Author interview with Janice Coy

Janice is another author that I met through social media. She has a great Instagram page, and I urge you to go and look.  

What’s your favourite part of the indie publishing process, and why?

I love that I can choose my own stories, and publishing timelines. I feel no pressure to publish more than I want. I spend a significant amount of time writing each book, so it’s important I feel passionate about my stories and my characters. I’m happy I can write books that showcase themes that interest me. Themes readers can find in my books are justice, freedom, success, truth telling, friendship boundaries, contentment, and choosing how to die. When I first started out, I had no idea I would write and publish seven books with such varying topics and settings.

What’s one piece of advice you wish you’d received when you first started as an indie author?

Trust your own story; understand that there is no magic bullet to marketing your finished work. This might seem like two pieces of advice, but they are inexorably intertwined! So many urge you to follow the latest story trend, promising it will lead to success. Still others insist you must do XYZ to market your book. It’s been a long winding road with lots of bumps and challenges for me, but I have learned to write my best story as any professional would do, then believe in it enough to confidently share it with others. I’ve had to discover through trial and error about which marketing format works best for me.

What’s the most rewarding moment you’ve experienced as an indie author so far?

My friends and family ask when my next book is coming out! They are not running away from me. I also love reading positive reviews of my stories. It’s so rewarding when readers mention different aspects of my novel that stood out to them; sometimes they notice something I wasn’t even aware I had put in my story.

How do you handle negative reviews or criticism of your books?

When I first started my indie author journey, a critical review could really knock me down even if there were more positive reviews than that one negative one. I’ve since come to realize that it’s a long-standing flaw in my character that leads me to focus on the negative rather than the positive, so I simply do not read critical reader reviews. Not everyone will like my stories just as I do not enjoy all stories either. Now, I figure those negative reviews demonstrate that all the positive reviews are not just from family and friends! I am open to constructive critique during my writing process from those I trust. Admittedly, because of my character flaw, this was initially a challenge for me; constructive feedback is a necessity in improving a story.

Can you recommend some other indie authors that you enjoy reading?

Absolutely! There are too many to name here, so I would simply suggest checking out my Instagram page where I typically feature indie authors on most Fridays. Nowadays, I read just as many indie authors as those that are traditionally published.

What is next for you?

My novels are contemporary fiction, but I have caught the historical fiction bug!  My newest release (coming soon) California Gold is historical fiction set in Northern California during the 1960s. I’m musing about a fictional memoir tracing the lives of women in my family starting with my grandmothers.

For more information and to find Janice's books, follow this link https://linktr.ee/janicecoy