From Traditional to Self-Published Author

Guest Post

Hey, romance addicts. Let’s welcome author Brenda Whiteside to the Layla Writes Love blog. I am thrilled that Brenda is sharing her experience with transitioning from traditional to self-publishing.

My first contract offer landed in my email inbox in 2009. I jumped around the house like my pants were on fire. Seeing an offer, the thrill of putting your creation out for others to enjoy never gets old. I stuck with my publisher for eleven years.

There was a comfort level in dealing with the same entity, especially if there are excellent editors and a friendly staff with which to work. They listened to me when I wanted my series handled differently. I chose a cover artist and was able to establish a rapport with her. The editor I had for my first book was wonderful but was also a writer, who left soon after my book was published. The next editor saw me through the subsequent ten years. She helped me like a mentor and improved my writing skills. I’ll forever be thankful for the years we worked together. One of the things that changed in my life was she moved on to another career and quit editing for my publisher.

Twelve books and eleven years later, I’m going on a new adventure in the publishing world.

Many authors have self-published for years. I stuck with traditional publishing for various reasons. Designing a cover, getting the book edited, formatting a book and then uploading onto Amazon seemed daunting. I was scared. My author friends who have self-published and wouldn’t have it any other way, encouraged me. More control over your own path they told me.

In the last year, some events transpired and a few things happened in my life that made me rethink my career path. I needed a change. I’m now an editor as well as an author. In addition to editing for a publisher, I have a good freelance editing business. For some reason, that gave me the impetus to consider self-publishing my next series.

A friend has gone into the book designing business. How convenient. An editor I know was available to edit for me, not to mention my critique partners are multi-published and excellent proofreaders. I could get my book polished. I would never, ever publish a book without an editor. And then the biggest thing—I sucked up my fear.

I’m still on the learning curve, but I managed to get the first book in my Mackenzie Chronicles self-published. Secrets of The Ravine released on September 15, 2020. Yet again, I jumped around the house like my feet were on fire. Publishing a book is exciting no matter how I do it.

Thank you, Brenda. Check out Brenda’s book Secrets of the Ravine, book one in MacKenzie Chronicles.

Secrets of The Ravine
By Brenda Whiteside
$3.99, 281 pp, Kindle
Genre: Romantic Suspense

When a ringer for her long-dead love walks into her life the same day skeletal remains are found at the edge of town, Magpie MacKenzie can’t ignore what the universe is telling her…solve the mystery, or become the next victim.

Lawyer Zack Peartree’s life is orderly and entanglement-free until he visits purportedly haunted Joshua, Arizona, and meets free-wheeling shopkeeper Magpie. Despite experiencing troubling visions and odd moments of déjà vu, Zack’s instantly drawn to Magpie and to the unsolved murder which troubles her so.

Using clues from her father’s past and Zack’s déjà vu moments, Magpie and Zack race to solve the mystery, avoid a murderous fate, and to discover their future…together.

About Brenda

Brenda Whiteside is the author of suspenseful, action-adventure stories with a touch of romance. Mostly. After living in six states and two countries—so far—she and her husband have decided they are gypsies at heart, splitting their time between Central Arizona and the RV life. They share their home with a rescue dog named Amigo. While FDW is fishing, Brenda writes.

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