Today we’d like to introduce you to R.S. Grey.
R.S., please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was working as a medical assistant and applying to graduate school to become a physician assistant when I started to write stories on the side. I needed something different than the day-to-day grind and realized that I enjoyed sneaking in bouts of writing on my lunch breaks, after work hours, and on weekends.
Eventually, my coworker encouraged me to find a way to publish my book and, when I learned about Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), I decided to go for it. I created the pen name R.S. Grey to give myself anonymity and allow me – and my characters – to do whatever they wanted without judgment. The results were thrilling. I knew immediately that self-publishing was a great fit because it gave me the creative control I craved.
After I self-published my first book through KDP, I caught that writing itch and began to write as much as I could. When I published my third book, Scoring Wilder, which sold enough copies to reach the USA Today Best Seller list, I realized my writing was gaining momentum and a real audience worth investing in full-time.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
There was such a steep learning curve in the beginning. Traditional publishing presented many barriers, such as having connections in the industry – which I had none – or following a certain formula for writing romance novels, which stifled my creativity. Self-publishing through KDP empowered me to pursue my dreams of becoming an author and grow my career.
We’d love to hear more about what you do.
I’m a USA Today bestselling author of eighteen novels, including four #1 bestselling romantic comedies. Since KDP allows me to instantly write and publish, I’m able to incorporate timely pop-culture references to make the books feel like they’re happening in real-time.
The majority of my books take place in Texas, where I have lived my entire life. I had agents and publishing houses tell me that my brand of wit and humor didn’t fit what they were looking for, which is funny now because it’s what my readers have come to appreciate the most in my books.
Since dedicating more time to writing, my popularity has continued to grow over the years with readers. I now have more than 22k followers on Instagram and 14k on Facebook.
This past August, I released a new book called Not So Nice Guy, which became the #1 best seller on Amazon for Romantic Comedy and #2 on Amazon Charts. In December, I released Hotshot Doc which is currently ranked as one of the Top 10 Paid in Kindle Store.
I’ve found what I really enjoy doing in life. I’ve cultivated a brand I’m proud of, and I can’t wait to get to work on my next romantic comedy.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I believe my books are successful because I put so much of my personality into them.
Pricing:
- $3.99 HotShot Doc https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07L2KNC3T/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0
- $3.99 Anything You Can Do https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01ND0PJ6B/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1
- $3.99 Not So Nice Guy https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07G6RZYG8/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i2
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.amazon.com/R.S.-Grey/e/B00HK02B7S
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorrsgrey/?hl=en
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
