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UK fantasy writers, Lydia Baker and Lucy McLaren decided to get together and give indie authors a platform for conversation. Check out their channel to help them share. You will meet amazing authors as they chat with the hosts, and you can enjoy author readings.

Read on to meet the hosts and learn about Introverted Indies’ purpose and goals.

The Hosts

Fantasy has always been my genre of choice (though I do love a good horror, psychological thriller, or murder mystery). There is something inherently captivating about journeying into another world with a character—though I find myself most drawn to fantasy stories, characters, and worlds that aren’t so different from our own.

I am currently working on a fantasy trilogy called The Commune’s Curse. The first and second books in this series, Awakening, and The Mad Man’s Hope are available now. In addition to this, my gothic fantasy book, EtherStone (working title), will be releasing in 2025 from Owl Talyn Press. I also enjoy writing short stories as they provide the opportunity to dip into new characters and settings without the commitment of a full-length novel. 

Let’s Get Started

It has been amazing watching this platform take off since you launched the signup form last September. What brought you two together in this Introverted Indies endeavor? Tell us about the name.

Lydia – Lucy and I first met through our joint experience with small press publishers just over a year ago, and our friendship has blossomed from there. We had been talking for a while, sharing the highs and lows of writing and helping each other out with our WIPs, when I broached the idea of making our own platform to support indie authors.

As I am sure Lucy will tell you, we have both had our fair share of difficulties with getting our books into the world, and we wanted to be able to help other indie authors in the same position as ourselves. It also helps us as authors to get our name known in the authoring world!

As for the name, that was Lucy’s wonderful idea! I’ll let her explain more about that one.

Lucy – Thanks, Lydia! Well, the name Introverted Indies came from the fact that we are both introverts and so many of the other authors I know would label themselves the same. And of course, we’re aiming to support fellow indie authors (self or small press published) like ourselves. 

Just to add to what Lydia said as well, our friendship has been really lovely and invaluable in terms of being able to connect with a fellow writer who understands the emotional rollercoaster of writing and querying/publishing a book. So another part of us forming Introverted Indies was about wanting to connect with other authors too, to build a community of sorts. 

Have you had a chance to pause and think about what Introverted Indies has achieved so far? The above image lists your goals. Can you tell us more about those?

Lucy – We were actually very surprised with how many authors signed up to be interviewed by us when we first opened up. But it was also very exciting to have so much interest! 

Lydia – The other day I was thinking about how many amazing authors Lucy and I have had the opportunity to chat with since we started Introverted Indies in September last year and it’s around 30! Personally, I find chatting with new people makes me feel a little anxious, so for me, it has pushed me out of my comfort zone and made me feel more confident, something that is great for all walks of life. 

Lucy – Yes, I agree. I always get a little nervous before the interview recordings, but everyone has been so lovely and it really is fascinating learning about everyone’s creative processes and stories. My TBR pile has grown significantly since we started our chats, and it was already far too long! 

Lydia – As far as what II has achieved, I really hope that we have managed to bring readers and authors together and that book sales have been made. But also, I hope that we are adding in a positive way to the indie author community and I am praying that we keep growing and reach more and more people so that indie authors can get their books seen. Our aim has always been to help indie authors and it will continue to be that.

Lucy – Yeah, absolutely. We want to have a positive impact, to help authors find their readers, as we know how tough that can be from personal experience. We have lots of ideas on how to grow Introverted Indies. This is really just the beginning! 

Darci – Well it truly is astonishing and it’s great to see you’re meeting your objectives with flying colors and benefiting from widening out in the community.

Do you have any special Introverted Indie events planned for this year?

Lydia – We have just launched our sign-up for Author Discussion Panels and we have had a good amount of interest so far. Our video interview and written interview sign up will be opening soon as well. But Lucy and I are hoping to meet in person again this year to discuss other ways we can give authors a platform and events we can do. However, we both work and have families, as well as our own WIPs, so it’s making sure we have a good balance as it’s so easy to burnout.

Lucy – Yup, what Lydia said. We’re really excited to chat to authors on the panels about various topics, from authoring and parenting, to author mental health. We’ve had lots of interest so far, so those promise to be great. And we know a few people are waiting for the interview waiting list to reopen. We want to do as much as we can to help authors, but of course, like Lydia mentioned, we’re also juggling our own lives. Finding a balance is very important, but I think everyone we’ve interacted with so far understands that. 

Darci – I look forward to seeing all the exciting things roll out.

Can you share a few of your favorite Author Top Tips? Do you have other highlights/insights from your interviews that you’d like to share here?

Lucy – Ahh, I’ve heard so many good tips and pieces of advice so far. I’m writing this after a full day of toddler parenting so I’ll let Lydia say hers while I try to pick my brain… 

Lydia – I’ve found it so reassuring to know that all of the authors I’ve spoken to are in the same boat when it comes to marketing, imposter syndrome, publishing, drafting, etc. It’s been great to chat about those experiences. What I’ve found useful is some of the technology authors use to draft. One author uses Scrivener which I didn’t know anything about and actually it sounds like it would be really useful to how I like to draft a novel.

The biggest highlight for me is just how lovely everyone I’ve spoken to has been. Every single author has been kind, chatty, and fun to speak with.

Lucy – Yes! Agreed. Having all of those same struggles as authors shows why it’s so important to have an author community. We’re all in this together and can get through it together. 

Lydia – The one thing every author keeps saying is to keep writing and keep investing in the author community and I think those two things are very important. 

Lucy – Yeah, a lot of the authors I’ve spoken to have said the same thing. Just write, draft your idea, even if it’s complete garbage at first–write it. And having supportive author friends around you can really help to get you through that first draft (and beyond) too. 

Darci – Great stuff! Thank you! 

I’ve included your bios at the outset but tell us a little more about yourselves and your writing journeys.

Lucy – I always wanted to write and did dabble in it when I was a teenager, though self-doubt/anxiety/general teenage life soon stopped me from trying. I didn’t properly start writing again until I was in my late twenties and training to be a counsellor. I had a lightbulb moment that was like–wait, this is something I’ve always wanted to do… why aren’t I doing it? And so I set myself the goal of writing a book, and I did it! Ahh, to be a student again with so much free time. Anyway, that book turned out to be Awakening (my debut and the first in my dark fantasy series, The Commune’s Curse) which was signed with a small press in 2020 and released in 2022. 

I’ve since taken the rights back to my series and self-published the second book, The Mad Man’s Hope, at the end of 2024–which was exciting and scary. I also have a gothic fantasy book coming out sometime in 2025 from Owl Talyn Press. Alongside that, I’m working on the third book in The Commune’s Curse series and two other WIPs.

As for my ‘real job,’ I’m a counsellor, which is where my passion for mental health comes from. I find it incredibly important to explore this in the stories I tell, and will always seek to delve into some darker themes and experiences as part of this. 

When I’m not writing or counselling, I’m raising my toddler alongside my husband–which is a challenge of its own. 

Lydia – So, I’ve always loved books and writing since I was small, but I penned my first fantasy novel when I was fifteen/sixteen (it was awful!) and forced it upon my English teacher back in the days when we used floppy disks. She was so encouraging that I kept writing.

I decided to venture into self-publishing when my daughter (and 4th child!) was around 6 months old. Probably not the best decision I’ve ever made, and self-publishing felt like a very different thing back in 2017. I know that sometimes people still look down on indie authors now, but when I published it was much more looked down on. I had some success but nothing major. 

In 2022 I signed with a small press publisher, however, I made the decision to have the rights to my book returned to me this year so I could have control over my books and release other books in the series. While being with a publisher was an interesting and valuable experience, I felt that overall I could champion my books as well as they did, if not better. 

Darci – Ooh, I appreciate that insight about your foray into small press publishing Lydia. We all struggle with the pros and cons. It is so encouraging to get a glimpse into your journeys with your super busy lives.

Tell us about your books, works in progress, and where we can find them.

Lucy – So currently available are Awakening (The Commune’s Curse: Book 1) and The Mad Man’s Hope (The Commune’s Curse: Book 2). The series is a multi-POV, character focused dark fantasy story about a kingdom ruled by an authoritarian government hunting down children born with powers. The blurb for Awakening is:

A desperate young woman, traumatised by her past, seeks to protect two children. A teenage boy comes to terms with the incredible and deadly powers revealed by his young sister. A commander doggedly hunts them down, bound by the orders of the man he loves.

I won’t share the blurb for The Mad Man’s Hope because… spoilers. If you want a character-focused, dark fantasy series with animal companions, chosen one with a twist, found family, mental health rep, and a realistic toxic relationship, do check them out! 

As mentioned in my bio and above, I also have a gothic fantasy book (working title EtherStone) coming out in 2025. This book poses the question: What if Jack the Ripper had been controlled by a god? It’s very much inspired by that period of history, too, with a Victorian London kind of vibe. We follow noblewoman Beth and her Lady’s Companion El as they set out to unmask the ruthless killer stalking their city–and soon come to realise that the danger is far closer than they thought. This one’s very different from my other series (which has more of a medieval fantasy vibe), and I’m really excited for it to be out in the world! 

Lydia – Currently, I have a romantasy, The Return of the Queen, and a sci-fi-dystopian novel, AVA, out in the world. 

The Return of the Queen is a low-spice story of a woman who collapses and wakes up in another world with no memory of who she is. It turns out she is far more important than she ever realised and then there is the man haunting her dreams… 

I’m terrible at tropes, but I’d say it includes ones such as a forgotten lover, he had to give her up to save her–royal family, evil rulers.

AVA is different altogether. I wanted to explore the idea of an oppressed society, and that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Ava is trapped under a Barrier that appeared at the same time as strange shapes in the sky when she was a child. The Barrier separates her and the city she lives in from the rest of the world. Oppressed and controlled by MTech, she is desperate to get out and see what has survived outside the Barrier. AVA is book 1 in the series.

Both novels are on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited.  

Currently, I have a speculative fiction novel that I am trying to find a home for, and I have just sent out my crime novel, Earth and Bones, to my BETA readers so I’m awaiting feedback on that, which I am very excited about. 

Lucy – And as one of those beta readers, let me tell you… Earth and Bones is brilliant. 

Darci – Wow! Awesome works, and some great stories coming out soon for both of you! Thanks for sharing!

You’re both busy moms with busy lives. What are your best practices to stay creative, productive, and focused on your writing goals?

Lydia – With four kiddies and working four days a week, I have one day a week kid-free to work on writing. I try to keep that day sacred and not book anything in. That doesn’t always happen as I have to socialise sometimes! But most of the time I keep that day for writing. I also make a lot of notes. I use apps on my phone because it is usually nearby and make notes throughout the day about any book ideas, scenes, bits of dialogue I may have. Let’s put it this way, I have a lot of notes!

Lucy – I’m honestly in awe of Lydia and her ability to juggle her writing with her job and having four children. I struggle with one child!! She has been a powerhouse this past year in terms of writing output. My son is at nursery a couple of days a week, so I tend to try and write between counselling clients on those days. I am in the process of trying to re-establish my flow, having been editing for the last chunk of 2024 and early this year. I’ve turned to making hand-written notes for the WIP I’ll be working on next so that I can clear my head a bit and get back into the story, which I set aside quite a while ago at this point. 

Generally, I try not to be too hard on myself if I don’t reach a certain word goal or whatever. I’ve found that actually tends to be counterproductive and adds on pressure, which has historically led to block for me. Now I just try to be far more laid back about it, though of course that doesn’t stop the guilt setting in when I feel like I haven’t been productive enough…

Darci – I’m in awe of both of you. I so appreciate your insights on staying organized. 

Can you share your top takeaways from your experiences as indie authors, i.e., techniques, tools, and resources?

Lydia – I’ve found being part of the indie author community invaluable. For the most part, it is such a supportive and encouraging place. Other authors want to cheer you on, whether you’ve sold 3 books or 300, they are behind you rooting for you! It’s lovely.

But on the same note, don’t compare yourself to other authors. Everyone is different and on their own journey. Whether you write one book a year or ten, both are okay. 

Lucy – Totally agree. That author community is amazing. We met on the FSF Writers Alliance Discord server, which is a free community for fantasy and sci-fi authors to join and is full of wonderful people. Highly recommend joining that if you want to meet other authors, share your work, or take part in story contests. We’re also starting a writer mentorship program this year which is worth checking out! And as much as I have a love/hate relationship with social media, it has been great for connecting with fellow writers. The writing community is generally lovely, I’ve found. 

Lydia – I also invested in Grammarly last year and as much as I’d love to use a human editor, I simply can’t afford it, especially when I have multiple books I’d like to get out into the world. Also, Canva for covers; again I wish I could afford to pay one of the talented artists out there, but I can’t so stock images it is! I never use AI though.

I know Lucy has a few useful bits of software that really help when self-publishing too.

Lucy – Yes! I second using Canva, which is affordable and great for creating graphics as well as book covers (if you, like us, are on a budget and can’t afford to pay for a cover–and are staunchly against AI). In terms of other software, I also have Vellum which wasn’t cheap but meant I could format my book ready for self-publishing–and saved a whole load of pain trying to figure out how to do that on Word. Generally, I write my books using Word, which is probably a bit boring of me but it’s worked so far.

Darci – So many ways to share support and find resources. Thanks for sharing! The mentor program sounds fabulous. I adore Canva and I have to say, I also finally splurged on Grammarly Pro. I do all my own editing and it’s a time saver. I just need to learn to reject the suggestions when they obliterate my voice since it’s geared more toward business writers than fiction. But I am so bad with commas. I can’t afford not to use it. Watch for the sales. It was nearly half off over here for Black Friday.

What are your top three favorite books, or in the alternative, favorite authors?

Lucy – My favourite book of all time (which I count as one despite it being a trilogy) is His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman. It’s just amazing. And then my favourite authors alongside that are Robin Hobb, Joe Abercrombie, Samantha Shannon… The list could go on, so I’ll stop there.

And I will add, I know those are all big-name authors. I am working on reading more indie authors–and running Introverted Indies means I’ll certainly be able to rectify that in the future! Some indie authors whose works you should definitely check out (off the top of my head–there are so many but my brain is depleted right now) are Trudie Skies and Linda Ling. 

Lydia – I absolutely love Mitch Albom, his books are so moving, especially The Stranger In the Lifeboat. I’ve recently discovered Kevin Hearne’s Ink and Sigil which was a hilarious mix of wizards, detectives, and magical creatures. The Ruth Galloway series by Elly Griffiths is great, too, easy-to-read crime novels about a detective and an archeologist. Can I add a 4th author? My co-host Lucy’s books are awesome too, and I am so excited about her up-and-coming Jack the Ripper-inspired novel, EtherStone!

Lucy – Right back at you, Lydia–for anyone reading, check out the lovely Lydia’s books if you want compelling, interesting characters and complex worldbuilding. 

Thank you so much, Lucy and Lydia, for visiting my Guest Spotlight! What parting advice do you have for those who want to pursue writing?

Lydia – Keep writing—there will be ups and downs as with anything, but don’t let it stop you. Writing can be lonely, so make some author friends, join writer’s groups, and come chat with us at Introverted Indies—anything where you are with like-minded people. That support is invaluable. One last thing, draft without editing—just write. Get it down and leave yourself notes if you get stuck and then move on to the next scene. Once you’ve got the bones down, you can go back and add the meat!

Lucy – You took the words right out of my mouth (keyboard?), Lydia. No first draft is going to be perfect. I’m personally a pantser, so I jump into writing without planning. Even if you like to plan, I highly recommend giving it a try—have your idea, open a new document, and start writing. See what comes out. You don’t need to have all the answers immediately, you can come back and fill in any holes later. Just get it out of your head and onto paper. 

You can follow Introverted Indies on Instagram and their YouTube channel. You can find Lucy McLaren on her website and follow her on Instagram and Facebook. Lydia Baker is on Instagram and Facebook, or find updates on her website here. 

For further reading and viewing:

Lucy was my Spotlight Guest in 2023, and I enjoyed an interview with Lucy on the Introverted Indies channel earlier this month. A written chat will be coming soon.

Comments and questions welcome!