Friday, May 12, 2017

Finding My Dream by Shannon L. Brown


Shannon L. Brown

I can relate to Shannon Brown’s writing journey, because I also chose to pursue indie publishing. Are you at a crossroads, trying to decide which path to take? Enjoy Shannon’s personal story, and don’t miss checking out her unique “freebie” below. 
~ Dawn

Finding My Dream

Once upon a time, I was an author with a dream for a major publishing contract. I wrote agents, contacted those editors who would let the unagented through the door, wrote another book. And another book. And another book.

I finally left the world of fiction for a while and wrote articles. Hundreds of articles. I dabbled on the side with a mystery for kids as I did that. After finding some success in the nonfiction world, I tried fiction again. At this point, it occurred to me that my writing had developed, my voice was strong, my ideas were solid, but the world at large had changed. My vision for wholesome books with joyful endings differed from what the world wanted or at least believed it wanted.

When I talked to parents, and the kids themselves, I learned that this book had a market. When you tell a ten-year-old girl that two kids found a briefcase full of feathers in the forest and had to solve the mystery, her eyes get big. Publishers wanted new, fresh, different. Readers wanted a story that entertained them. A child didn’t know or care about finding “different.”

I’d come to a crossroads.

The publishing market had changed enough that I could self-publish and be accepted. I told God that this was his book and that I would do my very best for him and it. My book would be the equivalent of one done by the publishers. I used several professional editors, found an amazing illustrator for the cover, and—having spent so much on the cover—learned how to format the interior professionally. (InDesign isn’t a program for the faint of heart.)

In 2014, The Feather Chase, a middle grade mystery for ages 8-12 released. I won’t deny the challenges from that moment until today, but nothing is better than seeing a little girl’s eyes light up when she tells me she loves this book. I wrote a sequel to the series, The Treasure Key, and my illustrator is working on book three in the series right now, The Chocolate Spy, which will release this fall. I’ve also written the four-book sweet/clean Alaska Dream Romance series and a journal for readers of Christian fiction.

Self-publishing, now called indie by most indie authors, brings me more joy because it’s more personal. I touch every aspect of the book from the first word on the page to the published book. Being an indie also comes with more work. I am the publisher. I do everything they do.

Would I trade this indie life for one with a major publisher? Some days the answer is a resounding yes! On other days, I wouldn’t consider it. This is one of those “other” days.





They start chasing a mystery—then it chases them.

Twelve-year-old cousins Sophie and Jessica don’t have much in common. Sophie loves hiking and her small town. Jessica would rather be shopping in a city. The only mystery is how they’ll be able to spend the summer together.

Then they find a briefcase in the forest with a surprise inside. When they hear footsteps behind them and bad guys run after them, they have no choice but to work together to solve the mystery of The Feather Chase.

EXTRA!
There’s a FREEBIE tied into this book: a write a mystery lapbook kit. Free to those who sign up for Shannon’s newsletter. (It can also be purchased for $8.)

Heres more about it, along with a sample: http://shannonlbrown.com/lapbook/

And here's the link to the signup and freebie:




Shannon L. Brown enjoys happy endings in books and in life. Her Alaska Dream Romance series is set in the state she’s from, the stories are clean, and, of course, have happily ever after endings. Kids ages 8-12 will enjoy the suspenseful and fun Crime-Solving Cousins Mystery series. Shannon lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband and cat Evie.

To connect with Shannon and learn more, please visit:

Website – www.shannonlbrown.com