When Everything Changes, Find the Right Information

Navigating the Ever-changing Self-Publishing Space

There have been some major changes in the Indie Publishing space over the last few months. In May, IngramSpark announced FREE title setup and changes. Draft2Digital and Smashwords merged in March. Along with these major changes, and continuously emerging and evolving self-publishing platforms, many minor changes regularly take place. It begs the question: How does an author Iind accurate, timely, and relevant information?

While Google or author groups are often an early stop on the fact Iinding journey, wrong or inaccurate information from these resources can be misleading and/or costly. Because self-publishing supports so many different goals, practices, and journeys, businesses and platforms regularly adapt to industry and customer demands and limitations.

That means the information that was accurate two months ago may no longer be so.

Misinformation might be benign, but it can also have a Iinancial impact. Something as simple as copyright registration, which is $45 if completed through the U.S. Copyright ofIice, might be several hundred dollars if using a 3rd party. A vanity press masquerading as a traditional publisher might cost an author thousands of dollars for substandard quality or unfulIilled promises. Hiring an inexperienced designer who doesn’t know the industry and provides work that does not satisfy platform requirements can cost time and money. Missing a pre-order deadline on KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) can remove your ability to set up preorders for future books, or get you banned from the platform altogether.

While the ‘Zon may not be as supportive of authors as other platforms, it is still the largest online bookseller. Being banned can have signiIicant implications for revenue, especially for authors who are still Iinding their audiences and a way to connect with them directly.

While friends and colleagues can have valuable information and experience to impart, if it’s dated or their goals do not align with yours, it may not be helpful.

That’s where writing and author organizations shine, speciIically, those focused on the Independent Publishing industry. It is the business of these organizations to support authors in professional publishing. Most have both free and paid resources with the latest information on industry changes and trends. While there are many organizations which provide information and resources like these, there is a handful that I regularly rely upon.

Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

IBPA’s roots stretch all the way back to 1983. In 2008, they became the organization we now know. “IBPA's mission is to lead and serve the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success.”

In my experience, they fulIill that promise time and again. Not only does IBPA keep up with and report on industry changes, they also drive change. For example, they have created a criterion by which to vet hybrid publishers. In an industry where so many authors are scammed or mislead by vanity presses, this resource gives authors the information needed to make informed decisions about how to spend their money. In addition to the information they directly supply, they also have a list of regional partner organizations that support Independent authors.

Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi)

A global organization, ALLi launched in 2012 and has been fostering excellence and ethics in self-publishing ever since. There is a wealth of timely and relevant information to be found on their blog, free to visitors. There are added beneIits and resources available to paid members, at a variety of different levels. One of the unique resources available through ALLi is their directory of Partners—individuals and organizations that provide services to authors. Unlike many organizations, ALLi’s partners go through an “assessment process to ensure that the service's approach, customer service, and pricing complies with ALLi's code of standards.”

This gives authors conIidence that the providers they do business with are reputable and knowledgeable.

NonTiction Authors Association

Founded in 2010, the NonIiction Authors Association Iilled a gap for aspiring non-Iiction writers. While not speciIically supporting Independent authors, they provide a wealth of information and resources in the space. With their annual conference and courses found exclusively online, they are accessible to nearly anyone seeking accurate and timely information. To further the professional standards of service providers, they have also created certiIications for Marketing, Publicity, and Publishing professionals, giving authors the conIidence that the services they provide are professional and compatible with industry standards and expectations.

Writer Beware®

Another resource that deserves mention is the Writer Beware® Blog. Founded in 1998 and sponsored by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA®), the blog addresses “the problems and pitfalls that face aspiring writers.” Their mission “is to track, expose, and raise awareness of the prevalence of fraud and other questionable activities in and around the publishing industry.” As a writer exploring options, be sure to check in with Writer Beware® to be sure the organizations or services you’re considering haven’t been red-Ilagged as ‘scammy’ or fraudulent. And Iinally, check-in with the publishing platforms themselves: KDP, IngramSpark, Lulu, BookBaby, Draft2Digital, AppleBooks, Barnes and Noble, etc. While customer service isn’t always a priority, and some platforms are better than others, they are all invested in the success of authors. Most don’t get paid unless you do. They have a vast library of resources including templates, speciIications, and best practices.

They’re also going to be the direct resource for changes that affect their customers. If you have a question about distribution, fees, terms of service, or anything speciIically related to a platform, go directly to that platform. FAQ’s, Help, and Support Pages, and where available, email, chat, and phone support will give you the speciIic information you need to be successful on their platforms.

Asking peers for information can be quick and easy, but not always accurate. When your success depends upon timely, accurate, and appropriate information, be intentional about where you seek answers to your questions. And when possible, especially for the things that have a Iinancial impact, seek conIirmation by appropriate resources to ensure that your time and money are wellinvested.

I invite you to join the Professional Indie Publishing Roundtable. If you’d like to be part of the conversation with industry pros and other independent authors, join me for periodic virtual meetings. Be part of the conversation, ask questions, and share your experiences, challenges, and successes. Visit www.DeliberatePage.com/ Roundtable to sign up for meeting access details and information.

***With Yana and her anger forming a ball of elements, she summons Ebbe and Emme’s star, telling him to hide them, with Donal and the Guardian are standing next to them. Still in a hallway, feet away from where their map says The Laws are, Ebbe and Emme have no idea all that Yana has been up to.***

Lead-weighted arms drooping toward the ground, Yana’s anger spiked. Glancing at Kit, a standing version of being curled up in a ball, Yana pulled her arms and hands closer, condensing the moon weight’s worth of energy into a smaller area. And smaller. And smaller. Gritting her teeth against the load and pain, “Get down!” she said through a clenched jaw.

While still manipulating, her mind raced through the memories of pain and attacks from the last several moon cycles. “I. Have. Had. Enough! Of. This!” she yelled, clapping her hands together, then throwing her arms wide. The blood racing through her head from a release of pressure blocked most of Kit’s screams. In the wake of the power, neither saw Donal and the Guardian disappear into the explosions and whirlwinds.

As the ground beneath them evaporated, Ebbe grabbed for Emme – but missed.

Twirling uncontrollably through swirling blacks, Ebbe could hear her screaming for him, but he could not see her. Extensions of light whipped toward him, recognizing Olbok’s arms, he reached out and caught hold. Knowing their star would never abandon them, he found Emme, folded himself around her, and hoped the star was more in control of their fall than it seemed.

Hitting hard, Ilat on his back, he pulled Emme tighter to him, refusing to let go, knowing the force of the landing would have them bouncing. Colliding into other bodies was not expected, causing Emme to tumble out of his arms. A Ilash streaked past him, and he knew Olbok was slowing her, keeping her safe.

Hitting a... something... face Iirst, other impacts shoved him further into the unforgiving surface. A wheezing groan told him Donal was one impact, and the immediate illumination of the area told him the other impact was the Guardian. Pushing back from the wall, rolling Donal over, Ebbe looked for Emme. Shaky and disheveled, but standing, she stared up through a star size tear in the plane.

Standing, though his legs were not cooperating fully, he followed her astonished gaze and saw... “Olbok, are you... sideways?”

“I think he’s more inside out,” Donal said, hobbling to Ebbe’s side.

“I do not feel well.” The star’s deep intonation was a near whisper.

Pulling her element shelf out, Emme frowned. “I... everything’s missing!”

Donal, Ebbe, and the Guardian pulled theirs forward, Iinding the same.

“What in cold ochu did she do?” Donal muttered, trying several different sigils and signs to bring something, anything, forward. He couldn’t even pull a food knife, let alone a sword.

“She who?” Ebbe asked.

“Yana, wait... Yana!” Donal screamed, running toward the breach. Terror coursed through him. If they were all this helpless, Yana was defenseless from the Demons and Corrupt. Without their elements and abilities...

The Guardian pulled Donal to the ground, pinning him face down. “If we have no shelves, no elements, no weapons, then we have no portals!” he shouted.

“Explain to us how running headlong into spacetime will aid her, and not simply vaporize you!”

Going limp so he would be released, Donal slowly stood and couldn’t help himself, “That’s the most emotion from you I’ve ever seen.” He bent backward, avoiding the angry swipe. “Wow, two in one day!”

“Enough, Donal, though you are right,” Ebbe said, placing a calming hand on the Guardian’s shoulder. “Now, explain about Yana.”

Taking a deep breath while glaring at Donal, the Guardian spoke evenly. “While at her place, she became… upset.”

“That’s not even close,” Donal said. “She’s had it with the pain, the not hearing, having to rely on a near “What?!” Ebbe and Emme said together.

“How did she know about him?” Emme said, recovering her senses Iirst.

“She didn’t,” Donal said with a shrug. “She didn’t believe us when we told her she’d summoned a star, a sentient one at that. I saw it on her face. Then… it changed.”

“What changed?” Ebbe asked.

“Her face. As if... knowledge hit.” Donal paused, trying to Iind the words. “It’s like... when we’re struggling through a problem, we walk away to clear our minds, and then the answer simply... hits. That look. I don’t know what she actually knows, but she knew precisely what to do and just,” he held his hands up, kneading and manipulating the emptiness, “she just did it.”

Looking around at the scorched devastation, Ebbe pondered the meaning. The still glowing embers were a variety of colors, some from ancient space. Walking to what seemed to be the middle area, he turned in a circle, slowly taking it all in.

Emme was stroking one of Olbok’s limp arms, using his own internal elements in an attempt to Ilip him outside in, make him whole. Donal was picking through the embers, trying to capture rogue elements and use them to build a portal. The Guardian was staring… at a Iixed point of absolutely nothing. Looking up then down through the plane, a sight-gift

“Then it needed to be destroyed,” Donal Iinished, saying what Ebbe would not.

* * * *

“I still don’t hear anything. Like at all. From anyone. It’s been days,” Kit said, staring out as Yana drove them home. Moons ago, after the Iirst attack, they’d learned their domiciles were not far apart, and since the pain and needing an interpreter had become a necessity, Yana had taken to driving Kit.

With a sigh, Yana said, “At this point, I wouldn’t really care. I was Iine without all this happening to me, but your healing abilities are just not enough. Using Mortal tomes to remedy Demon and Corrupt attacks aren’t exactly why they were written. It’s not as if either of us has access to the libraries in the Hereafter. I just want the pain to end,” she whispered, Ilinching as a bolt of pain shot down her leg. She rubbed her eyes to stay awake long enough to get home, just around the bend.

Walking in the door and tossing her items without looking, Yana knew Kit was following. She’d taken to crashing in her living area.

Two days.

Of pain. Attacks. Complete silence.

Several zings had hit, and she had followed every idea that had come to her. Though, she didn’t know precisely what she was doing, she simply kept the thought, idea, and intention at the forefront, held her hands out and then threw whatever it was that grew there once it felt... done.

Nothing any different from what she’d been doing for several moon cycles, almost a full rotation at this point. Get attacked, get a zing, get an idea, pull it apart, expand it, hold the hands out, and toss. Rinse. Repeat.

given only to Cycle Gods, he sucked a breath in.

“Hereafter,” he whispered.

“What?” Emme asked.

“We are in the Hereafter, or what’s left of it,” Ebbe said, pointing out markings, buildings, domes, passages...

“Yana did all this?” Emme asked.

“Yes. And we need to talk to her immediately. As far as I understand it, the Leveler is not capable of devastation, destruction, or death for the sheer pleasure of it. The nearly unlimited power given is for a purpose, and if this is what is left of the plane of the Hereafter,” Ebbe trailed off.

Seeing Kit sitting dejectedly made her feel bad. “If the pain had stopped, the silence wouldn’t bother me at all,” Yana said. Holding up her hand to stop the Ilood of words, she continued, “I have a life I can barely get through because of all this Leveler thing. I thought that huge ball would be it. Done. But it’s not. Not if I am still getting hurt,” she paused as yet another zing showed up.

Rolling her Iingers together, imagining wadding up a small piece of cloth into a ball, she pulled her arm from one side to the other, like drawing a line.

“Here, hold onto this,” Yana said, refusing to look at the empty space. She could feel something there, but couldn’t see it. Yet another irritation.

Kit eyed the glowing moonlight colored strands weaving themselves through Yana’s hand. Not seeing Demons or Corrupt, she stood up and plucked them from her.

The cacophony rattling her being almost made her drop them, so she wrapped them around her Iist.

“Stop it!” she yelled at nothing. Placing her hands on the sides of her head, she shook it. Looking at Yana through teary eyes, she muttered, “I have them. They want to know how you did that.”

Yana shrugged. “The same as I always do, I just think it, and it happens.”

Kit tilted her head, concentration covering her face. She nodded several times before speaking. “You destroyed the Hereafter, and everyone’s element shelves and weapons disappeared,” she began.

“I did what?” Yana shouted, worry for her Progression because of destroying the entire Hereafter had never entered her thoughts.

“Wait, wait, they said it has to be a good thing...”

“How so?!”

“Stop talking, I’m trying to listen,” Kit snapped. At Yana’s glare, she continued softly, “Sorry, but they’re all yelling at me, too. Like, I think everyone who’s still alive in the Hereafter is yelling. I’m trying to listen to Ebbe or Emme or the Guardian only, and it’s really hard.” Taking a deep breath, she said, “Ebbe is going to shut everyone else out. They need your help. First, though, can you please put the star right side in... what?” she paused. “Oh, whatever you did turned Olbok inside out. Ew.”

* * * *

The now healed Olbok picked them up and placed them in the midst of what used to be the Concilium Chambers. The rubble was too scorched to be certain.

“Kit, ask Yana to map the Laws and the other Guardian, and toss it to me,” Ebbe asked. An orb exploded, then sat, bobbling up and down placidly, a hand span from his face. Gently tapping on it, they frantically dug through the debris at Ebbe’s feet.

“Oh, my,” Emme whispered in reverence. Carefully, she lifted the pulsing light, glowing in purity and authority. Cradling it in her hands, she whispered, “All the Laws, in their pure form. This is nothing like what was shown.”

Rising from behind the shattered dais, half of the gods and goddesses of the Concilium formed a semi-circle around them. Scowling, they pulled forward hidden and forbidden elements and began combining them which would create certain death and inIinite suffering, pulling the Void into the body it would be aimed at.

Angling sideways into a warrior’s stance, Ebbe held his hand down to his side, and visualized the weapon and elements needed to offset what he could see them making. Failing to hide his shock, he hefted the blade. From behind him, a whoop of glee, followed by a low, malicious chuckle told him Donal had discovered the same thing.

Yana had been right all this time.

The elements listened to thoughts and intentions. It was all that mattered.

Willing battle gear onto his body, Ebbe thundered, “You have perverted the Laws of Progression! You it, they frantically dug through the debris at Ebbe’s feet.”

Hereafter with evil, used that which you forbade to all others!” Lifting the weapon high, he thrust it down, stabbing deep into the ground near his feet, which shattered, cracking like frozen water.

Leaning against the hilt nonchalantly, he said, “I’d like you to meet Yana. My child, the Leveler of Prophecy.”

A new divide inside spacetime rose from the crack, lightning from shattered planes sparking the torn edges. In the vastness of the Void, a luminescent being Iloated.

Sidling up to Ebbe, Donal whispered, “Does she see any of this?”

“Not really,” Ebbe whispered back. “Kit described what was happening – the Concilium, the forbidden coming to light, and what you see her as now is what she has envisioned.”

Frightened, the remaining Concilium threw all they had at Yana’s Iloating form. It passed through, making no marks. Emme was violently mouthing instructions to Kit, throwing ball after ball of intentional elements, knowing full well that everything thrown had passed through her lighted form, but had hit Yana. Hard.

Losing their bravado, the gods and goddesses melted from beings of light, the Highers on the Path, the Elders, and reformed into pure evil, visages and forms more twisted than Demons.

* * * *

Writhing on the Iloor, tears streaming, Yana heard Kit talking but couldn’t listen. Whatever had been thrown

* * * *

The Concilium, all dark gods and Demons gathered elements from planes and times Ebbe had never heard of, spaces that shouldn’t have existed. Yana’s form was Ilickering. A horriIied Emme pulled forward a life size holo of the damage done to her, throwing healing at her, physically holding her pieces together with her Iingers.

Donal and the Guardian stood on either side of him, blocking Emme from view, weapons drawn, balls of deadly elements dancing around their hands. “Yana, NOW!” Ebbe yelled, hoping she was well enough for Kit to get through. Or her “zings”, which he now understood to be the element of Absolute Truth, talking to their Queen, the Leveler.

Lightning Ilashed, and another body rolled across the ground, jumping up to face off against the Concilium. His tousled and bruised appearance and fragmented clothing could not hide the illumination emanating from his being.

“Looks like I showed up for the fun part,” he quipped. “Cold ochu on a pole, could you be any more identical?” Donal asked in wonder. Dirt and rags aside, he could see no difference between the Guardians.

Before anyone could answer, tendrils whipped from Yana’s still Ilickering form, curled around the dark gods and Demons, rendering them to dust, then yanked the Ilakes into the Void. With a sweep of her arm, Yana’s form gave permission for the elements of the Void to feast.

* * * *

exploded, her intestines yanked from her. She curled into a ball on her side, furiously trying to slow her breathing, swallow the agony. The hated zing hit, she took two deep inhales, let each out. Unable to unclench her Iist from the pain, she willed to her a looped rope, and tugged.

Letting that go, she felt Kit rolling her over. Now on her back, breathing shallow through lungs that were closing, listening to Kit’s description of what was happening, she brought the ropes back. Many of them. Tied them to beings on the other end, and yanked. Lightheaded from lack of air, sparks and darkness Iilled her vision.

Groaning herself awake, Yana refused move. A calming, gentle touch of Iingers stroked through her hair. Hoping it never went away, she cracked an eye open. Not expecting to see Kit sitting on the far side of the room, she had the energy to only raise her eyebrows.

“I guess that’s as good as it gets,” Kit said with a grin. “You’ve been out for a rise and a half. “Donal is stroking your hair. Weird that you can’t see him still, but at least you can feel him. He’s got a huge smile. They say to tell you we won. You pulled all the evil ones into the Void, letting the dark elements eat them. Seriously, you mean, really eat them?” Kit shuddered. “Ugh, and you also found and pulled the other Guardian to them, just in time too. He was almost fed to the Void himself. Yuck, really, that’s kind of messed up,” Kit said. “The map you gave them, they’re using to rebuild everything in the Hereafter, the way it’s supposed to be, with conscientious thought and intention, paired with knowledge and where one is on the Path. They have the Laws now too.”

Reaching up, hoping to feel a hand, but, nothing again, Yana relaxed as the Iingers massaged deeper, but still gently. “Something is better than nothing,” she whispered. Being pain free, and feeling an Incorrupt’s tender touch was worlds above where she’d been. Feeling a form climb onto the bed and curling around her, arms tight yet soft, Yana drifted to a painless sleep.

Glancing over his shoulder at Ebbe, Emme, and both Guardians, Donal said, “You can all leave now, I’ve got her.”

Glossary of Names and Terms

Alil–AH leel (husband)

Alili–AH leelee (wife)

Ama-(Ah mah) - mom

Concilium–cohn SIL eeyum (a council of high gods/goddesses who guide others on the Path of Progression and oversee much of the running of the Hereafter)

Corrupt–the dead whose Mortal life choices and doings align them with evil and the Demons

Datter-(daa tr) - daughter

Deisos–DEE sohs (after death “paradise”)

Deisos Teacher(s)–Mortals spiritually and higher skilled than Oracles, rarer too, few known, can talk to/see Ebbe/Emme when allowed

Donal–DOH nul (male protagonist)

Ebbe–EH beh (Cycle God)

Emme–EH mee (Cycle Goddess)

Gods/Goddesses–those who were Incorrupt, then passed their various tests and trials in Deisos, allowing their ascension to godhood on the Path of

Progression; god(s) is often gender neutral, as they are equals, but lazy, and the word is shorter to write/ say

Holo–(Hahl) oh–as in hologram

Ochuroma–O schu ROH mah (after death

“hell”)Hereafter–the life continuation along the Path of Progression that occurs after Mortal existence endsIncorrupt–the dead whose Mortal life choices and doings align them with the gods/ goddessesGuardian–a guide, helper, from Deisos, who assists Mortals

Olbok (Ohl bohk) – a sentient being, a star, belonging to Ebbe and Emme Oracles–Mortal version of prophets, seers who can talk to/see the Incorrupt, Guardians, Void - realm of the Demons (devoid of light)

Yana–YAH nuh (female protagonist)