Today we’d like to introduce you to Quinn Avery
Hi Quinn, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Since third grade, I’ve known that I wanted to become an author. Throughout high school, I wrote books–mostly fanfiction of John Hughes films–and continued through my early 20s until I became hyperfocused on raising my children. It wasn’t until my mid-30s that I told myself I needed to do something about the dream to publish before it was too late. Since I’m stubborn and don’t like anyone telling me what to do, I didn’t have any interest in working with a publisher. Luckily, indie authors were making a dent in the literary world around that time, so I jumped onto the bandwagon. I spent countless hours watching videos of experienced authors sharing their knowledge of the industry before writing a story I felt (at the time–not so much now) was worthy of print. Since then, I’ve written 48 books in various genres.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Ahhhh…my career has been a never-ending challenge. I’m not great at asking for help, so too often, I learn things the hard way. In the beginning, I had issues with properly formatting books for print (thankfully, they now have programs that make it easy). I’ve had problems retaining editors I work well with and respect. I once uploaded the wrong book right before launching a thousand-dollar ad (although it went in my favor and became an Amazon bestseller). Although I faithfully work with one of the best cover designers in the business, I took design classes years back and sometimes battle the technicalities of wanting to create my own covers. My biggest struggle has been and continues to be my aversion to and inexperience with marketing. Far too many unqualified publicity agencies claim to be professionals, and I don’t do well with the technical stuff (like algorithms).
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As Quinn Avery, I’ve written 16 books that fall under the genres of psychological thrillers, mysteries, and women’s fiction. My stories feature strong women as I primarily write for women, and there’s usually an element of romance (of the PG-13 variety) involved. My Bexley Squires series involves a strong and sassy female sleuth and has been compared to Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series. Bexley has given me immense pride because I adore her wit and bravery. I’m equally proud of “Lost Girls of Kato” and “Right Across the Bay” as they were based on ideas I’d had for years and are set in locations dear to my heart (Mankato and Lake Shetek). As for what sets me apart from other authors, I’m often told my books are impossible to set down, and I love creating wicked twists that make sense and aren’t simply thrown in as a shock factor.
What does success mean to you?
In my industry, I’d say success is achieved by producing something based solely on your original ideas (packaged with an eye-catching cover) that people actually want to read. As someone who often struggles with imposture syndrome, it took me the better part of a decade to acknowledge that my career has been successful.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.quinnavery.com
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/authorquinnavery
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorquinnavery
