1.   What can you tell me about your experience as a writer?

I really enjoy writing and the mental release it gives me. I’ve always enjoyed using it as a coping mechanism for everything I’ve gone through in my life. I had a terrible life up until a few years ago, so I was usually in a rough place in need of an outlet and writing was there for me every time.

2.   What made you decide to write a book?

I’ve always written stories, but never released anything publicly. A lot of my books were dreams I had that either gave me that idea or a lightbulb idea that spawned from a dream. My short stories for the anthologies I’ve written for are usually ideas I’ve brainstormed in a journal or out loud with my boyfriend. My grandma was one of the main reasons I decided to finally sit down and write a book. She always had me reading and watching spooky movies and books with her. She read one of my stories and loved it and said that I absolutely needed to write it into a book.

3.   What circumstances brought you to the decision to self-publish your book?

I was brought onto the scene by a splatterpunk reader who I met in a psychological thriller book group on Facebook. Then I started reading splatterpunk and extreme horror and connected with one of the indie authors I enjoyed reading. He taught me everything I needed to know about self-publishing, and I decided that was my best bet considering the content of my book. I didn’t think it would ever be picked up by a large publishing company and at the time I didn’t know about the smaller publishing companies.

4.   What has your experience as a self-publisher been like?

Good and bad. If I don’t market my books well then it obviously doesn’t do well. Sometimes I don’t exactly feel like marketing it or I get depressed and just don’t do it like I should. But when I sell physical copies that seems to do good when I market them well.

5.   How do you respond to the negative stigma attached to self-publishing and self-published books?

I don’t.

6.   What is one very important lesson you have learned as a self-publisher so far?

MARKET, MARKET, MARKET. That is the most important thing of self-publishing from what I’ve seen.

7.   What do you know now about self-publishing that you wish you knew at the beginning?

How to effectively market my books.

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 see it as vain or rude. I think it’s necessary to market heavily as a self-published author or your book won’t make it out into the world like it should. But as an indie author, I think promoting other indie authors’ books is just as important as promoting your own. Because without others’ support, you wouldn’t sell your books. So, support your fellow indie authors and recommend them as much as you recommend your own.

9.   How do you promote your books and what form of book promotion has worked the best for you?

Through word of mouth, posting in groups, and on my other socials.

10.       What are some other important things you have learned as a self-publisher?

It’s all in your hands. Everything. The writing, editing, cover, blurb, formatting, getting reviewers, marketing and deciding which platform you will go with. It’s a lot, but in my opinion, it’s worth it, and you feel a sense of accomplishment after releasing a book.

11.       Do you feel that self-publishing is a viable choice for other authors?

If you’re willing to do the work yes.

12.       How do you feel that self-publishing their books has helped many unknown authors finally get the recognition their books deserve?

They get to do everything how they would like to and not be held back by a publisher. It’s also probably a great feeling of accomplishment when they finally get the recognition that their book deserved because of their own hard work.

ABOUT EVE:

Eve L. Fell was born, and still resides, in Kentucky. She tapped into her creativity at a young age, writing poems and short stories with the dream of being a successful writer. Eve tends to write on the darker side.