OLD POST ALERT! This is an older post and although you might find some useful tips, any technical or publishing information is likely to be out of date. Please click on Start Here on the menu bar above to find links to my most useful articles, videos and podcast. Thanks and happy writing! – Joanna Penn
One of the great things about self-publishing is that it enables the fulfillment of dreams.
A physical book with your name on the front still holds a magic that ebooks can't compete with. It's proof that your work has turned into something that people may even read!
Last year, I helped my Dad self-publish his historical thriller, Nada, set in Sardinia during the Second World War. After querying agents and generally not even receiving a reply, I suggested we move forwards and do it ourselves for his 65th birthday.
When Amazon came and filmed me earlier this year (the full video should be out next month), my Dad came too – the Penn indie author dynasty! In the video, or here on YouTube, you can see a glimpse of our journey, with thanks to Amazon KDP and Createspace.
You can also watch the unboxing of Nada in the video below or here on YouTube.
In this article on Later Bloomers, Dad talks about his love of Sardinia and the real, historical characters that inspired Eleanor and Marco, as well as the dark history of Fascism.
If you like historical fiction, you might like to check out Nada.
A young woman’s struggle to free herself from the manacles of fascism and the bigotry of faith.
Sardinia, 1934. On her eighteenth birthday Eleanor Cardinale is relishing the warm embrace of local festivals, red wine, and her first lover. Her passion is set against the backdrop of the island’s crystal seas, mountain crags and ancient magical legends.
But her joy is fleeting, for dark forces gather as she openly challenges her suffocating religion and Mussolini’s twisted vision of a new fascist Italy. The Duce is at the height of his popularity and Eleanor finds herself dangerously alone in her dissent.
Eleanor’s simple Sardinian life is shattered by a series of hideous crimes against her loved ones; savage rape, atrocity and finally murder by masked dancers in the fire and shadows of a demonic festival.
Is Eleanor willing to pay the ultimate price for freedom and independence?
NADA is a story of love, murder and revenge set in a time of Italian fascist expansion and ending in the early days of the Spanish Civil war. A historical novel, for fans of Robert Harris and Louis de Bernieres Corelli’s Mandolin.
Buy now in ebook or print format on Amazon
Happy Father's Day all the Daddies out there 🙂
View Comments (11)
Purchased, and now in my Kindle cue! Happy Father's Day to your dad, Joanna.
Thanks Brett - enjoy the story :)
Thanks for the shout-out, Joanna. I'm so excited your father is writing a sequel to Nada. I became so caught up in the story and setting that Sardinia in now on my bucket list of places to visit! He's such an inspiration.
Thanks for your promotion of Nada, Debra :) Dad has been thrilled with the response!
That's great to hear. I did the same for my father. I published is first book last year when he was 90 years. He is so happy about his book, and it have given him new friends and a lot to talk about.
Congratulations to the video :-)
Love Kim
Fantastic Kim! I hope I'm still writing when I'm 90 :)
Aww, I really like this story, Joanna. Fathers are precious. I lost mine 6 years ago this week. I hope that doesn't come across as maudlin, because I don't mean it that way (although of course I do miss him). I love and honour my Dad, and am very grateful to have had him in my life for so many years. He was such a supporter of my writing adventures, and I would love to have been able to support him in a project like this one. Blessings to you and your Dad! :-)
Thanks Belinda - and I was actually thinking that I'd like to get some more video of my parents - as everything comes to an end eventually. Photos are one thing, but speech and mannerisms are another. I'm so glad your Dad was also supportive of your journey. x
We 'old guys' are getting into this writing novels thing.....and it's a lot of fun!
Congratulations Arthur!
You 'old guys' are doing wonderfully - just look at the rise of 'grey blogs' and Boomer businesses :)
Big congrats to both of you!! :)