Self Publishing is No Fantasy

Amanda Hocking is the poster child for meteoric opportunity in an online world and a lesson plan for self publishing and self promoting with social media.  Her story is simple.  Spring of 2010 this 25year old college dropout who loves to write decides to self publish her manuscripts for The Trylle Trilogy on Amazon as a hopefull gamble to earn enough money to go see a Jim Henson exhibit.  One year later she is reportedly signed to a four book deal on her Watersong series worth $2million and has optioned film rights for the The Trylle Trilogy with Terri Tatchell (District 9) set to adapt.

How did she do it?  Looks like a winning recipe of writing talent, entrepreneurship and social media savvy. A heaping spoonful of social media savvy. Even her blog is a skillful weaving of her writing and her own story.  In her own words one of the keys to her success: “…accessibility – I’m on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, Amazon, KB. I’m anywhere I can be.” Amanda is transparent in her blog, offering perspective, tools and advice to any aspiring self publisher.

Though some may liken her rags to riches success to that of Harry Potter’s JK Rowling, she clearly is differentiated by her accessibility: internet savvy, transparency, and audience engagement with a clarity unmuddled by the traditional publishing middle men.   It’s a differentiation that resounds with promise.