We recently connected with Vanessa Kramer and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Vanessa thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the story of how you went from this being just an idea to making it into something real.
I’ve been writing since high school. Any time we had a creative paper due, I’d always go well over the minimum amount of pages needed for the assignment because I fell in love with writing so much. My second grade teacher was the first person to tell me I’d make a great writer and that really stuck with me. I wrote poetry and short stories. Then, I got involved in fanfiction. When I got really serious about wanting to publish, I originally went through a vanity publisher. I paid them about $2,000 and they printed a very amateur book with zero editing or marketing. About a year and a half ago, I gained the rights to that book back and self published it, making it 100% my own work again.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?
I’m a multi-genre indie author because I refuse to stick to one genre! I have published a dark fantasy series, a YA paranormal mystery, a contemporary romance, and am about to release a dark romance. I’m a mood reader AND a mood writer. I like challenging myself to see what new ideas I can write and if I enjoy writing them. So far, every book has been super fun and taught me something new about myself. The thing I’m most proud of is I’m about to publish my sixth book in less than three years, all while working a full-time job, raising two boys, and overcoming unexpected challenges in my personal life.
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
In-person events for sure. I’m so fortunate to live in Kansas City, where we have an AMAZING book community. I’ve done about 30 events by now that have ranged from small pop-up events to Planet Comicon KC at Bartle Hall. Meeting readers and fellow authors who are as passionate about literature as I am fuels me. I love being a source of escapism for readers who need a break from reality. And every event feels more like a family reunion at this point.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
My goal is to reach as many readers as possible with my stories. Since I write so many different genres, I hope I can offer something to just about anyone who enjoys reading. Podcast interviews and winning “Best Local Author” for both Kansas City Magazine and The Pitch are amazing and I’m so grateful for any perks that come with this journey, but I just really want to entertain people. I love reviews that say, “I’ve never read a book like this before” or “I lost sleep because I couldn’t put this book down.” I write what I love so when readers love my characters and stories as much as I do, that feels more fulfilling than anything else. I just want that until I’m not physically able to write anymore.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.vanessakramerauthor.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vanessakramerauthor?igsh=MTd1NDNhbmtxZHZyNQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vanessagantauthor?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@vanessakramerauthor?si=pkKnrT94UH9ToOiv
- Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vanessakramerauthor?_t=8nThdd29tL0&_r=1
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/47501040.Vanessa_Kramer
