For a long time, I tried to convince myself that the difficulties indie authors face in South Africa were simply part of the job. That if we loved our stories enough, if we were resilient enough, if we kept our heads down and worked harder, things would eventually balance out.
Well, guess what? They don’t, and more importantly, they shouldn’t have to.
This is why I have co-founded the South African Indie Author Association, launching at the end of this month.
Not as a reaction.
Not as a rebellion.
But as a necessary recalibration of how indie authors are treated, supported, and valued in this country.
As an indie author, I’ve experienced the highs that come with creative freedom and the deep satisfaction of bringing stories into the world on my own terms. I’ve also witnessed, both personally and through countless conversations with other authors, how isolating and damaging this path can become when systems lack transparency and accountability.
Too many indie authors are navigating:
- Delayed or unpaid royalties
- Missing or unreturned books supplied at their own cost
- Vague reporting and shifting explanations
- Power imbalances that discourage questions
- A quiet fear of being labelled “difficult” for asking for clarity
What struck me most was not just the financial impact, but the emotional one. The anxiety. The exhaustion. The way talented, passionate writers begin to doubt themselves rather than the systems failing them.
That isn’t resilience. That’s attrition.
Being a mindfulness master practitioner, I just felt the injustice in this and knew change had to be made.
The stigma that is making harm easier....
Layered over all of this is a persistent and damaging belief that self-publishing is somehow a lesser form of writing. That indie authors are hobbyists. That our work is optional, disposable, or undeserving of the same respect afforded to traditionally published books.
This belief is outdated and false.
Many indie authors are highly skilled professionals who choose independence deliberately, not as a last resort. Yet when the work is seen as “less than,” it becomes easier to justify poor treatment. Easier to delay payments. Easier to dismiss concerns. Easier to expect silence.
I no longer believe silence serves us, and why community became the answer.
The more I listened, the clearer it became that the problem wasn’t individual authors failing to cope. The problem was that authors were left to cope alone.
Individually, we are vulnerable.
Collectively, we are informed, visible, and far harder to ignore.
The South African Indie Author Association was born from the belief that:
- Knowledge should be shared, not hoarded
- Transparency should be normal, not requested
- Mental health matters as much as sales
- Indie authors deserve professional respect
- Community is a form of protection
This association exists to reduce isolation, shift power imbalances, and create a space where authors can support one another without fear.
One of the association’s core aims is to work towards direct, honest relationships between indie authors and book shops, reducing reliance on intermediaries that have repeatedly failed authors through lack of accountability.
I believe deeply that:
- Direct relationships create clarity
- Transparency builds trust on all sides
- Collective engagement strengthens negotiating power
- Ethical systems benefit authors, bookstores, and readers alike
This isn’t about confrontation. It’s about building something healthier, more sustainable, and more human.
Why I’m Committing to This Work
I am an author, first and always. I understand how vulnerable it is to put your work into the world. I also understand how damaging it is when that vulnerability is met with silence, confusion, or dismissal.
Co-founding this association is my way of saying:
- Indie authors are not a lower class of writers
- Our work has value
- Our well-being matters
- And we deserve better systems than the ones currently in place
I don’t believe change happens through outrage alone. I believe it happens through consistency, collaboration, and care.
That is what we are building.
Looking Ahead to the Launch
The South African Indie Author Association will officially launch at the end of this month. It is still growing, still forming, still listening. And that is intentional.
This is not a closed room. It is an open table.
If you are an indie author who has felt unseen, unsupported, or worn down by the publishing process, know this: you are not alone, and your experience is valid.
This association exists because too many of us were quietly struggling.
Now, we’re choosing to do this together.
Together We Rise!
To find out more, email: admin@indieauthors.co.za