Quiet Keystrokes and Midnight Ramblings

I have a confession to make. I didn't used to read indie authors. Back when I began my publishing journey, when it felt like everyone was rolling their eyes at me and my first indie book (and second, and third), I bought into the idea that self-published books weren't good reading. This is a horrendous lie, of course. Self-publishing was the foundation of literature long before "traditional" publishing was a thing. And with so few publishers in relation to writers, amazing works are passed over by brick and mortar houses every day. While it's true, I've read some indie authors that I don't enjoy, I've read plenty of contracted books that I hated, too. In the end, it doesn't matter how a story came to be, only that it's been told. I have been blessed in the years since to have met some incredibly talented writers who self publish or work with independent presses. They've changed my views on what makes a good story, for the b...