Author Spotlight: David K. Hulegaard

 

If you had a writing motto what would it be?
Keep going. Don't overthink it. Smooth out the rough edges during the editing process.

Where do you draw your inspiration?
A lot of my ideas come from really intense dreams. I keep a notepad on my nightstand, and if I wake up in the middle of the night, sweating and breathing heavy, I immediately reach for it and jot down as much as I can remember. Sometimes my subconscious gives me some great material to work with.

What is one interesting fact about you?
In addition to writing, I'm also a musician. I've been playing guitar for over twenty years, and have several professional recordings under my belt.

Have you learned anything from the self publishing process and would you do anything differently next time?
Absolutely. In today's market, there is a sea of self-published works out there, and getting yours noticed is a lot of hard work. The key to standing out is quality. Pay for professional editing. Pay for a professional cover. It's not cheap, but if you believe in your work, it's totally worth it, and your readers will thank you.

What has been your most successful marketing strategy?
As writers, we're taught to show, not tell. Marketing is the same way. I see many self-published authors spamming social media with heavy-handed "buy me" messages, and today's reader is allergic to that approach. I don't tell readers to buy my book, I show them why they should. I do giveaways, offer free samples, perform live readings over social media, and work with book bloggers. It's an investment, sure, but one I find to be more effective than other tactics I've seen.

What is the best kept secret you have found in regard to indie publishing?
Establish a network of peers within the writing community. In my experience, writers sometimes view other writers as competition, and can be extremely critical. Don't tear people down. Build them up! I believe in supporting each other and offering encouragement as we all take this fascinating journey together. A lot of my peers now have book deals, but we're just as close today as we were in the beginning, and I love that. They still make time to offer me advice, and help me continue to hone my craft.

Visit the author’s website
Read Icarus