Self-Published Ebook Archives - Writer's Digest https://www.writersdigest.com/wd-competitions/self-published-ebook Wed, 23 Apr 2025 19:00:00 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 Lucy Day: 12th Annual Self-Published E-book Awards Winner https://www.writersdigest.com/lucy-day-12th-annual-self-published-e-book-awards-winner Wed, 23 Apr 2025 19:00:00 +0000 https://www.writersdigest.com/?p=40263&preview=1 Romance author Lucy Day shares why she switched to self-publishing, what her biggest challenge is, and how confidence has played a role in her success.

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]]> A graphic announcing the 12th Annual Self-Published E-book Awards from Writer's Digest. On the left side, there's a graphic with a green mug, a stack of books, and a small ladder next to a digital screen showing a bookshelf. The text "12th Annual Self-Published E-book Awards" is prominently displayed in the center. A gold seal with the text "2024 Writer's Digest Grand Prize Winner Self-Published E-book Awards" is visible. On the right side, a head-and-shoulders shot of a woman with graying hair and a purple shirt is visible. She is smiling gently at the camera.

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Bookshop; Amazon

While Lucy Day has a lot of interesting and surprising things to share about her almost 10 years of self-publishing, at the top of the list might be this: She started her writing career being traditionally published.

“I found with a traditional publisher—this was years ago—that it could take 18 months or more after a manuscript was accepted to actually see it finished, and that’s an eternity,” she says with a laugh. “I really love that with self-publishing, I create my own timetable, and I can generally publish faster than that. The first Lucy Day book was published in September of ’22, and now the fourth one [came] out [in February].”

But it’s not just how quickly she can get the works out to readers that draws her to self-publishing. She says, “It’s empowering to learn all the facets of self-publishing, all those nitty-gritty details, and that it’s possible to do all that—or a lot of it—yourself. And to do it well and publish the same caliber books that traditional presses are doing.”

Along this vein, she says that she “just never really understood that stigma of self-publishing not being as good as traditional. I think there are a ton of amazing books out there that are self-published. And I think we’re lucky that we live in a time where it’s relatively easy to self-publish.

“There are a lot of people out there with a lot of important things to say and amazing stories to tell, and they don’t have the same resources that a lot of other authors have. It’s really hard to find an agent and get in with a traditional house sometimes. Then it can take years to finally get a book in print. It’s a gift to be able to self-publish, and I think there’s a lot of amazing authors out there doing it.”

That pride in quality is what elevated her novel, One Sweet Holiday, to the top of the Writer’s Digest 12th Annual Self-Published E-book Awards. This grand-prize win netted Day a prize package of $5,000, a paid trip to the Writer’s Digest Annual Conference, and more.

While she finds self-publishing rewarding, it comes with challenges. Day says the biggest challenge for her is marketing. “It’s a challenge to gain visibility when you self-publish. … I feel like the landscape in marketing is the thing that is always changing. And I just want to be able to engage with my readers. I find that it’s sometimes hard to do that through social media just because, especially now, it seems like there’s so much noise. It’s really hard to cut through! [laughs] But I would say that that visibility and that engagement is the most challenging thing. … Marketing can take a whole lot of time and, frankly, I’d just rather spend that time writing.”

How does she overcome these challenges? She turns to her community of writers and self-published authors. “A friend of mine and I went into this self-publishing vein together, and she and I had strengths that complimented each other. So, we had learned a lot over the years about editing, formatting—I’m a graphic designer, so the cover design, I felt confident doing myself. … I am fortunate to have a couple of close friends who also work as editors … several of us will trade services essentially. I’m lucky to have a network of people who I can trade those services with. [But] if I didn’t have friends who could help me … that would be really hard to navigate around.”

It was her community that inspired the story of One Sweet Holiday. Although this is the third book of the Jasmine Falls Love Stories series, one of Day’s friends challenged her to write a holiday romance—something she’d never tackled before. She took up the challenge and decided to add in other romance genre elements she loves: someone new comes to a small town to give people a fresh perspective; opposites attract; a female entrepreneur who is finding her path. And she says, “My late mother loved Christmas, everything about it. The more I worked on that story, it just became kind of a love letter to her too.”

We also discussed how community can give writers confidence—and that confidence can be the make-or-break-it of a writer’s career.

“I have this friend and writing coach, Camille Pagán, who’s been a huge influence on me in terms of mindset. And this is something that we talk about together a lot because, you know, now I feel like I can either tell myself that writing’s hard and I can toil, or I can tell myself that writing is easy and it’s going to be fun. Those thoughts directly affect how I feel and how I write. So, it’s a little bit woo, but it’s about the science of mindset. … I choose to have fun when I’m writing. Now it often comes more with ease than it used to, but there are definitely moments where I get stuck, and sometimes, I just need to take a walk, get out of the house and clear my head, let ideas percolate and come back to them later. But ultimately, I just trust the process now. I know some parts are going to be harder to write than others, but I’m confident I’ll get the story where I want it to be in the end.

“It took me a long time to get to that place. I’m not saying it happened overnight. [laughs] But once that confidence started to grow, it’s like, ‘OK, I know how to tell a good story. I can trust myself to shape this the way it needs to be.’”

Part of that confidence is in knowing where your strengths do not lie. Being able to discern this can set a writer up for success. Day says, “I’m always happy to hire people who do the things that are outside of my wheelhouse because I have learned the hard way that it can be not the best use of my time to try to learn too many things or to do things that are really just not in my expertise. [laughs] Book tours, for example. I always hire somebody to handle tours for me because that’s not something that I’m very good at, frankly. And that’s just how I approach it. If I come upon a task I need done that I know I’m not going to do it well enough that I’m happy with it, I’d rather hire somebody who is really good at it and hire the most professional people I can to help.”

When asked what advice she has for other writers, her answer is simple but profound: “Trust your gut, and choose a path that aligns with your goals and your intentions. Don’t be afraid to take the leaps that will allow you to grow. Just show up for yourself every day and have your own back—to me, that has been a game changer.”

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]]> Announcing the Winners of the 12th Annual Self-Published E-book Awards https://www.writersdigest.com/12th-annual-self-published-e-book-awards Wed, 23 Apr 2025 15:00:00 +0000 https://www.writersdigest.com/?p=40242&preview=1 Congratulations to the winners of the 12th Annual Self-Published E-book Awards! Discover the titles that placed in the categories of contemporary fiction, fantasy, memoir, mystery, and more.

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]]> A graphic advertising the 12th Annual Self-Published E-Book Awards from Writer's Digest. On the left, there's a bookshelf with books and a small ladder. In the center, a green mug sits on top of a stack of books. To the right, the text "12th Annual Self-Published E-book Awards" is prominently displayed. Below, in a banner, it reads "Winner Announcement".

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Grand Prize

A book cover for "One Sweet Holiday" by Lucy Day. The cover features stylized illustrations of two people against a teal background with white snowflake-like designs at the top and outlines of houses in the middle. On the left is a woman with blonde hair, wearing a pink dress and black heels, with her hands on her hips. On the right is a man with brown hair and a beard, wearing a brown jacket over a blue shirt and brown pants. The title "one sweet holiday" is written in a whimsical script font in white across the center, with the subtitle "an opposites attract rom com" below in smaller font. At the bottom, the author's name "LUCY DAY" is written in white block letters. A round silver seal with text "Excellence in Independent Publishing" and "IP Book Awards Silver" is visible on the right side.
Bookshop; Amazon

One Sweet Holiday by Lucy Day

Contemporary Fiction

First Place

A book cover for "Toxic Sphere Volume 3: Enemy Apparent" by C.N. Sky. The cover features a dark, slightly blurry background of a city street with a building on the left. In the foreground, on the right, is a woman with long dark hair, wearing a red hooded jacket, looking down and to the left. On the left side of the street, a smaller figure is visible, also wearing a hooded jacket. The title "TOXIC SPHERE" is written in large, bold letters at the top, followed by "VOLUME 3: ENEMY APPARENT" in smaller letters below. The author's name, "C. N. SKY", is at the bottom in larger, bold letters. The overall tone of the image is dark and mysterious.
Bookshop; Amazon

Toxic Sphere: Volume 3: Enemy Apparent by C.N. Sky

Honorable Mentions

  • Losing My Breath by J. Rose Black
  • Releasing the Reins by Catherine Matthews
  • She Taught Me Everything by Amy Smith Linton
  • The Writer, The Hairdresser, and The Nurse by Zara Ellen

Fantasy

First Place

A book cover for "Children of Madness" by Jarrett Brandon Early. The cover features a surreal and psychedelic illustration. In the center, four silhouetted figures stand in a dark forest landscape with tall trees and large, fantastical mushrooms. Above them is a swirling orange and yellow sky with glowing orbs. The title, "CHILDREN of MADNESS," is written in a bold, stylized font in the center. The author's name, "JARRETT BRANDON EARLY," is at the bottom in a similar font. The artwork has a vibrant color palette with blues, oranges, yellows, greens, and purples, and the overall style is abstract and dreamlike. The edges of the cover have a distressed, dripping effect.
Bookshop; Amazon

Children of Madness by Jarrett Brandon Early

Honorable Mentions

  • Feathers Sharp as Knives by Kristina Atkins
  • The Dark Maiden by Adrianna J. Tetnowski
  • The Forgotten Oath by Samantha Hickey

Mystery/Thriller

First Place

A book cover for "Phantom Cove" by Kay Jennings. The cover features a dramatic landscape with a small wooden cabin perched on a rocky cliff overlooking a foggy, mountainous seascape. The cabin has a warm light emanating from its window. The title, "PHANTOM COVE," is prominently displayed in bold, stylized letters, with "KAY JENNINGS" above it in a smaller, but still bold font. Below the title, it reads "A Port Stirling Mystery Book 5" and "Author of DARK SAND." The overall color palette is dark and moody, with blues, grays, and a touch of orange from the sunset in the background. The image evokes a sense of mystery and suspense.
Bookshop; Amazon

Phantom Cove: A Port Stirling Mystery by Kay Jennings

Honorable Mentions

  • Pierce the Darkness by Nannette Potter
  • The Blackstone by James T. Malone 
  • The Last Luau by Guy McCullough
  • Trash: The Rubbishman’s Ball by Clements
  • Unethical by Marla L. Anderson

Narrative Nonfiction

First Place

A book cover for "Exodai" by Elizabeth Hendrick. The cover features a light gray background with a single red rose in the center. The rose has green leaves and a long brown stem. Splatters of red, resembling blood, are visible around the rose. The title, "EXODAI," is written in large, bold, black letters at the bottom center. Above the title, in smaller black letters, it reads "A Shockingly Honest Memoir of Love, Obsession and Torture." Two review quotes are included, one on each side of the rose. On the left, it reads "Brave, compelling, remarkable." - Richard Moriarty -The Sun." On the right, it reads "Brutal, vivid, electrifying." - Chris Riches -Daily Express." The author's name, "ELIZABETH HENDRICK," is at the very bottom in smaller black letters. The overall tone of the cover is dark, dramatic, and suggestive of intense emotions.
Amazon

EXODAI: A Shockingly Honest Memoir of Love, Obsession and Torture by Elizabeth Hendrick

Honorable Mentions

  • Here, Where Death Delights by Mary Jumbelic 
  • Lost Roots: Family, Identity, and Abandoned Ancestry by Karl von Loewe
  • Monster Child by Kristal M. Johnson
  • The Descendants of John Grant and Mary Sabean: Associated Families of Southwestern Nova Scotia and New England by Allen Grant 

Prescriptive/Informative Nonfiction

First Place

A book cover for "Finding Your Path to Publication" by Judy Penz Sheluk. The cover features a whimsical illustration of a green rolling hill with five purple stepping stones leading up the hill. Each stepping stone is labeled with a different publishing option: "Traditional," "Hybrid/Assisted," "Social," "Self-Publishing," and "Independent Press." Two stylized green trees stand at the top of the hill. The title "FINDING YOUR PATH TO PUBLICATION" is written in bold, white letters across the center of the hill. The author's name, "JUDY PENZ SHELUK," is at the bottom in bold, white letters. At the very top, in smaller white letters, it reads "- A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE -". The overall color palette is bright and cheerful, with greens, purples, and white.
Bookshop; Amazon

Finding Your Path to Publication: A Step-by-Step Guide by Judy Penz Sheluk

Honorable Mentions

  • Queen of the Side Hustle: Unleashing Your Potential for Extra Income by Christine Schaub
  • The One Week Writing Workshop: 7 Days to Spark, Boost or Revive Your Novel by Karin Adams
  • The Truth About Melasma by Janett Juwien

Romance

First Place

A book cover for "Love Notes: The Moran Brothers Series" by Blue Saffire. The cover features a close-up shot of a person's torso and upper body. The person is wearing a black leather jacket over a gray hooded sweatshirt and a light-colored shirt. The person's face is partially obscured, showing only their jawline and chin. The title, "LOVE NOTES," is written in large, stylized white letters in the center of the cover. Below the title, it reads "THE MORAN BROTHERS SERIES" in smaller white letters. The author's name, "BLUE SAFFIRE," is at the bottom in larger white letters. At the top of the cover, in smaller white letters, it reads "Award-winning, Bestselling, Author Blue Saffire presents." The overall tone of the cover is dark, edgy, and romantic. There are also some faint blue and pink paint-like streaks visible on the cover.
Bookshop; Amazon

Love Notes by Blue Saffire 

Honorable Mention

  • Stand in for Love by Michele Ashman Bell

Science Fiction

First Place

A book cover for "Miss Universe" by David M. Jones. The cover depicts a young woman wearing a "Miss Earth" sash, with the text "MISS UNIVERSE" prominently displayed below her. She has a slightly distressed expression, and her finger is near her mouth. The background is a chaotic scene with blurred figures, including what appear to be an elephant and other people, along with bright blue lights and confetti. The author's name, "DAVID M. JONES," is at the bottom. The overall tone is slightly surreal and chaotic, possibly suggesting satire or dark humor.
Amazon

Miss Universe by David M. Jones

Honorable Mentions

  • After the Fall: The Engineer and the Apocalypse by Gerry Gainford
  • Saving Harry Truman by Steven R. Burt

Young Adult

First Place

A book cover for "Splinter: A Novel in Verse" by Betsy O'Neill-Sheehan. The cover features a dark, textured background with a stylized keyhole shape in the center. The keyhole appears to be made of a translucent or reflective material, creating a ghostly effect. The title, "SPLINTER," is written in white, slightly distressed letters at the top right, partially obscured by the keyhole. Below the keyhole, it reads "A NOVEL IN VERSE" in smaller, white letters. The author's name, "Betsy O'Neill-Sheehan," is at the bottom in smaller, white letters. The overall tone of the cover is dark, mysterious, and slightly eerie.
Bookshop; Amazon

Splinter: A Novel in Verse by Betsy O’Neill-Sheehan

Honorable Mentions

  • Corporeal by Mike Gwyther
  • Over the Top Secret: A Funny Spy Adventure by Alexa Tuttle
  • What I Would Wish to Be (Wonders of Childhood & Beyond) by Michele L Sayre 
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]]> Announcing the 11th Annual Self-Published E-book Awards Winners https://www.writersdigest.com/wd-competitions/announcing-the-11th-annual-self-published-e-book-awards-winners Wed, 24 Apr 2024 14:00:00 +0000 http://ci02d282fa2000264f Congratulations to the winners of the 11th Annual Self-Published E-book Awards! Discover the titles that placed in the categories of contemporary fiction, fantasy, memoir, mystery, and more.

The post Announcing the 11th Annual Self-Published E-book Awards Winners appeared first on Writer's Digest.

]]> Congratulations to the winners of the 11th Annual Self-Published E-book Awards!

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Grand Prize

The Cruel Dark by Bea Northwick, NorthwickBooks.com

Contemporary Fiction

First Place

Secret of the Hindu Kush by Anthony Stone, AnthonyStone-Author.com

Honorable Mentions

Jaguar Spirit by Zoe Hauser, ZoeHauser.com

Pheidippides Didn’t Die by Autumn Konopka, AutumnKonopka.com

The Playgroup by Jami Worthington

The Way It’s Supposed to Be by April Garner, AprilGarner.com

Fantasy

First Place

Children of Cain by S. L. Myers

Honorable Mentions

Find Them by Julia Ash, JuliaAshBooks.wordpress.com

The Kimoni Legacy: Initiation by Omari Richards, Omari-Richards.com

The Sword and Shield by Emma Khoury, EmmaKhoury.com

Mystery/Thriller

First Place

The Girl with the Face of the Moon by Ellis Amdur, EdgeworkBooks.com

Honorable Mentions

Cobra Pose by Susan Rogers and John Roosen, SusanERogers.com

Final Belongings by Sarah Beauchemin, SarahBeaucheminWriter.com

The Sinful by G. W. Allison, GWAllison.com

The Starlet Letter by Julie Mathison, JulieMathison.com

Narrative Nonfiction

First Place

Crew of Three: How Bold Dreams and Detailed Plans Launched Our Family’s Sailing Adventure by Kimberly Ward, KimberlyJWardwriter.com

Honorable Mentions

Barbwire, Brothels and Bombs in the Night: Surviving Vietnam by Connard Hogan, ConnardHogan.com

CLOSE TO HOME: Sexual Abusers and Serial Killers, Memoir and Murder by Janine O’Neill, JanineONeill.com

In Death’s Shadow by David Branham, DavidMBranham.com

You Matter More Than You Think by Phil Williams, PhilWBooks.com

Prescriptive/Informative Nonfiction

First Place

Paint, Sweat, and Tears: 150 Days on the Appalachian Trail by Carolyn Matthews-Daut, CarolynDaut.com

Honorable Mentions

Into the Fire: The Life, Love, and Revelation of Dragon Parenting by Deborah Ackerman

Living All In: How to Show Up for the Life You Want by Chris Janssen, ChrisJanssenCoaching.com

Reflections: On Time, Culture, and Spirits in America by Dennis McCarty

Visual Impact: Quick, Easy Tools for Thinking in Pictures by Wendi Pillars, SketchMoreThinkMore.com/author

Romance

First Place

Everything in Between by Emma Wilde, EmilyKnowles-Artist.com

Honorable Mention

The Little Tea Room on River Road by Susan Lute, SusanLute.com

Science Fiction

First Place

Cloudthinker by Andrew McGlinchey, Cloudthinker.xyz./

Honorable Mentions

Ash and Sun by Jonny Thompson, JonnyOnThePage.com

THE INSTITUTE Stolen Case Files by T.S. Galindo

Young Adult

First Place

Into the Black by Brian Work, BrianWork.com

Honorable Mentions

Social Vampire by James Schannep, JamesSchannep.com

The Valley of Stars by Yona Katz, YonaKatz.com

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]]> Announcing the 10th Annual Self-Published E-book Awards Winners https://www.writersdigest.com/wd-competitions/announcing-the-10th-annual-self-published-e-book-awards-winners Wed, 12 Apr 2023 18:00:00 +0000 http://ci02b4889e300024a2 Congratulations to the winners of the 10th Annual Self-Published E-book Awards! Discover the titles that placed in the categories of contemporary fiction, fantasy, memoir, mystery, and more.

The post Announcing the 10th Annual Self-Published E-book Awards Winners appeared first on Writer's Digest.

]]> Congratulations to the winners of the 10th Annual Self-Published E-book Awards!

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Grand Prize

Out of the Lion’s Den by Susan Mattern, OutOfTheLionsDen.net/about-sue/

Contemporary Fiction

First Place

Seaplace Publishing

Seasons Out Of Time by Kimberly Wenzler, KimberlyWenzler.wordpress.com/

Honorable Mentions

Not for the Proud Man by Joseph Gallagher (Columbus Avenue Press), NotForTheProudMan.com/

While the Music Lasts by Alice McVeigh (Trafalgar Square), AliceMcVeigh.com/

Fantasy

First Place

Underground Press LLC

Resurrection by MC Hunton, MCHunton.com/

Honorable Mentions

Mystified by Julia Ash, JuliaAshBooks.wordpress.com/

The Unicorn Agenda by William L. Culbertson, WCulbertson.com/

Descending Dawn: City Of The Dead: Volume One by E.W. Roberts, EWRoberts.com/

Balance by Inghild Økland (Dragonsong Publishing), InghildOkland.com/

Mystery/Thriller

First Place

Desperate Lark Publishing

Blood Machines by J.K. Gravier, TravelOnlyByNight.com

Honorable Mentions

The Gypsy: A Romantic Thriller by T.J. Jones, TJJonesbooks.com/

Nothing to Lose by Phil M. Williams (Phil W Books), PhilWBooks.com

Blood Sapphire’s Revenge by Dr. Bruce Farmer (epigraph), DrBruceFarmer.com/

Narrative Nonfiction

First Place

Follow Me, Friend: A Memoir of Undiagnosed PTSD, and the Healing Power of the Horse-Human Relationship by Cheryl L. Eriksen, FollowMeFriendbook.com/

Honorable Mention

Keeping Up With God by Donnetta Wilhelm (Capture Books)

Storked! by K.C. Sanford KCSanford.com/

Ballad of Calypso by Dennis McGuire, BalladOfCalypso.com/

Prescriptive/Informative Nonfiction

First Place

How a Mother Took Her First Step on the Moon; A Mother’s Keepsake Journal of Advice to My Children by Julianne Bosch, JulianneBosch.com/

Honorable Mentions

Black Women Need Love Too by S.N.M Jones, SNMJonesbooks.com/about-me/

Oh Momma! Where’s the Fat? by Pamela Harrell 

Romance

First Place

Will You Be My Hero by Chantel Grayson, ChantelGraysonBooks.com/

Honorable Mention

Just Like Magic by Ellie Roth, EllieRothBooks.com/books

Science Fiction

First Place

River Jumping by Matt Luttrell

Honorable Mention

A Universe Less Traveled by Eric von Schrader, EricVonSchrader.com/

Young Adult

First Place

Starr Creek Press

Elena the Brave by Julie Mathison, JulieMathison.com/

Honorable Mention

Child of Etherclaw by Matty Roberts (Twilight Fox LLC), MattyRoberts.io/

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]]> Announcing the 9th Annual Self-Published E-book Awards Winners https://www.writersdigest.com/wd-competitions/announcing-the-9th-annual-self-published-e-book-awards-winners Wed, 02 Mar 2022 16:00:00 +0000 http://ci0294e237d00026c3 Congratulations to the winners of the 9th Annual Self-Published E-book Awards! Discover the titles that placed in the categories of contemporary fiction, fantasy, memoir, mystery, and more.

The post Announcing the 9th Annual Self-Published E-book Awards Winners appeared first on Writer's Digest.

]]> Congratulations to the winners of the 9th Annual Self-Published E-book Awards!

[WD uses affiliate links.]

Grand Prize

$3.99 Kindle; $18 Paperback, Steve Physioc

Walks With the Wind by Steve Physioc, StevePhysioc.com

Contemporary Fiction

First Place

$7.29 Kindle; $13.49 Paperback, KDP

Driftless by Ardys Brevig Richards, AardysBrevigRichards.blogspot.com

Honorable Mentions

Backstory: Behind the Scenes of a Famous Film-Thriller by Pat Dunlap Evans ($5.99 Kindle; $12.99 Paperback, A.M. Chai Literary), PatDunlapEvans.com

Safelight by Casey Lown ($2.99 Kindle; $11.99 Paperback, Casey Lown), CaseyLown.com

Going Home by Win and Meredith Blevins ($0.99 Kindle; $8.99 Paperback, WordWorx Publishing)

A Legacy of One by Kevin G. Chapman ($3.99 Kindle; $12.99 Paperback, CreateSpace Publishing), KevingChapman.com

Fantasy

First Place

$2.99 Kindle; $18.99 Paperback, Kent Safford

Choose the Sun by Kent Safford, KentSafford.com

Honorable Mention

Guardian of Chaos by Michelle Manus ($4.99 Kindle; $14.99 Paperback, Seclusion Publishing), MichelleManus.com

Mystery/Thriller

First Place

$4.99 Kindle; $16.14 Paperback, Cameron K. Moore

Dark Cure by Cameron K. Moore 

Honorable Mentions

Dead Tree Tales by Rush Leaming ($4.99 Kindle; $16.88 Paperback, Bridgewood), LeamingRush.wixsite.com/nightfall

Where Loyalty Lies by Edward Belton ($2.99 Kindle; $21.66 Paperback, Booklocker.com, Inc.)

The Quisling Factor by J. L. Oakley ($4.99 Kindle; $18.95 Paperback, Fairchance Press), JLOakleyAuthor.com

AESOP by Michele Packard ($2.99 Kindle; $9.99 Paperback, Michele Packard), MichelePackard.com

Narrative Nonfiction

First Place

$8.99 Kindle; $15.95 Paperback, BookBaby

Memoirs of a Counselor: My Life in South Africa by Chloe Timothy, ChloeTimothy.com

Honorable Mentions

Still Laughin’ by Dara Kalima ($8.99 Kindle; $20.99 Paperback, Dara Kalima), DaraKalima.com

My View from the Back of the Bus by Merritt Long ($9.99 Kindle; $23 Paperback, My View LLC)

OiseauxWords: Grew-Some Man-i-festations by Bernadette “Bird” Bowen ($9.99 Kindle, Bernadette “Bird” Bowen)

Prescriptive/Informative Nonfiction

First Place

$9.95 Kindle; $19.95 Paperback, Villaggio Publications

The Ever-Fixed Mark: Shakespeare on Love, Women, and Human Nature by Thomas Brackshaw

Honorable Mentions

Food, Body and Love: But the Greatest of These is Love by Kari Anderson ($4.99 Kindle; $19.95 Paperback, Kari Anderson), MyEatingDoctor.com

Braving the World: Adventures in Travel and Retirement by Pam Saylor ($4.99 Kindle; $15.99 Paperback, KDP), PamSaylor.com

Holy Smoke: How Christianity Smothered the True American Dream by Rick Snedeker ($6.99 Kindle; $11 Paperback, Station Square Media), RickSnedekerAuthor.com

Romance

First Place

$3.99 Kindle; $18.99 Paperback, LJ Evans

Charming and the Cherry Blossom by LJ Evans, LJEvansbooks.com

Honorable Mention

Siren’s Song by Michelle Manus ($2.99 Kindle; $14.99 Paperback, Seclusion Publishing), MichelleManus.com

Science Fiction

First Place

$3.49 Kindle; $8.99 Paperback, KDP

In the Garden of Mistress Bloom by Clé Curbo

Honorable Mention

I, Cassandra by E. A. Carter ($6.99 Kindle; $12.99 Paperback, Arundel House Press), AuthorEACarter.net

Young Adult

First Place

$4.99 Kindle; $17.99 Paperback, Tanya Ross

Facing Off by Tanya Ross, TanyaRossAuthor.com

Honorable Mention

Max and the Spice Thieves by John Peragine ($2.99 Kindle; $14.74 Paperbook, Crumblebee Books), JohnPeragineBooks.com

See your name on this list next year by checking out our competitions page for announcements!

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]]> Whitney Hill: Self-Published E-Book Awards Winner https://www.writersdigest.com/wd-competitions/whitney-hill-self-published-e-book-awards-winner Wed, 14 Apr 2021 16:00:00 +0000 http://ci027fa3fb5000247a Whitney Hill, winner of the 8th Annual WD Self-Published E-Book Awards, talks fan fiction, creating her own stories, and why she chose to self-publish.

The post Whitney Hill: Self-Published E-Book Awards Winner appeared first on Writer's Digest.

]]>
Whitneyhillwrites.com

As a child, Hill was an avid reader, encouraged by her grandmother—who was always reading—and mother. She found herself entranced by the worlds of science fiction and fantasy, but there was a glaring issue: There was never a Black girl on the covers of the books she loved. She was never able to see herself as the main character. 

Hill explained, “Especially being biracial, there’s even kind of a smaller niche where you don’t really see what it’s like for the character to have to straddle kind of two worlds in that way.”

Like most, she wrote short stories from a young age. Then she found herself writing fan fiction, which introduced her to story mechanics—like developing plot—while borrowing someone else’s characters. It also gave her the opportunity to get direct feedback from readers and learn how to incorporate that feedback into her craft. 

But “after a while, I got tired of borrowing [characters] from other people and wanted to do my own thing,” she said.

This led her to write the Shadows of Otherside, an adult urban fantasy series that features Arden Finch, a private investigator and sylph, who is determined to practice her forbidden magic and take control over her life. The first book in the series, Elemental, focuses on Arden’s struggle with her evolving identity, where she fits in with her community, and what it will mean for her to gain her freedom.

Elemental won the Grand Prize in the 8th Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published E-Book Awards. Hill’s winnings include $5,000 and a trip to the 2021 Writer’s Digest Conference in New York City.

Hill began working on Elemental in 2018 as a part of the yearly NaNoWriMo challenge to write 50,000 words in November. She said the deadline helped take an idea that she’d been incubating for several years and get it down on paper. A self-proclaimed pantser, she admitted to half-hearted attempts at outlining and losing the thread of the plot somewhere around chapter 5. But that didn’t mean she gave up. “That was part of the NaNoWriMo charm, I think, just like, ‘I have a word count, I have to put something down.’”

It helped that Arden’s story took place in the region of North Carolina known as the Triangle, including the Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill areas. 

Hill said, “This is an area that did kind of capture me. Basically, every time I go out driving around town, I’m inspired … [it] just really helps with capturing detail going out with the notes open on my phone and just looking at who’s passing through a space. What does the space look like? What does it smell like? What are all the sensory details? How do I make that real?” 

This also made it easier for her to tackle other world-building challenges, like creating a unique magic system that both connected with the reader and also laid the foundation for the next several books in the series.

Hill was initially set on the path of traditional publishing. She attended the Writer’s Digest 2019 Annual Conference and participated in the Pitch Slam event, where she got several requests from agents to see the manuscript. She also spent time researching and cold-querying agents. But after six months of great feedback but no offer, Hill said she did a lot of soul-searching and reevaluated what her goals were for publication. She knew that she would want to be involved in every aspect of the publishing process. There was an appeal in knowing that she did everything for her manuscript and that its failure or success rested solely on her shoulders. 

The path to self-publication, she said, “was basically deciding to choose myself rather than waiting for somebody to pick me.”

From the start, she viewed her self-publishing career as a business. Knowing that it would take a lot of time and effort, she quickly figured out how to devote time to her day job, her personal life, and her self-publishing career. 

“I don’t do very much else in my day-to-day,” she said. “It’s a conscious choice. I decided that right now, my focus is going to be on two things: my day job and my writing. The job funds the writing. The balance comes in just carving out that time from everything else.”

She knew that some poorly produced self-published books contribute to a stigma around books that aren’t traditionally published. 

“There are just so many parts in the book publishing process that require some investment. That’s part of why it is such a privilege to publish, because not everybody can afford to throw a few thousand dollars for editing and cover design and everything else.”

This investment came in the form of hiring professional editors, designers, and using her own marketing knowledge to have Elemental meet her personal standards and get it into the hands of readers.

In doing so, she’s found a lot of satisfaction in her ability to engage directly with her readers. Putting a lot of time and effort into social media has allowed her to meet her readers where they are, and she’s seen a lot of growth due to word-of-mouth advertising, to which she attributes the majority of her sales.

It’s a lot of work, but she is motivated more than most. 

“What I focus on is becoming a bestselling author. That is what drives me. That’s what I do. That’s what I go for. And that’s what I focus all of my energy on, all my attention [on]. How is what I’m doing now going to be another step toward becoming a bestselling author? Baby steps. It’s going to take years.”

Find Whitney Hill’s books at her website, WhitneyHillWrites.com. 

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]]> Meet Rachel Menard, Winner of the WD Self-Published E-Book Awards https://www.writersdigest.com/self-published-ebook-awards/qa-with-rachel-menard-winner-of-the-7th-annual-wd-self-published-e-book-awards Wed, 06 May 2020 16:01:58 +0000 http://ci0263077aa003278a Read a Q&A with Rachel Menard, grand prize winner of the 7th Annual Writer's Digest Self-Published E-Book Awards.

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]]> As soon as I began reading the young adult fantasy Steel Hand, Cold Heart by Rachel Menard, I knew it had to be the Grand Prize winner of the 7th Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published E-Book Awards. The anti-heroine Carina drew me in with her determination to prove her worth and transformation into a warrior—complete with replacing her hand with a steel hand for battle.

Carina is an outsider in the Viking-based matriarchal community of the Daughters of Hel—a society that appeases the goddess Hel by raiding towns and killing their people. When Carina is kidnapped, she must choose between proving her worth by killing her captors or forging her own path.

Menard’s winnings include $5,000 and a trip to the Writer’s Digest Annual Conference in New York City. She sat down with WD to talk about Steel Hand, Cold Heart.

See a complete winner list for the 7th Annual Self-Published E-Book Awards

How did you get the idea for this book?

I wrote Carina into a novel before. She was in this enemies-to-lovers revenge story and made the hand for herself to replace the hand she lost in a sword fight. I shelved that book, but I really liked the character. So I rewrote her into this story, a different situation. I gave her the supporting cast, which helped reveal her more.

What drew you to Carina?

I like anti-heroines. I don’t know if I’d call her likable, but she has redeeming qualities.

How many novels have you written?

I have 10 shelved. There’s one I really liked the world I created, so I’m changing the scenario and making it more of an urban fantasy than fantasy. There’s another fantasy I’m turning into a thriller. So I’m taking pieces of things I liked and putting them together, since it worked for Steel Hand.

What draws you to YA?

Your teens are such a transition time with many firsts—like first love, first heartbreak—and it makes good drama.

How do you develop characters?

I write, rewrite, and let characters reveal themselves, doing the old adage of “put them in the situation, and how would your character react to that situation?”

What challenges did you have writing Carina?

The biggest challenge is making an anti-heroine likable. You have to do something in the beginning to make that character someone you understand. From the beginning, Carina questioned herself and had a bully. As the reader, you have an association with her, feel for her because she doesn’t think she’s good enough and she’s got other people telling her that. That helps ease later on if she does something terrible, you don’t hate her.

What was the world-building like?

I wanted to do something Viking based. I got books on Viking history and wanted to see a feminist story. I read passages about [the goddess] Hel; I thought it would make sense that women Vikings would worship a goddess. I also read about Viking life and took notes on the food they ate, what their houses looked like, where they raided. The Viking age was over hundreds of years, so I took what I wanted from those years and created my world from that.

What led to this book?

I’d published a couple of short stories, but I’ve been writing for a while. Mostly YA sci-fi and fantasy. I’ve had agents but no sales. I felt like this book was the one and I decided to take it as far as possible and not give up on myself.

Why did you feel this book was the one?

I just really liked it. All my beta readers really liked it. It felt different. I was at a writing conference and one of the speakers said, “Don’t reject yourself.” I have a lot of shelved books because I’ve rejected myself in the past. I thought if this doesn’t succeed, I don’t want it to be because of me.

Is that why you decided to self-publish?

Pretty much. I passed on going to small publishers because I have a marketing background, and I don’t expect to make money off this. I’m just using it as a tool to practice book marketing and build a community. Doing my own book marketing, I can see if it works on getting sales or Goodreads adds and I know what works and what doesn’t.

What was your timeframe?

It was 18 months from when I started making Viking notes to when I published it. There was a year of writing, and I had a lot of the character work done from that previous novel that I was able to copy.

What was the biggest surprise you had writing and publishing this book?

I feared people would hear self-published and run the other way, so I wrote arguments about why it’s a good book. Then I found I didn’t have to—it didn’t seem to bother book bloggers that it was self-published. They just were like, “I like the synopsis, I wanna read this, send it to me.” The hardest thing about self-publishing is you put it out with only yourself saying it’s good. If I hadn’t set my goal to take it to the end, I might have shelved it like the other ones.

Do you have any projects up next?

I signed with an agent since Steel Hand. It’s another YA fantasy. It has character that is worse than Carina, but I feel I get away with it because it is a multi-POV. I have two nice characters and this wicked one. I like showing a villain origin story or trying to humanize the villainess. The villain is the hero in their own stories. So I like to look at that and see why a person is acting the way they are.

Can you tell me about your writing and publishing process? Did you have help?

I used a cover designer. It was important to me to have an eye-catching cover. She did the art, but I did the layout with the text. Then I did my own interior layout work. I didn’t get an editor, but I had a lot of beta readers and some professional editors gave me notes and I incorporated those changes. So it was in good shape. Of course, after my first version, I found typos. But with Amazon KDP, you can upload a new version if you find mistakes.

How do you find beta readers?

Mostly on Twitter, with #writingcommunity. I’ve met a lot of good writing friends through there.

How do you know if a beta reader is a good match?

I don’t until I have them read a few pages. A lot of people do one chapter so you can see their feedback. I’m also pretty good at picking out what I want to use from someone’s critique and what I don’t want to use.

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]]> Announcing the 7th Annual Self-Published E-Book Awards Winners https://www.writersdigest.com/self-published-ebook-awards/announcing-the-7th-annual-self-published-e-book-awards-winners Wed, 06 May 2020 15:56:01 +0000 http://ci0263077ba004278a Congratulations to the winners of the 7th Annual Self-Published E-Book Awards! Grand Prize Steel Hand, Cold Heart by Rachel Menard (rachelmenard.com) Fantasy First Place Willow of Ashes by Ellie Raine...

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]]> Congratulations to the winners of the 7th Annual Self-Published E-Book Awards!

Grand Prize

Steel Hand, Cold Heart by Rachel Menard (rachelmenard.com)

Fantasy

First Place

Willow of Ashes by Ellie Raine (ellieraine.com)

Honorable Mentions

Fog & Mist: The Canens Chronicles, Book 1 by Kelsie Engen (kelsieengen.com/publications)

The Devil’s Own: Murphy’s Law, Book One by K.A. Fox (imkafox.com)

Science Fiction

First Place

In the Slip by F.D. Lee (fdlee.co.uk)

Honorable Mentions

Falcon’s Call by Mike Waller (mikewallerauthor.com/falconscall)

Andre’s Reboot: Striving to Save Humanity by Steve Coleman (andretherobot.com)

Romance

First Place

Moti on the Water by Leylah Attar (leylahattar.com)

Honorable Mentions

Fire Trucks, Garter Belts, & My Perfect Ex by Heather Novak (heathernovak.net)

Love, Chocolate, and a Dog Named Al Capone by Wende Dikec

Contemporary Fiction

First Place

The Chocolate Shop by J.J Spring (jjspringbooks.com)

Honorable Mentions

The Trial of Connor Padget by Carl Roberts (authorcarlroberts.com)

The Devil’s Fortune by Amy Schisler (amyschislerauthor.com)

Young Adult

First Place

Finn’s Clock by Dean Whitlock (deanwhitlock.com)

Honorable Mentions

Ember Burning: Trinity Forest Book 1 by Jennifer Alsever (trinityforestseries.com)

F’lorna of Rodesh by Alisa Hope Wagner (alisahopewagner.com)

Memoir

First Place

Don’t Come Back by Adam Fletcher (adam-fletcher.co.uk)

Honorable Mentions

Private Lucky by Melissa Guzzetta (privatelucky.com)

Don’t Mind Me, I’m Just Having a Bad Life: A Memoir by Lewis Kempfer (lewiskempfer.com)

Mystery/Thriller

First Place

The Loggerhead Murders by Georgia Ann Mullen (georgiamullen.com)

Honorable Mentions

CELTIC KNOT: A Clara Swift Tale by Ann Shortell (annshortell.com)

The Green Ribbon Murder by Sharon Cowen

Ship Bottom Blues by Daniel J. Waters (bandagemanpress.com)

Nonfiction

First Place

Dark Nights of the Soul: Reflections on Faith and the Depressed Brain by David Anderson (davidandersontheauthor.com)

Honorable Mentions

Retail: The Second-Oldest Profession, 7 Timeless Principles to WIN in Retail Today by Flora Delaney (floradelaney.com)

Re-learning the ABC With Mamma by Cynthia Rodrigues (cynthology.blogspot.com/2019/03/re-learning-abc-with-mamma-now.html)

The Mystery Shopper Training Program by Bethany Mooradian (workathomefaq.com)

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]]> Extended Interview With Peter Besson, WD’s 6th Annual Self-Published E-Book Awards Winner https://www.writersdigest.com/online-exclusives/extended-interview-with-peter-besson-wds-2018-self-published-e-book-awards-winner Wed, 20 Mar 2019 13:59:21 +0000 http://ci025fbe83f00d2505 Peter Besson’s e-book The Last Checkout is the Grand Prize winner of the 6th Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published e-Book Awards. Read an interview with him here.

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]]> Peter Besson’s e-book The Last Checkout is the Grand Prize winner of the 6th Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published e-Book Awards. The entry was selected among over 580 other e-books to capture the title. His prizes include $5,000 and a trip to the Writer’s Digest Annual Conference in New York City. For a complete list of 2018 Self-Published e-Book Awards winners, visit this page.

The dystopian book tells the story of two lovers in post-apocalyptic world, where resources are running out and suicide is encouraged by society. The lovers meet as guests at a suicide hotel, where the only way to check out is to die.

As a film school graduate, Besson has also worked on short films as well as written scripts for video games. He currently lives in Los Angeles and works as a film trailer editor for Universal Pictures. To learn more about Peter, visit his website peterbesson.com.

Can you tell me how you balance your writing life with your job?

I write whenever I can snatch a few minutes here or there, like at work when I have lunch. Everyone else usually does something else, but I write. Early in the morning and when I have time at night, I write.

It’s a struggle. I would like to write longer and more, but I need to pay the bills too. I try to write as much as I can, whether it’s 10 minutes, sometimes 15 minutes. I take my laptop everywhere, usually to sit down and write.

What is your writing process is like?

It starts with an idea. For me, I have to have some sort of understanding of what the premise is. Maybe this is coming from the elevator pitch in the film industry—I have to understand what the hook is that makes the story interesting. I do admire people that can just write about characters that are really interesting, but for me I have to understand why the world is the way it is or what the setup is.

For The Last Checkout, the impossible two lovers came together because you know they’re going to die. That was the idea, and I developed the rest of the story from that.

Where did you get the idea for The Last Checkout?

It had been molding inside of me for the longest time. For some reason, everything I write has some sort of a love story or relationship in there. I thought it would be interesting [to have a world where] suicide was actually encouraged and there was hopelessness, and to try to find the hope in that. Maybe you find the bright spark or hope or love even in the shittiest circumstances.

Why did you decide on self-publishing the book rather than traditional publishing?

I did reach out to agents and there was some interest here and there, but it kind of petered out. Then I realized that in today’s world, why not [self-publish]? I did some reading about self-publishing. I figured why not, because I do believe in the story. It’s the same as with why I made a short film—if you do believe in what you’re doing, you just have to put it out there and see what happens.

Why did you decide on the e-book format?

What were the chances of this ever going to the bookstore without a traditional publisher behind it? Without a traditional publisher behind it, getting it in the bookstore is a tough sell. Also with an e-book, a greater percentage of it goes back to the author. With the ease of getting the e-book into people’s hands, the hope is that it can reach people across the globe.

How did you create the e-book?

I went to a freelance hiring site and found a book cover designer from Spain there, who had also done some cover design work for publishing houses. I did some research on formatting and found someone who had wrote a book on e-book formatting. I also found several potential book editors through freelancing sites and chose the one whose edits were the most helpful.

Creating the book took about a year and a half from start to finish, including the writing and publishing process.

What would you say that you enjoy most about self-publishing?

The control. When you’re self-publishing, you’re not at the mercy of anybody else. You can decide what you want. If you like this cover, you can do that cover. If you like this typeset, you can do this typeset. You can set your own price and see if it works or if it doesn’t work, and you can do your own promotion.

Essentially, if you work hard at it, something will result from it. It’s entirely up to you. It’s the freedom of taking fate into your own hands and saying “I believe in this, I can push it and I can make it work.” You’re not just handing off the reigns and saying ‘You guys go.’

What advice do you have for other authors who would also like to self-publish?

Make sure that your work is the best—don’t just write the first draft, put it up and see what happens. Seek professional help, because it’s out there. There’s people who are really good at what they do. There are specialists for a reason, and I believe in finding the best fit for yourself and giving people the chance to actually add to the product, finding new things that you never thought about and getting new ideas, angles and inputs. It’s up to you to take it or leave it, but it’s up to you to get the thought process going. It’s a collaborative effort.

Is there anything that you would do differently if you were to go through the process of the creating the e-book again?

I would probably write faster. I would’ve also started writing earlier.

Is there anything else that you would like WD Readers to know?

At the end of the day, you have to just do it. If you believe in it, you have it in you and that’s the beauty of it these days. You can actually do it and you don’t have to rely on anybody else. Don’t let your inner critic kill it off. Don’t think Who am I to write a book? Who am I to do this? Why me?

Why not? There is always somebody who could do things better, of course. You can always find someone who can run faster or jump higher or be smarter, but there’s only one of you so maybe your voice is needed or wanted and desired, so just go write the book.

Call for Entries: Enter the 2019 Self-Published Book Awards today!

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]]> Announcing the 6th Annual Self-Published E-Book Awards Winners https://www.writersdigest.com/online-exclusives/announcing-the-6th-annual-self-published-e-book-awards-winners Wed, 20 Mar 2019 13:32:55 +0000 http://ci025fbe84400127f1 See the full list of winners of the Writer's Digest 6th Annual Self-Published E-Book Awards.

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]]> Congratulations to the winners of the 6th Annual Self-Published E-Book Awards! See the May/June 2019 issue of Writer’s Digest for complete coverage of the awards. For an extended interview with the Grand Prize winner, click here.

Grand Prize

The Last Checkout by Peter Besson ($7.99, Kindle, Kindle Unlimited; $17.95 Audible), peterbesson.com.

Mystery/Thriller

First Place

Gilchrist by Christian Galacar ($4.99, Kindle, Kindle Unlimited; $19.99 paperback; $7.49 Audible), christiangalacar.com.

Honorable Mentions

The Missing Link by Moriamo A. Onabanjo ($3.99 Kindle; $10 paperback), toksbola.wixsite.com/moriamoabolanleo.

Rob the Vatican by Robert Gallant ($2.99 Kindle; $10.79 paperback; $23.27 hardcover), Stratton Press, robertgallantbooks.net.

Fantasy

First Place

Coyote Ate the Stars by E.A. Van Stralen ($4.99 Kindle; $9.99 paperback).

Honorable Mentions

The Singing Bones by Eric S. Love

Dream Waters by Erin A. Jensen ($2.99 Kindle; $12.95 paperback; $25.89 hardcover), Dream Waters Publishing LLC, blog.erinajensen.com.

Memoir

First Place

Amsterdam Exposed by David Wienir ($2.99, Kindle, Kindle Unlimited; $12.95 paperback), De Wallen Press, amsterdamexposed.com.

Honorable Mentions

Going to Wings by Sandra Worsham ($4.99 Kindle, Kindle Unlimited; $16.99 paperback), Third Lung Press, sworsham.com.

Chiseled: A Memoir of Identity, Duplicity and Divine Wine by Danuta Pfeiffer ($4.99 Kindle; $15.95 paperback; $29.95 hardcover), danutapfeiffer.com.

Young Adult

First Place

The LoveLock by Eichin Chang-Lim ($2.99, Kindle; $15.99, paperback), eichinchanglim.com.

Honorable Mentions

Are We Nuts? by Gisela Hausmann ($2.99 Kindle; $11.99 paperback), Educ-Easy Books, giselahausmann.com.

Alone Together by Robert Hill ($2.99 Kindle; $12.95 paperback), New Diamond Publishing.

Romance

First Place

Scotland’s Knight: A Rose in the Glade by Anne K. Hawkinson and Paul V. Hunter ($3.99, Kindle, Kindle Unlimited; $5.99 paperback), annehawkinson.com.

Honorable Mentions

Running the Tides by Amanda Kayhart ($0.99 Kindle, Kindle Unlimited; $9.99 paperback).

Showtime Rendezvous by C.K. Wiles ($2.99 Kindle; $7.99 paperback), ckwiles.com.

Science Fiction

First Place

Angel City Blues by Jeff Edwards ($4.95, Kindle; $14.99 paperback), Braveship Books, jeffedwardswrites.com.

Honorable Mentions

Aurora Terminus by S.E. Fanetti ($3.99 Kindle; $19.99 paperback), susanfanetti.com.

Reluctant Android by William X. Adams ($3.99 Kindle; $12.99 paperback), Psi-Fi Books, psifibooks.com.

Nonfiction

The Work at Home Training Program by Bethany Mooradian ($7.99 Kindle, Kindle Unlimited; $14.98 paperback), CreateSpace, workathomefaq.com.

Honorable Mentions

The Way of the Warrior Mama by Sally Clark ($7.99 Kindle; $10.37 paperback), The Difference Press, sallylclark.com.

Telling: A Guide to Finding Help And Healing by Telling Your Abuse Story by Dawn Scott Damon ($7.99 Kindle), dawnscottdamon.com.

Contemporary Fiction

Becoming JiJi by David R. Yale ($0.99 Kindle; $10.95 paperback), A Healthy Relationship Press, davidryale.com.

Honorable Mentions

The Gospel of Catherine Deare by Michael Colahan ($2.99 Kindle, $15.95 paperback), Telemachus, mikecolahannovels.com.

Sticks & Stones by Malcolm Ivey ($0.99 Kindle, Kindle Unlimited; $11.95 paperback), malcolmivey.com.

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