#PoweredByIndie

Special Announcement to Readers: When It Rains

Hello again.  It's me and I suspect I'm more surprised to be writing this today than you are at receiving it.  But that's just speculation on my part.  You go right ahead and be as surprised as you like.  You're receiving it as an email.  Be careful what you hope for in your email inbox.  Surprises there may just take your breath away–at least momentarily.

So my incoming email today had a couple surprises.  The first of these was smallish, but important nonetheless.  It turns out I've been ignoring your emails sent to my website.  Some were from old friends; others were from readers.  I wasn't meaning to ignore anyone.  Just a matter of my not realizing what email address was linked to which service, etc.  Thankfully, that seems to now be sorted out.  Thanks to Monica, whom you may remember from the last newsletter. Now if you write to me via the Contact button on the website, there is a good chance I'll see your message and respond.

The bigger surprise email came from none other than KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing).  You know, that arm of Amazon that sells all the books online?  They've informed us that they've chosen one (or more) of our titles to be featured in their October 2016 month-long event called: Celebrating Great Writing.

I don't know about you, but that one fairly knocked my socks off.  Among other suggestions they offered, was that we immediately crank out a newsletter (some call it a blog, but I really hate that term and don't do this sort of thing often enough to legitimately refer to it as a 'blog).  So this announcement was born no more than a few hours after receiving the Amazon email from KDP.  I don't even know which title(s) nor what day said feature will occur.  But let me put it like this: When KDP talks, authors listen.

Also among the suggestions from the mother ship of KDP was that those authors selected should write up a few words and blurbs for sharing on social media and the like, covering aspects of why we "love" being "indie" authors.  I've provided the quotes to reflect that those terms were the choice of the KDP Team, not yours truly.  But here goes:

I was labelled a 'Messy' during my years in Grade School, (where I was once awarded a poster titled, "Melissa Messydesk"), and frequently since, I must tell you that it has never bothered me to place a sign in my office that reads, "A neat, uncluttered desk is the sign of a sick mind", thereby putting all visitors on notice.  I try hard not to be overbearing with them as they snivel and whine in the presence of my obviously superior mental health.  Some have even attempted to elevate their own comparative healthy state by straightening what appears before their astonished eyes. (I find a quick rap to the knuckles accompanied by growling and an occasional bark to be effective in curtailing such rude and errant behavior.)  

Anyhow, back to answering the question at hand: 
What are some of the things you love about being an independently published author?  Not having to deal with the insecurities of others regarding such things as order in the universe.  I have enough important issues of my own to attend to without such distractions as those.  This recent picture of my writing desk should suffice to underscore the importance of this matter. 

Those of you who follow me on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter may be delighted to learn that we will be sharing more insights of the joyous life of indie publishing throughout the month of October.  Then again, you may not.  Either way, there is every likelihood that you'll see more mentions of this program in the upcoming weeks.  Maybe some pictures, a video short or two.  Who knows?  Pay attention to find out.  You'll see this hashtag with most of them: 
#PoweredByIndie and will be able to see the featured books and authors during this month at this special page on Amazon: www.amazon.com/poweredbyindie

I consider it an honor to be selected for this program and cannot thank you loyal readers enough.
Keith

PS: Be careful the names (or posters) you sling at youngsters.  Not only may they remember, they may grow up to be authors and sling a few back.