Indie Author Ups-and-Downs

Give Yourself Grace, Indie Friends ...

In December of 2024 I had a botched book launch after a messy Kickstarter campaign, and absolutely zero direction in terms of what words to write.

In fact, I was pretty much in full de-motivation mode. I didn’t want to write because of all the nonsense going on from seemingly every direction, both publishing and personal. I was going on about 5 months without putting words down in any reasonable form.

Some difficult decisions were made, along with a promise to focus on quality output this year.

That shift in mindset made all the difference.

Becoming The Busy Little Bee

Here we are, mid-April 2025. So far this year ...

1) JAN/FEB 2025: Re-acquired the SPACE PEW PEW IP from the original publisher, re-did the book, re-published, and landed the Amazon orange tag for the 2nd time on the same book. SPP a 2x best-seller? Yup. It counts.

2) MAR 2025: Re-published The Caretaker 2E with a new cover, a 12,000-word 5-part epilogue, and set that series up for a return in early 2026. I do wish more people knew about this work, because it’s badass. Those reviews say it all.

3) APR 2025: Completed and submitted a delightfully absurd story for the BAEN Fantasy Adventure Award, this also sets up the launch of a NEW Comedy Sword-and-Sorcery series in the future.

4) MAY 2025: Getting set for the release of a TOP SECRET project involving a particular Uncle Floyd Cooper, which will tie in to SPACE PEW PEW 2: Electric Pewpaloo! This one isn't a big project (16,000~ words), but it packs a big punch.

The star of my next TOP SECRET project. Degenerate, misogynist, sociopath, meth-cooker, LADIES MAN.

And this was after the November 2024 dual-launch of my Non-Fiction collaboration work, JOY-JITSU, and the initial SPACE PEW PEW launch.

Oh right, I also launched The MIRTH QUAKE Web Show, complete with Discord community, guest bookings, and now STORYTELLER SMACKDOWN episodes. I’ve been doing multiple shows a week for the past 6 months. All of my own design work, promotion, website editing, merch creation, etc. etc. etc.

And now, full immersion into SPACE PEW PEW 2 for a (hopeful) August release, plus an upcoming short story for my buddy

Jesse James Fain

’s epic Midnight Sea project, and more …

Defeating Doubt

I'm not listing this out as a flex.

In fact, sales numbers are a huge struggle for me right now (as they are for most authors). Unless you're constantly flogging, constantly promoting, and constantly pounding the drum of your own work, they dry up fast. I’ve leaned in to some online auction sales which has been a nice bonus, but it’s a struggle to get traction, and a HUGE effort to get reviews.

All this to say, there are days where I feel really down about the lack of traction. And on those days, I remind myself of a few critical things:

1. I have essentially re-started my writing career. After the initial publication of The Caretaker (that would’ve been Nov 2020) in the aftermath of both my brother and my dad passing away (2019 and 2020 respectively), I hit a 3-year depression where creativity just … wouldn’t.

2. I’m a multi-genre author. I’ve published Non-Fiction, recorded an audiobook, published an Absurdist Space Opera, Urban/Contemporary Fantasy, and I’m still writing, expanding, and growing.

3. I’ve had more output in the first 5 months of 2025 than most indie authors have in the course of an entire calendar year or more.

4. I’m giving back to the writing community by platforming other authors and creatives on MIRTH QUAKE, and trying to support and give voice to those who are just starting their journey. MQ has cost me money, but it’s highly rewarding. The community is small, but supremely fun.

5. I have a full-time job, and kids.

It’s really easy to look exclusively at the income coming in on books and discounting everything you’re trying to do to build a career. It’s super easy to throw your hands up while discounting everything you’ve had to work through that has nothing to do with putting words down. The thing is, you can’t build the career without some struggle, some sacrifice, and some patience.

That’s where I am right now.

Head down, patient, working, and building things for future-me (as opposed to procrastinating and saddling that unlucky bastard with my urge to kick the can down the road on everything).

My Advice To You, Author Friends

Give yourself some grace in whatever it is you’re trying to do.

Life is short, people. Try not to worry yourself into oblivion, hold yourself back, or throw your hands up in despair. I was ready to pack up life in general, pack it in, and just live out my days in sadness waiting to leave this world after losing both my brother and my father. It blew up my family, destroyed a bunch of relationships of people I’m very close to, and there’s still major grief-attacks. That period of depression was really, really dark.

Sometimes though, that sort of thing is the catalyst. We survive the trials, we come out stronger, and we realize that there’s something we love to do, and we should do it and be the best person we can for ourselves, and those around us. We focus on the things that matter, the good people close to us, and a re-connection with God.

It’s okay to struggle, but there’s really no need to stay there. Light the torch, carve your way forward, do the best you can and don’t quit.

You got this. I believe in you!

-David