Local writers win publishing awards
their eyes. I knew I had a powerful story to tell. Finally, I felt compelled to write it. It took eight years and it wasn’t until toward the end of the process that I garnered the courage to publish it.
What have you learned about yourself through writing and self-publishing, and do you have tips for others?
Marshall: The spiritual gifts I received from the writing were an unexpected and welcome bonus.
Later, publishing freed me. With my secrets out in the world, I no longer had to hide. My main purpose was that our story would benefit others.
Without a huge platform, it seemed impractical to search for an agent and pursue traditional publishing. I explored hybrid publishing, but it is very expensive. I chose not to deplete my savings. When I met April Wilson (a Dayton-area romance writer), she volunteered her time to help me selfpublish my book. With her help, I was able to release my book in time to take it to a conference designed for researchers and families dealing with the disease in our family.
What was your reaction upon learning of your win?
Marshall: Gratitude that more people who can benefit from reading my story may find it. And as one who did the best I could to write a quality book, the recognition is validating.
What’s next? Marshall: Force Base, which is rumored to have housed the Roswell aliens. I also grew up loving “Star Wars” and “Star Trek.” One day during a particularly long meeting at Wright-Patt, the thought of escaping the world of concrete government buildings, meetings, and paperwork, and flying off into the stars on one of those space opera adventures sounded pretty appealing. When I combined that thought with rumored aliens at Wright-Patt, “The Anuan Legacy” was born.
What have you learned about yourself through writing and self-publishing, and do you have tips for others?
Schafer: The process can be overwhelming, so my first bit of advice to anyone else who decides to go the self-publishing route is to just take it one step at a time. Also, hire out some of the more specialized tasks like cover art and editing, if you need to, and, most importantly, make sure your writing is solid. Take classes, go to conferences and workshops, join writing groups, and take the time you need to do both the writing and the publishing well.
What was your reaction upon learning of your win?
Schafer: I was thrilled! Winning this and other awards is a big validation for me that I did the things I needed to do to make “The Anuan Legacy” an all-around quality book.
What’s next?
Schafer: Book 2 of The Anuan Legacy series is about to go into its second beta read. I hope to have it published in early 2020. In addition, at some point in the future, I plan to expand my publishing company, Inkana Publishing, beyond just my books and start working with other writers to help make their dreams of being published a reality, too. Publishers Weekly. Week ending July 13, powered by NPD Bookscan.