D.K. Henderson

There were two principle reasons. The first was 'artistic control', for want of a better phrase. Which sounds a bit pompous but is in reality extremely important to anyone who has spent weeks, months or even years sweating over their manuscript. With indie publishing the author retains full control over everything: cover design, interior layout, title, down to the actual text itself, something that rarely happens with traditional publishing. This can also apply to such crucial issues as how long the book remains in print.

The second issue is the time-scale involved. I am not a patient person. When I write a book I want to see it in print. Quickly. And so do my readers. With indie publishing I can have the book available within weeks. The average lead time for traditional publishing is 18 months or so - and that is if you already have a publisher interested. If not, well, how long is a piece of string...

For me, there is another distinct advantage to indie publishing. The books I write tend to be cross genre, which trad publishing houses don't tend to like very much. Indie publishing gives me a platform free of restrictions and labels. And I can easily change the category if I choose.

The disadvantage is that indie publishing can involve a lot of additional work which takes away from creative writing time. In my view it is well worth it.

Having said all of this, my first book, a non-fiction spiritual growth book, was traditionally published and I am very grateful for the opportunity and encouragement it gave me. I wasn't confident enough to indie publish back then (and the possibilities to do so were a lot less than they are now) and I don't think I'd have found the confidence in my writing that I now have without that.

Feeling the words flow onto to paper - I always write longhand with a pen and paper. And then redrafting those initial sentences into an image, creating a picture with words in the same way that an artist does with his brush and paints.