Indie Side Publishing

Thanks for asking.
Much like these independent authors, I am also an “indie” of sorts: a freelance editor. During the day I work in a cubicle at a bank, as I’ve done for the past fifteen years. Data analysis, spreadsheets, cash flows, reports… the job’s about as different from editing fiction as you could imagine. But about two years ago, on a whim (I still don’t understand why I did it), I sent an email to author Hugh Howey to alert him to a few errors in his now-bestselling novel Wool. Somehow that email led to me proofreading more of his novels, then editing them, then editing for other authors… and now I find myself involved in this anthology, working with some of the most talented indie authors writing today. I’m honored to have this amazing opportunity. I’m still just a guy who works in a cubicle, after all.

Susan May and Brian Spangler, my wonderful partners in making this book a reality, and I all worked together over a six month period. Yes, it takes that long to put together a polished book like From the Indie Side. Susan came up with the idea for this anthology in the first place, recruited Brian and me, and has been the driving force throughout the process in bringing her idea to fruition. And without Brian’s broad expertise in project management, publishing, and business—and his long hours of research and legwork—we would never have made it across the finish line. Not only that, but Brian and Susan also contributed beautiful stories of their own.

I find it fitting that this anthology was led by a mom, an IT project manager, and a banking analyst. Welcome to the new world of indie publishing.

David Gatewood, Editor