Children's Author: Christine Skippins
What is your background in writing? When did you begin your journey as an author, and why?
I became an author by accident. I was volunteering at an animal rescue centre. I was so inspired by the work and love that filled the place that my first Magic of Misty Nook Story came into my head, and that was the trigger that started me on my journey as an author and illustrator.
What challenges have you faced in your time as a self-published author?
My biggest challenges are getting people to leave reviews and mastering and devising an advertising system that works; I know that I won’t sell my books unless people first know about them, and secondly, they have good reviews but therein lays the challenge, and it one that I am still very much navigating to find a way that works best for me and my books.
How has The Book Dragon helped you with these challenges?
The Book Dragon has been a fantastic support, with book tours and giving me access to experts and other authors on a similar journey. Writing the books is the easy bit; it’s the getting your story out there that can, at times, be both exhilarating and frustrating in equal measure, and Michelle, my business partner at the Book Dragon, is always at the end of the phone to encourage and support me and is, and will continue to be, very much part of my success story.
Can you share some positive experiences you’ve had with The Book Dragon whilst being a member?
Being a member of the Book Dragon family, I get support with printing books, copy editing, and access to the markets they cultivate as a team, such as national initiatives, book fayres, and audiobook markets. As well as giving encouragement and support to grow as a writer, their insight and guidance is invaluable as I now begin to add adult fiction to my creative portfolio.
Why would you recommend The Book Dragon to other self-published authors?
This passionate and creative team are switched on to the independent author book market and is always keen to look at ways to expand their reach across new opportunities. They invest time and expertise in their authors and have supported me in learning about my business as an author and illustrator. To be successful, I believe that you need to surround yourself with a team of experts who are motivated by your success as well as their own. The book Dragon team is just that.
Fantasy & Sci-Fi Author: L. Philip Naughton
What is your background in writing? When did you begin your journey as an author and why?
My writing background was quite varied, inherited in some ways from a father who was a good story teller and a mother who became a traditionally published author, following a life-changing illness when I was fourteen. Looking back, I was good at English and learned other languages but never made a career out it. My interrupted journey began at sixteen with a ‘War of the Worlds’ type story, but was followed by four decades of writing and reviewing technical documents. The fiction journey was rekindled in 2011, after a discussion with my son about fantasy armies, and the Wightblade Chronicles was born. As to the why, I guess it was a decision to try and make use of, and channel, my previous experiences; a mid-life wake-up if not a crisis.
What challenges have you faced in your time as a self-published author?
A multitude of the common ones that afflict most of the self-published community; Time, finances, self-belief, the ogre of marketing and social media. I think almost everyone begins with the doubt about what they are writing, is it good enough, long enough, too long, does it fit the genre? Learning to have faith, confidence and being comfortable with what you are writing can be a long road. I was fortunate to have had some inputs along the way which really made a positive difference at important times.
How has The Book Dragon helped you with these challenges?
For me, the Book Dragon has set a framework, without impinging on my literary freedom to write in my style or the subject of the books, which is important to me. They are a ready source of advice, as and when needed, and have offered a variety of opportunities which I may well not have accessed otherwise. There is also the opportunity to contact, meet and mix with other authors.
Can you share some positive experiences you’ve had with The Book Dragon whilst being a member?
The book signings are worth doing, even if there are few customers. The act of simply doing one should be seen a positive in itself. The HydraCon was a successful day out. I must recommend the standard of the editing service, having used it to proof my latest book.
Why would you recommend The Book Dragon to other self-published authors?
The fees are reasonable and the service is both reliable and focused. It presents opportunities for book and author exposure, along with inventive ideas and new avenues to think about in terms of writing, audience and marketing.
Poetry Author: Demelza Dhotel
The Book Dragon always goes above and beyond in order to help both independent and self-published Authors. Since working in partnership with them they have helped to increase the promotion and exposure of my books, by organising Author Signing Events, Book Fairs and most recently a Solo Poetry Reading Event for me.
Semi-Autobiography Author: Edna Hunneysett
What is your background in writing? When did you begin your journey as an author and why?
I began writing in my early 40s around three years after my father died from cancer. He lived twenty miles away in a caravan on the farm that my brother had taken over. He was watched over by our mam and my brothers and sisters during the final months of his life. I was with him on the afternoon when he died. Our eighth child, a little girl, was born two weeks later. When she was very little, she realised that she was the only one of her siblings who had not seen her grandad. This inspired me to write about my dad so that she could know something of him. I began with my childhood story in the 1940s on our isolated farm. After completing the manuscript, written by hand and typed by a colleague, I endeavoured to have it published but without success. Over 30 years later, at my third attempt, it was finally published. Meanwhile, I wrote another book when this youngest daughter was nineteen and recovering from a serious mental illness. It was the true story of our struggles during her teens and an attempt to raise awareness about the support needed for families of those with serious mental ill-health. I was lucky to find a lady who was setting up her publishing from her garage and was looking for authors and this book was published.
What challenges have you faced in your time as a self-published author?
Finding a publisher was very hard. Promoting my book was difficult. I spent hours weekly writing to newspapers and magazines. My publisher closed her business after my first book was published and I struggled to find another one. When I finally found one, I received no help with publicity or promoting my books apart from the publisher's website.
How has The Book Dragon helped you with these challenges?
My first phone call to Kirsty was a very positive experience. She explained about the help on offer and put me in touch with a local printer/publisher, much cheaper than the one I paid through my publisher. I am having all my books republished under this publisher in conjunction with The Book Dragon.
Can you share some positive experiences with The Book Dragon whilst being a member?
I receive regular emails from a business partner which is very reassuring in that I am no longer struggling alone. Book signings have been organised for me. I am invited to book fairs. I even have bookmarks printed, something I had not thought of doing. I am now on Youtube reading a chapter of one of my books. My books are reviewed and, where necessary, suggestions are made for improvement. I have publicity on social media. It is a new world for me where I am encouraged in my writing.
Why would you recommend The Book Dragon to other self-published authors?
I would recommend The Book Dragon because of all the support and encouragement they give. They are always thinking up new ways of promoting our books. It is like being part of a large family where each member is looked out for. They are relentless in their hard work continually trying to promote and sell our books. The Commissary Programme is amazing, having our books on offer in the USA. The work put into reviewing the books to make sure they are of the standard required for this programme is outstanding. I am thrilled to think that this has happened to me in my mid-eighties and I am very grateful to The Book Dragon for helping me achieve this.
