Hello, fellow book lovers!

We’ve made it to April. It’s been a funny few months in the indie author world. The boycott on Amazon and the cancellation of many Kindle Unlimited subscriptions has had a significant impact on many indie authors. Though we understand why people decided to boycott Amazon, unfortunately, it is still the platform through which a vast majority of us sell our books because they provide ISBNs and access to KU, along with many other reasons.

In other news, Introverted Indies ran its first giveaway and has given 20 amazing books out to one lucky winner!

Want to support Indie Authors? Fellow author Leon Stevens is running an Indie April Promo. You can find his website here, which includes a selection of interviews with various authors (including myself!) and links to buy their books most of which are on offer. AVA will be available on a countdown deal at 99p from 5th April as well. Go check it out and find your next favourite author!

Other ways you can support indie authors:

An Interview with Maren Jenner
Author of Wrighting the Wrongs Series

Hello, Maren! Thanks for joining me at Indie Author Insights. Please introduce yourself and tell me about your writing journey.

Hi! I’m a contemporary romance author from Michigan and the Great Lakes are some of my favorite place to be! Nothing like reading or writing on their shores. I’ve been writing since elementary school, took a break after college because of life, then began writing novels in 2018. I’ve written over 20 now, though some need extensive revisions before seeing the light of being published. My dream has always been to become a novelist and my husband has always supported me in this. In 2018, I was able to drop to part-time and focus on that goal. And here I am with four books published and a fifth on the way!

Wow, 20 books is a real achievement. Congratulations. Please tell me more about your books.

My next book is called The Wrong Idea, book 2 in the Wrighting the Wrongs series. Contemporary romance, dual pov. This series follows four brothers - the Wrightings - in their search for a happily ever after. The books are interconnected standalones and can be read individually.

I loved Sebastian the moment I met him. He comes off as aloof and arrogant with his love of knowledge and his socially inept ways, but the more I delved into his character, the deeper I found his personality to go. Sebastian was complicated to write in several ways. He has Type 1 diabetes and is self-conscious of the extra work that creates. On top of that, he’s not neuro-typical. So he hyper-focuses and gets lost in his research to the detriment of his blood sugar. Calliope was also complicated in her own right, but the two are perfect for each other because they both know how it feels to be overlooked.

My favorite part of writing this book is that I was determined to set part of it at Mackinac Island. I definitely needed a refresher trip there for research purposes and I brought one of my best friends with me. The only trigger warnings for this book are an overbearing father and off page death of her mom.

Tropes: Dislike to lovers, boss’s daughter, forced proximity, and found family

When can we expect more books in this series? And are you working on anything else at the moment?

There are two more books for the Wrighting the Wrongs series and once I get those finished, I’ll decide what direction I want to go next. I have several romantasy projects that I want to publish but am not sure which route I want to take for them as of yet.

Ooo very romantasy is popular at the moment! Exciting! Can you tell me a bit about some of the best bits of your writing journey and how you overcame some of the trickier bits?

Holding my first published paperback in my hands was an unforgettable experience, but I think my favorite is being told I’m someone’s favorite author. My readers are amazing and I couldn’t do this without them. They make it all worthwhile. As for lows, whether it be a bad review or a slow month, I keep a file on hand with wonderful things readers have said about my writing - in reviews or DMs - to remind me that my stories matter. Seeing that proof gives me something to buoy me.

Do you have any top tips for other authors?

I think a newsletter is the single most important thing for a writer to have. It gives you a direct connection to your readers and won’t be hidden by some algorithm’s whim. I do a monthly one, giving bonus material as an incentive to sign up. I write a few paragraphs each month about what’s going on in my daily life, what I’ve been working on, and what’s next for me. I also link any events or interviews I’ve had and do a monthly author spotlight!

To grow my newsletter, I make sure to mention it in interviews or on author takeover events. I have a link on my website and linktree. And I’ve collaborated with other authors in giveaways where entrants consent to sign up for my newsletter in exchange for an entry.

Such useful advice. Thanks. If you could go back in time and give yourself any advice what would it be?

I knew so little when I started writing novels in 2018. The market structure had changed so much since I’d been in college. The biggest asset for me has been alpha and beta readers. I’ve not only recorded amazing perspectives on my writing, but I’ve been able to learn what works or doesn’t when giving feedback.

And do you have any other hobbies you like to do when you’re not writing?

Stories are my life. When I’m not writing, I’m reading or watching movies. I collect books and movies like they are my dragon hoard.

I’m with you on the book hoarding. I love books! Lastly, is there anything else you’d like to add?

I wouldn’t be where I am without my amazing support team. My husband and daughter, my parents, my CP Christine Layne, my arc team and my beta readers are especially essential. But there are so many more! People like you, Lydia. who offer interviews, every person who shares my works on social media, and all my readers make my dreams possible. Thank you all so much. 🥰

Thanks, Maren. It’s been an absolute pleasure to chat with you. 

Find out more about Maren Jenner here

Thank you for reading.

Lydia
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