Interview with Self-Publisher Jaclyn White
1. What can you tell me about your experience as a writer?
Writing has been my dream job since I was a teenager. I love the research and writing about magick, secret rooms, anything supernatural.
2. What made you decide to write a book?
I have always been a fan of the Gothic Romance novels from the 1960s and 1970s, murder mysteries, as well as vampire novels and movies since seventh grade. I was intrigued and inspired by the stories about the many houses in my hometown of Salem, Ohio, that still had secret rooms left over from the Underground Railroad. While I was in junior high, in 1993, I wrote my first short story that would become the Witches and Black Roses series later. During that time, writing was my escape from the bullying I endured. I had a small group of friends who enjoyed my short mystery and Gothic Romance stories. I’ve been trying to get my work published since I was a senior in high school. Back then, I loved books by Jackie Collins and Anne Rice. I was also a huge fan of Mafia movies. My first story starred a female mob boss after getting tired of mob wives being abused and only existing as props, background characters. My first story came from the idea of a female mob boss with an ensemble of equally strong women. As I grew older and became a Pagan, I noticed, at the time 2004, there weren’t many fiction novels where Paganism and witchcraft were portrayed in a positive way. When I began to rewrite my series, I decided to include Pagan holidays and other occult practices in my Urban Fantasy/Gothic Romance series.
3. What circumstances brought you to the decision to self-publish your book?
A friend during the summer of 2015 told me about Amazon Publishing and after we talked, I researched it, and considered it. My husband and parents were very supportive, so I decided to try it.
4. What has your experience as a self-publisher been like?
Before I considered self-publishing my series, I was hesitant to try. I was afraid no one would take me seriously as a writer. I figured that if I wanted to make my dream career come true, I have to push that fear aside. I have a learning disability in Math, social anxiety, and ADHD and I wasn’t going to allow that and verbal abuse from others to control me.
5. How do you respond to the negative stigma attached to self-publishing and self-published books?
I don’t allow it to bother me like it used to. Whenever an advancement in technology comes out there will always be people who are afraid to explore anything new and are quick to judge. Over the years, self-publishing has become more accepted. The stigma is opinion based and opinions change.
6. What is one very important lesson you have learned as a self-publisher?
I’ve learned to heavily research every self-publishing press like Amazon and many others to avoid scams. One place didn’t show their true nature until they began sending me questionable e-mails demanding money to publish my books, telling me how much Dolly Parton wanted to play one of my characters, and other red flags that made me glad I didn’t give them any money. The Dolly Parton email was followed by another celebrity requesting for a part the next day. I laughed and cringed at the celebrity ones. I could tell the letters were copied and pasted with the only change was someone’s name.
7. What do you know now about self-publishing that you wish you knew at the beginning?
Legit publishers and agents never ask for money to publish an author’s book.
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 don’t think it’s for vanity or anything like that. We’re marketing our books just like Traditional publishers. Marketing a self-publishing book can be challenging if an author is limited with marketing options, although, we still need to have our work noticed.
9. How do you promote your books and what form of book promotion has worked the best for you?
I use Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest and I hope to be able to have my own website. So far, having a Facebook page is working.
10. What are some other important things you have learned as a self-publisher?
Don’t stop researching not only the publishing industry but writing in general. Rules and everything connected to writing changes. Stay current, but don’t always go with what is popular.
11. Do you feel that self-publishing is a viable choice for other authors?
Yes. There are many reasons. It’s a good way to build a platform traditional publishers request if an author chooses to go that route later on.
12. How do you feel that self-publishing their books has helped many unknown authors finally get the recognition their books deserve?
It can build confidence for anyone who is shy, has social anxiety, and other issues. Traditional publishers and agents tend to follow what’s popular what they think will sell. A self-published author has more freedom to write whatever they want and can make their own deadlines.
ABOUT JACLYN:
Jaclyn White writes the Urban Fantasy/Gothic Romance series Witches and Black Roses and the spin off short story series Witch’s Diaries.
In 2004, she started studying Paganism and other Occult subjects after heavily researching other religions. Her interests include Egyptian, Greek, and Roman mythology, tarot cards, herbalism, and Astrology.
On Samhain of 2012, Gary White and Jaclyn were married. They are practicing Pagans. They have three cats: Pandora, Raven, and Gyspy and twenty Chihuahua-poodle mix dogs.