The Green Forty, Book One: Rescue—Behind the Scenes

Article Synopsis

• Because the big names mostly sell indie authors false hope at a high price, this author has decided to try a slower approach to publishing and brand growth.

• Because I’ve learned how not to self pub, I’ll get a better result for my readers this time around. I’m taking my time, and I’m leaning on other creatives in my community.

• Bonus effect: I’m recovering my love of story and getting reconnected with my purpose as a writer.

• Another bonus: Book Two is already in production!

Okay, if you’re a not an author, you may think I’m a little batty for going this deep into the weeds about self-publishing. But I think a case can be made for parting the veil that’s traditionally divided readers and writers. After all, we have the technology to do that these days, and why not?

I also happen to think—for readers and superfans—there’s interest in the part of the story which tells how the story was made. Besides, every decent writer is a passionate reader, and every reader, even if they don’t write fiction like I do, writes something.

As an independent author with almost twenty years of experience, I’m here to tell you: it’s very bleeping difficult to self-pub. You’ve gotta love the craft in its totality (including the marketing!) to hang in this long. Under that pressure, I’ve become extremely intimate with my why.

Is it for the money and glory? Insert cackling meme here because bleep no.

Nah man, it’s the story that keeps me coming back. Again and again. There’s something that deeply fulfills me when I use words to tell a story—even if the story’s the sum total of the reward for the work. Like I said, this is hard. But it’s worth it.

After almost two decades, I still don’t care about bestseller lists, gobs of money, or notoriety. I do this to connect with the reader. It’s about writing my best and enjoying the craft’s processes.

I believe my stories need to get out there and do something in the culture. And that’s why I show up again and again dressed for battle in an industry that is flooded with deception, intellectual property theft, greed, immorality, manipulation, and societal ambivalence wrought by chronic overstimulation.

But that’s a whole other article.

Publishing Missteps

Let’s not beat around the bush about self pubbing: For millions of indie authors, retailers, and even end users, the only thing Amazon sells anymore is false hope. 

I’m not interested in investing in a status quo that will cost more than half my operating revenue just by showing up to compete (I’ve talked with other authors about this shocking reality). And I’m not interested in signing away the rights to my intellectual property for up to ten years (yeah you, Audible) for the privilege of watching it languish, lost, in an overstuffed catalog.

I’ve decided it’s better if I own the whole thing from top to bottom. Because of the enshittification of digital platforms—because of all those overcrowded digital bookshelves—maybe it’s better to sell my books in person, by relationship, even out of the trunk of my car. Fact is, one actual sale is far better than ten thousand “possible” sales that can never happen if I don’t spend enough on an Amazon ad. 

One of those scenarios is a profit. The other is a loss. Only one can build a brand and business. The other is an express ticket to gut-wrenching failure.

Publishing Reset

Back when I was in the Marines, we often joked that, because the Marines are a department of the Navy, we always got whatever was left over in the budget. We therefore learned by necessity how to do more with less. 

As an entrepreneur, if you don’t go with what you’ve got, you’re not going anywhere. In fact, you’ll waste a lot of time waiting for a train that ain’t coming. Ever.

Therefore a slow, authentic approach to marketing is the only way forward for my business and my readers. Why? Because of necessity. Because that’s the only way I can actually move forward. That’s why I’m planning to lean on local brick and mortar shops, do what I can with what I have, and offer unique extras that suit my brand (that part of my marketing plan is a secret, but stay tuned—because it’s a pretty nice benefit for my readers, and I don’t think anyone else is doing it yet).

In short, I’m getting things right this time, and I’m happy to have had a little help from friends.

The Story’s the Thing

Now, this is what I’m most excited about. 

The reason I pressed into my gift for writing in the first place was because I find stories so intoxicating. 

As a reader, there’s nothing better for me than when an author hits all the notes just right and spins an unputdownable yarn. 

As a writer though, it’s like I get to both design and solve the puzzle at the same time. I excavate its elements from the dark places of my imagination, fuse them with experience, and forge it by the fire of the mighty pen into a story that has the power to provoke thought, expand perspectives, and connect people to hope.

Perfecting the Green Forty series as an idea for the past decade has proven to me that catharsis and validation are two extremely underrated things in life. And I can’t wait to share it with you.

I don’t know if you’ve heard that all fiction is autobiography, but it’s true. We write what we know. This is what makes many story moments so gut-wrenching, heartbreaking, real, authentic, redemptive, and satisfying. 

What is The Green Forty?

When I was a kid—probably about eight or nine years old—I had just moved back east from Idaho to be with my mom in Illinois. It was just her and me, and for a summer, we lived with her parents. That summer, and those memories I have with my granddad, are a large part of the inspiration for this book.

The Green Forty, Book One: Rescue centers on Jonathan, twelve, who spends the summer with his granddad—which ends up changing his life. And that’s the essence of it: this book is based on a lot of my own experiences with my own granddad. It’s one reason I’ve dedicated it to his memory. 

But my gilded memories aren’t the only reason this book exists. Nope. Every time I’ve put it down, forgotten about it, been too emotional to work on it, or set it aside because of more pressing things in life, I’ve come back to it. And every time I’ve come back to it, I’ve thought, Man, this is good. It needs to be out there doing something. 

That’s why it exists: because I believe, for the right person, it will offer encouragement. Empathy. Commiseration. What I mean is, I think people will read my little book and find something in it that they resonate with, something that speaks to them. And I happen to think encouraging people is really valuable. 

I also happen to think inspired art must have a purpose. But that’s a whole other article.

What’s Next?

• Stay tuned for updates as the Green Forty series grows. I’ve already got a complete draft of Book Two, plus major plans for Book Three.

• I’ll regularly blog about major updates and upcoming author appearances-slash-speaking engagements. If you want to book me for a talk, hit me up.

• If you want to see a whole different version of this author, you’ve got to check out this YouTube channel. Don’t tell anyone, though—it’s pretty embarrassing.