Self-publishing should be classified as an art form, in my opinion.
Maybe it’s me, but I can’t really imagine slaving over a novel for whatever period of time and then having to navigate my way through an electronic labyrinth starting with copyrights and PCIP data to receiving pay from actual customers. Is it me? It’s probably me. I picture myself holding a torch over my head, picking my way through the moldy dark of a bat-filled cave while searching for instructions for ISBN numbers.
I applaud those who can pull it off. I don’t know–maybe their synapses have more firepower per square inch? Maybe they’re just more ambitious? They’re obviously much less intimated by technology. Lou Cadle, self-published author of post-apocalyptic fiction, mentions cutting out “the middleman” which, I suppose, is smart. No agent “horror stories” of your own in the making, as he puts it. And various other reasons.
And speaking of which, Lou Cadle’s “Gray”series is well worth perusing, in my opinion. I especially loved the middle novel, but all three are written in a no-nonsense, straight forward manner that hammers in the bleak situation and what it would probably really be like to be cold all the time while balancing on the edge of starvation. Sounds depressing, right? But yet, there’s hope. Even Cormac McCarthy’s unrelentingly how-could-this-possibly-get any-worse–oh, wait: that’s how novel “The Road” is surrounded by a fragile bubble of hope.
Also keep your ears and eyes peeled for another one, Edward W. Robertson of the post-apocalyptic “Breakers” books. His intriguing end of the world series begins with a world-wide plague and only gets weirder and scarier from there. I read several of them a while back, so I’m sure he has some new stuff out there by now. He knows how to grab action by the throat and wrestle it into exciting images and description.
Writing is hard. Self-publication seems like it’s even harder. Kudos to those who put in the time and effort and especially their own wallet, because we all know traditional publishing is not the only way these days to get your stuff out there. And…in my personal opinion, Lou Cadle and Edward W. Robertson are two authors who bring some meat and potatoes to the post-apocalyptic table. A table that’s usually somewhat lacking in any real nutrition–in both their world and ours.
Lou Cadle: http://www.loucadle.com
Edward W. Robertson: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-breakers-series-books-1-3/id681200106?mt=11
Laughter Over Tears 