Having the flexibility to work on what I want, when I want, is crucial to me. I’m pretty responsible, so I can juggle things without letting anything drop – I use a daily planner, To Do lists, and a pin board to make sure nothing falls through the cracks and I keep myself on a deadline. As I said before, I love being in control, so setting my own schedule works great for me.

Have you found there to be any challenges in juggling writing, map-making, and your work with Lost Boys Press?ĭH: Not really, actually. Working for yourself means creating your own schedule, being your own boss and disciplining yourself. Of course, since my livelihood depends on maintaining a social media presence, I can never do that for very long. But the constant exposure gets a bit much sometimes, which is when I take a break – I naturally enjoy my own company, and occasionally I just want to be in my own head for a while. I’ve met so many extraordinary people whom I otherwise would never have known, and they give me a great deal of support on low days. What’s been the best and worst part of utilizing social media to expand your business/brand?ĭH: Well, I love being on social media, otherwise I wouldn’t do it. Social media has become a staple in marketing oneself as well as one’s work, like your map-making business. So many! The fact that Edward II might have survived his murder and lived out the rest of his life under a false name in Italy? That’s a big area of debate in historical circles at the moment. But it’s nice to know that, once it’s accepted, you don’t have to do anything else.Īs a history buff, what is the most random piece of historical knowledge you love dropping on people?ĭH: Ha, hmm.

You don’t have control, and I like being in control. Submitting to others is more difficult for me because there’s a lot of waiting, and your fate hinges on someone else’s decision. Self publishing is obviously more work, but it means that everything is done under your own steam – you’re the boss, you make the judgments. Both processes are daunting in their own right, but which was more challenging for you? Submitting and waiting for a response, or self-publishing?ĭH: Both are such different processes that I find it hard to compare. You’re both a self-published and indie author, with your own title available on amazon, as well as short stories with Lost Boys Press anthologies, most recently the HEROES anthology, releasing in March.

The Shield Road by Dewi Hargreaves