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A Page Turn in My Author Journey
For the last year and a half, I’ve shown up on social media almost exclusively as an author. A bookstagram. A writing account. A place built around drafts, book content, edits, cover reveals, and the long, quiet work of bringing stories into the world, indie-style. In May, after two years of building it piece by piece, I indie published my first dystopian novel, Without Light (The Sanctioned Series). I’ve never been shy about saying it wasn’t a genre I set out to write. I bu
Megan Rockwell
Dec 17, 20253 min read


Rebrand? Let's Call It Alignment Season
The Alignment Season Things are about to get a little quieter. Welcome to the calm before what I hope will be an incredible storm in 2026. I’m calling this my alignment season . Not a rebrand, not a pivot, just a pause—a deliberate space to breathe, reset, and figure out how to bring The Sanctioned Series to the readers who will connect with it most deeply. The Honest Part When I published Without Light , I did what every debut author does: I built the world, hit publish, an
Megan Rockwell
Oct 31, 20253 min read


Selling Your Books in Person: 3 Ways to Not Make It Awkward (For Everyone)
Here’s the thing about being an indie author: writing the book is only half the battle. The other half? Selling it. And unless you’re...
Megan Rockwell
Sep 30, 20253 min read


How a Month Can Change Everything
There’s something about a single month that can shift the trajectory of an entire life. Not long ago, I was writing about how to make my...
Megan Rockwell
Sep 3, 20253 min read


Things I Won’t Do for My Next Book Launch
Look, launching a book is exhilarating and chaotic—a little like planning a wedding and then realizing halfway through the reception that...
Megan Rockwell
Jul 18, 20255 min read


Building a Sustainable Life as an Indie Author
When I started indie writing with the goal of self-publishing, I thought the most challenging part would be writing the book. Then I...
Megan Rockwell
Jun 5, 20254 min read


FUN WITH PHONETICS: Learning How To Pronounce Territory and Character Names in Without Light
Here it is. A little something fun: a pronunciation guide! Because when you make up names and places for a novel, it turns out not...
Megan Rockwell
Mar 26, 20253 min read


Breaking Down Without Light's Government System: Like the U.S. Government, But Somehow Worse
Breaking Down Without Light's Government System
Megan Rockwell
Mar 5, 20252 min read


Exploring Dystopian Fiction
Dystopian fiction has captivated readers for decades, with its gripping stories of broken worlds, survival, and the fight for humanity....
Megan Rockwell
Jan 13, 20253 min read


The First Official Directive (Newsletter) From SANDRIC
Official Directive From S A N D R I C Sanctioned. United. One. YOUR FIRST LOOK AT SANDRIC Sandric Propaganda Welcome to Sandric, a world...
Megan Rockwell
Jan 7, 20253 min read


The Year of Without Light: Cover Reveals, ARCs, and More
Well, here we are, creeping ever closer to 2025, and I can’t think of a better way to start the year than getting one step closer to...
Megan Rockwell
Dec 17, 20243 min read


AI Art vs. Traditional Artists – A Writer’s Perspective
As an author who is heading towards self-publishing, I’ve found that creating visuals for my novel has been one of the most exciting—and...
Megan Rockwell
Nov 22, 20243 min read


12 Ways I'm Turning My Dream of Self-Publishing Into Reality
I'm leaning into the idea of self-publishing my first novel. There are quite a few elements of the construct that really appeal to my...
Megan Rockwell
Nov 15, 20248 min read


Four Key Edits to Elevate My Second Draft
While my brave beta readers are diving into Without Light, I’m over here twiddling my thumbs, contemplating the meaning of life...
Megan Rockwell
Oct 29, 20242 min read


Draft Two Done: Let the Beta Reader Games Begin!
Guess what, everyone? I’ve completed my developmental edits for Without Light ! 🎉 It’s a miracle, really, because I feel like I could...
Megan Rockwell
Oct 11, 20242 min read


Lost Characters and Found Insights: Draft Two Drama
Tackling draft two of Without Light: filling plot holes, finding missing characters, and transforming my story one edit at a time.
Megan Rockwell
Oct 5, 20242 min read


The Editing Chronicles: A Not-So-Linear Journey with Without Light
Editing Without Light took an unexpected turn! Discover my journey from developmental edits to creating a vibrant narrative. #amwriting
Megan Rockwell
Sep 21, 20243 min read


Levity & Betta: The Two Faces of My Fictional Soul
Let’s talk about how writing a dystopian novel turned into an accidental self-therapy session. When I embarked on this journey, I swore...
Megan Rockwell
Sep 17, 20242 min read


The Editing Waiting Game: Readying for the Red Ink Onslaught and Other Things I’m Embarrassingly Unprepared For
There’s a certain kind of dread that comes with waiting for your manuscript edits to return—an emotional cocktail of fear, regret, and...
Megan Rockwell
Sep 8, 20242 min read


Navigating the Sea of Self-Promotion: Embracing Authenticity on 'Bookstagram' and Social Media
Diving into the world of self-promotion, especially in the vibrant sea of Bookstagram and social media...
Megan Rockwell
Aug 29, 20242 min read
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