Pamela Samuels Young: How Indie Publishing Chose Me
This Indie Author Profile shines a light on NAACP Image Award-winning legal thriller author Pamela Samuels Young and how she found indie publishing success.
A condensed version of this profile appeared in the Nov/Dec 2022 issue of Writer's Digest.
Name: Pamela Samuels Young
Books, Genre, and Indie Imprint: Anybody’s Daughter, Failure to Protect, +12 others (Legal thrillers; Goldman House Publishing)
Why self-publish?
I didn’t choose self-publishing; it chose me. My first two books were traditionally published, but my publisher rejected my third. So did eight other publishing houses. My agent encouraged me to put the book, Murder on the Down Low, on the shelf and write another book. I felt strongly that there was a market [for it], so I ignored his advice and self-published. This was 2008, when self-publishing wasn’t as popular as it is now.
A lot of great things happened. For example, I was among a couple dozen indie authors that year who received a distribution deal from the Independent Publishers Group. So, the book actually made it onto store shelves. I can still remember walking into the Barnes & Noble Store in Marina Del Rey, Calif., and seeing Murder on the Down Low on the shelf. On top of that, it was positioned at the front of the store as a “Staff Pick.” I was more than thrilled with my first venture into self-publishing.
I had always planned to go back to traditional publishing, but my next book was also rejected by publishers. By contrast, the feedback I was receiving from readers was overwhelmingly positive. So, I continued to write and publish my own books. Then something amazing happened. In 2014, Anybody’s Daughter—a thriller about a teen lured into sex trafficking and her uncle’s desperate search to find her—won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Fiction. The other four nominees were all traditionally published authors (Walter Mosley, Terry McMillan, Victoria Christopher Murray, and Sister Souljah). I knew that if I could compete on that level, there was no reason not to continue taking control of my own writing career.
That said, I’ve just signed a book deal with Simon & Schuster for a new detective series co-written with Dwayne Alexander Smith.
Order a copy of Anybody's Daughter today.
Self-publishing appeal:
I like the fact that I can get to market much faster. With traditional publishers, it can be as long as two years from the signing of your contract to the release of your book. But self-publishing is not for the faint of heart. Although I now write full time, I wrote and self-published five of my books while still practicing law. If you’re not willing to put in the work, self-publishing may not be for you.
Biggest challenge:
Getting reviewed by traditional media outlets can be tough for indie authors. But the availability of social media, book clubs, free and discount e-book newsletters, and other promotional outlets makes it possible to get your book before thousands of readers.
Wish I’d known:
How important it is to write consistently. Once you have a fan base, they’re waiting for that next book. My goal is to publish at least one book a year, which I don’t always accomplish.
Writing advice:
Study your craft. I decided to write a novel because I never saw women or people of color depicted as lawyers in the legal thrillers I read. I was a practicing lawyer at the time and for months, I thought about turning a sexual harassment case I had tried into a novel. One day, I woke up at four in the morning to give novel writing a try, and instantly I knew that I’d found my passion. But I didn’t take the time to study my craft. I’m a former TV news writer, so I assumed it would be easy to bang out a bestselling novel. Wrong! I knew nothing about plotting or character development. I didn’t know my voice. Back then, I didn’t even know what voice was. My first book took me three years to write. It pretty much sucked and was rejected by a couple dozen agents. I finally took some writing classes, including Robert McKee’s Story seminar, and began critically studying novels that I enjoyed reading. At the suggestion of a writing instructor, I outlined the quintessential legal thriller, The Firm by John Grisham. That simple exercise was a lightbulb moment for me. I was able to see in a structural way how the story came together. That helped me tremendously when it came to writing my second book, which I finished in only a year. It was my second book that garnered me a two-book deal with a traditional publisher.
Also, connect with other writers. I’m a lifetime member of Sisters in Crime national and on the board of directors of the Los Angeles chapter of Sisters in Crime. The organization has been instrumental in helping me achieve my writing goals. My first short story was published in a Sisters in Crime anthology.
Order a copy of Failure to Protect today.
Publishing advice:
Understand that your book is a product that needs to garner broad support. It’s not enough that your mother or your sister likes it. Make sure you have a core group of diverse test readers who will give you honest feedback. It doesn’t mean they’re always right, but if half of your test readers think the beginning of your book is slow, you probably need to revise it.
Marketing strategy:
My marketing sources include social media, book bloggers, e-book newsletters, Book Bub and Amazon Kindle campaigns. I also have an extensive emailing list that I’ve developed over the years. I’m proud to say I’ve connected with more than 200 book clubs all across the country. ... Writing short stories and participating in anthologies is another way to get your name out there. I’ve also done cross-promotion campaigns with other women mystery writers, which has introduced me to new audiences.
Don’t Skimp On:
Don’t skimp on your cover. Many self-published books look like they’re self-published because the cover doesn’t meet the same artistic standards as traditionally published books. Spend some time looking at the covers of the bestsellers in your genre for ideas. It’s important that when a reader picks up your book, it doesn’t scream “self-published” because of the inferior quality of the cover design. Readers don’t care who published your book, but if it looks shoddy, they’ll assume it’s not a good read. A good cover doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. Thanks to websites like Upwork, you can find talented cover designers in other countries at an affordable price.
Websites:
Awards:
Anybody’s Daughter – NAACP Image Award, Outstanding Fiction
Top Ten pick by In the Margins, the Best Books for At-risk Teens.
Buying Time – Fiction Award, Black Caucus of the American Library Association
About Amy Jones
Amy Jones is the Editor-in-Chief of Writer’s Digest and was the managing content director for WD Books. She is the editor of the Novel and Short Story Writer's Market and Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market. Prior to joining the WD team, Amy was the managing editor for North Light Books and IMPACT Books. Like most WD staffers, Amy is a voracious reader and has a particular interest in literary fiction, historical fiction, steamy romance, and page-turning mysteries. When she’s not reading, Amy can be found daydreaming about Italy or volunteering at her local no-kill cat shelter. Find Amy on Twitter @AmyMJones_5.
