We recently connected with Ravven White and have shared our conversation below.
Ravven , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
I’ve been a writer since I could pick up a pencil and I was always getting into trouble for staying up late reading. After I started writing my first poetry collections, I decided I want to self-publish. Self-publishing meant I retained full creative control, something that was and is very important to me. I didn’t want anyone changing my story as it was very personal. I also learned pretty quickly that my chances of making it in the traditional publishing world were slim, especially with poetry. In 2018 I self-published my debut collection, I Am Ravven. As I started gaining traction in the indie community, I met more writers who felt as I had. They had a work of passion and promise that they had invested so much time and love in and they wanted to keep their creative freedom. They wanted a say in their book’s cover and presentation. Many of the writers I met were eclectic and dark, their stories illuminating the darker sides of life including mental health, trauma, and healing. There was no place for them in traditional publishing. Their books were too unique. And yet, these voices deserved to be heard and recognized. I spent 2020, in the height of Covid-19, learning everything I could ab0ut the publishing industry and on March 8th in 2021 I founded Curious Corvid Publishing, a small dark press for the rejects and darklings. Curious Corvid was created to make space for unheard, underrepresented indie voices. And one by one, birds of a curious feather joined our table and our house became a home.
Ravven , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Curious Corvid Publishing’s specialty is dark literature. Modern gothic, dark romance, fantasy, apocalyptic, science fiction – we’ve got a little bit of everything. Our authors create real, authentic stories with rich characters that are easy to identify with and understand. We currently have two award winning novels, six bestsellers, and ten of this year’s novels have been nominated in multiple categories in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards. All of the books on our website come signed along with bookmarks, stickers, a handwritten thank you note, and each book is gift wrapped. We are so grateful for each person who supports our books and so we want you to have the ultimate experience when you receive a package from us. Books are a love language. You can read about each author on our website, join our newsletter for early deals and news, or join our discord where you can talk to our author’s one on one and take part in our community. We don’t believe other writers and indie publishing houses are enemies or competition. Instead, we believe that everyone deserves a seat at the table. When one of us succeeds, we all succeed.
This year we also launched the Magpie Messenger, a literary magazine made for, made by, and made with the works of indie writers. You’ll find original poetry and prose from indie authors in your community, informative articles that help you navigate the world of publishing, and exclusive sneak peeks of upcoming content. The Magpie publishes on each solstice and equinox with a special issue on Halloween. Each issue carries a specific theme to keep things fresh and exciting for our readers. It’s absolutely a work of love and passion. Each issue has puzzles, recipes, articles, short stories, poetry, and so much more. It’s fun and fanciful. Literary magazines can be incredibly competitive and hard to get in, so we wanted to make ours accessible to everyone regardless how long you’ve been a writer. We also wanted it to be affordable, which is why we offer various subscription levels with the lowest tier being only $6 a month.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
Transparency and flexibility. From the very first authors I signed to now, I was transparent about what I could and couldn’t do. I wanted them to be able to make an informed decision and I wanted to be able to stand behind any promise I made. Sometimes in business, things don’t go according to plan. We’ve had issues with the production chain resulting in books arriving late. It’s been stressful for us and disappointing for our customers. I always do my best to let them know what is happening and I try to make up for it by coupons and extra swag. I’ve also made my own share of mistakes in the business. Starting a business from scratch is daunting and at times overwhelming. Mistakes are bound to happen. I learned to take them as learning opportunities, by being honest about what was happening, and trusting that it wasn’t going to be the end of the world. When you’re transparent, you remind others that you are human and that makes you relatable. People will appreciate your vulnerability and they will see you are a company worth trusting – especially when they see you conquer and overcome. A growing business means continuous change and fluctuation. Learning how to let go, learn from others, and adjust your perspective will allow you to see success you otherwise wouldn’t have.
We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.
Social media, specifically Instagram, was our launching point. After founding Curious Corvid Publishing, I ran an ad on Instagram advertising that the house was now open for book submissions. The results blew my mind and I ended up signing 13 authors during my first year. Instagram continues to be a great way to share what is going on in our company, but we’ve since expanded to newsletters and even our own discord server! On our website, you can sign up for an account to track your order, save your favorite books, and keep a record of which book you’ve already bought. You can also sign up for our newsletter on our website. Newsletters are an indie author’s bread and butter. They are a direct line to your reader! I use ours to promote upcoming sales and releases, give special content that is otherwise available and use the opportunity to be a little more personal and interactive. Our discord server is also accessible on our website under Nights With Ebon Pinion, our up and coming YouTube channel. In our discord you can interact with our authors one-on-one, ask questions, share memes, and be part of our community at large. Personal touch is so important. People like having access to you and your company and it’s important to both engage the customer and make them feel special – because they are!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.curiouscorvidpublishing.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curiouscorvidpublishing/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/curiouscorvidpublishing
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ravven-white-119058247/
- Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/curiouscorvidp
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCT8PpwR-UDllCkpCSWrJbIA