black love.
21:51I mean, my husband is sitting right over there.
21:52He is my emotional support, my everything.
21:56And I feel like my books are an affirmation and a declaration of black love.
22:01And I'm always going to shout that from the rooftops.
22:04And if you can't find it, you will eventually find me and you will fall in love too.
22:09I feel like anyone who is saying they're having a hard time finding it isn't looking for it.
22:17And so I feel like writing and putting out all the things that we put out, all of the books that we put out that celebrate black love, it's there.
22:29And those who want it, like, it's there for them.
22:32And so, like, we're just writing to amplify black love because we're all in it.
22:40We all appreciate it.
22:42We don't write for the people hoping that they're going to find us and appreciate and educate you why you should care about our love.
22:49We're writing for the people who already appreciate it.
22:52So, if you're here for it, you're here for it.
22:57Now, I know you're not supposed to have a favorite.
23:01You're supposed to love them all the same.
23:03But if there's someone in the audience that has not read any of your books, what's the one book you want them to pick or you think they should pick up?
23:11So, the most popular book that I've written is A Worthy Love, but my personal favorite is Colliding with Fate.
23:25That one is so near and dear to my heart.
23:28That one is just literally my soul on pages.
23:33So, that is the one that I recommend every single time.
23:36For me, my most popular is Only for the Week, but my personal favorite would probably be Where We Found Our Passion.
23:47Tori knows.
23:48I poured a lot into that book, and so that would be the one I recommend.
23:56I can pick a favorite, and I was trying to stall.
23:59I was hoping y'all were going to say the same thing, but y'all picked one, so now I'm just like, oh.
24:02So, if I, I mean, Bramble sent me here, so Curvy Girl Summer is 100% what I would like for you all to pick up.
24:11But indie-wise, I love them all.
24:14Like, it's a little something for everybody, depending on what Continuum is.
24:18I love Continuum, but also, like, if there's Poe-inspired ones, there's just so many.
24:23There's a lot to choose from, guys, so they're out there.
24:26But I can't pick one, except for Curvy Girl Summer.
24:29Well, I'm going to tell y'all which one to stay away from.
24:34You know, your first Danielle Allen book, if you see broken clocks, run the other way.
24:39Don't open it.
24:40Don't do nothing.
24:41Because if you open that book, if that's the first book that you read from Danielle Allen, you are never going to pick up another one of your books.
24:48She had me snot running down my nose, crying, boo-hoo.
24:52Like, I had an eye infection, and my eye was swollen shut, but I was still crying.
24:56Like, I was like, how could she do this to me?
24:58I didn't even know her at the time.
24:59I was like, I need to find her Instagram.
25:01I need to cuss her out.
25:02I need to tell her about herself, because why would she put this book out here in the streets for people to read and to cry over?
25:07It still haunts me.
25:10And it makes me mad, because it's a beautifully written love story.
25:14But it made me cry, which isn't too hard, because I'm a crying baby, but still.
25:19Like, you owe me some money or something.
25:21That hurt my feelings.
25:23But we're going to wrap up.
25:26But y'all know I can't get out of here without being nosy.
25:29I got to put on for my girls.
25:31Do you have anything public coming out this year?
25:34Any more projects that we should be on the lookout?
25:36Anything we should be sliding in your DMs, bothering you about?
25:39I could be security in your DMs, though.
25:41So if it gets too crazy, just call me.
25:43But, like, what can we expect from you guys this year?
25:50There's a homecoming situation happening in the fall.
25:54I can't say.
25:55I'll be able to announce more in August.
26:00And then, thank you.
26:02And then Nina will be getting a story early 2025.
26:06I'm working on that.
26:07Okay, I am working on my second series, Three Kings Billionaires.
26:15So North King will be getting a book eventually.
26:21Eventually.
26:22This year, if all goes well.
26:25Okay, I am trying.
26:26I am click-clacking away on the keyboard, y'all.
26:32I'm working on the other friends in the Only for the Week series.
26:36So all of those friends are getting books.
26:39I don't know when, y'all.
26:41I'm trying my best.
26:42I'm just a girl.
26:43Am I going to have to deal with Arnold again?
26:50You already gave him that name, and now I got to read a book about him?
26:54That is an old man name.
26:55And he had the nerve to just be how he was.
26:59But he's trashed as his name.
27:02And I'm so sorry for any Arnolds.
27:03My dad's name is Arnold.
27:07Oh, my bad.
27:10Oops.
27:11I'm sure your dad is a very lovely person.
27:13Arnolds are so amazing.
27:16Hey Arnold was one of my favorite shows.
27:19Hey Arnold is a great show.
27:21So we're wrapping up, but I just want to take the time to give each one of you guys your flowers.
27:27The way that you write black love.
27:29The way that you write black women.
27:31The way that you connect with your readers.
27:34Your personality.
27:36You give us something to strive for.
27:39You give us something to support.
27:40And like I said earlier, we always get the readers who's like,
27:43We can't find black love.
27:44Oh, my God.
27:46And every single time they come with that, I can just slap one of y'all books down on the table and be like,
27:51Here, since you begging so much.
27:53So I just want to tell y'all, I'm grateful to be in this space with you guys.
27:58I'm happy that I've come across you over the years that I've been here.
28:01You guys have been so welcoming, so supportive.
28:05And when I slid into each one of your DMs about doing Essence Fest, I was like, yeah, like there's not a question about it.
28:11And I just want to say thank you because without y'all, I wouldn't have this space.
28:16I wouldn't have this trajectory.
28:18I wouldn't have a platform to even talk about anything because you guys give me the material.
28:23Oh, boy, do you give me the material.
28:27And so I just I want to give you guys your flowers because I know it's very hard, especially as an indie author.
28:31You don't get you don't have a team behind you.
28:34You are your team.
28:35And sometimes it gets lost in the shuffle.
28:37And readers kind of forget that y'all are people.
28:40So I'm here to tell y'all I love y'all.
28:43Thank y'all so much for giving me something to read when I be on my sad girl island.
28:47Y'all know, girl, be struggling.
28:48But y'all give me something to read, something to look forward to.
28:51And I'm just so happy and so blessed that I was able to have this space with you guys, have this conversation.
28:56And I'm just wishing you guys the very best in your careers and the rest of the year.
29:02Thank you so much.
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