My First Year as an Indie (Lessons Learned)

/ Janna Hill / Leave a comment

A blast from the past. March of 2013

Part I

Can you believe I have a solid year behind me in this adventure as an independent author/publisher?

My how time flies when you’re having fun.

So what have I learned other than how to type while holding fried chicken in one hand and a biscuit in the other?

Who doesn’t love fried chicken and a biscuit?

A lot!

Do I have any advice for beginners?

Oh yes! Indeed I do and my first pearl of wisdom is this: cut the biscuit in half, strip the chicken and make a sandwich. It will be much easier to handle.

I would also suggest turning the keyboard over and gently shaking the crumbs loose verses picking between the keys. That tip will save you time and keep your proofreader from returning your manuscript un-proofed with a note that says Get back to me when you’re sober!

I don’t have any real pearls but if you’re interested I’ll be happy to share a handful of pebbles and opinions.

#1 Support: Get some! No man is an island. Editing, proofreading and polishing don’t necessarily mean stripping away your authenticity.

Surround yourself with people you can trust, people who are willing to encourage you, offer constructive criticism and be brutally honest when necessary.

If your book is your baby, prepare it to face the world and get that baby some child support.

Lesson: Keep it real even in fiction. Find people you can trust (paid or voluntary) and listen to them.

#2 Reviews: Good reviews are fabulous but they don’t guarantee massive sales. On the other hand bad reviews definitely hurt sales.

You may cry. You may get furious. But do not respond!!

Responding to bad reviews and personal insults is a no-no.

Lighten up, insults can be funny. Learn from the constructive ones and laugh at the assholish ones.

Yes, I just made assholish a real word.

Not everyone likes spaghetti so what makes you think everyone will like what you dish out?

Lesson: There will be haters. Get used to it.

#3 Social Media: I firmly believe in building an online presence and interacting. I said in- ter-act-ing.

That means relating to people,not only networking and connecting but talking and occasionally having a conversation.

I tend to avoid a couple of the most popular media sites for that very reason.

How do you respond to “Buy my book! My book’s on sale!”

You say something like “I see you’re from Manhattan. How is the weather there?”

And they respond with “Here’s a link to Amazon. Be sure to leave a review.”

Yeah. I’m not talking to them anymore. Neither is a lot of other people.

Lesson: In-ter-act.

I like blogging. I’m not sure how many book sales it has garnered (if any) but I enjoy it.

It’s like bloggers are… wow, I don’t know… like they are real human beings or something.

Lesson: Blog away. Blogging has zero calories and you meet great people from all over the world. It’s an inexpensive means of travel and sometimes you find the inspiration needed for your next story.

While we are on the topic of blogging allow me to weave in an experience related to marketing.

I recently consulted with a couple of PR firms who shall remain nameless. One suggested I buy their book (argh). Um, no. I am looking for someone to create “the buzz” for me — just do it okay?!

The only buzz I am motivated to create comes in the aftermath of consuming liquor.

The second person (much more helpful) looked at my social media sites and informed me I was not promoting myself enough. The conversation went like this: “You’re just there” she explained while politely pointing out I was not utilizing said media properly. “I’m sorry but one more ‘buy my book-my book’s on sale’ and I may rip the arm off of this chair. I can’t do it, that’s why I contacted you special magic guru lady.”

She may be a lovely little witch, but she is not a special guru lady.

“It’s not that easy anymore. What about your blogger account?” She was scanning search results as we spoke, “Do you have one?”

“Well sure. I posted something about 2013 releases but I’m more comfortable at WordPress.”

“Let me see what you are doing on WordPress…  It seems your focus is on photography and just hanging out?”

“Yeah, it’s like a bar/library/art gallery, cool huh? Except they don’t serve drinks. It’s  BYOB.”

“That’s fine but you need to squeeze in a pitch directing readers to buy your books.”

“I have a website listing most published works. Just google Janna Hill and you’ll find me.”

“That’s not enough. You’re going to have to get more involved in promoting yourself. You have to get out of your comfort zone.”

“Oops my macaroni is burning. I’ll have to get back to you.”

Lesson: Even for a fee no one will do it all for you. I need to “get out of my comfort zone.”  

Maybe I will but if I ever respond to a greeting with “Buy my book. Leave me a review” somebody shoot me please.

*BYOB: bring your own bottle could now mean bring your own book.

Growing Old Together — The Golden Years

/ Janna Hill / Leave a comment

I think when we said, “ let’s grow old together” we didn’t fully understand what that meant.

The upheavals and obstacles from carelessness and life’s dirty little tricks.

The changes in our bodies, our minds and the world around us.

The rare but dark times when we tried to tear each other apart — something unseen, kept pulling us together.

So this is the golden years…

Our bodies are definitely of a cheaper alloy, showing rust and decay. But the love and the precious memories we have made together… they shine golden.

How I Spend My Days ( Just Stopping By To Say Hello)

/ Janna Hill / Leave a comment

So… a lot of my days are spent potting instead of plotting.

But as long as something is growing, I’m happy.

Most mornings I’m out in the greenhouse in my pajamas; yes, in my pajamas because there’s no one looking other than the birds and the insects.

There is an occasional squirrel, and the dogs. There is always the cat — sometimes cats plural.

And these pajamas are comfortable, that’s important at this stage of life— or at least it is to me.

I hope you’re growing something. Plants, family, the creative work, your mind.

Write This Down (Stoned & Poetic)

/ Janna Hill / Leave a comment
The poem is circa 2017 written while under the influence of cannabis, the photo is current.

(Stoned & Poetic)

He lives in a shack

with a dog and a cat

The shack is out back

by his mama’s house

In the house there’s a couch,

I think he has a wife and a mouse

And they are all full of crack,

except the dog and the cat.

Do these crackers make me look fat?

…

*THIS IS WHY SOME PEOPLE should not get high and say “write this down. ” You old hippie, you know who you are.

Poem published in Getting Me Back ( The Voices Within)

Hello (I Do Not Love You)

/ Janna Hill / Leave a comment

I took this photo last night. It’s not the best photo of a starry sky but not too shabby for an iPhone either.

Well we mixed things up a little bit this year. We are skipping Christmas celebrations entirely and roadtripping instead.

There are a few that will miss having the traditional country Christmas at the Hill house and I regret that. But, our friend/family unit is large so I know they will still have a happy Christmas; at least I pray they do.

As for myself I need this for a number of reasons. I think it will be good for the hubby too.

You know it is not healthy to stew in your own miseries. God did not intend for us to be unhappy but… somehow we find misery. Misery might not even have us on her radar but we’ll jump up, waving like a fool yelling, “Yo, misery, here I am. You forgot about me.” Yep, we are a sottish lot!

So now, my spirit and my flesh feel distressed along the hatefulness of winter approaching…. I don’t love it. It worsens the feeling of despair.

The harshness. The coldness. The dying of everything around me…

Misery and Winter are soul sisters and all I have to say to either of them is, “I do not love you. Either of you! So f*<k off!!”

Sooo, instead of stewing in all the woes I cannot fix I talked to God, said my prayers and then… I said fuck it.

I know that word offends some people- it use to offend me too. Now…

I say it a lot. Fuck it.

Thank God my mother cannot hear me.

Ahhh. With all of that out of the way let me share a bit of poetry that has become a tradition for the winter solstice.

Torn from the pages of GettingMe Back (The Voices Within) my poetic biography in a sense
Ther latest cover

Keep an eye out for misery and do not invite her in. Guard your hearts, keep them warm my friends. Brighter days await.

The Pilgrims Prayer (Another Speech Another …)

/ Janna Hill / Leave a comment

Welp, it’s another year therefore another speech and another prayer.

Actually, the only thing new is the year and boy did that one fly by.

I’ve been sharing variations of the Pilgrim’sPrayer and a similar speech since … I reckon since the pilgrims sat down with the Indians… or last year.

Ha! I crack me up.

Anywho I’m sure it’s been a couple of decades, maybe more.

So today while my herbs and chicken are boiling, the cornbread is in the oven and I’m resting from all of the chopping and prepping I anticipation of tomorrow’s dinner I thought I would share with you, family and friends, my ponderings and hopes for all of us one more time.

[drumroll]

A Pilgrim’s Prayer

I didn’t really know any of the original Pilgrims but I did see a few John Wayne movies. John knew a pilgrim when he saw one; he seemed to know a lot of pilgrims.

I never actually knew a pilgrim in the sense of an early settler but I suppose that we are all pilgrims. Not a lot of us sailed across the ocean in a ship to arrive here at this moment in time yet, each one of us on a journey of sorts. We are all looking for something. Be it a quest for affirmation or confirmation, for a certain truth, enrichment or a cure; we are all seeking a measure of comfort, or a friend, a lover, a job, a meal or simply a place to lay our weary head at the end of another day.

Life is a journey, a pilgrimage if you will, for each and every one of us, or at least it should be.

I’d hate to think any we are just flailing through this experience killing time on this giant floating gum ball or this massive flat plane, which ever explanation of earth satisfies your mind.

Whatever your preference is we all have one destination, true we may travel many different roads in getting there. 

Hopefully we will choose our roads well.

When we do take a wrong turn [and we will from time to time] I pray that we have enough sense and humility to stop and ask for directions; the sense to know good from evil direction and what directors to trust.

When that room turned presents itself well after the fact, I pray we have the courage to admit we took a wrong turn and learn from it. That may be the best that any person can hope for.

To learn from our mistakes.

So here’s wishing all of you pilgrims a Happy Thanksgiving and may we all, whatever road we’re on, take the time to look ahead, pause and bow our head in thanks.

My personal prayer:
Thank you Father, The Creator of all things, for this day and all it holds. Thank you for the days past and Father forgive me for my wrong turns. Thank you for the day to come and guide me to make better choices. Thank you for all the persons in my life and the ones who read this prayer. And Thank You Father for the beacon that lights my way.
In Jesus name. Amen.