Unpopular Opinion

 

Authors keep trying to justify that they wrote/write their own books and did not use ai, even though they weren’t ask to prove it. Just stop. If you’ve been writing for quite some time and have published several books throughout the years, you don’t have to justify yourself.

Just put your books out there, let the readers enjoy your books. Another thing: Yes, AI paranoia runs rampant but just because a publisher or indie author uses a video that may seem like ai generated to advertise an author’s book, doesn’t mean the book itself is ai generated! 

Trolls and haters will always cause online drama to deter readers away from author’s books because that’s what they do. Believing their lies will only mean you’re missing out on a potentially good novel. By the way, authors shouldn’t have to pay an influencer to promote their book. If the influencer likes your book then they should mention it in their podcast or stream, for free. Indie authors shouldn't pay someone to review their books either. Reviews/rates will come when the readers posts them. I made a short video of this blog entry, not all of what I have written here made it into the video, though. if you have your own opinion about this entry, please I encourage people to post their comments.

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CG Heandez

Leaving Reviews Help

Yes, leaving reviews and ratings is definitely beneficial to the author. Contrary to what some might say, anyone who has purchased your book or downloaded it during a promotional offer is eligible to leave feedback. While there’s a common belief that reviews from friends or family could lead to a ban, this isn’t necessarily accurate. It’s fear mongering by other authors.

Question: How would platforms like Amazon or Goodreads even determine if reviewers are related? Some claim that these sites dig through social media for connections, but is it worth the effort to invade someone’s privacy just to invalidate their reviews? Sounds ridiculous, isn't it. It makes no sense really, since millions of self-published authors publish their books every year and to waste that much time for one author is mind blowing. Consider this for a moment: if an author faces negativity from haters or a disgruntled peer, it might create some buzz, but authors, don’t let that fear hold you back. 

It’s important not to discourage anyone from sharing their ratings or reviews of your books.  A smart move for any author is to secure an ISBN number before publishing on KDP or any other platform. It costs $125, and having your own ISBN can enhance your book's visibility with major retailers, rather than relying solely on Amazon for distribution.

Apparently, Amazon primarily focuses on distributing books through its own platform, unlike IngramSparks, which reaches a wider range of retailers. While I’m not entirely sure about the specifics yet, many authors have shared that they wished for their books to be available in places like Target, Walmart, or libraries, but Amazon's distribution is limited to its own site. 

This year, I’m planning to take a different approach by not only publishing a paperback through Amazon KDP but also utilizing IngramSparks for broader distribution. You can find more information about Bowker Publishing Services in the link below. Thank you for visiting my blog and please subscribe to my channel. Not all blog entries are made into short videos but most are.

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Unpopular Opinion

Updates on my Books 2026

I am sharing a link to my blog under CG Heandez where I post updates on books I've written under that pseudonym. Please visit and comment on any entry you wish. Thank you. 

CG Heandez

Cecile Garcia

Leaving Reviews Help

Pseudonyms:Why Authors Use Them 

Layla Moran: Not a Real Author, Sorry

 

(Though I've written fanfic before, I've never came across plagiarism, not of my Fanfiction stories but this is what I came across regarding one individual who took it upon themselves to boldly use other author's work and relabel it as her/his own.)

Layla Moran has taken three fanfics, from fanfic websites. For over the past few years, she published books that are suspiciously similar to some fanfiction stories from other writers. She claims they are her own. This is a clear case of plagiarism.

It's really disappointing to see someone so openly plagiarizing fanfics by just swapping out names and a few words. This kind of behavior is completely unacceptable. It is disheartening to witness something so distasteful.

I haven't read any of her books, but I did watch a video about her plagiarism, and I found it really disappointing and upsetting. My question is simple: Is she genuinely who she claims to be? With a pen name and what seems to be a fake photo, I can't help but think she's a grifter. She or he is a person who capitalizes on the hard work of others for profit. A person like that is often seen as opportunistic. Personally, I make sure to protect my original works with copyright. Fanfiction typically draws on existing characters and storylines from TV shows or movies, which makes it difficult for writers to secure copyright protection for their work through the copyright office. 

I have published three stories on Wattpad and AO3, with only one being an original work. My book, A Time Traveler’s Companion, is loosely inspired by a fanfiction I wrote several years ago. But I plan on writing a book based on an original story that is posted on AO3 & Wattpad. 

The story is based on the Backrooms. It is essential for authors who have shared their original works on fanfiction websites to take the necessary steps to copyright their creations. While the video discusses the implications of AI for some reason, my focus here is specifically on the issue of plagiarism and how some people are stealing written works. I encourage readers to share their thoughts on this matter in the comments section.

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Video of About Layla Moran

Rates & Reviews Do Matter

A Children's Book or Not

In the Company of Elves, a children’s book I wrote in the 2000s and published in 2009, was revised in 2018 and is now available on Amazon. I see it as suitable for readers aged ten and up, although it wasn’t quite what a family member had in mind when she suggested I write for kids. Her recommendation seemed to stem from her belief that my first book, Chandra’s Quest, lacked engagement, despite it being targeted at young adults. Ironically, after I published In the Company of Elves, I received no feedback from her—just silence. I know she must have seen it online since I’ve shared the link multiple times, which led me to think her idea of a children’s book leaned more towards younger audiences, perhaps with fewer words and more illustrations. While her suggestion might have been a bit sarcastic, it ultimately pushed me to improve my writing. In those early days, I often felt overlooked as a "real" writer or author.

Family can often be our toughest critics, but I believe I've made significant progress since my early writing days. I've released several books, including low-content ones, and my advice to fellow writers is simple: create what you love. Don’t let others' opinions dictate your writing path or deter you from crafting your next great story. Remember, not everyone will resonate with your work, and that's perfectly okay. If someone doesn’t appreciate it, that’s their loss.

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Goodreads: Changes I Made

It's Not About AI!

 

As an indie author, I'm growing increasingly frustrated with the constant accusations that writers are relying on AI simply because their work is polished and articulate. It's disheartening to see talent dismissed in this way, as if good writing can only come from technology rather than genuine creativity and effort. 

I believe that those making accusations against self-published authors are often just trolls or bots looking to cause strife. So, it's not about AI, it's about being insulting and cruel to the Indie Author community. The majority of them work hard on their books. Indie authors are minding their own business, doing their own thing. Are you? 

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CG HEANDEZ

CECILE GARCIA

Other Books with Similar Titles

 

It was recently pointed out to me that there are a few books with titles similar to mine. After doing some research, I found only two that stand out: Chandra’s Quest and In the Company of Elves.

It seems that authors with titles similar to mine have emerged only in recent years. In contrast, my book, Chandra’s Quest, was actually written in the late 90s and published in the early 2000s. In the Company of Elves was written in the 2000s, the first edition published in 2009. I revised both of my books in the 2010s, and the only one that shares a somewhat similar storyline is In the Company of Elves. 

Chandra’s Quest, authored by Barbara A Miller, is a modern romance set in a rural backdrop, focusing on themes of love and connection. In contrast, my own work, which shares a similar title, delves into the realms of sci-fi fantasy, exploring imaginative worlds and futuristic concepts. While both genres offer unique narratives, they cater to different tastes and interests in storytelling. 

It's worth noting that titles can't be copyrighted unless they're exceptionally unique, so there's no basis for copyright infringement claims in that regard. The same goes for names and ideas. As the original author of Chandra’s Quest and In the Company of Elves, I can only speak for my own works. However, I might just buy Chandra’s Quest by Barbara Miller, let’s just say, I’m curious. 

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Where Does Remi Live?

Chandra's Quest Excerpt: Chapter 29 the Sanctuary

 

They are closer to the entrance to Sanctuary but not close enough. They all breathed a sigh of relief, except Chandra. It was her thoughts of Xenos that brought him closer to her.

“He could have found us. I must stop thinking about him,” she thought. High above the trees, they heard what sounded like a ship, hovering above.

“Shit! What is that!” shouted Carlos. “It better not be what I think it is.” He pulled out his pistol. Treau’s eyes glazed over for a minute or two, then he regained his composure. “Chandra, we need to get closer to the clearing where the monolith is located,” he urged, his voice filled with urgency.

“Alright, I’ll do my best,” Chandra replied, cradling the stone in her hands, feeling the pulse of the Hymnu resonate within her spirit. In that moment, a vision struck her. Above them hovered a NyKarin ship. Soran is on board! Another vision followed, revealing that Xenos was near, his steps growing faster. Chandra inhaled sharply, a heavy sigh escaping her lips as she returned the stone to her pouch.

“What are you doing?” Carlos asked, panic rising in his tone. A grim expression clouded her face.

“A NyKarin ship is above us and Xenos is close, perhaps I should just surrender and keep you guys safe.”

“No! Try again,” Keeja shouted. Chandra felt a surge of determination from the worried tone in her friend's voice. "This place has a certain magic, and you possess something that could lead us to the sanctuary. Please, give it another shot," Keeja urged. In an instant, they found themselves in a clearing, the force that brought them there leaving them slightly disoriented, causing Keeja to retch. Treau, however, remained steady.

"That was exhilarating!" Chandra exclaimed as she steadied herself. Keeja's gaze was drawn to a massive monolith in the distance, and Treau pointed it out. It loomed majestically at the center of the clearing. “Wow look at that,” Keeja stared in awe. Carlos’ eyes shot open, and a hint of fear shadowed his face. They walked in the direction of the monolith. As they approached, Treau stopped.  “A ship is approaching.”

  “What?” Chandra looked up and a ship wobbled recklessly above them. The energy that the forest emits tinkers with the ship’s engine and the Lithum crystals that power the ship are being drained quickly. The NyKarin scout ship is in danger of crashing, the longer it hovers. Chandra stares up at the heavily tinted windows of the craft. “It is Soran, isn’t it,” she said, in a hush tone.

 “No, but the ship is NyKarin,” Treau responded, he gestured at them to continue the trek toward the monolith. “I thought he would come himself,” she said.

 “Your vision showed you one possibility, and in this timeline, he chose not to come,” Treau conceded. Chandra let out a sigh of relief, “I suppose that is good,” she said with a hint of uncertainty. The NyKarin ship ascended and left. They arrived at their destination. “Wow! Look at this thing,” Keeja said, as she touched the cold surface of the 8-foot-high stone structure towering before them.

“It has a doorway carved into it,” said Chandra, as she looked up at the towering monolith. They marched onward. Chandra senses that they are being watched. She glanced over her shoulder, warily. “Interesting structure. How long has it been here?” asked Keeja.

“It has been here for over 1000 years or longer,” said Treau. Keeja exclaimed, "Wow, so no one has ever seen this before?" Her eyes, filled with wonder, she gazed up at the colossal monolith. The intricate patterns etched into its base were both enigmatic and captivating. “Who created this?” Chandra asked, her fingers tracing the edges of the doorway as she examined it closely. Peering through, all she could make out was the opposite side of the forest—nothing remarkable. Yet, an unsettling and strange aura surrounded it. “I don’t see any structures on the other side,” she remarked, puzzled. As she reached her hand through, it suddenly vanished. “What the Hell!” Chandra exclaimed, yanking her hand back and inspecting it carefully, ensuring all her fingers were intact. She glanced at Keeja, who looked equally shaken. “Lady Linnea will clarify everything once we step through,” Treau assured them as he gestured to them to go through the doorway. Chandra hesitated. Carlos exhaled. “Why are you hesitating,” he asked her. She looks back at the forest, worried. “We will be safe there,” he reassured her. Keeja will not walk through, if Chandra does not, so Chandra gave her a nod to proceed. “Well, I guess we better go then,” she said. Carlos gathered his things and walked through and disappeared. Chandra jumped with a start. She gasped and looked at Keeja.

 “Wow!” Keeja exclaimed. Suddenly, they heard a loud screech from a distance. They spun around. “That doesn’t sound like the forest.” Chandra froze. Her eyes narrowed, trying to see through the distant trees. A Javarin is coming out of the brush. Carlos popped his head through the doorway, in time to see Xenos speeding towards them!  “Quick, come through!” Treau pulled Keeja through, Chandra hesitated. “Chandra, cross over now!” Carlos called out.  “I can’t believe he is here,” she froze and murmured, “No. I have to go through,” and she ran through the doorway. Xenos increased his speed but failed to catch them. He abruptly stopped in front of the monolith. "What is going on here?" he muttered to himself. Chandra turned around and fixed her gaze on him; he could see her standing just across the way.

 "I’m really sorry, but I have to do this. Farewell for now, Xenos. Until we meet again," Chandra said clearly. Xenos couldn’t hear her, but the serious expression on her face spoke volumes. "No!" he yelled, frustration bubbling over. Chandra turned and started to walk away from the door. Even though she was just a few steps from the entrance, Xenos found himself unable to move forward. He attempted to step through, but it was no use. His steps took him to the same spot, back in front of the doorway every time he attempted to walk through. He is confounded, thrown off balance by the many times he attempted to go through. The dizziness hit him hard, bringing him to his knees. All his efforts have gone to waste. His frustration took its toll. As soon as he gained his balance, he shot his weapon at the monolith, but it did not affect it. No scratches or marks appeared. It stood strong. “What is this thing?” he said out loud. He walked to a boulder nearby and sat down. He exhaled and was befuddled by what he just witnessed.

Chandra's Quest

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Excerpt from Chandra's Quest

The Backrooms and the Homeless Crisis

 

In my book, Lost in the Backrooms: The Phoenix Files Vol. 1, I explained that the Backrooms were originally created by the government to house the homeless, during the homeless crisis, it was a better solution and cost effective. It was a project that was supposed to help many people, a place where they can live comfortably and receive healthcare, mental health care, etcetera. 

As mentioned in the book, the government created the Backrooms. They used a high tech quantum generator, that created living quarters inside a 4.1milluon square foot warehouse. The first few years, the program worked, people received the care they needed and a safe and clean place to live, then for reasons unknown, the device used to create the rooms, offices, classrooms etcetera, malfunctioned and it punched a hole into another dimension. Unbeknownst to the crew and everyone else living inside the warehouse, which was called, West of Eden, something was happening, something was warping reality around them. It was too late when it was discovered and many people died or were warped into Eldritch horror looking creatures. 

When the quantum generator was shutdown, it did not stop the dimensions from merging. In fact, more levels were created, randomly. Those who did not mutate into creatures, either died or band together in colonies throughout the Backroom levels. The warehouse was shutdown & sealed, never to be opened again. Some have asked why didn't the Church use the portal within the warehouse to send hunters into the Backrooms, well, the entrance to the portal from the warehouse has been sealed with a large metal door and religious symbols are carved on the door. In my book I added a supernatural countenance to the Backrooms. A question was asked where in my story is the warehouse located, I would have to say in central California. The warehouse was the first low housing experiment for the homeless. 

Second question was:

Will this ever happen in real life considering that we do have a real life homeless crisis? 

I don’t know, maybe the part about building a large warehouse, creating clean & reasonable housing within it, can be a possibility, but as for the Backrooms coming to life, well it is fiction. 

I would like to note that In the Phoenix Files, Jane is a lesbian and even though that is not a big deal, unfortunately  nowadays, it can be an 'issue' for some parents. I just wanted to bring it to the reader's attention. I focus on the growth of the characters as the story progresses. They  fight against the  supernatural/paranormal. Think of  it like the tv series Supernatural.

The Backrooms is open for interpretation, any author can create a story around the lore and the story doesn’t have to always follow the Backrooms videos. My advice to other authors:

Create your own monsters that roam the endless halls of the Backrooms, be original. Remember, no one owns the Backrooms, it is not copyrighted material and that is why you see many books & other related content created around the Backrooms. 

(About the quantum generator: In my book, it is a device that generates rooms almost like magic, but it is a high tech way of doing it, however the scientist that created the device, added something different into the mix; he created an experimental device that can punch through another dimension. The scientist used it while the quantum generator was in use and that is what happened and how the Backrooms were created. He continues to live within the Backrooms, and has become the entity that some in the Backrooms know as the Care Giver. He sees himself as the creator of his own world. All of this will be explained in Vol. 6 There and Back Again. )

I had fun writing the first book of the Phoenix Files series. As I stated in the Author’s Notes in the back pages of my book, The Backrooms will return in volume 6, There and Back Again.

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New Book: Lost in the Backrooms

I am withholding the title of my new book until it is ready for publication, I guarantee that this next book series will intrigue avid readers. The first book out of the series will be related to the Backrooms phenomenon, called Lost in the Backrooms. Well, not sure if it’s a phenomenon but people have talked about it and posted short videos about the notorious Backrooms in recent years. The Backrooms intrigue me and have inspired me. I am integrating it into the story I am writing. The main character is a Hunter, she belongs to a secret organization that the Church created long ago to hunt down paranormal/supernatural creatures. 

The first book will introduce the main character, Jane, whose parents were a part of the secret organization and after they died when she was 12, she is taken to Saint Augustina orphanage, raised and trained to be a Hunter, like her parents. That’s all I am going to give you, I won’t reveal anymore. When I publish this book, I will post links to it on this blog and create a page for the series on my website.

MY Inspirations: Supernatural, Backrooms, paranormal shows, and some anime TV series I’ve seen in the past.

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What Is This?

 

Recently I received an email from KDP regarding some kind of alert for content review. Naturally I was perplexed by this. Here is what it said:

 

Hello, 

 

We are reaching out to you because we detected accounts attempting to manipulate Kindle services by simulating reading or borrowing activity on your titles.

 

You do not need to take any action, however, we will block the activities of these malicious accounts and their effects on payments. This means that you will still receive royalties associated with legitimate reading activities, but you will not receive royalties associated with activities related to these accounts. 

Please note that this notice does not represent a change to your account status but is sent to make you aware of how our security countermeasures will affect your previously reporting page count and your royalty payments. 

 

We understand you might have questions regarding the nature of how we detect these activities; however, please be aware that we cannot provide details that might compromise the integrity of our security systems.  

 

If you have any other questions, please reply to this email.  

No, I did not reply to it but went directly to KDP Community forum. I would rather not click on the link they provided because I did not want to click on something malicious. If this email is not directed to me personally, and it was sent out as a newsletter to all Indie authors then that's fine but recently I received several downloads of my books which surprised me but I am thrilled about it and I don't see a problem with it, people can download any of my books if they wish. I even got several global rates on all of them, thank you and I received an actual review on my book, In the Company of Elves, however, I was curious about the email I  received from KDP so I went ahead and logged into the KDP community forum. I asked about the email and why I would be receiving it and this is what several users said:

 “The notice has nothing to do with reviews and all to do with vandals manipulating sales numbers. I had it happen to my account several years back and it takes a while for them to find and disable the culprits, but they will do so. They are trying to reassure you will get paid for all legitimate sales but not for those fake sales being stuffed into the system. Think of it as cyber graffiti. Nothing to do but stay aware and wait it out.”

User 2: 

"Amazon is looking out for itself, not publishers. After all, you will not receive any royalties from page-reads they deem questionable. Be glad you still have an account. Back in the heyday of click-farms, hundreds of innocent titles were used to camouflage the real beneficiaries of click-farming. A great many indie bystanders found themselves jettisoned along with the offending parties, sometimes instead of. Click-farming isn't what it used to be (too many checks, balances and limitations to bring in the $500,000/month they used to get), but the practice has not gone away, no more so than has review or ranking manipulation. Even leaving out those who might get caught up with the actual scammers (like dolphins in a tuna net), KDP deletes 300-500 publishing accounts annually for a variety of reasons. I am sure a goodly percentage of those terminations are undeserved. It is always a mistake to assume KDP is looking out for us, is our friend or colleague/partner, or that they will listen to our protestations of innocence once a determination has been made."

I don't know what he or she is talking about, I've never heard of click-farming before. As far as I'm concerned, any VERIFIED buyer, is a verified buyer. Verified reviews or global rating is genuine and I should receive royalties from those sales, period! 

3 user:

"Well, the scammers aren't, AFAIK, "targeting" you. They manipulate YOUR sales, which means YOU get the money, not them. There's no realistic way for scammers to download KU, Kindle Unlimited book and speed read through them and THEY get the money. You get hurt by it, yes, because Amazon alerts to it and then starts to monitor your downloads and all that. It's bizarre. Not as bizarre as the sideways-book pirates, which is odd but odder."

This person is totally wrong, you can read through a book in two weeks or less if that book is under 100 pages. If it’s a novelette. Some of my books are novelettes. The only books that I have that are more than 100 pages are the Chandra’s Quest Trilogy set and In the Company of Elves.

So, I’m not sure where I stand with receiving royalties from KDP because ever since I had received the email, I haven’t heard anything else from them.

For those who want to know, my account on Amazon KDP is still up and running, it will not be deleted because I am not guilty of any kind of supposed scam. I’ll still have it next month, 6 months from now and for as long as I’m alive. Period!

Please do feel free to visit my author's page and download or buy any one of my books. Read, rate and review. Thank you.

I will make a vlog video about this soon. Please follow links below.

Amazon

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Author's Website

 

In the Company of Elves: Epilogue

 

Epilogue

Two years later, Melissa discovered she was expecting. She welcomed a lovely daughter named Marina into the world. Arowyn beamed with pride as a father. Marina, like her mother Melissa, is a quarter-elf. Long ago, Melissa’s grandmother had a secret affair with Auril during one of her visits to Agartha. When she found herself pregnant, she persuaded Melissa’s grandfather that the child was his and accepted it as a fact. Believing Trista was his daughter; he remained unaware of the hidden portal to another realm.

 

******

Melissa made an annual trip to visit Arowyn with her daughter, Marina. Meanwhile, back home, people often speculated about why she had never tied the knot with the man who fathered her child. She chose to remain single. Her father was deeply troubled by what he perceived as an injustice, envisioning a deadbeat who had left Melissa to fend for herself and their daughter. He wished for a different life for her, one where she wouldn’t have to raise a child alone. However, many women successfully navigate single parenthood, and so her father and stepmother offered their support whenever they could. Marina very rarely got sick, and the pediatrician found it extraordinary but assumed that Marina is a product of healthy parents. Family and friends often asked about Marina’s father, but Melissa would simply respond, “He moved away,” effectively ending the conversation with those three words. She believed, “No one needs to know, and honestly, they wouldn’t comprehend,” as she kept her thoughts to herself. In the years that followed, Carly tied the knot with a lawyer named Peter, and they welcomed children into their lives. Carly maintained her friendship with Diego until his tragic passing in his late 70s. Meanwhile, Melissa kept in touch with Carly. Melissa received the heartbreaking news from her eldest son that she had Dementia. It was incredibly painful for her to witness her closest friend slowly fade away, yet she remained committed to visiting her every month until the very end. During those visits, Melissa shared tales of Agartha with Carly, confident that her friend would keep these secrets safe, as she would likely not remember. Melissa recounted her thrilling adventures in Agartha, and while Carly found joy in the stories, they quickly slipped from her memory. There were moments when she looked at the unfamiliar woman sharing these enchanting tales and wondered who she was. Melissa is now 80, her father has long passed on and died of a heart attack. Her stepmother remarried several years later and moved away but they corresponded frequently until her death. Melissa inherited the house where she brought up her daughter. her husband moved in with Melissa, creating a multi-generational home.

Despite being eighty years old, Melissa appears to be in her sixties due to her elf heritage. “Mom, thank you for letting me meet my real dad many years ago. I was blown away to find out that he is an elf—a real elf,” said Marina.

She served Melissa a steaming cup of Chamomile tea. Melissa propped up on her bed with a pillow supporting her back, she turned her gaze toward her daughter. Marina inherited Arowyn’s hair and his striking deep blue eyes, which sparkled with an enchanting vibrancy. “Your great-grandmother had knowledge of Agartha, and I have a little secret to share. Your grandmother has elf blood, just like you and me. I take great pride in being your mother.” She wrapped her arms around Marina in a warm embrace.

“I suppose that’s why you look so youthful, Mom, thanks to your elven lineage,” Marina teased. Indeed, Melissa appeared significantly younger than her years. “I trust you realize that this time, I won’t be coming back, dear,” Melissa said, her voice heavy with emotion. “I understand that father is waiting for you, and I’ll be there to see you off, but I must return, as you’re already know why,” Marina paused. “Also, Johnny is eager to join us when I take you to Agartha. He wants to see grandpa again.” Melissa nodded in agreement. Johnny had gone to Agartha numerous times with his mother since childhood, yet he had never mentioned Agartha to his father. Marina’s son is asleep, and David, her husband, is in their bedroom, watching television. Melissa understands the weight of carrying such a secret because for years she did the same.

“Remember, David must never know about Agartha. It must remain a secret forever. When outsiders know about the gate, the door will close forever,” she paused. “There is no coming back.” Marina nodded and said, “I understand.”

“In a safety deposit box at the bank, is my secret journal and the key. It has all the details about my adventures in Agartha. Maybe one day, you can write a book and tell the story. The key must remain in your possession and passed down to your son.” Marina nodded. Melissa placed the cup on the nightstand next to her bed and said, “I feel sleepy now.” She stretched her arms up and laid herself down and rested her head on the pillow. Soon she started to snore. Marina left the night light on, in her room. Melissa was reluctant to close her eyes in the dark. The shadows brought back memories of the creature she had encountered in the castle. On her 81st birthday, a celebration was held in her honor, surrounded by family and friends. It was a truly unforgettable gathering, filled with joy, love, and the warmth of her loved ones.

Little did they know it would be her final celebration; she felt a sense of readiness to move on. A few days later, Marina, Johnny and Melissa went through the gate. Melissa's grandson, in his twenties, is eagerly anticipating a visit with his grandfather. Although Johnny isn't married, he does have a girlfriend and maybe one day he will marry her. Arowyn patiently awaited their arrival. He embraced both his daughter and grandson warmly before planting a heartfelt kiss on Melissa. Despite her grey hair and gentle wrinkles, her face radiated vitality and joy.

“He has not changed and remains handsome and distinguished as ever,” Melissa mused. Faye is still as youthful as ever. She fluttered around them chatting about almost everything she could think of as they headed to the village.

 “Father, will you take care of her?” Marina whispered as she glanced at Melissa.

“Of course. She is my life as you and Johnny are,” said Arowyn. A change started happening to Melissa after Arowyn kissed her. Her wrinkles faded; a more youthful appearance shadowed her face. Forty years have been shaved off her, she looks like she’s forty-one now.

 “Thank you, father,” said Marina with a smile. Arowyn knew that Marina wasn’t going to be able to see her mother every day, only once a year. Johnny and Marina stayed for a while but had to return home. She remembers what her mother told her, “The longer you stay in Agartha, the more you’ll forget where you come from.” Faye escorted them to the gate. “I will come visit every year,” Marina told Faye.

 “Of course,” Faye responded. “Please, if ever there is any kind of emergency don’t hesitate to call on us,” said Arowyn. “Of course, father,” Marina nodded. “Melissa will be in good hands. I promise,” Faye reassured her as they went through the gate and back home.

Side note: Marina does tell her husband about Agartha and that Melissa left to live in Agartha. She takes him to Agartha and he is bewildered over what he saw there. After some time, he comes to accept that his wife is half Elf and vows to keep the secret safe.

 In the Company of Elves

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Traditional or Self-publishing: What is Best?

 

"The landscape of self-publishing has changed significantly over the last decade. Once considered inferior to traditional presses, self-publishing is gaining more attention and earning credibility as a viable way to access unique, and in some cases quality, content. What’s more, the increase in self-publishing has garnered a significant amount of attention from marketing companies looking to capitalize on this burgeoning industry. Major publishers are even jumping on the bandwagon as well, offering independent authors a variety of ancillary services to help market their books. Libraries have begun using self-publishing to reconnect with communities by offering workshops and resources geared towards independent authors.  It is not uncommon for writers to choose the route of self-publishing because the traditional publishing route is difficult, if not impossible, for some writers to enter."

Anonymous 

That statement is true! Many self-published authors hit a brick wall when presenting their work to the traditional publishers. Most of the time, traditional publishers don’t look at every manuscript they receive. If their workload is heavy, they will return the manuscript and thus depressing the author, who then decides to forget about becoming a serious author.

NOTE: an author is someone who has published more than one book. It doesn’t matter whether they are an Indie/self-published authors or not, they are still authors. Indie/Self-publishing is probably the only opportunity available to the beginners.

 What’s the percentage of certain groups of people from obtaining authorship through traditional publishing routes?

 The number of books published by people of color speaks volumes about the barriers that prevent certain groups from obtaining authorship through traditional publishing routes. In 2017, out of 3,500 books received by the center, approximately 3% were written by African American and Latino authors, 7% were written by Asian Pacific American authors, and less than 1% were written by Native American authors. Therefore, self-publishing is a route that allows writers to share their stories. It also creates an opportunity to be recognized as an author.

Here is someone’s point of view regarding self-publishing.

 I Understand that “indie publishing” is all the rage, but despite royalty rates of 70%, I think self-publishing is a terrible idea for serious novelists by which I mean, novelists who take writing seriously. Here’s why. If you self-publish your book, you are not going to be writing for a living. You are going to be marketing for a living. Self-published authors should expect to spend only 10% of their time writing and 90% of their time marketing. if your passion is creating worlds and characters, telling great stories, and/or reveling in language, you might want to aim for traditional publication. I mute authors whose tweet streams are 90% adverts in the same way I wouldn’t watch the shopping channel. Most indie authors have tweet streams that are 90% adverts, perhaps a reflection of the fact that they must spend 90% of their time marketing. It certainly doesn’t make self-publishing look like the path to El Dorado. Why would I want to join this gang?

What I say about what that person said:  He’s right about marketing however, he’s wrong about self-published authors not taking their writing seriously! All authors take their writing seriously! If they didn’t, they would not care when someone gives them a not so good review! 

There are people out there that just despise Indie/self-published authors. Why? The author did what others wish they can do, it's that simple. The self-published author doesn’t just talk about writing a book and publishing it, they go out and do it! They have courage and hope in a sea of vexing haters.

Do most self-published authors consider their writing a career?

The majority do but some are more realistic in the outcome so most have part-time jobs or even full-time jobs.  Overall, self-publishing may be all the rage, but the writer has a choice. If he or she wants to publish traditionally, that's up to them, however more and more traditional companies are going in the way of self-publishing. Giving their audience a chance to read a diverse stream of books written by unknown authors. Some of those books can hide a hidden jewel. Just saying.

 

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