Thursday, January 29, 2015

So About That Term "Indie"...



I first heard the term "indie" as it applied to musicians. The whole idea of independent artists being able to create their own kind of music was inspiring, cool, impressive. They didn't want to be pigeon-holed or market-driven or lose their creative freedom.

It wasn't about the money.
It wasn't about the celebrity.
It was about the music.
Being able to write and produce what you wanted to do, not what a record label told you that you HAD to do. To fit in. To make money. To be mainstream. To be universally liked. Maybe even...to be generic.

Indie meant unique.

How ironic that the same term in publishing has swung so very far to the other side.

Now that "indie" and "self-published" are often used interchangeably (right or wrong), I am seeing a trend that is sort of surprising. There are a lot of "indie" authors obsessed with money, rank, bestseller lists. They employ super aggressive promotion techniques that skirt ethical issues. Jumping on the bandwagon trend-of-the-day is commonplace. Instead of focusing on unique, original material, many authors are quick to copy other folks who are successful.

The term "indie" in publishing is losing that quirky, creative meaning and instead has become market-driven, money-focused. Pretty much the complete opposite of what I see in the music industry.

So I'm taking it back.

I'm proud to be indie...it's the best thing that ever happened to me. I can write about anything I want to--and believe me, if I had submitted my love story with 60-year old characters to a traditional publisher, it would have been rejected faster than a speeding bullet.

There is nothing wrong with writing mainstream and focusing on money and trends and marketability. It's a different way to approach this industry.

But when I see readers complaining about "indie" authors who just cranked out another 50 Shades of Grey knock-off, it bums me out.

I'm "Indie" in the classic tradition--and proud of it.

TAKING BACK THE INDIE,
Penny

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Projects for 2015


I survived the holidays. True, I didn't quite finish the to-do list (no cards this year, and I did not bake any homemade Christmas cookies), but the tree was trimmed, the kids were happy on Christmas morning, so...SUCCESS!

And now I have to start my crazy 2015 schedule. I won't bore you with the ridiculous to-do list, but I will give you a quickie overview of my three main projects. Here we go...


1. A TASTE OF HEAVEN


I am super excited for this book! It's a full-length women's fiction about a 47-year old widow who is struggling with her identity after the death of her husband. She enters a professional cooking competition as an amateur, and meets her match with Elliot Adamson, Scottish chef from hell. Or heaven. Depends on your perspective.

Time to make haggis sexy. Yeeeeee hawwwwww!

Coming Spring 2015


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2. THE SORRENTO PASSION SERIES   


This will be my first multi-author series, and I am thrilled with the concept and the enthusiasm of my fellow authors. After spending a year totally immersed in Harlequin Presents, a story idea popped into my head and wouldn't go away. It has all the glamour and beauty of Sorrento, Italy, but of course (since I just can't help myself), it also has a twist on the traditional series concept. A rich and powerful Italian businessman falls in love with a sweet and unassuming American artist. What happens when the heroine has the chance of a lifetime...to be mentored by the famous Italian artist Manuel Castaldo?

Sorrento Passion is a four-part series, self-published. The other authors participating are the very talented and creative Lexxi Callahan, Ros Clarke, and Bobbi Ruggiero. This is a great group of writers, with eclectic interests and writing styles. Lexxi pens the uber-sexy Southern Style Series, Ros writes a wide array of fiction, always with her signature UK-flair and gorgeous style of writing, and Bobbi, a finalist for the First Kiss Contest, has a fresh, modern voice and an intense interest in rock stars. What a kick-ass combination!

This promises to be a series filled with drama, passion, heartbreak and of course, happy endings. I will post more information later in the year.

Release Date: TBA

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3. SWEET CINDERELLA (KLAUS BROTHERS #4)


I can't believe the forth installment of the Klaus Brothers Series will be released this upcoming holiday season (2015). Holy Christmas Tree! We are finally going to find out what makes Mr. Ice-Cold Gregor Klaus get hot-under-the-collar. And I have a sneaking suspicion it might be a lovely woman in green satin (Hannah, who was was introduced in SWEET ADVENTURE). This book will not only follow the romantic story of Gregor and Hannah, but will also focus a lot on family, which is one of my favorite Christmas themes.

Coming Christmas 2015

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More stuff coming up this year...an updated website, a newsletter (the anti-newsletter newsletter...hee hee!), and soon my books will also be available on iBooks (Apple).

What are your plans for 2015? Anything exciting? LET'S GO TEAM!


Penny