Interviews will be interspersed throughout this book. I want there to be a second opinion on certain topics, specifically from people who have experienced some of the things I've discussed.

This chapter, I'm interviewing avadel, a sister duo who has successfully self-published their fantasy book Of Caverns and Casters and its sequel, Of Whispers and Daggers (both in their series, The Lost Roads Quartet). I'm excited to share their experience with you!

Q: Can you start by sharing some insights into your journey as self-published authors of Of Caverns and Casters? What inspired you to take this creative path, and how did you get started?

It had always been my dream to publish a book. When Aria and I wrote Of Caverns and Casters, I found out that the barrier to entry isn't as high as it used to be. Anyone with enough dedication can get their story out to an audience. Aria and I were in love with our characters and determined to put in that work to let them have their day in the light.

Q: Many aspiring writers look up to you both for your successful self-publishing journey. What motivated you to self-publish, and what advice would you offer to writers considering this route?

I researched the amount of royalties we would earn from traditional publishing versus self-publishing, how much control we would have over the end product, and how likely it was to get published in both routes. Percentage-wise, self-publishing often offers higher royalties (though there are of course other benefits to trad publishing). As far as control and publishing probabilities, there is no gatekeeping in the self-publishing industry, which makes it easy to do.

That's both a good and a bad thing. Anybody can publish, which is fantastic! More voices are getting heard, and anyone with enough gumption can get out there. At the same time, there are very few quality standards. That means you have to work really hard to stand out from the crowd and assure your readers that your book is worth picking up.

My advice to people seeking to self-publish is to be careful. Sometimes the desire to get your work out quickly overcomes the desire to get your best product out. Sometimes by skipping those quality check steps that you would get in trad publishing, you don't see the errors in your own work. It's okay to wait. It's okay to listen to second opinions. If someone says your book still needs editing... heavily consider listening to them. I wish the first time Aria and I had published that we would have listened more to the few voices of constructive criticism we had available to us instead of deciding it was 'good enough.' We've since gone back and edited that book to republish it. I wish the second version had been its original debut, and if you publish your book too quickly, you might too.

Q: Your writing strategy is quite unique, in that both of you are a part of the book's crafting and success; can you shed some light on your collaborative writing process? How do you manage your writing tasks and make creative decisions as a team?

Communication and flexibility are the two biggest factors. We do a lot of plotting together, but we make sure to keep the structure loose enough that the storyline isn't upended if we add something new in a fit of inspiration. Starting out, we each wrote certain points of view, but we've gotten comfortable enough with each other's characters and styles that we can draft chapters for each other now. When one of us gets discouraged or behind, the other picks up where we left off, which is great for breaking through tough spots. No matter who writes the passage, though, we're both equally involved in the editing.

We've both had to learn to set aside personal preferences and to consider that the other might actually be right. It's hard to go from 'my way' to objectively looking for the best way, but it's definitely worth it.

Q: The world-building in Of Caverns and Casters is truly captivating. What inspired the unique world and lore you've created, and do you have any tips for fellow writers attempting intricate world-building?

Avadel, the world in Of Caverns and Casters, actually came from a role-play that Aria was running. We spent years fiddling around in her world, creating characters and storylines and then watching as they faded away or were replaced with newer ideas. By the time we were done, we had something like our own mythology—characters that appeared and disappeared, plots that were mutually exclusive but had somehow both happened in our minds. Sorting through all of that and trying to weave it into something that someone else could understand is how we crafted the version of Avadel you see today.

Intricate world-building is all about asking questions. Changing a single thing can change a lot of other things, so be careful how effects cascade. We created Avadel by living in it, as characters that had questions of their own. If you really want to create a big world, explore it however you can. All of that doesn't have to make it into your story, but you should know it because it will make your reality so much richer.

Q: Self-publishing comes with its unique set of challenges. What were some of the most significant obstacles you encountered, and how did you navigate them?

Honestly, when we published Of Caverns and Casters, we were broke. We had no way to hire an editor, no way to hire a cover designer, no way to get a proofreader or a formatter or any of that. So we had to learn to be all of it. We made mistakes, but it grew our skillsets so much. I wouldn't be a graphic designer today if it weren't for needing a cover for our first book. I think our biggest tool when tackling challenges is assuming there must be some way to solve the problem and then not giving up until we find it. That's a tool anyone can pick up and use.

Networking also played a big role in improving our writing style. Since we couldn't pay for editors, we had to rely on the feedback of some wonderful Wattpadders (particularly WriterKellie, who absolutely changed our writing forever, and the insightful IWJKeller, who we should have listened to more often). There is a lot of goodwill available on Wattpad—if you want some, give some! We found Kellie Bowe by reading her books and I.W.J. Keller by joining a book club he was in at the time.

With that said, if you do have a budget for your project, Aria and I would love to help you get it market-ready. We created Avadel Ink, our editing and design company, specifically because of our money struggles while publishing Of Caverns and Casters. We want to be the kind of company that, back then, we would have felt safe spending money on.

Q: Writers often grapple with self-doubt during their journey. Could you share any personal experiences where you faced self-doubt and the strategies you used to overcome it?

Writing is such a roller-coaster. I go through cycles where I feel like I created a masterpiece, and then look at it a day later and go, "What is this kindergartener art?" Writing Of Whispers and Daggers was particularly hard for me. I had such a clear idea of where the story was going in the first book, but for the sequel, I just felt like I'd lost my vision.

Aria was a fantastic cheerleader and director in that case. However, if you're not fortunate enough to have a best friend/sister/co-author, here are some other things that help me when I'm struggling with doubt.

1. Recognize the cycle. If you know that you're prone to doubting yourself, remember a time when you produced something that you were proud of. Think back to when you doubted yourself but it turned out okay, or when you didn't think you would ever finish, but you did. Knowing that there is a way to overcome and improve helps keep me from quitting.

2. Remember that your draft is not your final product. A draft is just you telling the story to yourself. It can be messy. It can be wrong. In my drafts, I often change details halfway through the story and then just pretend it's been that way all along. I can do that because I know I can fix it later.

3. Let go of perfectionism. It won't be perfect—not the first draft and probably not even the final draft. Even great masterpieces have their critics. As Picasso says, "Works of art aren't completed; they are abandoned." Do your best, edit, ask for advice, edit again, and at the end of the day, be happy with what you've accomplished. You have to let it go at some point.

4. Write fast. I often use the website Write or Die 2 to force my fingers to the keyboard. It's great for keeping me from overthinking. I always worry the material is going to be terrible, especially when I'm in a slump, but writing fast forces me to make creative decisions that surprise even me. It's usually not as bad as I thought it was going to be, and even when it is, at least it's better than a blank page.

5. Aria's add-in: Remember why you're writing this story. Is it because you have readers hoping to see it? Or because someone inspired you and you want to honor that by finishing? Or maybe just because you love the characters and can't imagine not sharing them with the world? Whatever it is, the reason you started writing is going to be a big part of why you keep writing. When thinking that way, it becomes really hard to give up once and for all. Write the next scene, paragraph, or sentence, even if it feels like trash because at least it's there.

Q: For writers who admire your work (like me!), could you describe the moment when you first held your self-published book in your hands or received glowing reviews from your readers? What emotions did you experience?

Aria and I were pretty giddy. It was so fun looking at the cover we'd created, comparing the glossy finish to the matte finish, flipping through the chapters, and checking out the printed version of Aria's hand-drawn map. We're always humbled and floored when we get good reviews, especially from people we've met in real life. It's so strange to hear people not only read book one, but go on to book two and tell us they're eagerly awaiting the third.

Q: Marketing and promotion can be daunting for new authors (especially in self-publishing). What strategies have you found most effective in reaching and engaging your target audience, and how have these evolved over time?

There are lots of great marketers out there, like WrennaStone and TheConfusedTurtle, who do a great job creating content that generates an audience. Since we're not looking to make a living with our writing, we've taken a much more laid-back approach. We've found our audience primarily through Wattpad and word of mouth.

Even now that Of Caverns and Casters and Of Whispers and Daggers are published on Amazon, we've left them up in their entirety on Wattpad. We're more interested in sharing our story than making money off of it, and that seems to have resonated with people. Those who can afford to support us often buy a book after they finish reading the Wattpad version. They're as excited to receive their physical copy, I often think, as we were to receive ours.

If you're interested in marketing on Wattpad, I highly recommend competitions and book clubs. There are lots of reputable clubs and communities out there, though my favorite is DreamlandCommunity. Interacting with people, both in person and online, has been an indispensable part of making the world of Avadel come alive for so many people.

Q: What advice would you give to aspiring writers who are passionate about self-publishing their work and are looking to emulate your success?

Take your time and don't stress yourself out over it. Aria and I have relaxed a lot over the years, and that's actually increased our productivity rather than decreasing it. A good product is worth waiting for, getting advice about, and spending time on. Don't settle for 'that will do' when you know you could do better. When you're working, work hard because if it's a story worth sharing, it's worth sharing in its best version.

At the same time, don't run yourself ragged. Take breaks. We've taken lots. We're still here, we're still writing, and people are still reading. Five years from now, it won't matter if your book came out one month later than you wanted, or even one year later. What matters more is that you're happy with it when it does come out.

Q: The fantasy genre is known for its intricate magic systems and epic battles. Can you share some insights into how you tackle these challenging elements in your storytelling, and what advice you have for writers looking to craft compelling fantasy narratives?

Selling magic and epic battles is all about description. Aria and I waggle our fingers and call it the 'power of narration.' If you can ground a reader in the moment, if you can make it an experience, then they'll suspend their disbelief on just about anything. That gives you as the author a kind of magic: the freedom to weave your story however it needs to go. In our experience, selling the magic or battle is more about making the reader feel than nailing every detail or bit of information perfectly.

Q: Can you highlight some of your favorite characters or scenes from any of your novels that you believe resonate strongly with fellow writers and readers alike? What makes them stand out to you?

My favorite character is controversial; some readers love him and others love to hate him, haha. So we'll talk about the reader's favorite: Aster. He has the weight of his country on his shoulders even though he isn't equipped to handle it, but rather than be resentful of his country, he gives it everything he has. His dedication to duty, even at the cost of his own happiness, and his true love for his country and its people make readers want to stand and fight with him.

Q: What's on the horizon for you as authors? Are there any upcoming projects or new creative endeavors you'd like to share with your fellow writers and fans?

We're actually hoping to have book three, Of Shadows and Snow, published by the end of 2024! If God wills, it will be out for Christmas, and book four won't be far behind it.

We're also hoping to edit and publish The Right to Die, though we've yet to decide if we'll try the traditional market first this time.

Last up is a secret project involving snarky fairies, moody princes, villainous mentors, and good old-fashioned adventure that we'll be diving headlong into after The Lost Roads Quartet is finished. If you'd like a sneak peek at it, or to keep up-to-date on any of our projects, you can always join our reader Discord server at https://discord.gg/M3dwTzHJ5d.

Q: For a fun twist, if you could each choose one magical power from the world of Of Caverns and Casters, which one would it be, and how would you use it to enhance your writing careers?

We both agree that it would definitely have to be telekinesis, if only to snag our snacks without leaving our comfy writing positions!

Thank you, Laine and Aria, for taking the time to answer these questions. I hope that writers reading this book can be motivated by your story and take away the advice you shared! Publishing is a bumpy plain, and any advice or experience is invaluable to those with publishing as a goal.