Mom & Pop Publishing

     When I was a little girl, there was an ice cream shoppe/convenience store down the street from my house. If you put a typical living room and kitchen together, that's about how big it was.  It was the only commercial business on my side of town, besides the butcher who worked out of his house. My mom and I used to ride our bikes there in the summer. The side streets were - and still are - brick, so riding your bike on them was like a roller coaster ride. I would hum just to hear my voice vibrate while I navigated the bumpiest path possible.

     But the best part was most definitely the homemade ice cream. I would get coffee ice cream and feel like a big girl because it was coffee. The owner knew me by name, and if I brought him dandelions I picked along the way, he would sometimes give it to me for free. I can still remember the taste of that ice cream, all cold and creamy on my tongue, and when topped with walnuts he soaked in maple syrup, even my beloved Ben & Jerry's couldn't compare.

     Whenever I hear someone talk about supporting Mom and Pop stores, I think fondly of that ice cream shoppe. I also think of Indie publishers. If what you're thinking right now is something akin to "What you talkin' about, Willis?" I understand. But think about it. They are the modern-day Mom and Pop store. They are the place where you can find a hidden gem you can't get anywhere else, or as good or better than what you find in the big box stores. You often get more personalized service - cue the Cheers theme song - from people who appreciate every dollar you spend with them, because every dollar counts. Plus, every time I've gotten a response from feedback I've provided on a book, it was from an Indie or self-pubbed author who was grateful and excited to hear from me.

     I read something the other day on Facebook. (See, what did I tell you in my last article? You never know when something you post is exactly what someone needs.) It said something to the effect of: By supporting a Mom and Pop store, you are not buying a fifth house or a new yacht for a CEO, you are putting food on someone's table, helping them buy their kid's braces or pay their mortgage. It's the exact same thing with Indie publishers and their authors.

     Now, I'm not so much of a hypocrite that I can't admit I would love to see my book stacked prominently on a table at Barnes and Noble one day -- you know, the ones they line around the railing on the second floor and you can't help but look at every one of them on your way to the section you're heading for. But I am proud to be an Indie-published author, and will tell you that probably seventy-five percent of the books I buy are online from Indie published authors like myself. If Josh Gates, Rick Riordan and Gordon Ramsay had gone with Indie publishers, that percentage would be even higher.

     So the next time you're looking to buy a book, mosey on over to your friendly neighborhood Indie publisher's website and find yourself a gem. You might not be able to pay for it in dandelions, but you can feel good knowing you helped support not only someone's dream, but maybe even their family as well.

*pic provided courtesy of www.LittleVintageTrailer.com