Today we’d like to introduce you to CJ Daly.
Thanks for sharing your story with us CJ. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I grew up on my family’s ranch, located on the scrabbly plains of Eastern New Mexico. From a very young age, I had a lot of responsibilities, so there wasn’t much time for outside hobbies. A library card and a highly-developed imagination allowed me to visit faraway places and different cultures. While I was supposed to be doing chores with my six siblings, I was usually sneaking behind dusty hay bales to read books, stare at the endless sky, and dream about how I could have made the stories better. This and the continued praise I received from some surprised English teachers convinced me that writing was my real passion (and not becoming a rodeo princess).
After high school, I hopped over Lubbock–and my parents’ dream of me majoring in my MRS at LCU–and landed in Big D, a glamourous place I’d only seen on television. It was while attending SMU that I first learned that “the odds were not ever in my favor.” A well-meaning counselor apprised me that it was nearly impossible to make a living as a writer right out of college. That hard truth, and the steep tuition costs, hit me at the same time, so I decided to transfer to the University of North Texas in Denton. It was there that I graduated magna cum laude, with a degree in English literature, while simultaneously getting certified to teach. I am living proof that those who can’t, teach… at least for as long as it took me to pay off school loans and make a living. After a humorous, whirlwind five years teaching middle schoolers the difference between oxymoron and onomatopoeia, and pausing to have back-to-back boys with my husband, I finally began my writing in earnest.
It took many sleepless nights, countless hours of dedicated Google searches, and a full year to get “The Academy, Book I” finished. After I typed out “the end,” I actually ran out my back door whooping and hollering like I’d just discovered gold and needed to bury in beneath my back porch, STAT. So the first thing I did was copyright the story, then took another year to get it polished and ready for print, and then yet another year to decide to ditch traditional publishing and go at it alone.
Armed with a Readers’ Favorite 5-STAR seal of approval, a Hollywood producer’s endorsement, and a New York Times Best Selling author’s testimony, I published my first book on Amazon this past July. I am super proud to say The Academy, Book I has already hit #1 for new releases on Amazon and has garnered several 5-STAR reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. In addition, The Academy Saga has already been picked up by a few book clubs, and, from word-of-mouth and social media advertising alone, my sales have increased by over three-fold in just three short months! I’ve already hit over 100,000 pages read on Kindle Unlimited this month, and it’s not even half over! I am living proof that with hard work, dedication, and a deep-seated belief in yourself, that you can truly make your dreams a reality!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Oh my, no! Not for one minute has my journey been a smooth road; I think I’ve fallen into every pitfall there is! I am living proof that you will “fail your way to success.” LOL! I kind of yada-yada-yada-ed my way through “I decided to ditch traditional publishing and go at it alone.” That was a very hard decision to come to; it was even harder to know whom to trust in the industry, which has been completely turned upside down thanks to Amazon and the proliferation of self-published authors. I declined a deal I should have taken, and accepted a deal I should have passed on. This was a “great opportunity” from an industry insider from New York, who came complete with a Madison Avenue address, a slew of agents, and a marketing team. She wanted to “pitch my book to one of the three big publishing houses” and “only take 10% of my first book deal.” But, like so many other offers along the way, it just didn’t feel right and ended up not being something worth pursuing. It took me months to figure that out.
Ultimately, I followed my intuition and decided to do things my way, so I cut ties with my publishing company. This allowed me to retain 100 percent of creative control, which is hugely important to a creative like me. They wanted to tuck my book into the YA box, and I didn’t really feel like it belonged there. In addition, their printed book cost would have priced me out of the market, and they did very little to promote me, other than a press release and placement on their website. Therefore, I didn’t feel like they warranted taking a piece of my pie. After all, like the Little Red Hen before me, I planted, watered, harvested, and baked it all myself!
It was actually my biggest fan (and millennial little sister) who encouraged me to self-publish and market myself on social media. In doing so, I’ve had to wear a lot of different hats, most of which don’t feel right on me. I knew absolutely nothing about formatting a book and web-optimization, and even less about marketing. But I’ve had to come out from behind the computer to interact with my readers–a really tough thing for an introvert to do! But the payoffs have been huge! I now have fans, followers, and book clubs, all because I forced myself out of my comfort zone.
I think that you regret the things in life that you DON’T do, way more than the things you DO do, so I suggest just going for it. And whenever you get stuck, or you’re in doubt, just take the next step, no matter how small. It is that series of small steps that leads to success; there are no big jumps or shortcuts.
What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
I’m proud to say that “The Academy Saga” is a Readers’ Favorite 5-STAR book and has garnered positive reviews from industry critics like Kirkus, who remarked (twice) that I craft “superb dialogue.” But I’m most proud of my very first Amazon review, which came the day after my book launched, from an unknown reader. It was a 5-Star review and, after she raved about the story, she immediately found me on Goodreads and followed me, my very first fan. That was a big moment for me. I’m not gonna lie–I shed a few tears. Since then, I’m honored to have received many more 5-STAR reviews on both Amazon and Goodreads. But I still have a ways to go to make it to the New York Times Best-Seller list. That’s my next goal, and I know I’ll get there… one like, one click, and one page read at a time. I am so also pleased to announce that I just made Amazon’s Best Seller list.
I think what sets me apart from other writers is my unconventional country background and my authentic author voice. Having four brothers and two sons to draw experience from, I’m also able to write from a guy’s point-of-view very well. And I weave mystery, suspense, and themes of values and virtues seamlessly into a contemporary love story. New York Times Best Selling Author, Jami Brumfield called my story “unique, intense, and suspenseful.” I think it’s important for a romance to have other elements besides just hearts and flowers. There’s a lot going on at the mysterious “Academy,” which is why I call my series a saga–a lot happens to these characters. A lot. According to one industry editor, “The Academy Saga” should “appeal to females aged 16 to 60” and “do very well in the market.” And so far, she’s been right, and I’ve been beyond thrilled and thankful!
It would be great to hear about any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve used and would recommend to others.
After getting the kids off to school, I settle on the couch with my mangy doggie to take in some “morning motivation” with my coffee. I watch everyone from Bishop T.D. Jakes to serial-cusser Gary Vee to help motivate me through this journey. And it helps me break through those inevitable tough times. I also found some great indie author groups on Facebook and follow a couple of successful self-published authors on Instagram. Being a writer can be a long, lonely road. It’s nice to have the support of other authors who have gone through the same thing and come out the other end. I’m also living proof that there is light at the end of the tunnel… you just have to keep going!
Pricing:
- Kindle eBook $8.99
- Soft cover copy $18.99
Contact Info:
- Address: 5439 Willow Wood Ln
Dallas, TX 75252 - Website: www.theacademysaga.com
- Phone: 214-232-3569
- Email: theacademysaga@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/theacademysaga?igshid=cdytagqvfvpj
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheAcademySaga/
Image Credit:
shutterstock
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