Here we go...

So, I’ve never written a blog before and I’m not entirely sure where to begin. What I do know is that I want to help other indie authors realise their dreams.

When I was 11, I wanted to be an author. But things were very different back then (I’m 54 now), and it felt impossible. Traditional publishing was the only real route, and getting accepted was near impossible. To be fair, it still is. Today, though, we have so many more tools available to us — digital platforms, AI, computers — and like everything, they come with both positives and negatives.

AI can genuinely support authors, but it’s also impacting the industry in ways that aren’t always great. Many people are choosing to use AI to write entire books. Some don’t see an issue with that, but it’s definitely controversial. Many authors feel it takes away from the creativity and authenticity of “real” writing.

I’m undecided. I think it’s lazy to write a whole book using AI — and if you do, is it really your book? Something else is doing the hard work. I’d like to believe that quality and originality will always shine through… but that’s not guaranteed. The indie market is so saturated now that the real challenge isn’t whether AI should be used or not — it’s getting your book seen and heard above the noise.

People say there’s so much help out there, and there is. Many will offer their services — in fact, you might get inundated. But that’s part of the problem. It’s hard to work out what’s real and what’s genuine. I also found that while many authors say they’ll help, the support is often limited. I couldn’t find anyone willing to offer real advice or guidance for free, so I muddled through and figured it out myself. Now I’m facing the next big challenge: promotion and marketing.

My offer, however, is genuine — and free. If I can help you get your story out into the world, just ask.