Plug in Your Car, the Moat is Dry!

Article Posted by Michelle Griep for MaryLu Tyndall

I apologize for the mixed historical reference, but hey, it’s the age of the hybrid author, and I, for one, am very excited. A hybrid author is a writer, who much like the Prius of today, runs on both gas (published with a traditional publisher) and on super-charged electricity (a.k.a. writing and self-publishing anything they want!).  Like the Prius, the hybrid author doesn’t need as much gas to get where he or she is going. In fact, in some cases, they don’t need any gas at all!

But where are they going? To the castle of publishing, of course. A glorious castle, that up until a few years ago could only be seen from a distance, all sparkly and bright, like some heavenly city set upon a hill. Around that castle there has always been a moat filled with sludge and gigantic reptiles whose job it is to chomp an author’s career in half should they try to cross. There were—and still are, of course—a few bridges over this dangerous moat, well-guarded by the trolls of agents and publishers, who only allow a few worthy souls to cross. These particular favored authors possessed the secret passwords of talent, skill, great plots and characters, but also more importantly, they wrote stories agents and publishers deemed marketable and acceptable. If the author could not produce the passwords of marketability, acceptability, an established platform, and an abundance of Facebook and Twitter friends, then the trolls barricaded their way.

Before I continue, let me say that I love my publisher and my agent. They have been wonderful to me and have given me opportunities I never would have had otherwise. So when I refer to them as trolls, it is only in the metaphorical sense, not in a demeaning way. But let’s face it, they have been the gatekeepers for years!

Now, a new age has dawned. The moat has dried up. The reptiles have died. Authors who once had been forbidden entrance into the castle, are storming the gates in droves. I am one of those fortunate authors. Yes, I have already been inside the castle. I have already been allowed to cross the moat. Fourteen times, in fact! But I also have other stories dying to be told, stories the trolls would not accept. For years I feared I would never be able to put those stories into writing and get them to the castle. Then everything changed. The floodgates have been opened and the market is filling up with all kinds of books: fantasies, mysteries, pirates, mermaids, dystopians, thrillers, spiritual warfare—something for everyone. Readers have so many more choices, and authors can finally write the stories burning on their hearts. Does it mean there are poorly written books out there? Absolutely. But isn’t that what freedom is all about? What the free market is all about? Give the consumer choices and let them decide what is worth purchasing!

So here I am, publishing my very first selfie, The Ransom, a historical romance novel that I assure you isn’t like anything you’ll find in the traditional CBA market. I’ve had a bit of a learning curve trying to navigate the moat. A few times I got stuck in the mud. But once I charged my Prius up again, I was good to go! I hope you’ll join me in celebrating as I storm the castle gates with a huge smile on my face and a book in my hand I’m sure you’ll love.

Will I ever cross one of the bridges again? I hope so. I really enjoyed the other times I’ve been permitted across. Should you pass by that way, you’ll see the trolls still standing there doing their job and doing it effectively.  They serve a purpose and they are paid by the King, so don’t forget to smile as you pass by. You might even give them a hug. Because, let’s face it, trolls need love too.

Best-selling author, MaryLu Tyndall dreamt of pirates and sea-faring adventures during her childhood days on Florida's Coast. With more than fourteen books published, she makes no excuses for the deeply spiritual themes embedded within her romantic adventures. Her hope is that readers will not only be entertained but will be brought closer to the Creator who loves them beyond measure. In a culture that accepts the occult, wizards, zombies, and vampires without batting an eye, MaryLu hopes to show the awesome present and powerful acts of God in a dying world. A Christy award nominee, MaryLu makes her home with her husband, six children, and several stray cats on the California coast.