Welcome to my stop on the tour for The Warrior & the Flower by Camille Picott. This is an adult high fantasy. I LOVED this book, you can check out my 5 star review HERE.
To celebrate Chinese New Year the tour is running Jan. 27th-31st with mostly reviews and only a few interviews and spotlight posts. Be sure to check out the tour page with additional info and list of tour stops.
For my stop I asked Camille to answer a few questions about Indie publishing.
For my stop I asked Camille to answer a few questions about Indie publishing.
When, and how, did
you come to being an indie/self published author?
I self-published a full-color illustrated novella in 2008,
back before indie publishing became popular.
Did you attempt to
publish traditionally? What were your experiences?
I spent years and years trying to publish traditionally. It
was exhausting and frustrating. I spent a large chunk of my time going through
the motions of trying to find an agent/publisher—crafting and personalizing
query letters, writing synopsizes of varying lengths (because different agents
require different lengths), researching agents and editors, etcetera. Now I
spend the bulk of my time writing, which is much more satisfying. I don’t have
to waste time with gatekeepers.
If you were offered a
deal with a traditional publisher, would you take it?
I am a firm believer in being open to opportunity and
evaluating everything that comes my way. If offered a deal with a traditional
publisher, I would look carefully at the contract to see what was being offered
and weigh that against the benefits of being an indie.
What is the best part
of being indie/self published, for you?
Being able to send my babies out in the world. I love
finishing a novel, putting a pretty cover on it, and releasing it into the
wild.
The indie/self
published scene is constantly changing. Even quite a few traditionally
published authors have ventured into the world of self publishing. What do you
predict for the future? How do you think the indie scene is changing and where
do you think it will go?
I think we are going to see more companies like Amazon that
cater directly to indie authors. Amazon has come up with so many creative ways
for indies to promote their books in countries all over the world.
As an indie/self
published author, what has been your biggest obstacle?
In the beginning, I struggled a lot with the stigma of being
self-published. Back in 2008, being an indie was like wearing a big sign that
says MY WRITING SUCKS. It still does in
some circles.
In the world of
inside/self published not everyone goes about things the same way. Many make
mistakes (and hopefully learn from them). What are the biggest mistakes that
you think authors are making and how do you suggest they improve?
Every writer needs a good copy editor. I always tell people
to set aside money so they can pay for a good editor. It’s worth every penny.
If you’re interested in a more in-depth look at indie
publishing, you can check out my Writer’s
Toolbox article on Amazon for
$.99. It’s entitled Indie Publishing
Essentials: 9 Tool Every Speculative Fiction Author Needs for Indie Success.
How do you approach
reviewers? And what has worked best when doing so?
Honestly, I stopped approaching reviewers quite a while ago.
It feels too much like querying agents and I just don’t enjoy it. When I want
to promote a book, I find it best to work with a book tour company. (Like CBB
Book Promotions!)
When it comes to
sales, what do you think has worked best for you and had the biggest impact?
I packaged the first 4 chapters of two of my novels as free
excerpts. I gave them their own covers and titles (though I clearly state they
are excerpts in the description). The freebies have bumped up the sales of the
corresponding novels. Some people give away their entire first novel for free,
but I prefer giving away the excerpts. Check out Sulan, Episode 0.5: The Cube
and World Kingdom Warrior for
examples of the free excerpts.
If someone tells you
they are thinking of self publishing a novel themselves and they would like
some advice on where to get started or some tips for success, what advice would
you give?
I’d tell them to check out my article, Indie Publishing Essentials: 9 Tool Every Speculative Fiction Author
Needs for Indie Success.
Bad reviews are
inevitable; most every author gets at least some. How do you handle things when
you get a bad review so you don’t get hung up on it or possibly lash out which
could cause more damage in the long run?
Unless I’m on a blog tour, I don’t usually read reviews.
They just make me anxious. I can’t control what other people think or say so I
just prefer not to torture myself. I suppose that makes me something of a wimp!
I love all my stories and gave my heart to each of them. Even if they don’t
strike a chord with everyone, I feel good knowing I made each the best book I
could.
Indie books I love:
Dirty Blood by Heather Hildenbrand – YA paranormal
Flash Gold series by Lindsay Buroker – Yukon steampunk
Emperor’s Edge series by Lindsay Buroker – high fantasy
steampunk
As The World Dies series by Rhiannon Frater – zombie (these
were actually picked up by Tor, but they started as indie!)
Thanks for hosting me, Candace!
Thanks for being on Camille, I think I need to check out both of Lindsay Buroker's series, those sound good!
The Warrior & the Flower by Camille PicottYi, a retired soldier, has lost everything he loves—his wife, his daughter, and his home. He seeks refuge from his heartache by plunging into a secret mission for the World Emperor. The assignment takes him to the doorstep of a brothel, where he witnesses the madam beating a young girl. Drawn by the child’s striking resemblance to his lost daughter, Yi rushes to her defense and negotiates for her purchase—after all, how hard can it be to care for one little girl? But between the child’s inquisitive nature and the dangerous secret she carries, he gets more than he bargained for.
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Smashwords
About the Author:
Camille Picott is a fifth-generation Chinese American. She writes science fiction and fantasy books with Asian characters and/or Asian settings. Camille grew up reading speculative fiction stories largely devoid of Asian characters and culture. This, coupled with a passion for her heritage, is the reason she strives to bring some aspect of Eastern myth, legend, culture, and ethnicity to all of her writings. To visit Camille, go to www.camillepicott.com.
Website | Facebook | Goodreads
Giveaway:
This tour was organized and put together by CBB Book Promotions.
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