I never would have had the same chance to grow as a writer - Meet Christina Edgar Olds, novelist

Giving Up Grace 
Dr. Cassidy Garrett has spent nearly two decades creating a perfect life for herself, but an unexpected visit home reveals secrets from the past that force Cassie to reconcile the girl she used to be with the woman she’s become.  
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Why did you decide to self-publish? Did you have any doubts?
I decided to self-publish when I felt my opportunities to secure a literary agent and traditional publishing contract for my first book - Giving Up Grace - had been exhausted. I decided that taking control of my author career at that time would be the best way to prove myself and possibly open up doors to traditional publishing for subsequent books. Of course I had doubts, because I’d never done anything like that, and I knew to produce a quality book with only my own skills to draw from would be a challenge.

What did you like best?
Having complete creative control over the project was what I liked best. I learned so much, and I believe that I never would have had the chance to grow as a writer in the same way had I been given a traditional publishing deal for my first book.

What was the hardest part?
Editing and marketing are the areas where I struggled as an indie author. Knowing how to promote my book beyond those first few months of sales has been difficult.

Would you do it again?
I would absolutely do it again, and I will if I’m not able to land an agent in the next few months for my next book. I’m already working on a third novel, and I wouldn’t hesitate to self-publish again. I know that it would be much easier now that I know some of the secrets to getting the book ready to launch and how to format different platforms for publication.

What advice do you have for authors just starting?
I think it’s important to know what your goals are for being an author. If you want to quit your day job and make tons of money from writing, you need to get some guidance and consider what that might look like. If you want to write as an enjoyable and rewarding way to spend your time, then go for it! It’s been one of the most exciting things I’ve ever done, but it isn’t a lucrative endeavor unless you get really lucky.

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Christina Edgar Olds has been writing contemporary women’s fiction for more than ten years and self-published her debut novel, Giving Up Grace, in 2022.
She holds a B.A. in Communication and has taken a novel writing course under Leslie Schwartz as part of The University of Iowa Endless Summer Writing Festival. She is also a member of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association.
After leaving her day job, Christina now enjoys the opportunity to be a full-time author.