…it has been ten years, almost to the day, when this ol’ Scots Jurassic decided it was just ‘time to write that novel we all have in us’… what started as a personal ‘bucket list’ item evolved into an amazing scribbler’s journey, which sustains its magic for me to this day… I trudged the newbie author’s familiar road to literary destiny as so many, many others before me… letters to prospective agents and publishing houses… rejections by the sheaf-load… the first novel tentatively prodded onto Auntie Amazon Kindle… followed by the second, the third, and now #6 is Work-in-Progress… the realisation that the SOSYAL NETWURKS held the key to reaching out to a potential global readership… the building of a blog following… the learning curves (plural!) of proofreading, cover art, editing, pricing mechanisms… discovering various distribution channels… add in the continual scourge of piracy that criminally robs we authors of our rightful share of royalties… the reviews system, good and otherwise… being invited to speak as a Featured Author at Literary Festivals (what a helluva buzz that was first time around)… going into schools, academies and universities to talk on the double roles of Author and Practitioner in the use of the SOSYAL NETWURKS in the ‘business of writing’… all of that is still unabated joyful activity… early in the process the ugly monster reared its head… the whispers, becoming shouts, becoming screams from some quarters that self-publishing was a ‘low-level form of literary endeavour… a lower-class of writing expression… only-those-who-couldn’t-make-it-with-agents-or-publishers-to-back-them-sank-to-that’… and what a load of BOLLIX that view has proved to be!…
…I am blessed with thousands of author pals around the planet, many of whose books I’ve had the honour, privilege and pleasure to read and review… the excellent quality self-publisher is alive and well, and is here to stay… being a self-publishing author… a ‘stigma’ I’ll gladly live with… see yeez later… LUV YEEZ!
ALL MY BLOG POSTS ARE FREE TO SHARE OR RE-BLOG SHOULD YOU SO WISH—BE MY GUEST!
Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog and commented:
Wise words and encouragement to all Indies – Thanks Seumas 👍😃
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…cheeers, that man, Chris 🙂
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Welcome, that man, Seumas 😃
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Absolutely spot on Seumas, three cheers to you, raise a glass tonight for me to us indie authors! xxx
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..slainte, m’Lady, Marje 🙂
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Cheers on a wonderful post, Seumas! 🙂 Sharing…
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…back atcha, m’Lady, Bette 🙂
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xo
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Ah, c’mon Seumas, don’t hold back, tell how you really feel! ;-D! Thank you for being a living example that being self-published can be a great way to go.
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…cheeeers, that man, Russ 🙂
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Reblogged this on Books: Publishing, Reading, Writing and commented:
I second that emotion, Kind Sir! For all the many reasons you’ve mentioned in this blog post, I agree, and am also happy to live with that stigma, because ultimately we are being true to ourselves. Thanks to Seumas Gallacher for this inspiring post, and congratulations as well on 10 years very well spent!
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…mega-mwaaah, my dear m’Lady, Susan 🙂
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I believe I heard somewhere that an indie author was among the nominees for an amzing, really, really important award (first time ever) – can anyone remember which one it was? Possibly the Booker Prize?
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…it will be more prevalent before too long… good literature is good literature in whatever guise it takes, m’Lady, Lucinda… mwaaah 🙂
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Read any of mine yet – ha ha sorry I had to ask 🙂
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…not yet… I have a TBR queue a mile long, m’Lady 🙂
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Go for the freedom of self publishing (and the fun – which can overshadow the blood, sweat, and tears)
Cheers for your courage and success
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…cheeeers, m’Lady 🙂
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Well said, that man. Here’s to indie authors everywhere. And congratulations on ten years as an indie.
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…indeed — slainte to all of us, m’Lady, Mary! 🙂
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When ebooks and self-publishing arrived, the collective pearl-clutching by trad publishers was heard around the world! 😀
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…agreed! 🙂
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Reblogged this on Marie Cheine – making the world nicer one child's book at a time.
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…many thanks for the reblog, m’Lady, Marie 🙂 mwaaah 🙂
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Pleasure is all mine!
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I’ve been traditionally published, strictly self-published, and am presently a hybrid of the two. I’ll not lie: I far prefer the self-published route. I can’t afford to quit my day job because of my writing (yet), but I like having control of the end product, with it looking the way I want to and not the way someone else thinks it should.
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…yes, I’m with you a million percent, m’Lady Sharon… the control part is big with me 🙂
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Cheers to self publishing Seumas. I am blessed to know some fabulous self published authors who outshine many on the conventional route. On Tuesday next I will celebrate my first anniversary as a self published author. I feel incrddibly proud of this achievement 🌼
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…way to go, m’Lady, Brigid! 🙂 mwaaah 🙂
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Reblogged this on Author Don Massenzio and commented:
Check out this post from Seumas Gallacher’s blog on the ‘stigma’ of being self-published.
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🙂 🙂 🙂
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Good stuff, Kilt-man! I’ve had the ‘piracy problem’ as well… Missed you! HAPPY VETERANS’ DAY! ♥
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…good day, that man, Billy Ray… great to see your name again! 🙂
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Us wee Indies get sucked in like a moth to a flame. And though we’re never underwhelmed we keep at it like a grandfather clock whose ticks get fainter day by day while we wait to be wound up again before we stop. Enjoyed the post Seamus.
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…yup, we never give up, that man! 🙂
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Reblogged this on Musings on Life & Experience and commented:
Encouragement from Seumas to self-publish.
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…mwaaaaah, m’Lady, Suzanne 🙂
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Reblogged this on Writer's Treasure Chest and commented:
I love how author Seumas Gallacher describes his blessings on how to be a self-published author. In his eyes this isn’t necessary a “stigma”, it’s a blessing. Thank you Seumas. There is a reason why you’re loved around the world!
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…mwaaaaaah 🙂
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😚
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Reblogged this on anita dawes and jaye marie.
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mwaaaaah 🙂
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You learn so much in that first effort as you indicate that subsequent efforts become streamlined and cheaper.
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…well, we’d like to hope so, that man! cheeeeeers, Carl 🙂
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