Indie author Cindy Ojczyk shares her self-publishing journey, writing process, and how foster fail pets inspired her books about teen mental health and animal rescue. Learn book marketing strategies, overcome pet loss grief, and discover the realities of independent publishing.Episode Summary

Cindy Ojczyk joins Holly and Rogan for an intimate conversation about her unexpected path to writing and the profound ways her pets have shaped both her creativity and her stories. Cindy opens up about the emotional complexities of being a pet foster parent, explaining the bittersweet concept of "foster fails" and processing the loss of beloved animals.

The discussion explores her unique writing approach, the realities of self-publishing versus traditional publishing, and the considerable effort required to market independently published books.

Cindy also shares how she weaves themes of mental health and animal rescue into her storytelling, with a particular focus on creating conversations around teen mental health issues. Throughout the conversation, she emphasizes the critical role of community support for self-published authors and advocates for greater awareness of the challenges young people face.

• 01:24 Cindy's Journey as a Writer
• 03:46 The Influence of Pets on Creativity
• 05:42 Understanding Foster Fails
• 08:04 The Impact of Poet the dog: A Foster Fail Story
• 11:40 The Challenge of Fostering Multiple Pets
• 13:50 Cindy's Writing Process and Book Promotion
• 18:57 Lessons Learned from Self-Publishing
• 25:48 Diversity in Publishing and Self-Publishing Freedom
• 30:07 Navigating Themes in Writing: Mental Health and Animal Welfare
• 32:33 Awareness and Leadership in Community Conversations
• 35:45 Embracing the Present: The Journey of an Author

cindyowrites.com

Instagram @cindyocheck

Facebook Cindy Ojczyk - writer

Book Mom Loves the Dogs More