The BookLife Prize: Checking in with Jane Alvey Harris
We touch base with last year's finalist from the YA category to talk marketing and publicity and find out what she's working on now.This article is the fourth in a series that catches up with the finalists from last year’s BookLife Prize.
Jane Alvey Harris had written only one novel when she entered the BookLife Prize last year. But that novel—the YA series launch Riven—took the Dallas-based author all the way to the finals
The book is about a teenage girl who, when her childhood abuser returns, escapes into a fantasy world. Riven was called “a beautiful, magical story about family, love, and overcoming the demons that haunt us” by author and guest judge Amanda Hocking.
BookLife caught up with Harris, an advocate for mental health and survivors of abuse, to find out what she’s working on now and what advice she has for aspiring indie authors.
What’s happened as a result of you being a finalist in the 2016 BookLife Prize?
Winning the Young Adult category in the BookLife Prize has provided validation and credibility, not only for me personally as a writer, but also in the writing community. I’ve been invited to present at self-publishing workshops as well as participate in panels discussing helping young adults develop their authentic voices. It’s been great to publicize the category win.
What are you working on now?
I’m finishing up the second book in the My Myth Trilogy, Secret Keeper, and mapping out book three, Primed.
What’s one tip that you have for other indie authors?
Treat your writing like a small business. Invest in yourself and your work, be willing to take risks. Take advantage of legitimate respected resources. Excellent writing is only the first step on the road to success...savvy marketing and publicity are key.
