Author Spotlight: J.D. Cunegan

 

If you had a writing motto what would it be?
Read and write. The more you do of both, the better you'll be.

Where do you draw your inspiration?
Inspiration strikes me at the strangest and most inopportune times, but it's mostly the desire to give readers the same feeling I get when I'm transfixed in a book or fall in love with a character. I know how it feels to be completely enthralled as a reader, and I want to do everything I can to make sure my readers have that same experience.

What is one interesting fact about you?
I'm a diehard NASCAR fan.

Have you learned anything from the self publishing process and would you do anything differently next time?
Patience is your best friend. You have to be patient enough to go through that manuscript one more time, patient enough to let one more person read your stuff, patient enough to put together a good cover, patient enough to realize it's going to take some time to get your name out -- both before your book is published and after. Nothing in the world of independent publishing is instant; the more you hurry, the less successful you're likely to be.

What has been your most successful marketing strategy?
Word of mouth has been the number one strategy for me, with being listed on mailing lists a close second. Social media-heavy strategies haven't bore much fruit yet, but people telling other people that they enjoyed my work is easily the best way to go.

What is the best kept secret you have found in regard to indie publishing?
The writing itself is often just as good as what comes out of traditional publishing houses -- if not better, because independent authors take more chances and find more creative methods of storytelling.

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