Author Amanda G. Kaite

Tag: indieauthorstruggles

  • The Uphill Climb: Finding a Literary Agent

    If you’ve ever searched for a literary agent, you know it’s not just a process—it’s a rollercoaster. Not the fun kind with loops and candy at the end, but the kind that makes your heart drop into your stomach repeatedly.

    It all starts with hope. You’ve spent months—sometimes years—pouring your heart into your manuscript. You’ve labored over every sentence, fallen in love with your characters, and rewritten entire chapters because they just didn’t feel right. When you finally decide it’s ready, you send it out like a little paper boat into a vast, stormy ocean.

    Then the replies start coming in. Or sometimes, they don’t come at all.

    When an agent says “no,” it’s never personal. At least, that’s what you tell yourself. But deep down, it feels personal. Your book isn’t just words on paper; it’s a part of you. Your late nights, early mornings, stolen lunch breaks, moments of doubt, and joy are all embedded within those pages. Each rejection chips away at your confidence, like tiny cracks in glass. You begin to wonder: Am I good enough?

    But here’s the thing no one tells you at first: rejection can be a gift. (Yes, it stings to even read that.)

    Each time someone says “not for me,” you have two choices. You can close the document, put your manuscript in a metaphorical drawer, and let the dust gather. Or you can use that sting to sharpen your edges. You can take a long, hard look at your story and ask yourself, What can I do better? Maybe it’s tightening your opening pages, sharpening your plot hook, or giving your characters more depth.

    Somewhere along the way, you realize it’s not just about getting an agent; it’s about becoming the kind of writer who deserves one.

    Finding a literary agent is hard—really hard. But every “no” brings you a step closer to the “yes” you’ve been dreaming of. When that day finally arrives, all those tiny cracks in your confidence will transform into a mosaic that reflects the writer you’ve become—resilient, determined, and better than you ever thought you could be.

    So keep going. Send the queries. Collect the rejections. Rewrite until your fingers ache. Because the only true failure in this journey is giving up before the right person discovers your words.

  • Plotting the Next Storm: Behind the Scenes of Mist of Fallen and Book Two

    When Mist of Fallen was finally released, I felt a mix of awe, vulnerability, and gratitude. Seeing something you’ve held so close for so long out in the world is surreal. After years of translating, rewriting, and re-editing since 2019, the story that began as a whisper finally found its voice.

    But the journey doesn’t end there.

    In fact, with Mist of Fallen now breathing on its own, I’ve shifted into a new, equally exciting (and chaotic) phase: plotting Book Two.

    Revisiting the World of 

    Mist of Fallen

    Book one introduced readers to a shadowed version of Colorado where divine forces walk the Earth, hidden beneath mist and memory. At the heart of it all was Megana, pulled between a past she can’t fully remember and a destiny she never asked for. Her story unfolded through grief, love, betrayal, and an awakening of power.

    Writing it in first person meant living through her eyes. Every twist she felt—I did too. So as I begin to map out Book Two, I’m not just continuing her story; I’m expanding the world that shaped her.

    The Challenge of Plotting a Sequel

    Writing a second book is like walking a tightrope. On one side, I have readers’ expectations, and on the other, my own vision of where the story must go. Book Two has to be bigger—but not bloated. Deeper—but still intimate. And the stakes? They’re higher than ever.

    This time, I’m working with multiple POVs (yes—Jeremiah, Gabriel will finally speak for themselves). Each character has secrets, regrets, and loyalties that don’t always align. Their paths are colliding in ways even I didn’t expect during early drafts.

    Themes I’m Exploring

    Without giving away too much, Book Two will dive into:

    • The cost of resurrection (both literal and spiritual)
    • What it means to be chosen—and who gets to decide
    • Divine war and human consequence
    • And perhaps most personally… the search for belonging when you no longer recognize yourself

    What’s Next?

    Right now, my wall is covered in notes, red string (okay, not literally), timelines, and character arcs. I’ve been drafting chapter outlines, writing from different characters’ perspectives, and discovering how their inner battles fuel the external war looming over them all.

    It’s messy. It’s emotional. It’s everything I hoped it would be.

    Thank You for Being Here

    Whether you’ve just discovered Mist of Fallen or you’ve been part of this journey since the earliest drafts, thank you. Sharing this world with you means more than I can say. And I promise: Book Two will be worth the wait.

    Until then—keep an eye on the mist. You never know what’s hiding just beyond the veil.

  • Juggle the struggle is real

    The Juggle Is Real: Life as an Indie Author with a Full-Time Job

    Being an indie author is one of the most rewarding—and overwhelming—things I’ve ever done. The passion behind writing a book is fierce, but once the final words are typed, that’s when the real work begins.

    Unlike traditional publishing, indie authors wear every hat. We’re not just writers—we’re editors, designers, formatters, marketers, and social media managers all rolled into one. And for many of us, like me, this all happens after hours—after the 9 to 5, after dinner, after life has already drained your energy for the day.

    Balancing a full-time job with writing and marketing a book is like living in two different worlds at once. In the daytime, I’m focused on my career and responsibilities. By night (and sometimes during stolen moments at lunch or weekends), I’m brainstorming scenes, creating graphics, writing blurbs, or planning promotional content.

    The pressure to constantly show up online is real. Social media thrives on consistency, but real life doesn’t always allow for that. There are days when I feel creatively drained. Days when I wonder if anyone even sees the effort I put in. Days when I just want to write—but I can’t, because I’m stuck scheduling posts or researching hashtags.

    The truth is: it’s hard. Really hard. There’s guilt when I’m not productive. There’s burnout from doing too much. And there’s the constant reminder that if I don’t push the book, no one else will.

    But there’s also pride.

    Pride in knowing I finished a story I believe in. Pride in learning new skills that I never imagined I’d need. Pride in showing up for a dream that matters deeply to me, even when it means late nights, early mornings, and sacrificed weekends.

    Being an indie author with a full-time job is a juggling act—and some days, the balls drop. But it’s also proof of resilience, passion, and dedication.

    So if you’re in the same boat, feeling overwhelmed or unseen: you’re not failing. You’re doing something incredible. And every small step forward counts more than you think.