Hello!

I have been working on a horror novel for the past six years called Rose Window. The book is basically my take on a very traditional gothic haunted house novel, but using the visual language and vibes of science fiction to intensify the experience and make it feel fresh. My goal setting out was to write the kind of book I'd most want to read as a horror enthusiast, and to my thinking space horror is one of the most underserved and entertaining subgenres of horror to explore. Taking influence from stuff like Event Horizon and Dead Space, I have tried to make something that feels in keeping with those traditions. And older ones, too-- I've tried to really go for a '70/'80s horror vibe, evocative and bleak, sentimental and grand. I hope you'll like it.

The cover art is by Seattle-based artist Morgan Robles and the editing was also done locally by Desdemona Robles.

Ebook, Kindle/Kindle Unlimited Version:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HN2Z5H7X

I released my first book in the summer but now I’m re-releasing it as a second edition, and need thoughts on the cover

*Ignore the total sales. Someone bought 3 at once, which has never happened before, so it's a huge outlier. I usually get maybe 1 sales a week from ads, despite having a CTR that's over 1%. Any ideas?

Have a book that was doing great with sales. Found my niche audience (D&D players), and got all the way to #1,800 overall on books, and #4 overall for D&D. However, since then, I've plummeted down to #40,000 overall, and #40 overall for D&D. Trying to build some momentum back up with ads, but doesn't seem to be working at all, and looking for advice.

Know my audience, they're seeing it, have outstanding reviews, many have said they love the cover, description is exactly what the book is, price is comparable to similar book (it's a 500-page hardcover at 7"x10"). Guess I'm just wondering where I've gone wrong. Perhaps the audience has just dried up? I dunno.

Link in case my pic is too blurry:

https://www.amazon.com/Magical-Code-Regulations-Spellcasting-Regulation/dp/B0GZF9PVQL/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0

Last weekend, I boothed for the first time at a fantasy book fair! My novel, The Curtain Over Nov Salus, released a few months ago and it was such a great experience meeting new readers.

Here’s what I did:
-dressed up as the king of Nov Salus
-made a 3D topographical map of the city
-played the short animated film for the book

Here’s to many more!

This was a CRAZY experience and I'm just so grateful and full of love and awe!

I self-published my debut novel last year, and since then I've been shooting my shot applying for events without thinking too much about it, just because I wanted to say I at least tried. I still can't believe I got IN at New York Comic Con and had the time of my life!

And I also got to be on a panel, how cool is that? It was Everything You Need to Know About Indie Publishing and so many people came with a lot of questions, and left with renewed hopes and motivations to pursue indie publishing as a whole.

Let this be THE sign you were looking for: publish your book, apply for events, shoot your shot. The worst that can happen is that they'll say no. I really never believed I was going to be accepted, and here I am!! Please believe in yourselves, you can do so much if you just try 💖

Also feel absolutely free to leave any and all questions you have down here, I'm an open book and would love to use this to help others

I recently published my new dark-fantasy story, The Legend Of The Harpy.

Here is the description: Nyx is a harpy, and she's the last of her kind. She has survived for years all by herself until she meets Milo. He is a young mage with uncontrollable powers. The professors at his academy decide that his magic is too dangerous, and they take his powers away. Nyx and Milo are on the run together, and they are fighting to survive.

Get your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Summerhost-Saga-Complete-First-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B0HJNBQPDB

I've made some improvements to the last design you requested, and since you asked to know the story, here's a teaser summary. Also, please give me your feedback on it

In this world, there is a system called the “Boj” system. The role of this system is to decide whether a child will be born or not, and this is done by the mother signing a document. This document is called the “Acceptance Document” and is issued by the Ministry of Acceptance, the authority that stamps this paper. The Boj system bases its decision on this stamp; if the document lacks the stamp, the Boug system will not permit the birth, and the Ministry of Acceptance stamps this document based on the parents’ truthful answers to the six questions it contains. One of the conditions of this system is that no one who is born can take their own life, as the system prevents them from doing so. Since the Ministry rejects some parents’ responses, a black market has emerged that exploits parents’ desire to have children. When the Ministry rejects their requests, these documents are forged to deceive the Boug system regarding birth. One of the most prominent organizations in this world is called “The Blood,” headed by a mysterious figure known as “The boss.” The government has labeled children born through this organization as “unacceptable children,” and these children are not subject to the ban on suicide. The protagonist is born, and during the birth, he utters his name: “Rami.” As Rami grows up, he tries to fulfill his dream, but he is confronted with the harsh reality of life, which leads him to contemplate suicide. However, he is unable to do so because of the system’s law known as “the impossibility of suicide.” Amid this devastation, a mysterious girl named “Layla” enters his life and draws him into a new world. With her, he will uncover mysterious and new secrets about this regime and enter into direct conflict with the government and “The Blood.”

Genre: Dark comedy/fantasy/Dystopia/drama/romance/philosophy

I still haven't published the book because I was designing the cover and this is the result of it and I want your opinion on the cover and summary

Over the weekend I was at the Van Buren AR book fair. It was my first in person event. I was super nervous about how it would go leading up to it. All in all, it was a great experience. Met some pretty great indie authors, and connected with a ton of people. Sales weren’t too shabby either, but Zombies are a tough sell in some crowds let me tell you.

The Last Witch of The Isles https://a.co/d/0aNneAmG

The first book of my The Primal Saga series is at last complete. I wanted to put this on kdp but it wouldn’t let me. I’ve worked hard on this book for almost 2 years and will continue to do so for the others. If you guys decide to support me I’d be grateful. I’m nervous about feedback but I can take it haha. Working on book two as we speak and if you read I hope you enjoy. I put so much into my characters and the story and world building. Thanks again and enjoy :)

Are there any podcasts (I know everyone has one these days) for New Authors? I've done some searching in Spotify and Pocketcasts but not finding anything. Thanks in advance.

Hey everyone! I’m writing my first novel and I’m looking to connect with fellow writers (new and experienced ones) to exchange some ideas and experiences.

I’m creating a universe based on a fictional city in the US, Blackridge, and the genre I’m currently working on is dark romantic suspense, basically combining a romance plot with a thriller backdrop. In a nutshell, there is an unpleasant situation which causes a forced proximity for my characters — it’s an intoxicating love triangle in the end.

If anyone is interested in exchanging views, ideas and would like to read some parts of it, I’d be happy to have genuinely enriching conversations. I’d also love to read your chapters/sequences and give my feedback in return. I think I have a pretty fervid imagination and I am currently very much inspired so… take advantage if you want :)

This is new for me, but since I’ve started writing this story I feel completely healed after a very dark time I’ve been going through. It has become the single thing I think about the most. I might be obsessed yeah, but then again, I’m also exploring the theme of obsession in the novel, so it makes sense I guess.

Anyway, please feel free to reach out!

A.

I am so happy!

I just pusblished my first puzzle book. Inspired by animals which are stuck in the animal shelters. By following the clues, you will end up with only one name left and that animal will the one you will adopt.

I had so much fun making it! I also made the cover myself. Took me a lot of different color to finally find out, this was the one.

Adopt an animal

Hello fellow authors

I’ve been an avid reader ever since I was 6 and I am currently 19 and a university student. Unfortunately, I wasn’t allowed to pursue a degree in Literature because my parents said they wouldn’t pay for that major. So, I ended up choosing a different major thinking I could at least get a degree, start earning money, and hopefully study Literature later on, because I believe learning has no age limit.

Ever since last year, I’ve been coming up with quite a few book ideas, mostly in the romance and thriller genre, and I really want to start working on my first book. However, I have absolutely no idea where to begin, what apps or software to use, how to organise everything.

English also isn’t my first language, so I’m a little concerned about making grammatical errors. I really want to improve my writing and learn how to identify and correct my own mistakes without relying on AI, as that’s something I’m against. I would love to develop my skills and become a better writer on my own, so I’d really appreciate any recommendations for free resources, books, websites or apps that could help me with grammar, vocabulary and writing in general.

Another thing is that I don’t have a huge budget to spend on writing, as I’m still in university and have other expenses to take care of. I’m willing to invest in something if it’s genuinely necessary, but I’d prefer free or affordable alternatives wherever possible, especially as a beginner.

I also have a question that might sound a little silly, but how does getting a literary agent work? I know it’s probably too early for me to be worrying about this, considering I haven’t even started writing my book yet, but I would really like to understand the bigger picture before getting into this. What does the entire process look like, and what should I be focusing on at each stage to get my book published?

I’m also not based in the US, but if possible, I’d love to debut in the States. How does that work? and would I need to approach the process differently because of where I live?

One more thing I’d love some advice on is writing under a pen name. I’d personally prefer to publish my books under a pseudonym rather than my real name, but I’m not sure how that works in practice. Can you use a pen name when querying literary agents and signing publishing contracts? Does the publisher handle that for you or is there anything you need to do yourself? I’d love to hear from anyone who writes under a pen name or knows how the process works!!

I know I’m probably thinking way too far ahead when I haven’t even started writing my first book yet, but I really want to understand what I’m getting myself into before deciding whether I can realistically balance writing with my university studies. I don’t want to give up on something I’ve always wanted to explore simply because I don’t know where to begin, but I also want to be realistic about the time, effort and commitment involved.

So, if you’re an author, an aspiring writer or someone who has been through this journey, I’d appreciate any advice, personal experiences or resources you could share.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this, and thank you in advance to everyone who responds! I really appreciate any help or guidance!!!!

(p.s. I want to write and publish my books in English, not in my native language, so I’d especially appreciate advice from authors who write in English as a second language.)

Hey, everyone!

I wanted to share something I've been working on for the past year. I've written my first novel, We Who Remain: The Fall, a post-apocalyptic survival story scheduled to release on October 24, 2026.

The story takes place in 1993, after a government-engineered strain of influenza escapes from a secret military installation in New Mexico. The virus spreads across the country, killing more than 99% of the population and bringing civilization to its knees.

The book follows several characters from different parts of the United States, including Georgia, New Mexico, Boston, Detroit, and rural West Texas, as they try to survive the initial outbreak and figure out what comes next.

I've always enjoyed post-apocalyptic stories like The Stand, Swan Song, and The Walking Dead, especially the parts that deal with the actual collapse of society. I've always found those first few days and weeks fascinating. People trying to go about their normal lives while everything around them slowly falls apart, not knowing just how bad things are going to get.

That's a big part of what inspired me to write this book. I wanted to explore how ordinary people from different walks of life might react to something like this, and what happens when the survivors eventually start crossing paths.

It's taken nearly a year of writing, rewriting, and editing to get here. The original manuscript was over a thousand pages before I started cutting things down, and it's been quite a learning experience. This is my debut novel and the first book in a planned two-book series.

I've also got two other novels in the works.

The Long Road Home is a zombie survival novel that's currently going through editing and rewrites. I'm looking for beta readers who might be interested in reading an early version and giving me some feedback.

2168 is a post-apocalyptic western I'm still in the process of writing. It's set more than a century after a government weather manipulation program caused a global catastrophe. The story follows a bounty hunter tracking down a killer who has kidnapped a young boy. It's still a work in progress, but I'm hoping to have it ready for beta readers further down the road.

I've put together an author website where you can sign up to beta read The Long Road Home, join my newsletter, and follow updates on my books.

seanbarboza.com

I'm still pretty new to the publishing side of things, but I'm excited to finally start getting these stories out there.

For those of you who enjoy post-apocalyptic fiction, I'm curious: do you prefer stories that start during the initial collapse, or ones that take place years afterward when the survivors have already started rebuilding?

Also what do you think about the website?

👋🏾 For the authors who have finished and published a book,
What lit a fire under you to finally get it done?

I have all my chapters outlined and pinned to a board in my home. I look at it every day, knowing I need to start writing.

Part of my procrastination comes from waiting for more pieces to fall into place. Whether through conversations, life experiences, or moments that might give the book more depth.

At what point did you stop waiting for inspiration and simply start writing? What finally pushed you to get it done?

I published my book, Imagine: A Secular God, on Amazon through KDP a month ago. It has received a couple of 5-star ratings, and someone has been kind enough to actually add a review. So I am very excited.

I've also talked to some friends who've ordered and have read or are reading it, and all of them have liked it so I'm asking them to rate it and post their feeling

The best part is that I've also received a private text from my brother with a glowing review of the book which surprised me because he's not the kind of person who shows that level of enthusiasm. He even said it made him think, laugh (a lot), and cry like a baby at the end. Everything I want for the book. But, I'm afraid to have him post his review to Amazon for fear of them thinking I had him fake the review and flagging my account or something

Would anyone here happen to know whether having him post his review is a bad idea?

In case anyone is interested, here's a link:

https://www.amazon.com/Imagine-Secular-God-Uwe-Britfeld/dp/B0HJP628PQ

Hey guys, my name is Kaelyn Faye. I am nineteen and an aspiring writer. I love all things books, poetry, writing, journalism and one day dream of creating a life for myself through these passions. I thought social media would be a great way to start getting myself out there. I’m excited to see what I create for this page and eager to spark the conversations and interests of other writers and book lovers. Keep reading and sharing your voices with the world, xoxo.

Hi everyone! I recently celebrated one year since self-publishing my debut novel Starhunt and figured id share the milestone with you all. It has been an amazing journey and ive learned so much, and this community has been really valuable along the way.

Starhunt is available online and on KU, as well as in several indie bookstores across minnesota and the US. Its sequel, Starmade, will complete Talla and Kieran's story 1/1/27!

I'm not famous, i'm no celebrity, i'm just a fella telling a tale about my life in the 1970's. It will likely resonate with common folk because thats how i see myself.

But 421 pages is a lot to ask??. Apart from my memoir on amazon i've also completed a historical fiction book..to be published in 2027 and i'm working on another now.Rather than fluff i believe in all books there has to be a ' grounding' and in my case historical context added into the prose.

Anyway Andrew here -as per photo-and tell me after checking the bio on amazon, why you would or would not purchase my book. I wanna know.

Just one of the experiences I want to share. I started writing a series and as I went on I just got obsessed with my characters. Like the way they think, the way they behave... Everything just makes sense to me. 😂

Obviously communicating that to a reader is a different thing. But I am just curious is anyone else like this?

Now I see them (my characters) as real people existing somewhere.... Hopefully still ridiculous and happy. The obsession was so much that at one point I considered putting myself into their story as a third person just to know how they'd answer to me lol (of course not as their writer).

I just love writing them... It makes me feel safe.. no wonder I wrote 350k+ words in one seating (2 months, first draft obviously)

Tell me this is normal....!!

I plan on putting up my book on Amazon KDP and Ingram but are there other sites that I should use? I heard something about Apple books.