Karina Kantas – My Publishing Experience

*Voices of Fiction will return in November.*

Author of five novels and a short story collection, Karina Kantas joins us to share her experiences in the publishing world and offers a discount price on her latest thriller, Road Rage.

Please welcome today's guest blogger.



I knew I wanted to be a writer since my teens, and I was determined it was going to happen. It wasn’t until I moved to Greece that I decided to take my writing to another level. The first piece of writing I had published was a film review. The cheque is framed and sitting above my computer. That was the starting block. I had the bug, and there was no stopping me. Being able to call yourself a published writer is a powerful achievement.

I’ve written articles for several magazines; anything from band reviews, summer articles, and film reviews. I sent one piece, about a local demonstration against a planned rubbish dump next to a popular tourist resort, to Green peace. I was also a featured book reviewer for Future Fire and have had several poems published. I’m the author of the popular urban thrillers, In Times of Violence, Lawless Justice, Huntress, Road Rage, and the short story collection: Heads & Tales.

My first self-published novel was a YA urban thriller called In Times of Violence. I decided to take the SP route after too many rejections from agents and publishers. I knew I had something new and edgy. Given the chance, it could be a very popular book. I was right to take the chance. In Times of Violence has received excellent editorial reviews and has been loved by hundreds of readers.

I first published through Lulu, but because of shipping prices, I changed to a UK Press. Unfortunately, that was a very bad move resulting in several authors taking the publisher to court. So I returned to Lulu. It’s an excellent place to self-publish printed books although the shipping charges can be expensive.

Only now, times are changing, and it’s a digital world. Barnes and Noble and Amazon are the frontiers for the e-book revolution with their devices Nook and Kindles leading the sales for e-reader. Unfortunately, with the sudden rise in E-book sales and the ease of which to publish a book, this has caused many wannabe authors to try their hands at publishing. It’s a very competitive field. There’s a gigantic sea out there with millions of little fish trying to get into the net.

A warning to new writers/authors - writing is a hard career. Many nasty, cruel people out there will take advantage of you. I’ve been badly burnt several times, but these are lessons that need to be learned. Be careful. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Unfortunately, I write in an unknown genre, and agents and publishers are not in a rush to take a chance on something new. With sales in the hundreds, I’ve proven to others and myself that there is a market out there. It wasn’t easy, as SP relies on the author doing all the work. It can be very stressful and time consuming. And, I’ve found internet promotion rather unproductive.

Huntress is published through a new small press MMP and is available in paperback and E-book. http://www.marionmargaretpress.com/huntress.html

My other books are available for direct purchase: In Times of Violence, Lawless Justice, Road Rage, Heads & Tales and Stone Cold. Message me on Facebook, or email me: karina.kantas@yahoo.com. Cost varies per book. Payments made through PayPal: k_kantas@yahoo.co.uk

Leave out the middleman. Take advantage now. Buy my latest thriller, Road Rage, and I’ll send you my bestseller Lawless Justice for free. Two books for $5.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Karina-Kantas/31754864225

For more on this author and her work visit her Website.