Indie Thoughts
Interviews w/ Indie Authors. Featuring author Kate Kimbrell.
Honoring the collaborative spirit of the indie author community, Indie Thoughts is a brand new initiative to gather helpful marketing insight from the indie authors out here putting in the work to make their dreams come true. It is my hope that by sharing helpful tips and different techniques, we can strengthen the community. Indie Thoughts will be included alongside the For Indies newsletter. Be sure to subscribe and get each new interview, as well as each new article, delivered straight to your inbox.
Kate Kimbrell caught my eye when she began marketing her first book, The Vampyre. I enjoy finding authors who have that specific spark and market themselves well, and Kate immediately grabbed my attention. I’ve also had the pleasure of publishing one of her stories in my company’s online literary magazine, The Crow’s Quill, so I was thrilled she took the time to answer my questions.
Do you consider yourself an indie author? If so, what led you to that decision? Give us your thoughts on the different publishing paths.
Yes, I do consider myself a hybrid indie. When it came to the publication of my debut novel, of course, I queried it a few times, but ultimately I wanted to have the utmost creative control and freedom that only indie/self-publishing can offer. I have learned a lot about publishing thanks to working with Quill & Crow, self-publishing two novels, and the courses I’ve taken as an MFA student. What I have found for myself and my works is that the pros of small press and self-publishing outweigh those offered by bigger pub houses.
What is your biggest marketing challenge as an indie?
Marketing. As a whole, haha! In my opinion, I have had moderate success reaching my audience and creating a community of readers, but marketing is hard. It is an art form that is learned through gritted teeth and bloody battles. Am I doing enough? Am I niche enough, creative enough, different enough, and yet on trend? Am I doing something wrong because I have not sold thousands? These are my challenges.
Are there any specific challenges for authors who write in your genre?
As a dark fantasy/dark romance author, I know we can get a bad rap due to the topics we write about–the darkness we explore, the taboo, sexuality, death, etc. The readers who get it, get it. The readers who don’t, don’t.
Where did you learn your marketing skills, or is marketing something you do intuitively?
I always ask myself, “Would I buy this book if I was scrolling and saw this post/video?” and if the answer is yes, I post it. If I find an author who’s inspired me to look into their book, I will make a small note of their content and see how I can incorporate that method into my marketing. It is probably not the best way to market, but it certainly gets the gears turning.
Is building community important to you? How do you go about doing that?
Yes! It has been incredibly important to me to build a community of like-minded readers! Recently, I assembled my street team, and everyone has been able to bond over their love of my books. They made sure my most recent launch was much more successful than the first and filled with love. Everyone agrees that the community we have fostered is an amazing one. I’m grateful for them.
Regarding social media, which platform would you say works the best for your goals? What platform do you think is the worst?
Originally, I thought TikTok and #BookTok were the way to go, but Instagram has been coming in clutch with my most recent book launch! So many new readers have found me thanks to the tight-knit indie community Bookstagram offers.
If you had any tips for indie authors starting out, what would it be?
Every publishing pathway is valid, and your story deserves to be read. Period.
Give us a little plug about your latest projects.
The Vampyre’s Secret, the second novel in my Vampyre Trilogy, just launched on KindleUnlimited and Amazon! It’s an erotic dark fantasy with some gothic elements. I hope to have a Victorian dark romance/horror novel completed by spring!
Bio: Kate's Vampyre Trilogy is a tragic and sexy dark romantasy for fellow vamp lovers. A gothic and romantic lit aficionado, she enjoys writing dark and looming stories with plenty of spice. Her short story, “The Maiden Curse,” has been featured in The Crow’s Quill. Kate has her BA in English Language and Literature and is currently an MFA student at her alma mater. Kate is a member of the International English Honor Society. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, 3 kids, 2 cats, and chocolate lab. When Kate isn’t writing (on the couch, amongst the chaos), she’s reading, and probably drinking too much coffee.
These are really interesting and informative!