Author life, Independent Author, Independent Bookstores, Oahu Bookstores Cami Author life, Independent Author, Independent Bookstores, Oahu Bookstores Cami

My Trek...Journey...Quest to O'ahu Independent Bookstores

I love bookstores. LOVE THEM! It isn’t surprising for a bibliophile and writer, but for this Oʻahu resident—especially one that lives on the south shore—access to bookstores is problematic. With the closure of Borders in 2011, it left Oʻahu with a single, big-chain bookstore, Barnes & Noble located in Honolulu, and a smaller Japanese conglomerate called BookOff. So I decided to go on a trek…a journey… a quest (FYI, this must be said like Peregrin Took from Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings, the Fellowship of the Ring) around Oʻahu to look for independent bookstores. There is something magical about walking into an independent bookstore done right. They are imagination bottled between four walls with the possibility of discovering buried treasure. 

So before you go on the quest with me, a comment on island living for context. Though everything as the crow flies seems close and the mileage between cities on an island like Oʻahu sounds manageable, the reality of trekking those miles is a production. During peak traffic, for example, to get the 20 miles from my home to Honolulu would take a minimum of an hour, give or take an extra 30 minutes, which means that a quick trip to a bookstore isn’t happening. There aren’t any bookstores in my area of the island, which means traveling to a bookstore is a necessity—including the single Barnes & Noble.

But this intrepid explorer was committed, and so off I went . . .

The first store I visited was Da Shop: Books + Curiosities located in Honolulu. An independent bookstore operated by small, independent publisher, Bess Press Publishing, it caters to Bess Press titles—mostly local and Hawaiian—with some niche national publications thrown in. It is a small shop, with a very curated front face along with a back warehouse for clearance titles. I loved that they have a true adherence to Asian Pacific Islander voices with a smattering of mainstream voices, all thematically connected to truly diverse author options. I enjoyed walking in the small shop and seeing so many AAPI authors. 

Idea Music and Books was the next location I visited. Also in Honolulu, Idea has been in business since 1976. The space is split into two sections: the front portion of the store caters to the new-and-used music with a plethora of vinyl in stock. Idea seemed like a dream for the music lover. It was organized and clearly marked. The back portion of the location is filled with books, mostly used titles with a smattering of new books. While they are shelved by categories, the organization is haphazard. If one is willing to dig for buried treasure, Idea had a treasure trove of older titles, and I found a stack of difficult-to-find titles on a particular subject I’m interested in researching.  

Deep in the hallways of an older mall with limited foot traffic is a hidden treasure, Village Books & Music, a “friends of the library” bookstore that supports Hawaiʻi libraries. As bookstores go, this one was the most “mainstream” offering all kinds of titles and organized nicely by category and author. I could have looked over the shelves for hours. The quality of the books are exceptional and the prices (at $3-$4) economical. I found a few newer YA titles to add to my collection (Nic Stone’s Chaos Theory, for example) and some nostalgic adult titles (Lavyrle Spencer, who was a favorite of mine in high school) to add to my collections. When I took my books to the cashier, I noticed she was reading The Count of Monte Cristo and we had a fun chat about reading as I checked out.

Next, I went to Na Mea Hawaiʻi, a Hawaiian culture shop that carries a curation of Hawaiian artisanal merchandise from art, to clothing, to beauty goods, to food items, and finally books that cater to a Hawaiian perspective of place and people. I had a wonderful chat with a salesperson who helped me look over the book selection, and we found a few titles to add to my growing Hawaiian collection. A beautiful independently owned shop, this wasn’t specifically a bookstore, but it had a lovely book section.

Please note: these images were taken from two previous articles written about Bookends: Here & Here

Located the farthest on my quest was BookEnds in Kailua. Independently owned and operated since 1998, BookEnds was voted the Best Neighborhood Bookstore by Honolulu Magazine. It’s a tiny shop filled to the brim with a new-and-used collection, offering a diverse collection of titles. I found a lovely, first US edition, signed copy of Witi Ihimaera’s Whalerider here. Boy, did I feel lucky! (And for kicks, this was the first independent bookstore on the island that supported me as an indie author by stocking my books).

There were a few more places I discovered but haven’t had time to visit in person yet. Skull-Face Books is a new independent bookstore catering to new-and-used books and vinyl, Arts & Letters Nuʻuanu offers native books and art, Logos Books of Hawaiʻi, niched to Christian reading, and BĀS Bookshop is niched to art and design. Additionally, I found there are a plethora of shops that carry books, though not exclusively, and several comics and manga shops on the island. Of all the bookstores I visited, only Da Shop, Na Mea Hawaiʻi and BookEnds specialized in selling new books.

As an average human, who really loves convenience (and whatever taxes my time and wallet the least), I made some observations about the experience of shopping at local, independent  bookstores. 

  • First, as much as I loved walking into these bookstores and enjoying the unique vibe of each, they didn’t always carry what I wanted. This isn’t surprising when the bookstore offers niched merchandise or is more focused on the “used” rather than the new. And of the stores that did carry the “new” books, they didn’t always have a book either. Of course, it’s unrealistic to think that a small, independent bookstore can carry every title. While I could have used the trip as an opportunity to order that special title from the bookstore, the reality that I would have to make a “trek” out to the bookstore again, using time and resources to do it was off-putting. 

  • While digging for buried treasure is fun, I don’t always have the time for it. Sometimes, I just want to walk into the bookstore, find a book I’m looking for, and walk out. Books are already chaotic, so when it’s difficult to find books, it can make the experience overwhelming.

  • Finally, there was very little diversity between traditionally published books over independent titles. Aside from the niche stores, the new-and-used stores adhered strongly to old mainstream offerings of bestsellers being resold. Besides Na Mea Hawaiʻi, which offered new independently published Hawaiian titles, I didn’t see any independent authors offered in the other shops. 

Signing my books at Barnes & Noble, Ala Moana

Here’s an interesting fact for you: I didn't find any of my 11 titles on the shelves in any of my local, independent bookstores. As an independent author, I have contacted most of these bookstores to share that I am a local author, sent flyers with new releases, have offered to send the purchaser some books, and expressed interest in taking part in any author events. Two of these bookstores responded to my queries. One—Village Books—invited me for an author talk and the other—BookEnds—purchased my books for their bookshelves. Interestingly enough, it was my local Barnes & Noble bookstore that reached out to me interested in carrying my titles and invited me for a signing. Granted, this is just one author’s experience, so keep that in mind. And it is important to remember, bookstores are businesses trying to turn a profit, so taking risks on books with no guarantee to move is risky… but that’s an entirely different post.



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Advocate, Reviewer Interview, Independent Author, Independent Books, Support Indie Authors Cami Advocate, Reviewer Interview, Independent Author, Independent Books, Support Indie Authors Cami

Interview: Lauren-Marie with The Indigo Book

The last several weeks, I’ve been pondering the idea of reading. From the Reading Wonderland blog posts to the This-Then-That book comparisons, the way we choose books as readers has been on my mind. Perhaps a big part of that is because I’m in the beginning phases of marketing my new book The Stories Stars Tell which releases in October, and as an independent author, the weight of trying to get that right is always on my mind. While not impossible because there are quite a few Independent Author success stories out there, the obstacles sometimes feel like traversing an impassable mountain range much like I imagine traveling the Himalayas might be. It takes a strong skill set, a lot of preparation and practice, and incredible resources.

“There is definitely a misconception [...] about Indie authors.”

Resources available to indie authors are treasures. Seriously. Traversing the publishing industry without a map (like an agent and a lawyer) and without mentors (like editors and publishers) raises the financial stakes. Everywhere an author turns, they’re looking at resources and struggling to know what’s available to traditional authors versus indie authors and what’s legitimate or not (there are a lot of horror stories of indie author’s being taken advantage of). Add to it that everything seems to have a price tag, which for any author is difficult since publishing isn’t an industry one wanders into for the benefit of immediate financial gain. 

When I discover a diamond resource in that treasure box, I have a choice to make: keep it quiet or shout it out. While I might want to selfishly tuck it into my own toolkit, the reality is I’m of the “shouting out” variety of human since I am a firm believer that to make any profession better— including the publishing and independent publishing industry—we have to start speaking the same language as well as celebrate the true resources as the treasures they are.

It is with GREAT pleasure that I have the opportunity to shout out one such diamond: Lauren Marie of Lauren Marie’s Musings and The Indigo Book. Besides being a YA writer and blogger herself, Lauren reviews books and her newest endeavor has been to advocate and promote independent authors and independent books specifically. This month kicks off a new initiative she created, The Read Indie Readathon (#readindiereadathon) which she hopes will become a celebrated annual event.

Since we’re not technically able to sit down with one another due to “stay safe at home” orders and we’re in different locations on the planet (which would make meeting more complicated), Lauren agreed to answer some questions about her endeavors, the new initiative and life in general.

CLW: Why Indie Authors and Independent Books, Lauren?

LM: When I started watching AuthorTube, I was quickly introduced to the independently published world. I deep dove into research about it and knew that was the way I wanted to publish my novels. However, I was sad to discover that Indie authors didn’t get the same attention as traditionally published authors. Also, that Indie authors and their books are seen as less than traditionally published books. I knew it meant that I had to work harder to get my book noticed. There is definitely a misconception here about Indie authors. I could see it working against amazing authors and knew it would work against me in the future. I’m very passionate about my writing and so I want to work to help Indie authors by disproving the misconceptions.


CLW: What would you say those misconceptions are?

LM: 

1. That Indie authors are the rejects from traditionally published world. From my experience, most of the time Indie authors researched the industry and chose Independently published world themselves. 

2. If an Indie’s has been rejected from traditional publishers it’s not a good book. Traditional publishers are businesses and that want products that are sure sellers, not risks. If they think a specific kind of book is popular at the moment it has a better chance. This doesn’t mean it’s poorly written or very flawed, it just means the publishers don’t think it will sell. However, this shouldn’t be discouraging. Whether a book’s value is seen by publishers or not, is not an indication of whether or not it has an audience or not. I am of the belief that every book has an audience.

3. Homemade covers and unedited. Most Indie authors go through editing and editors and get professional book covers made and all the rest. The only difference is that Indie authors have to hire them instead of having the publishers do that for them.


CLW: As an Indie author, I appreciate your list. It helps to know that there are people out there who understand the undertaking of being independent in this industry, the amount of personal financial investment. Your comment, “that every book has an audience,” is uplifting.  I’d love to hear more about your passion about books. What’s your reader “origin story”?

LM: I don’t really remember the moment I became a reader. But, my mum tells me that I’ve always been surrounded by books. My parents knew it helped with development, so they had me reading young. Also, members of my extended family are big readers too and I have fond memories of my primary school librarian. When I was 15, I became close to some girls that were also big readers, spending time with them in bookstores began my book hoarding.

CLW: Book hoarding is definitely an issue for readers (ah hem).  How many books would you say you have in your TBR pile at the moment? And a follow up: how ever do you get through them? 

LM: I have 50+ books on my shelves or on my kindle waiting to be read. Both Indie and traditional. Both books I bought and books I’ve been gifted by authors and publishers. But, there are still many books I don’t own that I still want to read.

I get through them by reading regularly. I try to give myself a bit of time in the morning before I get work done to get myself into gear and at night in bed just before I get to sleep.

CLW: And your ideal story to read?

LM: Fantasy. I love, love, love fantasy. It began when my primary school librarian showed me The Spiderwick Chronicles. I don’t mind if it’s middle grade, young adult or adult. I just love the magic and the impossibility of it all. Also, high stakes, like life or death make books more exciting to read, in my opinion. I’m a sucker for a good romance, so a romantic subplot is a must.

CLW: I read on your website that you are also working on a YA fantasy novel. Do you have a “go to” author or two for inspiration? And can you offer the “why” that is?

LM: When I was 15 and I met those friends who were big readers, they both encouraged me to read Sarah J Maas. It reintroduced me to fantasy, because when I started high school, for a few years I was a romance book fiend. It really made me want to write my own fantasy, so I will always go to Sarah J Maas for inspiration. Later, I found VE Schwab, I thought her writing style was just as magical as her worlds. 

CLW: The Shades of Magic series, am I right or am I right? Have you read an Indie fantasy you loved and would want to share with the world? Or, if that’s too specific, an Indie author that people should be on the lookout for his/her books?

LM: Yes, The Shades of Magic Series, is the book that made me fall in love with VE Schwab’s writing. 

An Indie Fantasy book that I absolutely loved is The Savior’s Champion and the Companion novel The Savior’s Sister by Jenna Moreci. It’s so well written and so good. The romance is just perfect. It’s my favourite Indie novel.

CLW: How do you manage to find the time to read, review, promote AND be a full-time university student?

LM: Prioritizing. My ability to prioritize will always be my weapon against getting things done. It often means making hard decisions between having to study and wanting to read, but reminding myself it’ll be better in the long run really helps. My studies will come first for the time being, but, I make sure to give myself Sunday’s off to rest. Because I love reading, reviewing and content creating so much I don’t mind spending my Sunday’s off doing it. But, also while Uni is very intense during the semesters, the breaks are long and I don’t often have to study during them. Which means, between work, I can spend my days solidly working on my reading, reviewing and content creating.

CLW: Prioritizing is a key skill for anyone, but especially a writer. You’re ahead of the game. So, five facts about student life today:

LM:

  1. Online is not (& never will be) superior to face-to-face learning. This is something I learned even before COVID, so I was really devastated when we were forced online.

  2. Balance doesn’t mean 50/50, it means 75% school work and 25% fun

  3. Engaging in your learning is important. Flicking through notes isn’t enough.

  4. Social media is a new and persistent distraction

  5. Mindfulness is necessary to keep you sane.

CLW: Today marks the date for your new promotion the #readindiereadathon. Would you tell us more about it?

LM: I always wanted to start a campaign around #ReadIndie. But, was never sure how or what. I have ‘#ReadIndie’ on a message board that I can see from my bed. I was staring at it one night and the idea of a Readathon came to mind. I want to promote indie authors, I want Indie authors and readers to help promote each other. That was my inspiration behind it. 

As for the actual readathon, it’s very simple. I have arranged the prompts in 4 x 4 square. To win the readathon you need to get a bingo, which you can do by going down, across or diagonal. It means you need to read a minimum of 4 Indie books. You can read across any genre, any platform and any age category. There will be a photo challenge, where each week you take a picture based on the prompt for that week. You don’t have to participate in the photo challenge, but it would be a fun way to promote yourself and other indie authors. There is a massive giveaway at the end, with 10+ Indie book prizes.

I’ve been blown away by the support and love for this Readathon. The Indigo Book doesn’t have a large audience, so I was scared it wouldn’t take off. Instead, the community has grown and I have found my few audience members are very active and it really pleases me.

CLW: That’s fabulous! What three “takeaways” do hope are born from this challenge?

LM: 

  1. Indie books are amazing and deserved to be hyped

  2. The Indie community is amazingly supportive

  3. Reviews help indie authors!!

CLW: When you jumped into the world of independent authors and books, what did you discover?

LM: I discovered it would be a lot more work, because you have more control of your book. I really liked that. I have a business mind, having grown up in a family who own a small business and I’m also now studying a Commerce (Marketing) degree, as well as an Arts (Creative Writing) degree. However, the reality is not everyone has the same business mind or exposure as I do. Thus I discovered not enough authors think of being an author as a business, they think of it as a job, but there is a difference. The difference I think is important and in the future I hope to help authors change their mind set. (I’m not 100% sure how at the moment, but I’m sure like the #ReadIndie campaign it will come to me as my experience grows)

CLW: I think this mindset is fabulous. As an Indie Author (who has an education background rather than a business one), I have had to wrap my mind around this facet of treating what I do as a business. From that mindset, what advice would you give authors starting out?

LM:

  1. Do not ever make your book free. You’re running a business and not a charity. I know it’s hard to make sales and to get your book out there. But, if you feel inclined to give away your book to readers for free. Make them earn it through giveaways or research book bloggers, Bookstagrammer or booktubers who will review it if you give it out for free. This will help you so much more in the future.

  2. Be forward. Reach out to people, ask for reviews, send arcs to bookstores/sellers. Look for and research opportunities and take them.

  3. Marketing is just as much part of being an author as writing the book. Do research on marketing basics and if you can research your target market (for authors this is basically what age category your book is for).

  4. GET REVIEWS! I recently did a report for Uni where I looked at the influence of word of mouth on consumers. I found out that word of mouth (i.e. reviews and any media that is made independently from you) is 12 times more influential than manufacturer media (i.e. blurbs and ads. Any written by you about your own book). Try not to be too worried about negative reviews either, positive reviews are 3 times more likely.

CLW: Two fun facts about you?

LM:

  1. I’ve fenced at a national level

  2. I drink way too much tea to be healthy

CLW: One burning question you want answered…

LM: How do we change the mindset of average book consumers to think about Indie books in the same way they think about traditionally published books?

CLW: I am in agreement with you on this one. I’ve always thought it comes down to changing the mindset of the indie author and how they present their books (the product they are offering). I’ve thought that if we elevate the way we as indie authors, reviewers, indie publishers and indie booksellers approach this business, we might see that reflected in the way the world sees the indie author. What do you think it would take to see the indie world elevated?

LM: Community. Working together to elevate each other in our own community is a good start. Then, reaching out to other people in the non-indie book community and educating them on Indie books and making them see they’re just as good as traditionally published books. Also, Indie books and traditionally published books are often segregated. Traditionally published books are in libraries and big bookstores, while Indie books are on the author’s website. Seeing Indie and traditional books side-by-side in bookstores and libraries will help dispel notions that they’re different in any way. We need to enforce that books are books and that it’s about finding your preferences, it doesn’t matter how it’s published.

Historically, all art—written or otherwise—was independent. Artists painting to acting to writing livelihood was built on the passion of the creator but the benevolence of the audience. In modern contexts, this is no different. Visual artists have relied on the rich benefactor, Shakespeare relied on the support of Queens and Kings, Chance the Rapper relied on the fans and word of mouth; art has always been an endeavor that needs champions. While Independent Artists from photographers, digital artists, musicians, to authors are optimizing tools to reduce the need for the gatekeepers of culture, these same artists will always rely on the goodwill and support of the audience sharing the work.  Publishing—traditional or independent—isn’t an exception to the rule; it is the continuation of the norm.

Thank you to Lauren for taking some time to share more about her amazing initiative Read Indie Readathon. Best wishes to her this month and beyond. Be sure to visit her website and participate both there and on Instagram. Let’s make sure that voices like hers continue to be loud and heard.

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Books for Teens, Independent Author, New Fiction, Romance, YA Contemporary Cami Books for Teens, Independent Author, New Fiction, Romance, YA Contemporary Cami

Reading Wonderland Interview: Piper Bee

Joy’s Summer Love Playlist looks to fit in nicely within the YA RomCom category.

Joy’s Summer Love Playlist looks to fit in nicely within the YA RomCom category.

The thing about Alice — which I think all of us remember — is that when it came down to the adventure, she found she was much more accepting of reading about it after living it. Perhaps that is true for some of us homebodies (uh, what are you trying to say with that eyebrow raised in my direction? So it’s true, I do prefer to be at home, curled up on the couch, reading a book. What of it?). And when you think about the archetypal hero’s journey, it is always about returning home (albeit changed and better).

Romantic Comedy is a genre of story that offers that adventure into exploring love with rich, compelling characters, fun plots, the tingles of falling in love, and enjoyable laughs. The story’s action is most often set in the contemporary world making this an accessible genre for someone who doesn’t often read, wants a quick escape, or loves to laugh. The Romantic Comedy in the Young Adult world also offers the joy of not only falling in love, but also discovering truths about self that earmark the hero’s journey of a YA novel. Joy’s Summer Love Playlist, by Piper Bee, is a brand new YA RomCom available NOW! (It was released last week).

College-bound singer Joy has never been all that graceful, never been in love, and never really lived for herself. But when she’s suddenly free from her overbearing brother, Joy dreams of living out a summer full of music, sunshine, and an empty schedule.

There's just one catch...

Joy's hilarious duet partner, Cale, needs her to be his fake girlfriend so he can attract Lena, Joy's unattainable best friend. Cale’s plan is a tad crazy, but if Joy knows anything about Cale, it’s that he can make crazy work in his favor. 

But when Lena’s long-time crush, Jin, returns home for the summer, Joy realizes Cale’s chances might be impossible. Jin is nothing short of perfect. Easygoing, charming, and insanely good-looking… Joy has to find a way to even the odds without jeopardizing the friendships she’s worked so hard for.

Things get complicated when Joy falls head over heels for the boy that was “off-limits.” Just when she thinks her first love might be the real deal, her controlling brother—and her family’s dark past—get in the way. Joy could lose a lot more than a carefree summer.

Piper Bee — an independent author —  graciously agreed to answer some questions about Joy’s story. I’m so excited to share this interview with readers and potential readers, me being one of them.

CLW: Joy’s Summer Love Playlist released in Paperback May 20th (ebook drops June 20th). As an independent author (and the current climate notwithstanding) what has surprised you as you embark on the journey of telling the world about your debut novel? 

 Piper Bee: The most surprising thing has been all the work I had to do after I finished writing the book! From implementing beta feedback to marketing to metadata. There's a lot to know. I'd say I was also surprised at how to effectively convey the story without spoiling it (and I realllly wanted to)! And I was majorly surprised by all the support I've been getting! Since I don't even have a book out yet, I'm very humbled by all the love I've gotten from strangers.

 CLW: What inspired this story? 

 PB: There are three main things that inspired it. Originally, it was a dream I had that took place in the summer. There was a group of friends with some intriguing intersections in their relationships, so I built off that and the intense feelings I got from it. After that, I'd say my own experiences as a carefree teenager in the PNW summer. Lots of the settings come straight from memory. And finally, the music, of course! I can tell you a number of scenes that were influenced by specific songs. That's basically why I went with songs for chapter titles.

CLW: Five songs we should listen to while we read Joy’s Summer Love Playlist?

PB: Um, ALL of them, but here are some important ones: 1) Definitely: Rainbow Connection! The original is by Kermit the Frog, but my favorite is by Gwen Stefani. 2) Take on Me by Weezer 3) Forever Young by UNDRESSD (Yes, these are all covers so far!) 4) Grip by Seeb & Bastille 5) Young and In Love by Ingrid Michaelson

CLW: Tell us a little bit about Joy and what we should know about this protagonist. 

PB: Joy's main concern is preserving the good things in her life and not rocking the boat, which is immediately evident with her unstable brother, Carson. Despite that, though, she is true to herself in certain ways, such as singing. She's not shy about who she really is. I love that she is unapologetic about how much she loves food, probably because I'm the same way, haha!

CLW: Based on the cover, I might assume there’s a bit of love triangle trope. What do I need to know walking into this story about the romance in this story? 

PB: There is a love triangle (and fake dating also), but I tried to put my own twist on it. One thing you might like to know before going in is that Joy has never fallen in love before, so she's a bit clumsy at figuring out her honest feelings, which I personally find adorable.

Buy here

Buy here

CLW: What is your favorite romance trope to read? 

PB: I love so many tropes! Enemies to lovers is one of my favorites because I love the redemptive aspect of it. It's totally swoonworthy when someone realizes they were wrong and it ends in romance!

CLW: Do you have a favorite #otp that isn’t one, your own and two, Lizzy and Darcy? 

PB: Okay, you got me! I'm a huge P&P fan! A bookish couple I love is Katniss & Peeta because they were kind of unlikely but also needed each other. I love Katara/Aang from Avatar. Anime/Manga fans will recognize Tohru & Kyo from Fruits Basket! Love them! I'm sorry, I can' choose one. I can't.

CLW: Let’s play a little If… Then. I’ll give you an “If you’ve read (insert a book title) you respond with a “Then you should read (insert a book title)” Got it?

If you’ve read Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, then you should read: Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett

If you’ve read The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, then you should read: The Matched series by Ally Condie

If you’ve read the Harry Potter Series, then you should read: The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

If you’ve read City of Bones by Cassandra Clare, then you should read: A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray (OMG I love this series - CLW)

If you’ve read A Fault in Our Stars by John Green, then you should read: The Sun is Also A Star by Nicola Yoon

CLW: When your audience closes Joy’s Summer Love Playlist, sets down the book and walks away, what do you hope is the lasting impression (without spoilers)? 

PB: I certainly hope they have some warm, fuzzy swoons to take away, but beyond that, I hope people see from Joy's journey that happiness isn't just about keeping the peace. Sometimes you have to stand for your own happiness in order to set things right.\

CLW: Which authors or specific books - YA and otherwise - have inspired your own author’s journey? 

PB: That author that made me want to write originally was Libba Bray with the Gemma Doyle series (mentioned above). Later on, I took a class taught by Christi Krug and loved her wildfire writing method. Scott Westerfeld's wild imagination impacted me also. And, I'm not just saying this to flatter you Cami, but you really helped me decide that it was worth it to pursue being and indie author!

CLW: The theme is favorite YA Romances/RomComs. What makes your top-five list in no particular order?

PB: 1) The Sun is Also A Star by Nicola Yoon, 2) The Fault In Our Stars by John Green, 3) The Caraval series by Stephanie Garber, 4) Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson, and 5) Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett

 CLW: Can you give us any hints about your next project? 

PB: I'm working on a princess-centered epic fantasy series that definitely has a romance element to it. It involves a quest to find a magical tree that can help save the kingdom from corruption, but it turns out there's a much bigger threat. I have released some prequel short stories, which you can read if you sign up for my newsletter.

CLW: Where can readers find you online? 

PB: I am most active on Instagram (@piper.bee) and I have a website: piperbeeauthor.com where you can find my other channels. I would love to chat about writing and fictional romance and food!

Piper Bee, Indie Author

Piper Bee, Indie Author



Thank you so much for your time, Ms. Bee! Good luck and I’m looking forward to reading Joy’s story.

Next Week: A Little This or That . . .

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Book Marketing, Books for boys, Books for Teen Boys, Books for Teens, Cantos Chronicles, Books to Read, CL Walters, Coming of Age, Independent Author, Swimming Sideways, Teen Books, The Bones of Who We Are, The Ugly Truth, Writer's Life, YA Contemporary, YA Fiction, YA Series, YALit Cami Book Marketing, Books for boys, Books for Teen Boys, Books for Teens, Cantos Chronicles, Books to Read, CL Walters, Coming of Age, Independent Author, Swimming Sideways, Teen Books, The Bones of Who We Are, The Ugly Truth, Writer's Life, YA Contemporary, YA Fiction, YA Series, YALit Cami

Indie Author Marketing: Road Trip Wrap Up

On Sale today, where ever books are sold. Hooray!

On Sale today, where ever books are sold. Hooray!

We did it. We made it to the finish line, and The Cantos Chronicles are out in the world today. How we did remains to be seen, but here’s the feedback on our journey:

  1. Followers LOVE the new covers!

    This was the first thing that was mentioned as a ”stand out” in terms of marketing these books. This doesn’t surprise me (and probably doesn’t anyone else either) which reiterates the point that authors (indie authors, specifically) should budget for a cover as part of your marketing strategy. How the product appears matters. That shouldn’t come as a surprise, right? Case in point: Look at the two Swimming Sideways covers (pre-rerelease and post). Which one do you like better?

The black and white was the second cover. It’s a Canva stock image and clearly an inexperienced Indie move. It isn’t the wisest choice when trying to “stand out” in a competitive market. The new cover is designed by a trained graphic artist, Sara Ol…

The black and white was the second cover. It’s a Canva stock image and clearly an inexperienced Indie move. It isn’t the wisest choice when trying to “stand out” in a competitive market. The new cover is designed by a trained graphic artist, Sara Oliver Designs, and is original to Swimming Sideways!

Um. Yeah. The new cover is hands down better than the other (thank you, Sara!)

2. Followers enjoyed getting to know me (the author).

Shocking - I know - baring who I am isn’t comfortable - naturally introverted, but adaptably extroverted. That means I’m a freaking chameleon. No. Actually, it doesn’t, but I’d like to think it is a super power. Okay. In all seriousness, while being more in the “spotlight” doesn’t feel comfortable, it is a part of building a relationship. There is a give and take between people. What’s your favorite color? Mine is… This must occur, right for that reciprocal relationship building. This doesn’t stop even in a social media world which means we have to put ourselves out there.

What made this difficult for me (besides the whole discomfort of being in the “spotlight”) is the belief that I don’t think I’m all that interesting. I’m just ordinary Cami. Here I am feeling like my brain might be boiling over trying to figure out what’s interesting, and I’m thinking “there’s nothing worth sharing.” Perhaps this is a lie I tell myself because people expressed: I liked getting to know you. Hmm. Who knew? The lesson then: I can’t be afraid to put myself out there; I can’t worry about if what I have to share is interesting or not because I can only be myself; and I can’t be afraid to share my truth.

3. Followers liked getting to know the characters in a different way.

The methods mentioned were sharing the music playlists, sharing the book lists, and the new content snippets that helped readers feel more connected to the characters. That’s cool (and I wish I could share with you how cool these people are in my head… still!)

4. Followers liked being able to “talk” with other followers about the books while reading.

One IG follower said that being able to talk about the books with other readers while reading was a little like a “social media book club.” Bookstagrammers have this on lock and are very prolific in this regard. It’s a great tool (though I won’t pretend I’ve figured out how to generate more engagement with this; I think it will continue to be time and consistency).

Well. Here we are fellow road trippers. We’ve parked the van in the garage. We’re popping the champagne. Let’s toast to nine weeks of bumping along this Indie Marketing Road to a job well done. Thank you for being on this journey with me.

What’s next? Not sure. I’m going to take a couple weeks to finish my current book and figure myself out.

Now, I have to figure out how to look at the “after publication” marketing. :)


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Book Marketing, Books for boys, Books for Teen Boys, Books for Teens, Books to Read, Cantos Chronicles, CL Walters, Coming of Age, Fiction, fiction - mental health, Independent Author, New Fiction, Swimming Sideways, Teen Books, The Bones of Who We Are, The Ugly Truth, YA Contemporary, YA Series, YALit, Young Adult, YA Fiction Cami Book Marketing, Books for boys, Books for Teen Boys, Books for Teens, Books to Read, Cantos Chronicles, CL Walters, Coming of Age, Fiction, fiction - mental health, Independent Author, New Fiction, Swimming Sideways, Teen Books, The Bones of Who We Are, The Ugly Truth, YA Contemporary, YA Series, YALit, Young Adult, YA Fiction Cami

Indie Author Marketing: Update No. 8

One more week until The Cantos Chronicles releases March 31, 2020!

Good News! IndieReader.com gave Swimming Sideways, Cantos Chronicles Book 1 a 4.5 stars out of 5 stars rating! That means it’s considered a, “IndieReader Approved” designation and will go on their “BEST OF…” YA round up. That’s AWESOME!

One another note:

With the chaos of the current situation, I wasn’t sure if I should even post, but I decided that regardless, I’d committed to this Indie Author Marketing Road Trip. Though I’ve been grounded to a halt due to a very flat tire, a bent rim, and inclement conditions, but that’s part of the journey right? It begs the question: How do we adapt in the face of challenges.

This is pretty challenging. :)

So here we are.

  1. My events are cancelled for now. As difficult as this is to take, I’m choosing to look at it as an opportunity to develop and grow. I hope to eventually reschedule.

  2. My IG friends have come in clutch by posting. Thank you to them for keeping things visible. I appreciate it so much. I haven’t seen any of the reviewers post yet. Hope those are forthcoming.

  3. I’ve maintained my Social Media content - that’s about the extent to my abilities right now. It Is what it is.

  4. I’m working on April’s newsletter for my subscribers and some new work to share with them.

  5. I developed a #bookstagram challenge with the hashtag #quarINTEENd which I hope provides 1) something fun and creative to do in April while we’re all shut in; 2) sparks discussion between book lovers, and 3) adds to the community.

In light of the climate and the difficulties, I offered an Ebook copy of Swimming Sideways to interested readers via Instagram and Facebook. The offer still stands. You can sign up for my newsletter, you can email me (clwalters2015@gmail.com) or DM me on Instagram, and I will email you the ebook. This offer is valid until Tuesday, March 31. Happy reading.

Available March 31, 20202 in Ebook, Paperback and Hard Cover wherever books are sold.

Available March 31, 20202 in Ebook, Paperback and Hard Cover wherever books are sold.

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Book Marketing, Book Playlist, Books for boys, Books for Teen Boys, Books for Teens, Books to Read, Cantos Chronicles, CL Walters, Coming of Age, Conflict, Fiction, fiction - mental health, Independent Author, New Fiction, Playlist, Swimming Sideways, Teen Books, The Bones of Who We Are, The Ugly Truth, YA Contemporary, YA Series, YALit, Young Adult Cami Book Marketing, Book Playlist, Books for boys, Books for Teen Boys, Books for Teens, Books to Read, Cantos Chronicles, CL Walters, Coming of Age, Conflict, Fiction, fiction - mental health, Independent Author, New Fiction, Playlist, Swimming Sideways, Teen Books, The Bones of Who We Are, The Ugly Truth, YA Contemporary, YA Series, YALit, Young Adult Cami

Indie Author Marketing: Update No. 7

If I thought I didn’t know if I was coming or going last week, this week it’s all about staying put. I’ve had to park it. At home. Social Distancing. And with no end in site, it makes me wonder what’s to come? Well, hopefully I’ll offer some interesting content. Here’s a vlog brought to you from the inside of my bathroom (LOL) as I reflect about this week.

In the grand scheme of my Independent Author Book Marketing road trip, the vehicle sort of stalled on the side of the road. I got pulled over by the police and escorted to the next motel where I’ve been directed to hang out for the next couple of weeks. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. Great. What does this mean for book marketing? Long term, I don’t know. My events might be shot. Short term, I’ve got Social Media.

One of the things I mention in the vlog was publishing the Book Playlists on Instagram for each of the books in The Cantos Chronicles. One of the biggest necessities of marketing is identifying the target audience. As a YA Writer, I’m speaking to teens, specifically 16-18 year olds (though I’m beginning to wonder since my books seem to have a crossover adult appeal. This begs the question: am I marketing to the correct audience?) Since art of all kinds speaks so loudly to me, and every teen I have known speaks music, I decided a playlist might be a solid interactive experience).

I’ve begun to consider that this isn’t a short term game, but a long one. I’m in the process of building a relationship with readers. That’s going to take time and consistency. So while we might be “In the Wait” (Oh hey, head over to Wattpad to read those short vignettes if you’re interested in them), I need to continue to be vigilant in offering the strongest content I can to showcase who I am as a writer and as a person.

Rerelease day for The Cantos Chronicles is right around the corner (March 31, 2020) though they are available for PreOrder. Two more weeks!

Next Week: Indie Author Marketing: Update No. 8

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Am Writing, Book Marketing, Cantos Chronicles, CL Walters, Independent Author, portrait of an artist, Swimming Sideways, The Bones of Who We Are, The Ugly Truth, Writer, Writer's Life, writing process, YA Contemporary, YA Series, YALit, Young Adult Cami Am Writing, Book Marketing, Cantos Chronicles, CL Walters, Independent Author, portrait of an artist, Swimming Sideways, The Bones of Who We Are, The Ugly Truth, Writer, Writer's Life, writing process, YA Contemporary, YA Series, YALit, Young Adult Cami

Indie Author Marketing: Update No. 6

Are we coming or going at this point? I’m not sure. It would seem I’m just following the road, windows down, music blasting and hoping beyond all hopes that the car is headed in the right direction. At least I have you all with me.

We just passed the week six marker. SIX WEEKS!?! Can you believe it? Feels like yesterday that I started this Independent Author Marketing Series, and now we’re here at the six week mark. Three weeks left until The Cantos Chronicles rereleases, and though it’s difficult to tell with accuracy, *preorders seem strong (which potentially is exciting).

*based on numbers provided by wholesale book distributor.

The Cantos Chronicles

The Cantos Chronicles

The method to keep things on the road this week involved these check list items:

Social Media

I listened to a great 15 minute podcast by Mixtus Media this week that purported it isn’t necessary to spread yourself too thin by doing ALL Social Media hotspots. Maybe that’s a little like visiting Disneyland and California Adventure and trying to do both parks and all the rides in one day. Instead, chose the format that works best and commit to that one. My favorite is Instagram. I touch base on Facebook. I’m rarely on Twitter. I do a drop in of Tumblr, but I spend the bulk of my social media presence on good old IG.

My GOAL for IG this week was to offer a bit more character depth to potential readers. All three protagonists (Abby, Seth and Gabe) were featured in my stories. Truthfully, I don’t think it worked as well as I had hoped. It was my fault - the premise of asking characters questions operates on the assumption that people already know them. What do you ask if you haven’t read the story? On the other hand, people who have read the stories saved me by asked some questions. Those answers may have offered potential readers food for thought. What do you think?

I don’t think the idea is a bad one, just perhaps that the execution could have been better.

Add to the Instagram mix, my awesome helpers on the book review and book recommendation blitz have been posting - one a day. That has been lovely to see and share. Anyone see a post from someone else that sparked your attention?

One more social media point was the completion of a flash giveaway on Instagram. It was a quick: “First 10 people to comment about some such or other will receive an ebook copy of Swimming Sideways.” It moved quickly, ten people received the ebook and hopefully they LOVE it! My thinking was to get some advanced copies out into the world to 1) generate excitement, 2) provide an early copy, and 3) perhaps inspire more people to share.

Book Signing

Further planning was done for a book signing at my local Barnes & Noble in Honolulu. With the Hawaii Literacy Project contacted and the event planners at my local B&N on board, the end of April or early May is looking like it might be a real possibility; I will use my newsletter to announce an event like this. When the plan solidifies, it will be a bit like turning full circle because I started this journey way back in November and it became the impetus for the entire rebrand of The Cantos Chronicles books.

Other Bookish Events

I contacted two local book events: A children’s literature conference held in June as well as a Book Festival held in October. I applied to both as a panelist and vendor and will be presenting at the Children’s Literature Conference in June! Still waiting to hear back on the second event, but I will keep you posted. This means I will have an event in April, perhaps one in May, one in June, one in July, am working on October and still waiting to hear back about November.

In addition to those events, I met with a high school librarian to develop a workshop for high school students about creativity. This presentation will happen at the high school where I work in April, but I’ll get to serve in a different capacity outside the realm of classroom teacher and stepping into the role of published author.

Finally, I’m giving away all of the remaining ARCs of the books to my students. They are super excited and don’t care that there are editorial mistakes in the books. Their response was: “Mrs. C, we won’t even know the mistakes are there.” (I don’t know if that is a reflection of my teaching or something else - LOL).


Wrap Up

The road is stretched out ahead of us. Are we going the right direction? I think so. I’m feeling confident, accomplished and filled with hope that where ever the road leads is exactly where I’m supposed to go. Did I have some missed turns -yeah, I think so - but that’s learning, right? With Week Six Independent Author Road Trip Marketing Journey stretched out along the asphalt behind us, we’re on to Week Seven. Only two more blogs until The Cantos Chronicles rerelease, and a final post to wrap up the road trip. I am super interested to know what you’ve noticed over the last six weeks? What has stood out? What kinds of questions are popping up for you? How can any of my experiences help inform you moving forward? Be sure to follow me on IG (@cl.walters) and keep an eye out for questions about this series in a couple of weeks.

Next week: Indie Author Marketing: Update No. 7

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Book Marketing, Books for boys, Books for Teen Boys, Books for Teens, Books to Read, Cantos Chronicles, CL Walters, Independent Author, New Fiction, Swimming Sideways, The Bones of Who We Are, The Ugly Truth, Young Adult Cami Book Marketing, Books for boys, Books for Teen Boys, Books for Teens, Books to Read, Cantos Chronicles, CL Walters, Independent Author, New Fiction, Swimming Sideways, The Bones of Who We Are, The Ugly Truth, Young Adult Cami

Indie Author Marketing: Update No. 4

Making a quick stop to take in the sights before I continue down the road.

Making a quick stop to take in the sights before I continue down the road.

I’m pulling off the road for a quick pit stop; a quick respite to take in what I’ve accomplished before March Madness Blitz swoops in and speeds this journey up to the Cantos Chronicles release day on March 31, 2020. This isn’t because I’m tired, but more because I’ve made it across that map I bought at that convenience store down the road a ways, marked up with goals and got to them. Now, there’s a space for a short rest before the next leg of the journey.

  • I uploaded an old (really old version) of the first book in The Cantos Chronicles when it was still a paranormal story called Upside Down: A Fallen Novel to Wattpad. There’s a lot of conflicting research out there about offering content on Wattpad. Here was my thinking behind the decision: I want to find readers. Where are readers? Wattpad is a place. Granted, the story in this version is funny. I laughed and cringed and wanted to change it as I went, but that wasn’t really my point in uploading it. I wondered if perhaps I was doing myself a disservice in offering a product of quality that is “less than” what this control freak would normally offer. I decided, however, that this version - and all of its flaws - offers a picture of Abby, Seth and Gabe in a different way. And that’s kind of cool even if it’s cringey.

  • Using Instagram story, I set a countdown for two marketing materials: the new cover reveals and the book trailer premier. Hopefully those go well. These were shared on every social media site of which I’m a part.

  • Using Canva and iMovie, I created 10 second snippets for the New Cover Reveals to use this week for my social media platforms.

  • I have publicized the Premiere of The Cantos Chronicles Book Trailer on Facebook by creating an event.

  • Along with all of the new marketing materials, I also maintained the creation and implementation of existing and new content for The Cantos Chronicles on Instagram and Facebook.

This week will be all about those new covers and that trailer. Keep an eye out these next three days!

I would love to know, if you’ve been following the journey: What has stood out to you? What captured your attention and made you interested? Please let me a comment below, or check out my story on IG and share your thoughts.

Join me for the book trailer premier on YouTube on February 27, 2020 at 6PM Pacific Standard Time.

Up Next Week: Indie Marketing Update No. 5

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Book Marketing, Book Playlist, Cantos Chronicles, CL Walters, Fiction, Independent Author, Playlist, Swimming Sideways, The Bones of Who We Are, The Letters She Left, The Ugly Truth, Writer, Writer's Life, Young Adult Cami Book Marketing, Book Playlist, Cantos Chronicles, CL Walters, Fiction, Independent Author, Playlist, Swimming Sideways, The Bones of Who We Are, The Letters She Left, The Ugly Truth, Writer, Writer's Life, Young Adult Cami

Indie Author Marketing: Update No. 3

There are peaks and valleys in every journey. The rise toward the viewpoint and the turnout that allows for us to park the car, check out the vista with a deep breath of appreciation and think: Wow. Look how far we’ve come. Conversely, there are valleys, the dips in the journey where we drive into the depths of the unknown where doubt has the opportunity to creep in and make us wonder if we’re on the right road? It’s a good time to pull out a map, except we don’t have one.

So Nevada…

So Nevada…

I’m in a valley on this marketing journey this week, spinning my wheels in the muddy terrain and wondering if I’m going to make it to the next peak. (Anyone got a song for me to cue up? Right now, I’m listening to our Spotify playlist “Indie Author Marketing Road Trip” to keep me moving forward “Grow as We Go” by Ben Platt. Drop it in the comments to give me a song of encouragement. :)

I am discouraged.

Allow me to be clear. I’m not discouraged by the support (family, friends, IG community is wonderful). I’m discouraged that engagement is down and I keep thinking “What more can you do? There must be something!” But I’m lost in this dark part of the valley where I don’t know. This doubt is rooted in the work I did for The Letters She Left Behind - the clue game giveaway which was a fun marketing idea that didn’t inspire as much engagement as I had hoped. I’m certainly grateful for those that did participate and two awesome winners resulted. Engagement has been worse this month as I attempt to build connection to The Cantos Chronicles with new and existing content. I’m terrified my spinning wheels are only making me sink deeper into the muck.

What does this all mean in the larger picture of being an independent author?

Upon reflection, I don’t think the answer is black and white but shades of variation. Here’s some thoughts I had this week:

  1. I’m being impatient. The perfectionist in me is also looking at the effort and expecting a specific outcome. Truth is, I’m new at this. Why would I have expected The Letters She Left Behind Clue Giveaway to create more engagement when people are only beginning to learn about me & my writing? In all of the research I’ve done about marketing of anything, instant success isn’t a thing (even if I want it to be). I need to be patient and persistent.

  2. Social media is only one tool at my disposal. Perhaps I’m not using all of the tools available effectively enough? I spend a lot of time on Instagram, but maybe that isn’t where to find my readers (even if I’ve connected with a wonderful community of writers). In considering my target audience: where are they? Maybe instagram, yes, but maybe I need to widen the search.

  3. Set backs - being stuck in the mud - isn’t a reason to give up; time to dig deeper and find the work around.

So what did I get to this week:

  1. I maintained my February approach to The Cantos Chronicles, offering new content interspersed with existing excerpts from the three books. I’m using a mixture of Instagram, Tumblr and Facebook, but as I mentioned earlier engagement is low and I haven’t found the magic elixir. Though I’m using a variety of hashtags rotating different ones, posting consistently I haven’t found a way to engage a majority of the followers I have.

  2. I did research on 301c Charities in my area. This is because my local Barnes and Noble is interested in using the charity as a draw for book sales. It’s a great idea. The charity benefits by bringing in patrons because they get a percent of the proceeds. Win-win-win for all three parties. My next step will be to craft letters to the charities are a good fit.

  3. I finalized the letters to teachers in my area. Now it is a matter of determining forward action: selecting schools, teachers, and timing. With the school year drawing to a close, timing might be an issue.

  4. I finalized plans for the March Social Media Blitz. Now it’s time to draft the information my March Blitzers will need and get it to them.

  5. I finished the Book Trailer. I plan to unveil that after the covers are revealed February 25. Look for the trailer next week.

That’s the week in review. While I might be stuck in the muck as an independent author marketer, I feel like I’m standing on top of the world as a creator: I finished my fifth book! And that reminds me why I am doing this: so I can keep doing this.

Until the next peak, my friends. Could you help me push the car out of the muddy terrain so we can get back underway to find it. Happy writing.

Next Week: Indie Marketing Update No. 4

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Book Marketing, Books to Read, Cantos Chronicles, CL Walters, Independent Author, New Adult, New Fiction, portrait of an artist, Writer, Writer's Life, writing process, Young Adult, Book Trailer Cami Book Marketing, Books to Read, Cantos Chronicles, CL Walters, Independent Author, New Adult, New Fiction, portrait of an artist, Writer, Writer's Life, writing process, Young Adult, Book Trailer Cami

Indie Author Marketing: Update No. 2

Watch the video to learn about the eight things I did this week on my marketing journey. Let me know what you think in the comments, or share with me on FB or IG. Feel free to share it.

Heads up: Something happens with the sound at the last thirty seconds. I mainly spoke about how I was struggling with the amount of efforts and the fears about the outcome - the doubts that the amount of effort expended would create the desired outcome. But I also expressed that rationally, I know that it is necessary - that I am hopeful that what I am doing will be fruitful.

BTW - anyone watch the first season of Castle Rock? Tell me that sound doesn’t resemble the noise in the woods. Or, share with me the story of that sound! (It’s creepy !). Happy writing.

Next week: Indie Marketing Update No. 3

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