#IndieApril Author Spotlight: Patricia M Osborne
1 April 2024
We are delighted that you could join us to talk about your indie author journey. Could you tell us a little more about it? Why did you decide to go the self-published route? When I began my publishing journey I was very naïve about publishing. I’d had my manuscript draft for my debut novel, House of Grace, in my PC archives for a couple of years. It was only when I went to Swanwick Writers’ Summer School for the first time in 2016 that I was inspired by other self-published authors and came home with a motto that my book would be in the bookroom in 2017, and I met that target.
What is the best part of being an indie author? The best part of being an indie author for me is being in control of everything, although at times I wish I wasn’t. But I love that I don’t have to hang around to publish, I can choose my own cover, choose my own goals, and the best part is checking my KDP dashboard and watching the sales and KU reads come in. Not so good when I see a zero though.
What is the hardest part of being an indie author? The hardest part in a way is the same as the best part. Being in control means the final item is down to me. So after my book’s been edited, cover designed, formatted, been out to beta readers, etc, when I upload that book to both KDP and Ingram Spark the nerves step in. What if it isn’t perfect? What if I’ve uploaded the wrong file? I hate it. For me, that’s the hardest part.
What does a typical day look like for you? My first part of the day goes to marketing, household chores, setting up guest features on my blog, offering feedback to other writers and any other admin tasks. Writing my own stuff comes later. Normally not before 3pm but often, much much later. It works for me though as my muse normally doesn’t kick in before 4pm.
Please tell us about your books. I have four novels published. The first three make up a family saga trilogy. The books can be read as standalone or in order as part of the trilogy.
Book 1 – House of Grace opens in 1950 and is a coming of age story centering around strong-minded women, social conflict, and friendship. The reader follows Grace Granville on her journey from a 16-year-old through to womanhood.
Book 2 – The Coal Miner’s Son is set in the 1960s and uses two narrators. The first, George as a nine-year-old boy who is sent to live with his titled grandparents and finds himself caught up in a web of deceit, and the second Elizabeth, Grace’s sister, who has her own story to tell.
Book 3 – The Granville Legacy is the final book in the trilogy. The story opens Christmas 1980 with George Gilmore as Lord Granville which is no easy task for a coal miner’s son. George has to step into his grandfather’s shoes, and although he doesn’t possess the late Lord Granville’s ruthless streak, he doesn’t sit back and do nothing when his loved ones are threatened.
Each book focuses on friendship, social conflict, romance and love.
Although The Granville Legacy concludes the trilogy, I have plans in the future for another trilogy with a new generation of Gilmore and Granvilles.
My latest novel publication is The Oath. It opens in France, 1895, when seventeen-year-old Françoise abandons her carefree life and sails for England to marry distant cousin Charles Dubois, hoping to find love. It makes use of two narrators, Françoise the first, with her lady’s maid as the second.
The Oath is a coming of age, historical fiction saga. Although there are some heartbreaking scenes, it’s uplifting in parts too. An emotional rollercoaster.
Again, like House of Grace trilogy, it focuses on friendship, social conflict, romance and love themes.
How has being in the RNA helped you with your indie journey? I’m new to the RNA so I’ve yet to find out. However, I’ve booked to go to the RNA conference in August and I’m excited to experience my first time and meet other members.
What advice would you give to somebody who wanted to go the indie route? Be prepared to work hard. Take time in getting the manuscript ready. Make sure it’s been edited and formatted to be just as good as any book published by a traditional publisher. Ensure it has a striking cover. Think of it as a thumbnail. Will it stand out? Using strong colour helps. And a great blurb, the most difficult of all. Be ready to market and interact with other writers to build up a network as the book won’t sell itself. Readers need to know it’s out there and it can be hard work, so not for everyone.
Can you tell us what you are working on now? I’m working on something completely different. ‘The Girl in the Ticket Office Window.’ I’ve taken a leap into fantasy using a dual timeline with a time-travel story, stepping back to 1910 from present day. An editor of a woman’s magazine finds herself transported back in time.
Again it shares the common themes of friendship, social conflict, romance, and love.
I’ve also completed a family love drama trilogy set in the 1970s (The Woodhaerst Triangles) not yet published which opens with a young woman uncovering her adoption and the twists keeps turning.
Let’s share the love! Can you recommend one other Indie book that you’ve read and tell us what you enjoyed about it? I’d like to give a shoutout to Joy Wood’s latest book, Dead Pretty and to Suzi Bamblett’s, Three Faced Doll. Both of these books kept me gripped and guessing to the last page. I’d also like to add Lisette Brodey’s Twice A Broken Breath which gripped me from the start and I literally found it unputdownable.
About the Author
Patricia M Osborne is married with grown-up children and grandchildren. In 2019 she graduated with an MA in Creative Writing. She is a published novelist, poet and short fiction writer with six poetry pamphlets published by The Hedgehog Poetry Press, and numerous poems and short stories appearing in various literary magazines and anthologies. Her debut poetry pamphlet, Taxus Baccata, was nominated for the Michael Marks Pamphlet Award.
Patricia has a successful blog at Whitewingsbooks.com featuring other writers. When Patricia isn’t working on her own writing, she enjoys sharing her knowledge, acting as a mentor to fellow writers.
To purchase her books;
http://mybook.to/Thecoalminerson
http://mybook.to/TheGranvilleLegacy
https://mybook.to/VictorianSagaTheOath
Social media links
https://twitter.com/PMOsborneWriter
https://www.facebook.com/triciaosbornewriter
