A reintroduction of myself (Samantha Parish: Indie Author that likes to tell you about it and is also an avid book addict)
With so many new followers, and a couple of transformations, I wanted to take a minute to reintroduce myself
If you’ve been here from the beginning, you’ll remember that this blog was originally called The Messy Millennial Writer. I still am that (obviously) but after finally publishing my last book, and figuring out who I really am, I’ve been able to really articulate what I want to do.
In the beginning of the Indie Author Journey…
I had found out I would be losing the job I had for two years and loved. That was both incredibly stressful but also depressing and sad because I had seen the writing on the wall. The economy was headed in a direction that made it impossible for companies to maintain staff and as far as I know, my company held out to keep me on for as long as they could. It really really really sucked, but once it happened the anxiety of the impending doom of it actually happening was finally overwith.
That same week I had decided I would publish my book. Once again I rushed the process of promotion which didn’t work out for me (lol) but the act of accomplishing something I had worked so hard for helped fill the hole of sadness from losing my job.
I opted to publish it on March 29, 2023, which also happened to be my 4 year soberversary! So it was a good day all around. I like to say my sober date is even better than my birthday, because life seemed to get so much better once I stopped drinking.
While publishing my book was great, I still hated that I didn’t have a job. I was unemployed for about three months, and in those three months I was able to crank out a second novel, with the working title “Beverly at the Buffet” which I hated and knew I would change.
Then I wrote my second book
I learned a lot of lessons with 12,775 Days, the first book, and realized the title can’t be SO specific, unless it makes sense. I renamed Beverly at the Buffet “Hometown Revenge: A Cruel Reckoning.”
The day I finally finished Hometown Revenge and ordered my very first proof copies, I started a new job that I love. Everything finally feels like it fell into place exactly like it was supposed to! I work in communications and it has a heavy focus on writing, which is so perfect for me.
Then my job, moving, and renovating all started and went on for three straight weeks
We had to both move and renovate at the same time, RIGHT when I started working. I was beyond exhausted and would take up at 6 in the morning, walk the dog, get ready, drive over a half hour to work, work all day, go renovate (walls, ceilings, demo, painting, flooring, windows… literally EVERYTHING) then go home to shower and go to sleep. On weekends I was moving and renovating, it was awful but I am so happy now! We’re in a bigger place with enough room for my cats and dog and I got to choose the colors and style of everything. We went with a gray accent wall and pine green main walls, and hardwood flooring. Our decor matches so well along with all of our furniture that we already had, and believe it or not I found the most perfect curtains at Dollar General. They’re a shiny gray and I used $6 tension rods (also from Dollar General) to hang them.
I absolutely can’t wait to get more of my stuff out of storage, specifically my bookshelves!
I got into the Scribner Influencer Program
Not only have I been ferociously writing, but I’ve been ferociously reading. I took those three months of unemployment to just relax and enjoy my life, and I read tons of books. I have been working hard to establish my Instagram again, which at one point was my work Instagram but is now my author Instagram account. With this, and my TikTok following, I was able to be accepted into the program! They send me early books before their release dates and so far I’ve received three. Nothing is more exciting than coming home after a long day of work and finding a surprise package from Simon & Schuster!
My TBR list is fat af:
As I push myself to finish editing Hometown Revenge in time for Spooky Season (because who doesn’t love a psychological horror novel during Spooky Season?) I look forward to tackling this pile of books!
So basically, I am a very busy with still trying to promote my first book, trying to finish AND promote my second book, working hard at my job that I adore, and settling into my new home. I want to continue to support the indie author journey, not just for myself but for everyone who tries their hardest to break out into the indie author world. It’s definitely not easy and feels damn near impossible most of the time to be perfectly honest, but when you love it it’s worth it.