A (Re)Introduction

So, I have just a couple of new followers, and so I thought I’d make another post about who I am, what I do, what I stand for, and what I hope to achieve. I expect to maybe do this every couple of years or so… If new followers show up in that time. Here goes!

Hello!

Thank you for the follow. My name is Sonia. I’m an artist, gamer, and martial artist living in Ottawa, Canada (as of the writing of this). I have, obviously, a bunch of interests., but the main thing I want to do with my life, though, is write. I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. Stories are how I coped with the world. First by reading then, and then by writing them.

I write a whole bunch of stuff in a whole bunch of genres. Honestly, my brain is kinda a dick, and won’t stick to one thing. I have a military space opera, epic fantasy, less epic fantasy, vampires, zombie fairies (you did not read that incorrectly), historical fiction... It’s a lot. Basically, all that old writing advice about finding your niche and sticking to it, I have ignored. It’s all written under the same name - S.M. Carrière.

I previously was a hybrid author, with books published by myself and Renaissance Press. Well, sadly, Renaissance Press is closing its doors, leaving three published books and one that was to be published stranded.

I had already started this Ko-Fi before the news dropped, but I had intended for it to be the home for the stories I wrote that I didn’t want to publish the traditional route. I wrote The Timbercreek Incident as a serial on this site, which subscribers could read first, and everyone else could read after the fact. If you want it, you can download the ebooks for free (there will be a payment amount, so just enter $0.00 and it’s yours). The paperback will soon be available for purchase in most places.

Except Amazon. I made the decision this year that I wouldn’t publish anything through Amazon. I don’t like the way their treat authors. I dislike the way they treat their workers. And I despise how they’ve been behaving in the political sphere. This is a largely symbolic gesture. I’m not a very well known writer. I barely sell anything outside of the one convention a year I attend. I’m certain that Amazon will not miss the maybe two dollars a year they made from my paltry sales.

I suppose, that is what made the decision easy for me. I wasn’t selling much anyway, so it’s not like I’m missing out on much money. Not the way other authors would be if they tried to do the same.

If you are interested in getting my books (or any books), I would ask that you use the most excellent bookshop.org, which does a lot to help independent bookshops with your purchases. That makes me happy. Independent bookshops are wonderful places, and I’m so happy that there’s a platform available to them and to readers who also want to avoid giving money to evil corporations doing evil things with it.

Without the book selling behemoth, that leaves me with few options for achieving my life’s dream — to be a full time writer, earning a living from my stories. So, I’m leaning hard into my Ko-Fi. Not that hard, to be honest. I don’t really promote it. But hey, if you feel like dropping $1.00 a month to help me out, I’m not going to stop you.. You get some stuff at a discount, and you’ll get exclusive story stuff too, soon. I’m working towards it. There’s also the input you get in deciding book covers. And I might be able to come up with a few other things as time goes on. Anyway, you don’t have to subscribe. Times are tough and spare change is hard to find (and inadvisable to spend), but it’s there as an option if you want it.

I probably should try and sell it more, since I want to make a living from writing. It is the whole reason I started this Ko-Fi.

Let me explain a little… Who am I kidding? Let me explain in full.

When news of Renaissance Press closing reached me, after I cried (for about a week), I made the decision to give up on publishing. Which is to say, give up on trying to be traditionally published. I’m really burnt out on it. I loved not having to do everything myself. I loved the extra support; even the meagre support of a small press. But I’m too tired now, and too heartbroken to keep trying. Easier on my heart to do it myself.

One of my books, The Lioness of Shara Mountain was supposed to be published February of this year by Renaissance. It was pushed to February of next year. And now it’s not being published at all. At least not traditionally.

I made the decision to publish the story myself. First on here, as a serial, for my subscribers. Then I’ll self-publish it the more usual way. For those who are not subscribers, you will be able to purchase the ebook when it comes out. Paperback, also.

There will also be a special edition of all my books available for subscribers only. So if you’re interested in getting physical my books with a few extras thrown in, as well as free access to all my novels as serials, subscribe!

I’m currently working on the special edition of The Timbercreek Incident. It’s taking longer than I’d like. I’m working two jobs, so finding time to write is the trick. But I am making progress.

The Lioness of Shara Mountain is scheduled to begin her run as a serial the first week of next year. So, relatively soon.

I realise I’m doing this whole writing journey the hardest way possible. I refuse to let Amazon make a cent off me. Without a press, and therefore a distributor behind me, I’ll not easily get into physical bookshops. It’s not going to be an easy road.

But I do think I have a shot at it. A distant shot, but one none the less. And I intend to make a proper go of it.

Before you note, I’m not charging much for subscriptions. $1.00 a month will not get me much, even less when the associated fees are taken. To be fair, due to my aforementioned two jobs limiting writing time, I don’t have that much to offer you in exchange, so I think $1.00 a month is fair. I’d have to have a buttload of subscribers in order to earn enough monthly income to be able to quit one of my jobs. 12 500, in fact. That is an impossible number. So I’m not going to worry too much about it. For now, I’m content simply to share my stories for those who might want to read them.

For now, that’s enough.

So, to all my new followers, thank you so much for deciding to join me on this journey towards what really feels like an impossible dream. I hope you enjoy your time here, and I really, really appreciate your support. Thank you.