When did you first start writing?
I don't remember ever not writing. My earliest memory of writing stories or poems goes back to Kindergarten and First Grade, when I wrote and illustrated a book about my dog as part of a class project, and my teacher and the school librarian bound it into a book. I remember walking into the librarian's office and selecting my own fabric for the cover, and how proud I was when the book was delivered to me a few days later, bound in cardboard and fabric. It had a stick-on label on the cover printed with the book's title and my name. It was a simple handmade binding job, but to me it was beautiful. I still have that book today.
What motivated you to become an indie author?
The freedom and the sheer possibility. I love that I keep control of my books. I do a lot of free promos, and I want the ability to give my writing away when I choose to. This is very important to me. Also, e-books in particular offer such ease in formatting and getting a book out there, and almost endless opportunities for connecting with readers and sharing my work to a worldwide audience. To be honest, I'm super excited about the future of the publishing industry for indie authors, and I love to explore new platforms and new opportunities. I teach writing as well, so I spend a lot of time researching the industry, testing things out, and then sharing my discoveries with my students.
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