2021 Alberta Author Project Winner

Winner // Katie Bickell

Katie Bickell
Always Brave, Sometimes Kind
Strathcona County Library

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I live in Sherwood Park, which is a large hamlet just outside of Edmonton, Alberta. My husband (a paramedic firefighter) and I moved to “The Park” 13 years ago from the small Northern Albertan town of Lesser Slave Lake, where we grew up on the same street. While I was born in England, my family moved to Lesser Slave Lake when I was six years old, and I grew up a quintessential small town kid – getting my first job at only 12 years old and securing important positions at far too young an age simply because there weren’t enough people in the town to fill them. By the time I was 20, I had worked as an elementary school teacher, a behavioural therapist aide, daycare supervisor, and an early childhood family resource worker. In the last position, I coached families – usually mothers – on parenting topics, life skills, and stress management. This was ironic, because I was still basically a kid myself, I was navigating my own unexpected and very stressful pregnancy, and I didn’t really know anything about life. But the women I mentored were also around my age, and most of them had aged out of the foster care system before becoming mothers themselves. Because children are moved from home to home so frequently in the system, many had not had the opportunity to learn basic life skills from their guardians. My goal was to help them keep their own children out of the system by offering friendship, mentorship, and advice. I’d visit their homes or they’d come to my office and we’d chat about child development and nutrition topics, resource allocation, tips around play, hygiene, or home safety, or even just talk, laugh, and dream about relationships, pop culture, and their career or education aspirations. These women adored their children – there was never, ever a lack of love. But is just seemed they had the whole world stacked against them.

Around this same time, I cared for two children at a daycare centre who had become attached to me, and I very attached to them. The children were about 10 months old, boy/girl twins, and had bounced in and out of the foster care system since their birth. One night, when I was the last on shift and they were in the custody of their birth mother, their mother didn’t arrive to pick them up. Together the twins and I waited for an hour or so, and then I started making phone calls. Unable to reach any of their emergency contacts, I was forced to call their social worker. A couple of hours later the social worker, the twins, and I were still at the daycare long after closing time, and we didn’t know what to do. The kids were exhausted and hungry and there were no foster homes available, but, it being a small town, the social worker knew my mom and dad – a nurse and a peace officer, respectively. She asked if I might be able to take the babies home with me. My parents agreed and what was meant to be one night only turned into forever – the kids’ birth family asking us to adopt them. Those babies will turn 18 years old this January, and my experiences in loving my sister and brother, and loving the small town I’m from and the people in it, played a huge role in inspiring Always Brave, Sometimes Kind.

Tell us a little bit about your winning book.

Always Brave, Sometimes Kind is a novel told in interconnected short stories. It’s done well since it’s publication – especially as it hit the scene right in the middle of the pandemic – and I’m happy with my experience as a debut author. Prior to its publication, chapters in the book had won the Alberta Views Fiction Contest, the Writer’s Guild of Alberta’s Emerging Writer Award, and the Alberta Literary Award’s Howard O’Hagan Award for Short Story. After publication, the book was shortlisted for the national ReLit Award for Novel, and won the Alberta Literary Award’s Georges Bugnet Award for Fiction.

Always Brave, Sometimes Kind is a book all about contrasts. It’s been called gritty and beautiful, raw and tender. These words mean a lot to me because when I reread the book, even I am jarred by the “realness” of the imagery and emotion, and I am always surprised when a reader tells me they loved it because part of me wants to apologize like, “I’m sorry if it hurt you!”

But it’s important to me that my characters are human: flawed and trying and broken and brave. These people are damaged by systems and institutions that are meant to help them but are so poorly designed or funded (or motivated by greed and power) that they break the most vulnerable of our society down even further than they already are. The book is both a love letter to my home, and yet a critique of my province and country, which, to some, might seem to be another contradiction. But when we talk about loving the place one feels they belong, do we mean loving that place’s institutions? About that place’s social systems, political rhetoric, economic trends, social codes? No. When we talk about loving our home, we’re talking about loving people – about loving our neighbours – and about loving land. Space, not systems. I hope people find a lot of love in Always Brave, Sometimes Kind.

What made you want to be an author?

I’ve been a writer for as long as I can remember, so of course I’ve always wanted to be an author, too. My mother still has an old report card on which my Kindergarten teacher commented, “Katie has a sophisticated understanding of story,” and that one little comment has been a source of pride since I brought it home back in 1991! The next year, I was devastated to learn that perhaps I wouldn’t be a writer because apparently I was far behind the rest of my class in reading ability. But it turned out I simply needed the thick glasses I continue to need today. Once I could see, I started to become the person I was meant to be.

With my glasses, the whole world opened up. I remember staring through my bedroom window, amazed that I could see leaves on the tree outside, and not just a blurry cloud of green. This amazement was the exact same sensation I felt when the little drawings on pages in my books transformed into letters – words! – and I could read. As a kid, I read everything I could get my hands on, and I was very lucky to come from a home of avid readers. My parents had huge bookshelves absolutely filled with books and I was allowed to read any book I found in the home, regardless of recommended age (I’m pretty sure I learned – for better or worse – about sex through Jean M. Auel’s Earth’s Children series). When I was in grade three, I asked Santa for a typewriter, and my mother helped me turn my treehouse into a writing studio where I wrote short stories and a lot of Anne of Green Gables fan fiction. My father took it upon himself to help me copyright the work by mailing it to myself and saving it in an unopened envelope. I guess they’ve always had (perhaps overly zealous) faith in me!

How have libraries played a role in your indie author journey?

Libraries made my publication experience come alive! Because of the pandemic, there were no book signings, no launch party, no in-person author readings for Always Brave, Sometimes Kind. Without libraries, Always Brave, Sometimes Kind would have went into the world like a tree falling in the forest (if no one’s around to hear it, does it really make a sound?). It was librarians who pushed this book into the hands of their patrons. My own local library, Strathcona County Library, hosted me as part of a virtual author reading and Q&A for their annual event, Fall Feast of Words, and it was the first time I spoke publicly since becoming an author. Lesser Slave Lake’s library hosted chose my book for their virtual book club and invited a local newspaper reporter to attend. More libraries invited me to virtually panel discussions and to perform readings, and others asked if I would be interested in teaching writing workshops – something I hadn’t even realized I could do! Others have adopted Always Brave, Sometimes Kind into their monthly bookclubs (my website katiebickell.com offers various “book club freebies”), and now teaching Zoom-based writing workshops through library programming makes up a significant portion of my income. This allows me to connect with readers, encourage new writers, and, of course, fund my next book!

But libraries played an enormous role in making me a writer, too. I gave birth to my eldest daughter during my last year of university, and because I couldn’t afford to move from my small town to attend an urban university, I had taken most of my classes through distance learning (then still achieved through snail mail and not online) and my local community college’s university transfer program. Until my family moved to Sherwood Park, I had never even met an author. But Strathcona County Library participates in a writer-in-residence program. I learned of this program when I was twenty-five and had just given birth to my second daughter. During my children’s nap times, I wrote short stories and when I realized I could send my stories to the library’s writer in resident (Canadian author Margaret Macpherson) for critique, I felt as though I had won the lottery. I was motivated to write more just so I could meet with her more often – Margaret Macpherson: a real, live author! Through the program, Margaret and I developed a dear friendship that continues to this day and, with her mentorship, my writing “hobby” transformed into a deliberate, skillful craft. I owe so much to Strathcona County Library for participating in that program. I swear, if I ever pen a huge, J.K Rowling-blockbuster of a novel, Sherwood Park is going to have the fanciest library in the world because I’ll be donating half the earnings to them!

Do you have any advice for aspiring indie authors?

Dear Aspiring Author, your library is your natural habitat. Your people are there. We’re waiting for you. Go. Read, write, talk, learn, teach, meet. You have all the potential you need, and it’s stored at your local library. Go get it.

2021 California Author Project Winners

Adult Fiction Winner // Mary Smathers

Mary Smathers
In This Land of Plenty
Harrison Memorial Library

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Mary Smathers grew up in Los Altos, California and graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Latin American Studies. She earned a Master’s degree in Education and another MA in Educational Administration and Policy Analysis from Stanford University. From 1983 to 2013, she worked in public schools throughout California as a high school teacher, administrator, teacher trainer, grant writer and educational entrepreneur, helping to found three education companies and a public charter school.

Since that time, she has focused on writing, reporting for a bilingual, regional Costa Rican newspaper and publishing her first work of fiction, Fertile Soil: Stories of the California Dream, in 2016. In This Land of Plenty, her debut novel, a family saga based on California history, was published in July, 2020.

Currently, Mary’s projects include the development of a bilingual children’s book series, Tropical Tales, featuring jungle and ocean animals. She plans to launch the first six books in the series throughout 2022. She also is at work chronicling the lives of subsequent generations in the Brennan/Castro family tree. She expects it will take several books to complete the story of the fictitious California family of In This Land of Plenty.

Mary divides her time between California’s Central Coast and the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica.

Tell us a little bit about your winning book.

A Family Saga Through California’s Rich History…

When twenty-something Nicole Sinclair stumbles on DNA reports that document an ancestry far different from her father’s narrative of a white, northern European background, she enlists the help of her great grandmother to investigate their roots. As she and Great Gram ignore her father’s protests and search for documents in the attic of a historic San Francisco Victorian, the family’s actual history unfolds.

Their true Californio ancestors include a Spanish soldier in the Portola expedition to explore Alta California, a captured Ohlone native and a girl whose family walks with the De Anza settlers eighteen hundred miles from Sinaloa to the San Francisco Bay. Nicole slowly unravels the mysteries of her 250-year family tree, from California’s native inhabitants and its earliest European colonizers through the generations to the Gold Rush.

How does her origin story unfold after the arrival of those Spanish explorers? Can she and Great Gram find evidence of their true family tree and use it to protect the old house from being sold off? Can Nicole find common ground and reconcile with her father in the process? In This Land of Plenty’s family saga introduces the diverse cast of characters and complex social issues that populate California’s rich history while drawing a direct line to today’s residents.

What made you want to be an author?

I have loved writing, language and storytelling since I was a child. I wrote short stories and poems as a kid but stopped in about 8^th grade. Then I focused on the more traditional analytical essay writing that was emphasized in my schooling. But I continued to love writing and wrote for my college newspapers, became an English teacher and also taught journalism to high school students. Throughout my education and business career, I wrote wherever it was needed, doing grant writing off and on for 20 years, doing editing and technical writing of manuals and brochures. But my secret passion was writing fiction. I was finally able to shift my focus to creativity and writing at the end of 2013.

I started by writing feature stories for a bilingual newspaper in northern Costa Rica where I live part of the year. I did family travel blogs and cookbooks filled with family memories. And then finally, I had the confidence to jump in to fiction. I completed and published a collection of short stories in 2016 and my first novel in 2020. The short stories are mostly contemporary and are very influenced by my 30 year career in and with public schools in California. My novel is historical fiction, weaving through California history following one family’s bloodline from 1769 to the present.

It has been lots of hard work to develop a whole new career without formal training but a rewarding journey of learning, new connections, challenges and rewards. I am thrilled that my readers learn more about California history and that the themes make them think about topics they may not have explored before. My books are popular with book clubs and I love being a guest to answer questions and discuss the issues the book raises.

How have libraries played a role in your indie author journey?

Librarians have been instrumental in my development as a professional writer in two ways.

First, a local librarian coordinated a wonderful full day of workshops, readings and panels for Indie Author Day at my local library in 2018. I participated on a panel, did readings and attended other sessions. I met other local authors which expanded my professional network but I also learned about other workshops the library was hosting. This librarian is also an author and we became colleagues, supporting each other’s events and work.

Second, as a result of that Indie Author Day, I learned about a class the library was offering on resources for historical research for genealogists and academics. I attended the course since I was writing an historical fiction novel, which also included an element of genealogical research in the contemporary section of the story.

The course was taught by a librarian and genealogist and I learned about the true work of librarians, the many online and in library resources for research, the California History Room of historic prized documents and books at my library. I attended a field trip to the Monterey County Historical Society’s archives and I began doing research at the California History Room. I frequently asked the history librarian questions and she constantly showed me new data bases or books to review. She was an important part of improving my research methods and deepening my knowledge of California history as I worked on my book.

And a wonderful added bonus of this project is that we became friends. I believe she is a local treasure and I invited her to be a guest speaker on genealogy research for my university alumni group. She and I have also done two book club discussions where she has interviewed me about the book, the historical research and other themes of the novel. We have become a good team!

Writing an historical fiction novel has given me a whole new understanding and appreciation for librarians.

Do you have any advice for aspiring indie authors?

As a self-taught writer, I immediately sought outside help as I got started! I joined a Shut Up and Write Meetup at first and eventually Central Coast Writers (CCW), a branch of the California Writers Club. The CCW monthly guest speakers were super helpful and I then attended workshops and online courses on various craft of writing topics. I devoured books and essays, blogs and newsletters focused on writing. I researched writers’ conferences and found the San Francisco Writer’s Conference to be highly regarded and so I attended in 2019. I think I went to 15 workshops at that one conference, furiously taking notes, then eventually finding the techniques and detailed suggestions on dialogue or sensory detail or presenting the hero’s transformational journey that made sense to me.

My advice is jump in like that to the world of writing, publishing, marketing books in whatever manner makes sense for you. There is an overwhelming amount of information out there but keep looking and find what resonates for you.

Another key piece of advice is to work with highly professional editors, book designers, artists and whoever is relevant to your work. I am determined that my final book products are not only well written but are also professionally edited, designed and printed. Editors have been key teachers for me in this journey. My first editor was a professor in a writing program and gave me her entire syllabus before she even saw my manuscript!

Finding editors and book designers is a bit like online dating but stick with it to screen through various professional sites and lists to find a good fit for you (they will be doing the same to see if they can be of assistance with your manuscript). The various book or writers clubs you might join can be a source of potential editor recommendations but I also found the online marketplace for publishing, Reedsy, to be a highly professional platform for this matchmaking and contracting process.

Also look to the professional organizations for your writing style/genre—for example the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators has many resources, including portfolios of artists’ illustrations if you want to work with an illustrator. Another example is that I joined the Historical Novel Society which has facebook pages and a magazine, conferences and resources. They agreed to review my book in their quarterly magazine which gave me added publicity in my genre. This is a community interested in the same genre I am that asks each other advice and provides supportive feedback.

Once you are finally ready to publish, and it will likely take years to get to that point, then be sure to research all options, platforms, styles and agreements out there. I did it all myself in order to learn the industry and it can be overwhelming as well. Jane Friedman is a key leader in this arena so I suggest checking out her website, blog entries and speaker presentations to get started on researching indie publishing options.

YA Fiction Winner // Tanya Ross

Tanya Ross
Rising Up
Escondido Public Library

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I am a retired teacher who taught middle school for over thirty years. I loved the kids and truly enjoyed preparing lessons that would motivate them to enjoy reading and writing. My husband and I have been married for 42 years, and we have two children, a daughter who teaches dance at a public high school, and a son with Fragile X Syndrome, who is part of the inspiration for my series. My passions are reading, writing, public speaking, frozen yogurt, and my new puppy, a golden retriever named Teddy. I still live in the town in which I grew up, a suburb of San Diego, California. I am so thankful for all the blessings in my life!

Tell us a little bit about your winning book.

Have you ever dreamed or thought about what it would be like to live in a world where the number one priority is to be happy, joyful and peaceful? Welcome to Tranquility. A place where you let all of your fears go. However, how would you feel if you were forced to be happy? What if your every emotion was being monitored? This is also Tranquility. These themes make the reader think about how much our lives are influenced by social

media and by the pressure to be happy. The book’s characters are willing to put their lives on the line for freedom from the reach of “Big Brother.” The highs and lows of our emotions, which make us human, are often the very bane of our existence. And at what point do we determine what is acceptable and what isn’t, and how much we hide or share with others?

What made you want to be an author?

I have always wanted to write a novel! It just took me a little while to find the time and opportunity. When I retired, I knew it was time to fulfill that dream. I wanted to write books, particularly for young adults, that show how technology and human emotion can be corrupted and used to control people.

How have libraries played a role in your indie author journey?

I am so grateful to my hometown library! At the very beginning of my author journey, I joined a writers’ read and critique group through the Escondido Public library. that group gave me feedback and encouragement for my writing. Now, after five years in the group, I am the facilitator. In addition, the library carries my books and has given me several opportunities for book signing and promotion. I have also spoken at the teen book club there and am planning to be on a featured panel in February. Plus, the Indie Author Project has allowed me to distribute my books through the system.

Do you have any advice for aspiring indie authors?

Try not to let self-doubt derail you. It is your biggest enemy. Also, form relationships with other writers. They will help you more than anything else!

2021 Colorado Author Project Winners

Adult Fiction Winner // C.G. Harris

C.G. Harris
The Nine
Poudre River Public Library District

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

C.G. Harris is an award winning science-fiction and fantasy writing team from Colorado who draws inspiration from favorites, Jim Butcher, Richard Kadrey and Brandon Sanderson. For nearly a decade, Harris has escaped the humdrum of the real world by creating fictional characters and made-up realities. When not writing, Harris spends time collecting the elusive arcade token, from the golden age when Dig Dug and Frogger were king. Harris knows the value of such a collection will only be seen in the confused faces of those family members left behind long after C.G. Harris is gone.

Tell us a little bit about your winning book.

The Nine is the first book in a dark humor urban fantasy supernatural adventure series that takes place in a spectacular location … Hell. The main character has just been reluctantly recruited by Judas Iscariot (yes, that Judas), to become a double agent to prevent unnatural disasters in the living world. Gabe just needs to figure out how to do it without botching the missions or revealing his true identity.

What made you want to be an author?

Loads of money and fame. Kidding. Stories change people. They make lives better, provide an escape, give hope. Writing is a way to change the world we live in one dragon, love story or spaceship at a time.

How have libraries played a role in your indie author journey?

Libraries provided a quiet place to write and immerse myself in story. Plus by being surrounded by so many great books, you can’t help but be inspired.

Do you have any advice for aspiring indie authors?

Never stop writing. Your journey is your own and you should enjoy all the roads and paths it takes you. Don’t compare your writing journey to someone else’s. Yours is special and unique to you. Cherish it!

YA Fiction Winner // Molly Zenk & Sarah Biglow

Molly Zenk & Sarah Biglow
Celestial Academy
Jefferson County Public Library

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Sarah Biglow & Molly Zenk are a USA Today bestselling writing duo with three completed co-written series – Celestial Academy (4 books), Captivity (3 books), and Hunted (3 books). Our solo project genres include adult supernatural suspense, women’s fiction, cozy mysteries, YA rom-com, and historical fiction. Molly lives in Colorado and Sarah lives in Massachusetts.

Tell us a little bit about your winning book.

Celestial Academy: Lucifer’s Emblem is book 1 of 4 in the completed YA Paranormal Academy series where the daughters of Lucifer and Michael must work together to solve a series of campus kidnappings, collect stolen angelic relics, stop the apocalypse and face their growing feelings for each other. Not only does it feature a heroine of color and queer characters, but it puts a new spin on the typical roles of angels and demons.

What made you want to be an author?

We don’t remember a time when we didn’t want to be authors. How we view the writing process is these characters picked us to tell their stories. We only hope others grow to love them and their worlds as much as we do. We both had multiple books published before teaming up in 2018.

How have libraries played a role in your indie author journey?

We always donate signed copies of our books to local libraries. The Colorado library system has been especially kind and supportive to Molly.

Do you have any advice for aspiring indie authors?

Don’t give up. Tell the stories you want to tell and not what you think will “sell.” You’ll be happier and more creative if you write what you love vs chasing trends.

2021 Connecticut Author Project Winners

Adult Fiction Winner // Barbara Anne King

Barbara Anne King
The Apple King
Weston Public Library

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Barbara Anne King is the author of The Apple King, The California Immigrant, and Where Flowers Grow, novels set in her hometown on Monterey Bay.

Barbara was born and raised in Watsonville, California, a third-generation Croatian-American whose great, great uncles were pioneers in the town’s apple industry which they helped develop into the Apple Capital of the World. After graduating college, armed with a political science degree, she headed east for a job on Capitol Hill. Along the way, she held positions in broadcast news and corporate public affairs.

Ever since she was a young girl, Barbara had an ear for a story. Although, she always harbored a secret wish to be a storyteller. Taking to heart George Eliot’s words, “it is never too late to be what you might have been,” she reinvented herself as an author.

Barbara lives in a Connecticut with her husband in the place they’ve called home for thirty years. Their three children visit often.

Tell us a little bit about your winning book.

The concept for The Apple King was the result of serendipity. It happened in June 2019 during my book signing for The California Immigrant at Kelly’s Books in Watsonville. A woman approached me and asked if I was familiar with Blossoms into Gold, a history of Croatians in Pajaro Valley. Since I was not, she retrieved it from the shelf and took me through a few pages. Then she disappeared before I learned her name, leaving the book on the table. At the end of my event, the book was still there. Rather than return the book to the shelf, I purchased it. That evening, as I read the history of Croatian pioneers, a story emerged which captivated me. And I discovered that my great, great uncles were patriarchs of the colony. My personal connection moved me to tell the story of a Croatian immigrant who helped turn Watsonville into the Apple Capital of the World. But after more research, I realized that was only part of a much larger story—one of global significance.

After finishing Blossoms into Gold, I contacted co-author, Donna Mekis, to discuss her book. Donna referred me to The Slav Community of Watsonville, California, which is a collection of newspaper clippings about local Croatians during the turn of the Twentieth Century. I found the pdf online and culled through over eight hundred pages of entries, offering a glimpse of life in those bygone days. Near the midway point, I learned the Austrian Counsel, a Slav from Slovenia, had come to town to discuss the situation in the Balkans. On his heels, several prominent speakers followed, urging local support for a Jugo-Slav state. The Croatian colony in Watsonville played a significant role in its creation. But who knew? This seemed to be a piece of lost history. And it changed the theme of my story from an immigrant who makes good to one who uses his wealth and influence to win freedom for his fatherland.

This is my second historical fiction novel about events in my hometown. I stand in awe of all that occurred there during the first half of the twentieth century. It is my hope The Apple King will give Croatians new pride in our compatriots’ accomplishments. And that readers everywhere will find inspiration in this amazing story.

What made you want to be an author?

I’ve always wanted to be a storyteller. Instead, I became a listener of stories until a story I had collected in my memory grabbed a hold of my heart strings and demanded to be written.

How have libraries played a role in your indie author journey?

Libraries have been an incredibly helpful resource to me. Before I began writing, I joined a book group with a professional leader. Through that group I learned more about fiction and what readers like in a story. Two members in my group have been instrumental to my success. One, a fiction teacher at NYU, told me about the Indie Authors program at Norwalk Library. The other, a former NYC editor, has been supportive of my books and written thoughtful reviews. Norwalk library has welcomed my participation in book talks and Indie Author days. Weston library has promoted my books online, purchased my books for their shelves, and invited me to speak. Both The California Immigrant and The Apple King have been chosen for the Indie Author Project’s Overdrive Curated Collection for libraries. I look forward to that program helping my novels reach a wider audience.

Do you have any advice for aspiring indie authors?

I encourage aspiring indies to Join writers’ groups. A Romance Writers of America chapter has been helpful to me because many members are published, both traditional and indie, and they focus as much attention on the business as the craft. Indie authors must be strong on the business side–maybe even stronger than on the creative side. I also suggest that aspiring indies tap into free webinars on the web from credible sources. You’ll find everything from craft to publication to the business of an author. There are also many writing conferences available online at a low cost. It’s important to always keep learning as trends and technology changes overtime.

YA Fiction Winner // Kristin Jacques

Kristin Jacques
Marrow Charm
Groton Public Library

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I’m a fantasy and sci fi loving nerd from Eastern Connecticut, where I grew up surrounded by woods, rivers and a steady diet of Star Trek and Willow. I currently live in Groton with my partner, two sons, and two trash goblins who are convinced they are cats.

I’ve held many odd jobs in my time but am happily immersed in content creation for a small publisher. I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember but really pushed to finish the stories I started in 2015. I’ve managed to write a few books and many short stories in the past six years and have been lucky enough to receive some truly wonderful opportunities. I recently joined the 5 AM writers club, which is brutal but also amazing what you can crank out when everyone else is asleep.

Tell us a little bit about your winning book.

Marrow Charm is a dark fantasy set in an alternate Earth where magic has ravaged the planet, twisting creatures into deadly amalgamations and infecting humans with a magical plague that turns them into monsters, if they survive it. A bleak setting but it’s really a story about hope. It’s a story about the bond between siblings, the power of found family, and finding allies in the most unlikely places.

What made you want to be an author?

My mother. She encouraged my story telling from the get-go. Some of my earliest memories are making up stories to her about our family dog, rescuing frogs from lily pad thieves. She would write everything down and type it up on her typewriter for me to illustrate ‘my book’. She taught me to read with Nancy Drew Mysteries. I lost her far, far too soon but I carry her legacy and her magic and the love of storytelling she instilled in me.

How have libraries played a role in your indie author journey?

Libraries were my solace growing up. I spent an awful lot of time in books, and I have library cards to maybe three or four different local libraries depending. Libraries have continued to play a huge role for me as a parent trying to pass on that love reading, and as an author, not only for the support of a finished book, but for the act of finishing. I have my local library to thank for many deadlines and having that wonderful space to go and breath and write words when there is so much chaos at home.

Do you have any advice for aspiring indie authors?

My biggest piece of advice, aside from ‘keep writing’, is never compare your journey to another author. Everyone moves at their own pace. We come from vastly different backgrounds and experiences, and you never know what is happening behind the scenes. Success doesn’t look the same for everyone and it’s important to pause and celebrate your milestones, whether it’s hitting the best seller list or writing a thousand words today.

My other piece of advice is keeping your mind open to new avenues and opportunities that might look different than a traditional path. I started my writing career with online serialized fiction. There are a myriad of paths and platforms available to aspiring authors to hone their craft and everything you try can be a worthwhile learning experience that adds to your writing journey.

2021 Florida Author Project Winners

Adult Fiction Winner // Marc Curtis Little

Marc Curtis Little
The Bootlegger’s Mistress
Jacksonville Public Library

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Marc Curtis Little is an award-winning author of six novels and one of America’s better known independently published authors. His historical fiction-inspired novels Faithful Servants: The Collector’s Edition, After Obama and Magnificent Redemption earned four Next Generation Indie Book Awards during the past seven years. Marc’s research for The Bootlegger’s Mistress brought renewed interest in his family’s background, #finallyfindingfamily. He remains linked to his former career as a broadcast media journalist and public relations counselor, though he is a self-described devotee of genealogy. A proud native of Newark, New Jersey, Marc lives with his family in Jacksonville, Florida

Tell us a little bit about your winning book.

The Bootlegger’s Mistress embodies the essence of The Great Migration—the decades-long movement of six million African Americans from the racially oppressive South to the purportedly economic opportunity-laden North during much of the twentieth century.

What made you want to be an author?

As an avid reader of anything I could get my hands on since the age of three, I would sometimes wonder how the writer of the book or article framed the story. I believe I found the formula when, as a teenager, I began writing a book about the experience of being a member of a two-time state championship basketball team that was once rated number one in the country. Though I did not complete the task, I developed an appetite for being a writer. During my chosen careers in mass communications and public relations I wrote speeches, articles, op-eds and other literary pieces, which made me think about life as a published author. I started writing professionally in 2007 at the age of fifty-six and I am still at it fourteen years later.

How have libraries played a role in your indie author journey?

I am still in the process of understanding how libraries contribute to the economic side of my career. However, the opportunities to make presentations to three libraries in particular—Jacksonville (FL) Public Library system and two libraries in Newark (NJ), the downtown branch and the Weequahic branch—allowed me to participate in book signings and author discussions, which exposed my talents to wider audiences.

Do you have any advice for aspiring indie authors?

Always believe they are just as talented as traditionally published authors. They should publish their work as if they are contracted with some kind of publishing house; that is, have their books edited and designed by professionals. There are a number of ways to find freelancers who do that kind of work. It is up to those who are committed to being independently published to be diligent in seeking them. They should also meet with book clubs, participate in publishing discussions online and in-person, and whenever possible, enter their books in credible book competitions. One more thing: read as much as they can about the business of publishing and consume it like it’s a meal.

YA Fiction Winner // Elle Thornton

Elle Thornton
The Girl Who Swam to Atlantis
Jacksonville Public Library

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Elle Thornton grew up on military bases in the South and West, a background that is reflected in her two novels, The Girl Who Swam to Atlantis (YA historical fiction), and a mystery thriller, Touch the Dead. The Girl Who Swam to Atlantis has been named the 2021 winner in the IAP’s Florida Author Project for YA, one of fourteen regional Indie Author Project contests. The Military Writers Society of America awarded The Girl Who Swam to Atlantis a Bronze Medal in 2013 for YA historical fiction; in 2009 it received from the Florida Writers Association a Royal Palm Literary First Place (YA unpublished) award.

Her debut mystery, Touch the Dead (published in June 2021), won a gold medal from The Florida Writers Association in the unpublished mystery category in 2019 and was named second runner-up for all FWA manuscripts that year.

She has worked as a newspaper reporter in Massachusetts, Hawaii and Kansas and television reporter in Hong Kong. She has also been a technical writer, and university-level writing instructor.

Her poetry has been published in the Military Writers Society of America’s 2021 Anthology “Untold Stories,” the Connecticut River Review and The Concho River Review.

Tell us a little bit about your winning book.

The Girl Who Swam to Atlantis is a coming-of-age story about twelve-year-old Gabriella, who lives on a North Carolina military base in the segregated South of 1957. Near the river by her quarters, she meets the Marine Hawkins. He becomes her swim coach and a person she can talk with, even about the tragedy of the youth Emmett Till. At the river, Hawkins helps her find her strength. Emmett’s spirit helps her find her heart. Yet as she swims toward young adulthood, it could all be lost. Emmett had been murdered for whistling at a white woman. Could her friendship with Hawkins endanger the tough Marine? It does not seem possible. Until a sudden storm on the river changes Gabriella’s life―forever.

What made you want to be an author?

I have wanted to be a writer since Second Grade, when Miss Simpson read stories to our class in the most wonderful voice. There was such excitement and pleasure in her voice as she read to us. She took us out of ourselves, and I loved her. She carried us away. My dream was furthered by my seventh grade teacher, Mrs. Fullerton, who liked a poem I wrote and read it to the class. I was famous. By Eighth Grade I was busy sending poems and stories to the New Yorker. Fortunately, I do not discourage easily.

Then I read Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings The Yearling, and I have never looked back. How wonderful to be able to express so much emotion, to describe so much beauty and pain, love and loss. I had to at least try.

How have libraries played a role in your indie author journey?

Libraries made it possible for me to become a writer by making so many wonderful books available for me to read, enjoy, and study. Had I not been able to read other authors, I would never have been able to write.

We should never underestimate the power one person can have in giving another confidence in pursing their writing. A librarian at the Beaches Branch of the Jacksonville Public Library system, Julie Rekow, helped me gain confidence in my book: she had read it and told me how much she enjoyed it.

Two fine events, the Jacksonville Public Library’s Jax Book Fest 2020 and the Beaches Reader Fest 2019 both contributed to my belief in The Girl Who Swam to Atlantis and my ability to tell other stories. Librarians at the downtown event and at the Beaches branch made me feel valued and welcome. Those positive feelings, the things I learned from participating in both book festivals, continue to help me grow.

Do you have any advice for aspiring indie authors?

Follow the story that is in your heart, the dream that will not let you go, the longing you feel. Listen to your emotions. Never let them go, and never give up.

2021 Illinois Author Project Winners

Adult Fiction Winner // India Powers

India Powers
Demon’s Bane
Gail Borden Public Library District

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I grew up in West Texas and moved to Illinois after I met my husband. I attended Georgetown University and did my graduate work at Texas Tech University. Both of my degrees specialized in Romance languages. I’m out of practice now, but I used to be fluent in both Italian and Spanish! I’ve always wanted to be a writer, but it’s been a long road to reach this point. I worked as a copywriter for a recruitment advertising agency, then switched careers to work as a computer programmer/analyst. After my son was born I became a stay-at-home mom. I started thinking seriously about writing again and in 2006 I attended a conference hosted by Chicago-North Romance Writers of America. That gave me the confidence to pursue a career in writing. I joined Romance Writers of America as well as my local chapters–Chicago-North RWA and Windy City RWA. In 2013 my manuscript for Demon’s Bane finaled in Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart contest, and this year Demon’s Bane won the PRISM award for Best First Book. I’m currently a member of the Alliance of Independent Authors and Regency Fiction Writers.

Tell us a little bit about your winning book.

Demon’s Bane is a fantasy romance. Julian Rutherford is a medieval mage with a mission: kill the demon who murdered his wife. His hunt takes him to Regency England, where he is tormented by the beautiful Lady Regina. Her every mannerism echoes the wife he’d lost centuries ago. But is she the reincarnation of his wife and a second chance at love, or the demon in disguise?

What made you want to be an author?

When I was little, my dad would take me to the library every couple of weeks. He introduced me to Andre Norton’s books. I loved her stories–especially her Witch World series–and read every book I could find. Her books definitely inspired me! I wanted to create fantasy worlds and write stories that would draw readers in the same way hers did me. When I was in 7th and 8th grade I wrote her letters. I couldn’t believe it when she responded! She was so kind and gracious. She even sent me a birthday card once that included a dill seed packet to plant in my garden.

How have libraries played a role in your indie author journey?

Libraries are such an amazing resource! Whenever I did research, I always tried the Gail Borden Public Library first. If they didn’t have a book I wanted, I could often find it using an interlibrary loan. Libraries are also a great resource on the market. I read bestselling books and new releases in various genres to help me determine which genre was the best fit for my book. Checking out new releases is also a great way to spot trends. The libraries in my region, especially my home library, do a wonderful job of supporting local authors. They host book fairs and reader events, as well as offering workshops for burgeoning writers.

Do you have any advice for aspiring indie authors?

I think it’s important to remember that as an indie author, you are also an entrepreneur. There are a lot of business decisions to make beyond the writing. There’s editing, proofreading, cover design, formatting, marketing, etc. It’s helpful to know which items you want to handle, and which to outsource. Fortunately, there are a lot of resources available to indie authors. Local writer groups are a great starting point. I’d also recommend the Alliance of Independent Authors. For those who prefer audio, The Creative Penn podcast is chock full of information.

YA Fiction Winner // Stephanie J. Scott

Stephanie J. Scott
All Last Summer
Aurora Public Library

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I come from a family of readers and spent a lot of time at libraries growing up. I’m originally from Michigan, where I set this book and series (though the town is fictional), and moved to Chicago a few years after college, eventually ending up in the greater Chicago area with my husband.

Tell us a little bit about your winning book.

All Last Summer is a young adult romance about first jobs, shifting relationships, and questioning ourselves and who we want to be. I love writing evolving friendships and support systems. I also like books that blend deeper themes among lighter, fun, moments, and tried to find a balance there. There’s a subplot involving analog robotics, so that was fun to research. I like writing characters who are interested in interesting things, so I can learn something along the way.

What made you want to be an author?

I’ve always liked reading and had an inkling that I wanted to write a book “someday.” One of those somedays, I realized books don’t write themselves (bummer!) and I’d to need to learn how to write one. I started with a free, local writing group, and not long after joined Romance Writers of America. I started going to conferences and taking online workshops about writing. I’m a “joiner” and found online groups like Pitch Wars to connect with. By the time my first book was published, I had a little community of writers cheering me on who offered a lot of support and encouragement. I love helping writers with what I’ve learned to give back to the community that has helped me so much.

How have libraries played a role in your indie author journey?

The first writing group I attended was at the St. Charles library about ten years ago. I had no idea what I was doing, but learned how to critique other writers’ work – and how not to (young writers are often harsh in their critiques when they apply every new thing they learn – I made many rookie mistakes!). I knew when I published this book and series I wanted my books to be available for library distribution, both digitally and in print. Working with libraries satisfies what I wanted to accomplish with these books. I have friends and writer colleagues who work as public librarians and at school libraries, and they have been wonderfully supportive of my books.

Do you have any advice for aspiring indie authors?

Don’t go at it alone! There is an incredible amount of free information on websites and in author groups on Facebook detailing the how-to’s of publishing. Having a goal when you start will help tremendously. Not everyone has the same end goal with a book. One person may be content finishing a book and making a few copies for friends and family. Once you shift from writing a book to marketing a book, your story becomes a product. Knowing the market for your book is essential. Determine who your intended audience is (the answer is not “everyone”) and read books by authors who write what you do both in the traditional market and indie books. Find the communities where those indie authors hang out (in person or online) and learn from them. There’s a balance between rushing to publish with little information and delaying publishing in order to learn every single aspect. There comes a point where doing the thing will get you much farther than reading about doing the thing.

De la Página a la Fama Winner // Pascuala Herrera

Pascuala Herrera
No Siempre es Un Valle de Lágrimas
Franklin Park Library

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I am a Mexican immigrant woman with a physical disability resulting from childhood polio. I immigrated to Chicago at the age of six years old and currently live in Franklin Park, Illinois. Though I came from a large low-income family, had a physical disability with many medical challenges, and use a wheelchair for mobility, I completed my Bachelors and Masters at DePaul University in Chicago. Upon graduation, I started a faculty position at Harper College in Palatine IL where I worked with students with all types of disabilities. I also participated in the activist movement that fights for the rights of people with disabilities where I met my husband who also has a disability. I also gave back to the community by volunteering for a none-for profit organization called Life Directions that works with at-risk young adults. After a successful 30-year career at Harper, I retired in June 2020. I have been married for 26 years and have two adult daughters.

Tell us a little bit about your winning book.

I lost the most significant person in my life, my mother, in 2018. My daughter who had heard many of my childhood stories suggested that I write down my stories and that it could be in honor of my mother. I started writing and the stories just came to me. As I wrote, the memories made me smile, laugh, and many times cry as I recalled the story of my life. From being a child crawling in the streets of my pueblo in Mexico to becoming a successful educator in the United States, I proved that everything is possible when you work hard, have faith, and have the love of family and friends. Although my mother always told me that “life was a valley of tears,” I learned that although there were many difficult moments in my life, there were also beautiful miracles that happened every day. I tell my life’s narrative with honest painful stories, simple yet joyous triumphs, and humor that will lead all readers to embrace their own struggles and realize that life is Not Always a Valley of Tears. I decided not only to write my memoir in English but also in Spanish to reach the Latino community. I am glad I did because the winner of this contest is the Spanish version, No Siempre es Un Valle de Lágrimas.

What made you want to be an author?

Though as a child I was always told that someday I would be a famous author, I didn’t believe it. Although I have always loved writing, I used it for myself to get through the difficult moments in my life. After retiring, my family encouraged me to write and publish the story of my life. After writing Not Always a Valley of Tears as a way to grieve for my mother’s loss, my family insisted that my story should be shared with the public. I decided to publish it because I wanted others to read about the magnificent women who gave me life and raised me to be a successful woman. At first, I felt vulnerable because I share so many intimate parts of my life, but after getting such great feedback, I am glad that my book is inspiring and impacting people so positively. I enjoyed the self-publishing process so much that I also published a children’s book in September. I will continue writing and publishing in both languages!

How have libraries played a role in your indie author journey?

Coming from a low-income status family, I learned early on that the library offered me the opportunity to get my hands on books even though I could not afford to purchase them. The library always offered me a quiet place to study and concentrate, allowing me to maintain good grades to keep my scholarships. It also provided me with the use of technology that I would not have otherwise had access to. When I became a parent, I introduced the library to my children and instilled in them the love of books. It was gratifying when my daughters would beg to go to the library as a form of entertainment. The entire publishing process was intimidating. However, after I began doing research and using my local library for resources, I demystified the process and discovered that with organization, patience, and a little investment that I could become an indie author.

Do you have any advice for aspiring indie authors?

My advice is that if you have a story to tell, tell it. I particularly believe that the Latino community has so many kept secrets that need to be shared. As Latinos, we can share the truth about our community and break all stereotypes. Our Latino community is also in need of literature that will uplift and bring pride. Do not be intimidated by the horror stories of authors being rejected. The most important part of publishing is to get your ideas down on paper. Realize that you will need to work collaboratively with qualified hired professionals who can help you with editing and marketing.

2021 Louisiana Author Project Winners

Adult Fiction Winner // A. Lonergan

A. Lonergan
Take Me
Livingston Parish Library

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I am twenty-six years old and I have been writing since I was eleven. I wrote my first five book series when I was in high school but didn’t get around to publishing until I was about twenty-one. As well as writing full time, I’m also a homeschool mom to my little boy, which I absolutely love (most of the time). My husband was my high school sweetheart and we have been together for 9 years! We both have strong Cajun roots so I try to incorporate that into my books. I love all things makeup and artistry- I have even designed some of my own covers. On the side of all of this, I also have an etsy shop where I create book merch and stickers.

Tell us a little bit about your winning book.

My winning book was written during the pandemic, it was actually a dream I had. I woke up and knew if I didn’t write it, I would lose the story. The story was nonstop. I couldn’t eat, sleep, or do anything until I wrote it. The same can be said for the rest of the series. It took control of my entire existence and is actually one of my favorite stories (that I’ve written). It’s audio will be available in a few months and I can’t wait to hear the characters come alive! This series had actually inspired a spinoff that will be releasing next year!

What made you want to be an author?

My father passed away when I was eight years old. I had no idea that I was going through depression or anxiety but when I was eleven, I started to write these songs (they were so dark and embarrassing) but it was a huge outlet for all of these foreign emotions I was feeling at the time. Music and reading became my escape and then writing set my soul free. In high school I never knew if I would live to see my stories come to life and now, here I am, living that dream.

How have libraries played a role in your indie author journey?

Libraries were a huge part of my high school existence. Not only did I help out the librarians at school during PE and lunch, but I also spent countless hours in the public library across the street from my parent’s home. I would bring home ten books a week (I was maxed out) and devour them as quickly as possible. i don’t think I would have found this love of reading and writing without the library. I honestly don’t know if I would be here today if I hadn’t had those stories to escape to.

Do you have any advice for aspiring indie authors?

My advice for aspiring authors… write the book. Don’t worry about editing or what people might think. Let the characters speak to you then worry about the rest when it’s finished.

YA Fiction Winner // Leah Eskine

Leah Eskine
CC’s Road Home
Jefferson Parish Library

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I spent my childhood in Lafourche Parish and have fond memories of spending summers reading at the Raceland Library on the bayou. I enjoyed writing poetry as a child and later attended Ridgewood Preparatory High School in Metairie where I contributed stories and poems to the school newspaper.

After graduating from Ridgewood, I attended Louisiana Polytechnic Institute (LA Tech) in Ruston for two years and enjoyed the beauty of the rolling hills of north Louisiana. I moved back to New Orleans and attended Louisiana State University in New Orleans where I received a degree in Liberal Arts in 1964. I accepted a position as an English teacher that year and quickly learned I was destined to teach high school students. I enjoyed the role of educator and administrator for over forty years in both public, private, and parochial education.

During my career, I enjoyed writing articles and reports, but writing fiction became a calling for me after retiring in 2011. I attended writing groups and classes which are a tremendous help to any beginning writer. In 2014 I submitted a short story to the Hammond Regional Arts Contest and won second place. I was hooked on writing fiction.

But it was creating characters who beckoned me to start writing a novel. The main character of CC’S Road Home, CC, played a major role in motivating me to write the story of a young girl who goes through a pregnancy and has to live with her grandparents after the birth. She is dismayed by returning to the community as a teenager and must learn to rediscover her life as a teen. She, and other characters in the book, are inspired by the many students I encountered. My young readers are moved by Uncle Bud, a mentally challenged adult, who was a member of my family, my real Uncle Bud.

I am currently working on my next novel which takes place in south Louisiana and includes characters from CC’S Road Home.

2021 Minnesota Author Project Winners

Adult Fiction Winner // Margaret Standafer

Margaret Standafer
I Know an Old Lady
Carver County Library

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I’m married with two adult children. I was born and raised in Minnesota, and have lived in Chanhassen for nearly 28 years. Aside from writing, I enjoy traveling, hiking, gardening, swimming, reading, and anything that means I get to spend time with my family.

Tell us a little bit about your winning book.

I Know an Old Lady was born from that single line in the nursery rhyme, I know an old lady who swallowed a fly… One day the lyrics got stuck in my head and the story blossomed. It is the story of Billy, a teenager living in Kansas in the early 1970s. Billy’s family life is far from ideal and with no one to rein him in, he finds himself in trouble one time too many. The result is a sentence to spend his summer working for Mrs. Baxter, the reclusive old woman who has long been a suspect in the decades-old disappearances of some local children. While Billy sweats through the long, hot summer, painting and doing yard work for Mrs. Baxter, the two gradually come to an understanding and Billy’s life is forever changed.

The further I got in writing Billy’s story, the more invested I became in him. More so than with other stories I’ve written, Billy was almost a part of me and oftentimes, I just had to sit back, wait, and listen for him to tell me his story. When I finished, I felt I’d given the story everything I could, but as a writer, one never knows how a story will be received. It’s been wonderful and amazing to me that so many people have also loved Billy’s story.

What made you want to be an author?

This is a question I always sort of hate answering, because I feel guilty telling my story. I didn’t want to be a writer. At least, not for a long time. I was the girl in school taking all the math and science classes and who took great lengths to avoid having to do anything remotely artistic. Over the years, my husband told me, repeatedly, ‘You should write a book.’ I never understood why he said that, and told him so! Looking back, I did make up a lot of stories…bedtime stories for the kids, or my own endings to books and movies where I didn’t like the ending provided, and I would dream full length movies, or fully fleshed out stories. For too long, I ignored all the clues. Then the day came when my youngest left for college, I suddenly had too much time on my hands, and without telling a soul, sat down with my laptop and started writing a book. Three months later, my first novel, Misty Lake, was completed. I have never looked back. And I have apologized to my husband!

How have libraries played a role in your indie author journey?

From the time I was a little girl, I loved books. My parents like to tell me how I had all my books memorized and would call them out if they tried to skip even a single word. I taught myself to read before Kindergarten, and have been an avid reader ever since. I remember begging my mom to take me to the library so I could get the next Nancy Drew book, and I remember when she finally told me to get on my bike and ride there myself. We lived in Coon Rapids at the time, and the library was quite a distance from home, but times were different, and off I went. When I was a teenager, we moved to New Hope so I pointed my bike in the direction of the Crystal library. I think I wore out my library cards. Living in Chanhassen for as long as I have, I started out visiting the old library that now houses the senior center, and I watched as the beautiful library we have now was built. My kids even have their handprints on wall tiles from the grand opening celebration. I will forever be grateful to the amazing libraries that have been a part of my life… for the adventures, for the education, for the comfort.

Do you have any advice for aspiring indie authors?

There’s the usual…keep writing, keep reading. If writing is something you want to do, stick with it, because it doesn’t happen overnight. Reading is just as important. I find that when I read, I’m more inspired to get back to my own writing. The other piece of advice I offer to someone just starting out is don’t tell anyone what you’re doing. It sounds strange, maybe, but when I wrote my first book, no one knew I was doing it. If I had told people, and if I’d had to answer all the questions about when it would be done, and what it was about, I honestly don’t know if I would have finished it. Take that pressure off yourself, write your book, and then surprise everyone!

YA Fiction Winner // Carissa Andrews

Carissa Andrews
Secret Legacy
Kitchigami Regional Library

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I am an international bestselling and award-winning author from central Minnesota. I’ve published 19 books, all in the realms of science fiction and fantasy in some way, shape, or form. Often, I genre-bend them both together because I can’t choose my favorite. I am also an award-winning graphic designer, so I design my own covers and marketing materials. I also self-publish my own audiobooks, of which there are 11 done so far. I’m also the CEO of Author Revolution, an online academy dedicated to helping my fellow indie authors manifest their millionaire author destinies.

Tell us a little bit about your winning book.

Secret Legacy is the first book in the Windhaven Witches series. It’s an international bestselling series and one that is near and dear to my heart. I originally wrote Secret Legacy based on a dream I had when I was fourteen. In fact, the first version of the story was written way back then and called “Never What They Seem.” (I like Secret Legacy better. HA!) The book is YA/NA paranormal fantasy, and follows a girl who is destined to become more than she ever realized.

What made you want to be an author?

Originally, I had no interest whatsoever. I had an aunt who was a writer and she struggled so much to get published. Granted, that was back in the day when self-publishing wasn’t much of an option. However, I was always in love with literature. It was my favorite subject in school and my first job was working for a bookstore. The first time I realized I wanted to be an author, it was 2010 and my best friend was urging me to write a story. She wanted desperately to see a love story between a ghost and a human and as I started writing it, Pendomus (my first published book) came into my head. Of course, I switched gears and the rest is history. I really should get back to that ghost story someday. 😉

How have libraries played a role in your indie author journey?

Libraries have been such an amazing source of connection for me. I have been featured in my local library in both Brainerd, MN and Crosslake, MN. More than that, I found my tribe at the Brainerd Library. I became a part of a writer’s group that was meeting there and went on to help it transform into a 501c3 nonprofit – the Lakes Area Writers Alliance. I have also had the wonderful opportunity to teach from the Brainerd Library a 6-week self-publishing course that became the initial class for Author Revolution. The online course is called Indie Publishing Fundamentals. So, I’d say, the energy and enthusiasm, as well as the support from my local libraries has been instrumental in the growth of my career – both as an author and as an indie author coach.

Do you have any advice for aspiring indie authors?

Oh boy, do I! I mean, I have seven courses on the topic! HA! But if you only hear one thing right now, hear this: Enjoy the process. Don’t worry about “doing it right,” or if people will buy the book, or if you’re good enough to do the thing. If you’re enjoying it, that’s truly what matters most and it will translate into all you do. Put one word in front of the other and keep going.

Communities Create Winner // Ramsey County Library

This Was 2020
Ramsey County Library

Tell us a little bit about the winning book.

Edited by Ramsey County Library staff and featuring 51 writers from across Minnesota, “This Was 2020” captures people’s experiences and reflections of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns and Justice for George Floyd movement along with other social and political upheavals of the year. This collection of writings encouraged Minnesotans to write and reflect on a tumultuous year as a way to learn from, heal and imagine brighter futures for all.

2021 Missouri Author Project Winners

Adult Fiction Winner // Angie Fox

Angie Fox
Southern Spirits
St. Louis County Library

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Angie Fox writes sweet, fun, action-packed mysteries. Her characters are clever and fearless, but in real life, Angie is afraid of basements, bees, and going up stairs when it is dark behind her. Let’s face it. Angie wouldn’t last five minutes in one of her books.

Her books have been called “fabulously fun” by the Chicago Tribune and have won multiple Daphne awards for mystery and PRISM awards for fantasy. Angie is best known for her SOUTHERN SPIRITS™ mysteries and for her ACCIDENTAL DEMON SLAYER series. She has also just released the new MONSTER MASH trilogy, which is gaining a lot of attention.

Angie is a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism and lives in St. Louis, Missouri.

YA Fiction Winner // Kevin Kraft

Kevin Kraft
MOMO
Mid-Continent Public Library

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I am a husband and father living with my family in Missouri, where together we comprise Heaven’s Wheel, a motion picture productions company, of which I am the CEO. I am an award-winning novelist and an award-winning screenwriter, independent filmmaker, and composer, and cigar box guitar guru.

Tell us a little bit about your winning book.

MOMO is based on my award-winning screenplay of the same name, which was something I conceived when I was maybe ten years old. It about a father and son who have to survive a single night against the attacks of a terrifying night creature with only their faith, their love for one another and the four walls of the family cabin to protect them. When I first released the novel a few years ago, it got a tremendous response and continues since is recent rerelease, for which I am thrilled. Despite its unabashed base of faith (MOMO won the Christian Book Award in 2016), even nonbelievers responded enthusiastically. Incidentally, a motion picture adaptation of MOMO is currently in the works as I write this, which was my goal from the beginning.

What made you want to be an author?

From a very early age, I appreciate great storytelling. My read to me Bible stories, my teachers read to me as well, of course, my older brother would often regale us with great stories—many of them probably not true, but they were entertaining. Anyway, I had always hoped I could master that skill myself in some way. I began writing stories at maybe seven years old, taught myself how to type at age ten and wrote my first novel shortly thereafter.

How have libraries played a role in your indie author journey?

I read voraciously from the time I could! I read everything I could get my hands on. The library…I could spend hours upon hours in the library—and have. I often would bring back impossible stacks of books from school or the public library. People who know me comment to me that I am “well-read.” I’m like, They have no idea! I have libraries to thank for that. I’m happy in a library like a gardener is in a lawn & garden department.

Do you have any advice for aspiring indie authors?

Most prospective authors fail at the beginning of the journey by not knowing how to start. Let how to begin successfully to increase your chances of success. Be diligent and patient.

2021 New York Author Project Winners

Adult Fiction Winner // Erin McRae & Racheline Maltese

Erin McRae & Racheline Maltese
Ink and Ice
Brooklyn Public Library

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

We’ve been writing together for eight years, and Ink and Ice is our ninth novel. Erin (she/her) lives in Rochester, NY and Racheline (they/them) lives in Brooklyn, NY, each with varying assortments of partners/cats/children. Racheline is a former journalist, and Erin is a former international relations professional. We like to say we write romances for difficult people with complicated lives.

Tell us a little bit about your winning book.

Ink and Ice is a romance between a former war reporter and an elite athlete set in the world of competitive figure skating. Both men in the book are navigating the tension people experience when publicly revealing their private selves through creative work. Much of the story takes place on the Lake Erie islands where natural beauty, an isolated landscape, and a local myth about a colony of inland seals ultimately make it impossible for our characters to hide from themselves. Ink and Ice is simultaneously a fable filled with magic and a modern romance.

What made you want to be an author?

Writing is how we see the world. We don’t know how not to do it.

How have libraries played a role in your indie author journey?

Libraries have been a huge part of our journey as authors. An earlier novel of ours, A Queen from the North, was one of the top 10 most circulated IAP books in 2020. Libraries are how we find new readers and generate word of mouth enthusiasm for our work. All of our books also have a heavy research component, which would be impossible for us to conduct without the resources of the Monroe County and Brooklyn public library systems.

Do you have any advice for aspiring indie authors?

Believe in your voice. The weirdest part of what you’re writing – that maybe traditional publishing has told you it doesn’t know how to sell – is often the most essential. Find the themes that only you can write, shoulder into them, and produce a relentlessly professional product.

YA Fiction Winner // M.S. Kaminsky

M.K. Kaminsky
Alabaster Island
Livingston Manor Free Library

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I am an author and filmmaker and I divide my time between Brooklyn and Upstate New York where my husband and I own a small getaway. I was born in Vancouver, Canada, and grew up in Winnipeg. However, I became a U.S. Citizen many years ago and New York City is the place I’ve called home for most of my adult life. Storytelling in various forms is a core passion of mine. At four, I remember dictating tales to my father, who transcribed them before I had the coordination to hold a pencil. Nowadays, my coordination remains questionable, but my hunger to tell stories remains strong! I write YA fiction with a focus on urban fantasy and light science fiction. To date, I’ve released nine titles as an indie author (seven fiction novels and two non-fiction with an eighth fiction title forthcoming).

Tell us a little bit about your winning book.

Alabaster Island takes place on a mystical, make-believe island in the Pacific where an extraordinary community lives cut off from the outside world. Islands have always held an allure for me. Their separateness and isolation lend themselves to arcane mysteries and fantastical creatures. The book tells the story of Marei, mother of the twin protagonists of my first novel, The Atlantis Twins who possess mermaid genes. While writing The Atlantis Twins, ideas and scenes from Marei’s life kept occurring to me. Many unusual events led to the birth of her mermaid twins, and I decided Marei deserved the opportunity to tell her tale. Alabaster Island was born. The book is a key part of the Mermaid Curse Series and to date, the most read.

What made you want to be an author?

My love of reading is the number one factor behind my desire to be an author. I wanted to create for others the magic that I’d experienced myself—that is the goal that propels me forward. Another appealing aspect is that unlike making a film, writing a book doesn’t require expensive tools or anyone else’s permission. It is truly an independent path. Now with indie publishing, that is even more the case. Years ago anyone who wanted to could finish a novel but few would be published. Nowadays, anyone with the desire can finish and publish their book. Of course, that doesn’t guarantee an immediate audience, but perseverance and the readiness to learn new skills will pay off in the long run. Finally, I love the challenge of this field—at least on most days! Being an author is a never-ending process of learning, growing, and pushing myself to become proficient in this rich and evolving craft.

How have libraries played a role in your indie author journey?

Libraries were a huge part of my life growing up. My mom, dad, sister, and I went at least once per month, often more. Each time, I’d stumble out with an enormous stash of books almost too heavy to carry and somehow read them all. As an adult, libraries have been a key support and influence on my indie author journey. My Mermaid Curse series (of which Alabaster Island belongs), came to life at the Brooklyn Public Library. I often go to local libraries to write. The vibe—quieter than a cafe but livelier than home—boosts my creativity. If I get stuck on a section, I wander the book stacks and let serendipitous finds work their magic. Several years ago, during a weekday visit to the Brooklyn Central Branch, I learned about a drop-in writers’ group and decided to attend. The first exercise involved free writing—where you write with no goal in mind. That day, I’d started working on a thriller about a group of twenty-somethings stuck on a boat. The writing group leader suggested we free-write from the perspective of a character. First, I tried the main character from my new project but found him dull. Instead, a distinct voice took over: a sassy, sixteen-year-old girl named Alyx. Her voice felt so strong that I decided to scrap my initial idea. I wrote The Atlantis Twins instead (the novel that inspired Alabaster Island). My adventure at the BPL that day set me on a path to focus on Young Adult fiction.

Do you have any advice for aspiring indie authors?

The mistake I made for many years was waiting for the ideal story to land before starting. Don’t wait for perfect. Just sit down and write. Find a writing group or choose an event like Nanowrimo (National Novel Writing Month) where the goal is to write a novel in thirty days. Short stories are excellent too. Shorter doesn’t mean easier, but it does mean a swifter process from start to finish. Once finished, you can ask yourself: “What worked? What will I do differently next time?” Consider joining one of the many writer groups that exist both on and offline and get feedback from others. Rinse and repeat. Also, don’t forget to visit your local library and peruse the many outstanding books on writing craft and marketing/publishing (a crucial part of being an indie author once that first book is done). Why not plan your own mini-MFA customized to your interests? All the resources needed to launch your indie author journey awaits.

2021 North Carolina Author Project Winners

Adult Fiction Winner // Sharain Hemingway

Sharain Hemingway
All 4 Love
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Sharain Hemingway always had a passion for the written word. As a young girl, she discovered writing as a form of therapy and self-expression and believes it fuels her ability to shift thinking, behavior, and culture in both her personal and professional life. Through poetry, novels, and short-stories, Sharain aims to bridge generational gaps and create lasting ties that bind. A proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, she is an advocate for empowering women, shaping young minds, and encouraging individuals to be the very best version of themselves. As Sharain continues to set the pace, she hopes her imagination and writing style will be sure to Activate Your Inner Desires. Sharain is a native of Myrtle Beach, SC, and a graduate of Winthrop University.

YA Fiction Winner // Emily Colin

Emily Colin
Sword of the Seven Sins
New Hanover County Public Library

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Hi, I’m Emily. I write both adult and YA fiction. My sweet spot? Love stories with supernatural twists.

I’ve been published with the Big Five as well as with a small independent press. My debut novel, THE MEMORY THIEF, was a New York Times bestseller and a Target Emerging Authors Pick. I’m also the author of THE DREAM KEEPER’S DAUGHTER (Ballantine Books). My young adult titles include the anthology WICKED SOUTH: SECRETS AND LIES and the Seven Sins series, both from Blue Crow Publishing, as well as the anthology UNBOUND: STORIES OF TRANSFORMATION, LOVE, AND MONSTERS (Five Points Press).

I grew up in Brooklyn, finished high school in New Zealand, and now live in coastal North Carolina with my family. I’ve worked in the arts for my entire career, even before I was a published author. In college, I interned at several magazines and small presses, and after I graduated, I worked with a Duke University professor to help start her own publishing company. She was a tenured English professor who wrote romance on the side, and wanted to see her books given the treatment they deserved. That was an amazing experience—a crash course in starting a small business and learning about the world of publishing on a grassroots level. I guess you could say it was my very first experience with indie publishing.

From there, I went on to help start Coastal Carolina Press, a nonprofit publishing company dedicated to the history, culture, and stories of the North Carolina coast. I began as the director of marketing (fancy title; I was the only person in the department!) and ended up as the editor in chief. I also launched a nonprofit called Carolina Women’s Partnership, through which we published two books featuring the stories of NC women leaders. I had the incredible good fortune to interview the great Maya Angelou for that project. Through the Partnership, I co-organized a writing workshop series for pregnant and parenting teens, and helped to distribute their finished chapbooks to adolescent parenting programs throughout the state. That experience led me to over a decade of work with DREAMS of Wilmington, a nonprofit focused on providing youth in need with a high-quality, free-of-charge, multidisciplinary arts education.

I’ve done many weird things in my life, all of which have been fodder for my writing. I’ve roamed New York City as an itinerant teenage violinist; organized a Coney Island tattoo and piercing show; indulged my passion for marine mammals at the wonderful Dolphin Research Center in the Florida Keys; written grants for Sesame Street; and won the 2019 Association of Performing Arts Professionals’ Five Minutes to Shine storytelling competition. I’ve done a ton of freelance writing of all kinds, and continue to work as an editor and book coach. Currently, I find joy in teaching classes in YA fiction and romance for The Writers Workshop at Authors Publish.

I’m a cancer survivor, an awkward yogi, a mom, and a foodie. You can find me attempting to do a decent sun salutation, cuddled on the couch with a book, or getting dragged down the block by my over-enthusiastic dog, Moo. Visit me at www.emilycolin.com, on IG at @emily_colin, or get a free short story at emilycolinnews.com

Tell us a little bit about your winning book.

Absolutely! SWORD OF THE SEVEN SINS is the first book in my YA romantic dystopian series, The Seven Sins. If you’re a fan of forbidden love, deadly adventure, unexpected twists, a kick-butt heroine, and snarky banter, then this is the book for you.

Here’s the blurb:

One young woman’s fight for survival in a world where love is the ultimate sin…

Raised in the Commonwealth, where citizens live and die by the code of the Seven Sins, Eva Marteinn is sickened by the barbaric punishments the High Priests inflict. She sees the Bellators of Light, the Commonwealth’s executioners, as conscienceless killers.

When she’s Chosen as the first female bellator, Eva is devastated. She turns out to be inordinately gifted at the very role she abhors…no thanks to her dismissive, impossible mentor, Ari Westergaard.

Ari’s indifference conceals a dangerous secret: He’s loved Eva since they were children. When Eva falls for Ari too, she knows they should do anything to avoid each other. Love is forbidden. Lust is a death sentence. But as mentor and apprentice, they’re bound by a blood oath.

When the two uncover a secret that could overturn the Commonwealth, Eva must choose: Turn her back on Ari, and remain loyal to the only home she’s ever known—or risk everything on the slim hope of freedom, and stake her life on the boy she’s come to love.

In addition to this wonderful recognition by the Indie Author Project, SWORD was a 2021 Foreword INDIES Award finalist and was shortlisted for the 2021 Manly Wade Wellman Award for North Carolina Science Fiction and Fantasy.

The second book in the series, SIEGE OF THE SEVEN SINS, came out in August 2021. There’s also a free prequel novella, SACRIFICE OF THE SEVEN SINS, and a short story collection, SHADOWS OF THE SEVEN SINS. The third book in the series comes out next summer. (Don’t ask me why I let my editor talk me into this alliterative quagmire. Try saying any of my book titles three times fast…)

What made you want to be an author?

As long as I can remember, I’ve written. I still have my very first illustrated short story, entitled “Bloddy Monster” (at age six, apparently spelling wasn’t my strong point). I wrote poems, more short stories, and in fourth grade, became notorious for a novella written in the spirit of Judy Blume’s Forever. The latter was entitled Page 17, because the racy scene took place on—you guessed it—the seventeenth page of the book. My fellow fourth-graders passed that handwritten gem around the classroom, reading it beneath their desks and inside their Trapper Keepers. They read it in the bathroom and the playground, always hiding it when a teacher came by. In retrospect, Page 17 was my first foray into the world of kissing and banter that I still happily inhabit today.

All through elementary, middle, and high school, I wrote. And then I went to college, took a creative writing seminar, and everything went to you-know-where in a hand basket.

I wasn’t a creative writing major, or even an English major. I was a psychology major, double majoring in media studies. But I’d decided to take this one writing seminar, because a couple of my friends had taken it, and they’d really liked it. (In retrospect, the fact that one of these friends had written a short story from the perspective of a light bulb, which the professor adored, should have been a red flag that these folks were way too literary for me. But I was naïve, and blissfully unaware, and so I sallied forth…straight into Dante’s Inferno.)

I’d gone to a New York City public high school, where we were taught that good writing was good writing, whether it was to be found in a supermarket paperback or in a literary classic. I had not gotten the memo that perhaps this viewpoint wasn’t widely acceptable. So, on the first day of class, when the professor asked us to share who our favorite authors were, I made the mistake of saying, “Anne Rice.”

The moment those two syllables left my mouth, a terrible silence fell. The other students sitting around the table looked as if they’d like nothing more than to sink beneath it. And my professor, who viewed a so-called genre author like Anne Rice as a half-step above pulp fiction, mocked me mercilessly for the rest of the semester. Every time anyone wrote anything that he saw as remotely (heaven forfend) popular, he’d turn to me and say, in awful tones, “So, what do you think … Anne Rice?”

Needless to say, by the end of the semester, I was thoroughly demoralized. I decided that clearly I didn’t have what it took to become an author, but I still wanted to work with books somehow, so I decided I’d become an editor instead. If I wasn’t meant to be a writer, then perhaps I could help others fulfill their dreams.

Ten years passed in this fashion, until I found myself sitting around a table at DREAMS, leading a teaching artist meeting. If you’ve ever tried to organize artists, you might recognize that it’s somewhat like herding kittens—entertaining, but essentially impossible. One of the artists turned to me and said, “I’m so sorry. As an arts administrator, you must find dealing with artists like us so infuriating.”

If I’d been a cartoon character, a lightbulb would’ve gone off above my head. I realized then that everyone around me knew me only as a fundraiser, strategic planner, and grant writer. They had no idea that I’d spent the first eighteen years of my life writing stories and playing music every chance I got. I resolved then and there to write a novel…and the rest, as they say, is history.

How have libraries played a role in your indie author journey?

There’s a line in THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE, by Audrey Niffenegger, about how one of the main characters envisions a library as a beautiful, unopened box of books. I’ve always loved that line, because it’s exactly how I feel.

When I was in third grade, my teacher would take our class to the library. I was the kid who checked out as many books as they allowed us, and I was tiny, so basically all you saw was a gigantic, wobbly stack of novels, somehow being propelled forward by a little child whose entire body consisted of a pair of skinny legs and some feet.

Honestly? Other than the skinny part, I haven’t changed that much.

To me, libraries are magical places. I can’t believe they’re just there, waiting for people to walk in and discover the books on their shelves. The inspiration for THE MEMORY THIEF came to me in a library. Librarians are such fabulous partners for community events; along with an international group of my co-authors, I just participated in a wonderful library event last week for our anthology, UNBOUND. As an indie author, having the ability to make my books—both hard copy and electronic—available to library patrons is a dream come true.

Do you have any advice for aspiring indie authors?

Be willing to learn, and seek out resources. I adore podcasts—it’s easy to listen to them while you’re going for a walk, doing dishes, or folding the laundry—and there are some great ones out there for indie authors. Some of my favorites are The Creative Penn, The Six Figure Author, Novel Marketing Podcast, Self-Publishing Advice Podcast, and The Self Publishing Show. I’m also a big fan of Facebook groups like Wide for the Win and 20Booksto50K, as well as genre-specific groups. Those groups are a fount of information and their members are, by and large, extremely helpful.

I’ve found tools like Book Brush and Canva to be fantastic for someone like me, who has a decent eye but no formal design experience. Sites like Pixabay are excellent for downloading free images, and the paid images and video clips available through Canva can be very useful for making book trailers or novel aesthetics.

Keep an eye out for virtual conferences—many of them are free, pay-what-you-can, or low-cost, and they’re packed full of resources for indie authors. 20Booksto50K just had their conference in Las Vegas, and they made the majority of the sessions available virtually for free (or pay-what-you-can) for group members who registered. ProWritingAid Academy sometimes offers free virtual classes as well. InkersCon is another fabulous (though a bit pricey) conference, and founder Alessandra Torres offers free seminars from time to time if you sign up for her mailing list.

I’m also a big fan of Jane Friedman. Both her blog (which, of course, is free to subscribe to) and her Hot Sheet (a paid subscription) are packed full of useful resources for writers. She also offers virtual classes, which she lists on her website and in her newsletter. Ashleigh Renard and Allison K. Williams’ biweekly Writers’ Bridge virtual chat is a wonderful opportunity to gain community and participate in focused discussions on topics that are of specific interest to you.

It should go without saying, but get to know your local librarians and the folks at your local independent bookseller. Develop relationships with them and support them well before your book comes out—and between releases—so you’re not showing up on their doorsteps, book in hand, as a stranger.

Educate yourself about what it means to go ‘wide’ as an author (as compared to just having your books available in Kindle Unlimited), so you make sure that you’re creating a business model that works for you and your goals. Resources like Draft2Digital, as well as universal links available through Books2Read, can be incredibly useful—but do your research and discover which platforms it’s more cost-effective to approach directly, versus utilizing a distributor.

Speaking of goals—set them. Is your focus on sales and making money? You might want to consider a rapid release schedule, if that’s something that works for you as a writer. Are you writing a series, and eager to get your name out there? You might want to make the first book free, to increase sell-through to the others. Whatever your personal goals are for your writing (which may change from year to year) make sure that the strategy you’re adopting is in line with those goals.

Last but hardly least—when you’re self-publishing or publishing your books with a small independent press, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by everything that’s involved. Most indie authors—even the experienced ones—feel this way from time to time. My best advice is to remember why you got into indie publishing in the first place. Make sure that, even as you’re educating yourself about marketing, sales, and distribution, you’re leaving time for doing what you love most—writing, and sharing your stories with the world.

2021 Ohio Author Project Winners

Adult Fiction Winner // Bharat Krishnan

Bharat Krishnan
Privilege
Columbus Metropolitan Library

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I worked in politics for the first ten years of my professional career. That experience working as a campaign manager across a dozen states really influenced my journey as a storyteller.

Tell us a little bit about your winning book.

At its core, Privilege is an exploration of racism as magic. A group of Indian-Americans who are childhood friends steal this magical drug conceptualized as white privilege in modern-day NYC. I pitch it as Ocean’s 11 meets House of Cards. There’s a touching LGBT love story, a gripping presidential campaign with larger than life characters, and some fight scenes inspired by Fonda Lee’s Green Bone Saga.

What made you want to be an author?

I’ve wanted to be an author since I was 11 and read The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. Drawing that kind of emotion from a stranger in so few pages, that’s special. The ability to touch the human soul and leave your mark in such an enduring way is something I hoped to achieve through my writing.

How have libraries played a role in your indie author journey?

I started doing library outreach this year in earnest and was thrilled when my local library agreed to carry some of my works. Libraries are temples of knowledge that need to be revered and I think it’s important all indie authors recognize the tremendous opportunity they have to improve their marketing through the use of libraries.

Do you have any advice for aspiring indie authors?

I’ve been in the indie author space for about five years now, and I think something that’s really helped me thrive in this space is allowing myself to take advantage of some of the things offered to indie authors over trad authors. What I mean by that is that I genre hop, my manuscript lengths vary, I’m not afraid to exercise the freedom that comes with being an indie author. I think a lot of indie authors initially get into the space because they didn’t get the results they were hoping for in the trad space, but it’s two very different paths and neither is better than the other one, but if you want to go indie then don’t be afraid to go indie all the way. Commit to the pros and cons.

YA Fiction Winner // Karin Biggs

Karin Biggs
The King’s 100
Worthington Libraries

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Hello! My name is Karin and I’m a stay-at-home mom. I have a degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management from Purdue University and I currently reside in Worthington, Ohio with my husband, daughter, son, cat, and dog. I love chocolate covered peanuts, singing, and uninterrupted sleep.

Tell us a little bit about your winning book.

My debut, The King’s 100, is a young adult novel that follows the story of a princess from a STEM-centric dystopian kingdom, who poses as a singer for the enemy king’s royal court of performers in hopes of uncovering the truth behind the whereabouts of her supposed deceased mother. It’s a fun fish-out-of-water tale, full of swoon-worthy characters, glittering gowns, romance and mystery.

What made you want to be an author?

I never considered the possibility of becoming an author until I left the events industry to be a full time stay-at-home mom. In what limited ‘free time’ I had with nap schedules and evening hours, I decided to finally write down the story idea that had been floating around in my head for over 5 years.

How have libraries played a role in your indie author journey?

Libraries have played a HUGE role in my indie author journey! Nearly the entirety of The King’s 100 was written at the Old Worthington Library in Worthington, Ohio and I attended numerous writing conferences and workshops at Ohio library branches throughout the state. My proudest moment was seeing my book on the shelf at my local library!

Do you have any advice for aspiring indie authors?

The hardest part about writing a novel is actually putting your butt in a chair and WRITING a novel. Write what you can, wherever you can and whenever you can. Most importantly, don’t give up!

2021 Ontario Author Project Winners

Adult Fiction Winner // Heather Wardell

Heather Wardell
Fiery Girls
Markham Public Library

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I’m a natural 1200-wpm speed reader and the author of twenty-two novels. I started writing in 2005, after careers as a software developer and an elementary school computer teacher, and I don’t think I’ll ever stop. I love getting to talk to readers, both online and when I can in person, and knowing my books have made a difference in their lives is what keeps me going. In my spare time, I read, play drums and clarinet, crochet, and do everything my cat demands of me.

Tell us a little bit about your winning book.

Fiery Girls is a departure for me, as it’s historical fiction and my other books are all set in modern times. I read a lot of historical fiction, though, and I thought I might like doing the research necessary to write one. It turned out I absolutely love research and finding ways to incorporate that research into a novel without it becoming a textbook.

Fiery Girls is about two teenage immigrants, Rosie and Maria, who become friends during 1909’s “Uprising of the 20,000” garment workers’ strike, and are working at the Triangle Waist Company on March 25, 1911 when a discarded cigarette sets the factory ablaze. Though it’s obviously sad in parts due to the fire and the 146 lives lost in it, I also did my best to include fun and hope and uplifting moments, because the young immigrants and their friends were so inspiring as they made new lives for themselves in their new country of America.

What made you want to be an author?

It started on a whim, frankly. My husband went on a six-week business trip in 2005, and I had the idea to spend the time trying to write a novel since I loved reading them so much. By the time he was home, I was hooked. I’ve been writing ever since, and that book is now my free-to-download “Life, Love, and a Polar Bear Tattoo”. What I love about writing is creating characters and placing them in various situations and watching how they react. Sometimes they do what I would do and sometimes they do completely the opposite, and in either case it’s such an amazing experience to create books and have them read.

How have libraries played a role in your indie author journey?

As a speed reader, I go through a lot of books (89 so far this year, a bit behind last year’s total of 126). I do buy indie books as often as I can, because I know indie authors both need and deserve support, but for other books I frequently use my local library’s Overdrive ebook section. It’s great to be able to access nearly everything I want to read from home, and of course during the pandemic it was invaluable. I also did a good part of the research for “Fiery Girls” at the Toronto Reference Library, a lovely space to work in with great resources. I would love to do some presentations or book clubs at libraries, should the opportunity arise!

Do you have any advice for aspiring indie authors?

1. Persevere. When you can’t do that anymore, take a break, then try again. If you want a career as an author, at whatever level you want it, you have to keep showing up. Every step of writing a book then releasing it is challenging, and there’s no substitute for continuing to make tiny steps forward.
2. Be consistent. You can certainly write different kinds of books (mine include three about a reality tv show and one about coping with your sister being in a coma), but there should be something in all of them that readers can recognize as being you. For me, a “Heather book” includes flawed but driven fully fleshed-out characters with dreams and goals, and at least somewhat true-to-life situations. (Each one also includes the words ‘polar bear’ at least once, in honour of my first book. My most connected readers know this and watch for it as they read.) This lets readers know at least some of what they’ll get when they pick up your work, and if they like what you are consistently doing, they will consistently read your work.
3. Be more about what you can give to your readers than what they can give to you. I see authors demanding their fans promote them in ways the fans don’t find comfortable, and it doesn’t make me want to read those authors. I do ask mine to share the books with friends and family, and they do that, and I feel that’s more than enough. I’m so grateful for their support and their kindness, and I always feel honoured that they are willing to read something I wrote.

YA Fiction Winner // Michael F. Stewart

Michael F. Stewart
The Momentous Expiration of Tremmy Sinclair
Ottawa Public Library

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I am an award-winning author of dozens of books from illustrated chapter books and graphic novels, to young adult, including Heart Sister, Ray Vs the Meaning of Life and, of course, The Momentous Expiration of Tremmy Sinclair. Working for Wasabi Entertainment, I’m one of their writers for Weirdwood Manor Volume 2 and two new interactive projects. My young adult novels have been twice nominated for the Ottawa Book Award, nominated for the Snow Willow, named Best Books of the Year by Kirkus Reviews, won the Booklife Grand Prize, and been named to the Canadian Children’s Center Best Books for Kids and Teens lists. I am currently enrolled in the MFA Writing for Children and Young Adults at the Vermont College of Fine Art.

Tell us a little bit about your winning book.

The philosopher Heidegger once said that to understand how to live we should spend more time in graveyards.

I’ve written my obituary a few times. I admit, doing so feels creepy. Like I’m tempting death. I haven’t always liked what was in it. But I wasn’t dead yet, so there was hope, there was time to change. That’s what this book is about. The Momentous Expiration of Tremmy Sinclair opens with the line: ‘Obituaries are packs of lies.’

In the novel, set in a surreally privileged boarding school. Tremmy (Tremendous) doesn’t have much time left to change. He’s a jerk. His friends are jerks. And he’s actively dying. There’s a lot to be done and very little time to do it.

What made you want to be an author?

I can’t remember wanting to be anything else. I’ve had many other jobs, but it’s always been books and stories that have engaged me and drawn me back. I’ve always wanted to create heroes for another generation of readers, to give them that same feeling of being unable to turn off the light at night.

How have libraries played a role in your indie author journey?

Food, shelter, inspiration. Seriously, books to feed the mind, a place of peace, safety, and guidance. Libraries are portals to other worlds but also for ideas. On the Internet you go down a rabbit hole and you come up an hour later with little to show for your time. Walk into a library and a little bolt of energy shoots through you. One of my favorite things is to roam stacks just picking and choosing books of interest, reading pieces of them here and there and using them as story constraints. I always come away with something. And there’s nothing quite so inspiring as writing amongst books while people are browsing for books. It’s a community and a place of shared values. I’ve run a writers group out of our local branch for years. The library has been very generous with its time and space and knowledge, and incorporating my books into their catalogues has meant the world to me.

Do you have any advice for aspiring indie authors?

Connect. Be generous with your time. Keep writing. Keep reading (a lot and everything). Put your work out there because you’ll be rewarded in ways you never expected.

2021 Texas Author Project Winners

Adult Fiction Winner // Meg Lelvis

Meg Lelvis
Back of the Yard
Houston Public Library

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I grew up in northern Minnesota, and recently moved from Houston to Orlando to be near family, where we’re enjoying our new house and city.

Tell us a little bit about your winning book.

As a former English and psychology teacher, I began writing short stories and poems before diving into my first novel. My winning novel, Back of the Yard, was inspired by my interest in the Depression Era, along with my enjoyment and familiarity with Chicago. My main character, Betty O’Leary, grows up near the old Union Stockyards, of Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle neighborhood. Mainly, I wanted to show how grief and mental illness can affect an entire family, struggling and ultimately healing through the power of compassion. I wanted to set the story against the backdrop of a cultural and changing America from the 1930s through mid-century.

What made you want to be an author?

I’ve always loved books and writing journals for many years, along with admiring authors and literature from my classroom teaching. Once I began creating characters and stories myself, I finally found my passion at a not-so-young age!

How have libraries played a role in your indie author journey?

Several library branches in Houston were a source of excellent staff support and encouragement for obtaining our books on the shelves, along with offering meeting rooms for our writing critique groups, an essential part of my writing journey.

Do you have any advice for aspiring indie authors?

Advice I might give new writers: reach out to other writers for ideas and support, find a group or one person to give you honest feedback on your writing, whether one chapter or the entire manuscript. Expect road blocks, bumps, and detours, take a step back, and then return to the road!

YA Fiction Winner // Haleigh Wenger

Haleigh Wenger
A Feeling Like Home
Great Northwest Library

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Haleigh Wenger is a young adult fiction author of two books, The Art of Falling in Love and A Feeling Like Home. She is a freelance writer for a popular fiction app. She is the mother of five cute kids.

Tell us a little bit about your winning book.

A Feeling Like Home is a young adult contemporary novel about 16-year-old Paige, a girl who struggles with Crohn’s disease while also trying to find her place in a big, complicated family.

What made you want to be an author?

I’ve loved reading ever since I can remember. Similarly, I have always had stories in my head. I’ve wanted to put those stories on the page from a very young age.

How have libraries played a role in your indie author journey?

Libraries are where the magic happens! I love to sneak away and write in a corner of my local libraries. It’s so inspiring to be surrounded by shelves of books and the staff who also love books.

Do you have any advice for aspiring indie authors?

Write the story even if you aren’t sure anyone will want to read it. When you write first for yourself your passion shines through and the right readers will find you.

2021 Virginia Author Project Winners

Adult Fiction Winner // Lori Ann Bailey

Lori Ann Bailey
To Have a Highland Thief
Fairfax County Public Library

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I’m an Amazon and Barnes & Noble best-selling author and winner of the National Readers’ Choice Award and Holt Medallion for Best First Book and Best Historical. I write hunky highland heroes and strong-willed independent lasses finding their perfect matches in the Highlands of historic Scotland. I’ve served on Romance Writers of America committees on the national and local levels and have been translated into Japanese. I have five books that have been published by a small press publisher and four books, one novella, and one short story that I’ve self-published. I’ve recently branched into narrative historical fiction by writing a historical fiction/true crime manuscript that is yet to be published and I’m working on a World War II Holocaust novel. So basically, I love anything that requires opening a book and researching a new time period. When not writing or reading, I enjoy time with my real-life hero and four kids or spending time walking or drinking wine with friends.

Tell us a little bit about your winning book.

The Wicked Highland Misfits series began when I decided to write about unconventional heroes and heroines that needed to redeem themselves. The first character that came to life in my mind was a female pickpocket who was stealing from an earl who had just won back his family’s fortune in a game of chance. I loved writing the instant conflict between them and the back-and-forth banter they shared.

What made you want to be an author?

Insomnia. As far back as I can remember, I’ve always told myself stories to try to sleep at night, I just hadn’t put together that I could share those tales with other people. When I moved into my current neighborhood, I joined two different book clubs so that I could meet other moms in the area. I picked up that first book, started reading, and was hooked. One sleepless night in my mid-thirties, the pieces just fell into place and I realized that I needed to write out the scenes that played over and over again in my head. Since then, I haven’t been able to stop. Theses stories are part of who I am and I feel like I grow along with my characters.

How have libraries played a role in your indie author journey?

Libraries give us the tools to apply our trade. From the Fairfax County Library, I’ve checked out books on craft, on the time periods I’ve researched, and I’ve attended workshops and talks hosted by the nearby branches. I’ve been on author panels in the Loudoun County and Fairfax County systems and I always learn something new from the other authors in attendance. During my time as program coordinator with RWA, I organized workshops at the Arlington Public Library.

One of my favorite ways to kick my focus into gear is to head to the quiet room of my local library. Once, there, I know my time is all about writing and I’m not distracted by things at home. I also truly enjoy checking out audiobooks from my library, because we need to continue reading and hearing stories to refill our creative wells.

I’m fortunate that I live close to the Library of Congress and have my reader/researcher card. The setting is inspirational and the scope of their collection is beyond comprehension. Whether it’s sitting in the breathtaking red-orange marbled and columned circular Main Reading Room, taking a tour and learning about the building’s history, standing in the Map Room and holding a map of Edinburgh, Scotland from 1827, or sifting through a box of Civil War diaries in the Manuscript Room, you will find something there you didn’t know you needed. If you ever have the chance to go, do it!

Do you have any advice for aspiring indie authors?

There are so many factors that make a successful writing career, but the first thing you have to do is protect your writing time and get words on the page. Don’t be worried if it’s not perfect or your story falls flat at the beginning. We all have doubts and bad words are easier to fix than a blank page. No first draft is ever perfect.

Find your writing community. Being an author isn’t easy and you will need the support. Reach out to your local libraries to see if there are writing groups in your area, check for conferences in your genre, participate in NaNoWriMo and the meetups provided by the liaisons.

Never stop learning the craft. Even if you’ve heard a talk before, you don’t know when a new idea will strike or you’ll figure out what that missing piece in your plot is. If you can’t make it to workshops, check out books from your library – there are so many great ones to learn from. Or listen to an audiobook or podcast on writing. Like any job, you have to put in the effort to improve your skills.

YA Fiction Winner // Sarah Newland

Sarah Newland
Extant
Suffolk Public Library System

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Growing up in Virginia offers a little bit of everything. I’ve picked apples in Charlottesville, searched for dolphins in the Chesapeake Bay, skied in Harrisonburg, and lived out my undergraduate days at Christopher Newport University in Newport News. I recently sprouted roots with my husband in Hampton Roads, where I pursue both my passion for writing and animal care.

As a licensed veterinary technician I help educate pet owners on their furry, scaled, and feathered friends, and spend tons of time peering through the microscope into the tiny world that exists within our own. I am working towards a specialty in clinical pathology that I hope to put to use furthering conservation efforts around the globe. Pursuing two careers is a balancing act, however I love how my work as an LVT and as an author connect me with the community.

Outside of writing and tech life, the husband and I have three glorious cats, one vibrant toad, and an insatiable appetite for travel.

Tell us a little bit about your winning book.

Extant follows five Virginia teens who, after the disappearance of their parents, are left to uncover the origin of their newfound powers and unravel the secrets of their past. When trust isn’t an option and nowhere is safe, they rely on each other to find their truth. A fast-paced adventure grounded in the difficult transition into adulthood, Extant exposes the fallible reality of parents and loved ones, forcing Natalie Morrigan and her friends to question everything.

Extant is the first installment in The Coelacanth Project trilogy. The sequel, Chymist, is available now wherever books are sold, and the conclusion, Regent, will be released summer of 2022.

A primarily ocean-based story, Extant was largely inspired by boating trips on the Chesapeake Bay with my father and family, and features local landmarks including the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, the Eastern Shore, and Norfolk Naval Station. Growing up nearby, I wanted to peel back the curtain of what I’d grown to know as familiar. I want my readers to look at what is and imagine what is possible.

What made you want to be an author?

I grew up with my nose in a book. I would read before school and at dinner, and in the car by the precious seconds of passing streetlights. I always knew I wanted to write stories, to craft my own magic from ink, yet I struggled to find my feet in this world and it wasn’t until I earned my veterinary technician license that I could really focus on a story of my own.

Watching my younger siblings experiencing the same uncertainty I did as they enter adulthood, it makes sense why the young adult genre remains relatable regardless of age. I want my stories to help emerging adults see potential in the impossible, to assure them we are all flawed, and that if you don’t know where you’re going in life, that’s okay. None of us do. As an author I want to empower the youth to step boldly into the world, confident to question and eager to learn.

How have libraries played a role in your indie author journey?

My childhood library was a safe-haven. I remember my grade-school librarians keeping track as I scoured through title after title, out of one world and into the next. It was a sanctuary during times of change. No matter the school, the library worked the same. No matter what was going on at home, or between friends or family members, the library worked the same. The shelves got taller, and the books thicker, but the comfort remained.

As an author, libraries evolved from a safe-haven into a community. Librarians are as endowed with knowledge as the books they keep, and they help you push boundaries, connecting you with other writers and readers. My local librarians have not only offered Extant a home on their shelves, but also pointed me to opportunities like the Indie Author Project that I would not have found without them. Libraries are the very soul of a community, an equalizing force with unlimited access to knowledge, and I’m eternally grateful to have their support.

Do you have any advice for aspiring indie authors?

The best advice I can give is to find your writing community. While it ultimately comes down to sitting at your notebook or laptop and putting imagination to ink, writing is not a solo sport. There are days you write four thousand words and there are days you don’t write any. And while many will suggest rituals and software and classes, to me the most important thing is having support to fall back on. To cheer on other writers and to have them cheering for you is indescribable. So reach out and introduce yourself, there is an entire community waiting for you.

2021 West Virginia Author Project Winner

Winner // Timothy G. Huguenin

Timothy G. Huguenin
When the Watcher Shakes
Five Rivers Public Library

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Having been raised in West Virginia, I feel a deep love and connection to this beautiful, complicated state. These dark, mysterious hills and their people have been a major influence on my writing. It has always been important to me to convey an authentic sense of place to my readers, even when the locations I’m describing are fictional. Almost all of my fiction is set in West Virginia.

Tell us a little bit about your winning book.

When the Watcher Shakes was my first novel. It is about a pseudo-Christian cult hidden in the mountains, and it has a lot to do with my own experiences seeing men turn faith into a tool whereby they would exert power over others, rather than a freeing pathway to a relationship with God. Though I wrote the book in part to work out some of my own issues with religion, I really tried to tell a suspenseful and compelling story that anyone can enjoy.

What made you want to be an author?

Books have always been a major part of my life. I am lucky enough to have been raised in a household of readers, a bit before this era of ubiquitous internet connectivity and handheld devices, which we’re now all addicted to. I have wanted to write almost as early as I started to read. I guess I loved books so much that I wasn’t satisfied with just reading others’ stories; I wanted to make up my own.

How have libraries played a role in your indie author journey?

As kids, my sisters and I always looked forward to going to the library and bringing home big stacks of books. As I mentioned before, our voracious appetites for reading were instrumental in my desire to write. When I decided to get more serious about writing as an adult, I found books on writing at my local library (I was living in Beckley, WV, at the time) and joined the writing group there, where I found a lot of encouragement and community. Libraries are a great place to write, too. I have written a large bulk of my words while hidden away in some quiet corner of a library.

Do you have any advice for aspiring indie authors?

Read a lot, write a lot, and make friends with other writers. Keep working hard. And support your local library!

2021 Alberta Author Project Winner

Katie Bickell Always Brave, Sometimes Kind Strathcona County Library

2021 California Author Project Winners

Mary Smathers In This Land of Plenty Harrison Memorial Library

2021 Colorado Author Project Winners

C.G. Harris The Nine Poudre River Public Library District

2021 Connecticut Author Project Winners

Barbara Anne King The Apple King Weston Public Library

2021 Florida Author Project Winners

Marc Curtis Little The Bootlegger’s Mistress Jacksonville Public Library

2021 Illinois Author Project Winners

India Powers Demon’s Bane Gail Borden Public Library District

2021 Louisiana Author Project Winners

A. Lonergan Take Me Livingston Parish Library

2021 Minnesota Author Project Winners

Margaret Standafer I Know an Old Lady Carver County Library

2021 Missouri Author Project Winners

Angie Fox Southern Spirits St. Louis County Library

2021 New York Author Project Winners

Erin McRae & Racheline Maltese Ink and Ice Brooklyn Public Library

2021 North Carolina Author Project Winners

Sharain Hemingway All 4 Love Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

2021 Ohio Author Project Winners

Bharat Krishnan Privilege Columbus Metropolitan Library

2021 Ontario Author Project Winners

Heather Wardell Fiery Girls Markham Public Library

2021 Texas Author Project Winners

Meg Lelvis Back of the Yard Houston Public Library

2021 Virginia Author Project Winners

Lori Ann Bailey To Have a Highland Thief Fairfax County Public Library

2021 West Virginia Author Project Winner

Timothy G. Huguenin When the Watcher Shakes Five Rivers Public Library

Katie Bickell
Always Brave, Sometimes Kind
Strathcona County Library

Mary Smathers
In This Land of Plenty
Harrison Memorial Library

C.G. Harris
The Nine
Poudre River Public Library District

Barbara Anne King
The Apple King
Weston Public Library

Marc Curtis Little
The Bootlegger’s Mistress
Jacksonville Public Library

India Powers
Demon’s Bane
Gail Borden Public Library District

A. Lonergan
Take Me
Livingston Parish Library

Margaret Standafer
I Know an Old Lady
Carver County Library

Angie Fox
Southern Spirits
St. Louis County Library

Erin McRae & Racheline Maltese
Ink and Ice
Brooklyn Public Library

Sharain Hemingway
All 4 Love
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

Bharat Krishnan
Privilege
Columbus Metropolitan Library

Heather Wardell
Fiery Girls
Markham Public Library

Meg Lelvis
Back of the Yard
Houston Public Library

Lori Ann Bailey
To Have a Highland Thief
Fairfax County Public Library

Timothy G. Huguenin
When the Watcher Shakes
Five Rivers Public Library