Today we’d like to introduce you to Kenyon Henry.
Hi Kenyon, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
When I completed my first novel, it did not take long to realize that there isn’t much help out there for indie authors. Being an indie author makes you part of a community whose members are willing to help, but that isn’t enough. Amazon got its start by helping authors (like me) get their work to the masses. However, they continually change their format to be even more profitable by forcing authors to pay for advertising. I can search my own name or book titles and other books come up first.
I decided to try and launch a platform where readers can read great books and authors aren’t constantly shelling out money to be connected with readers. I convinced another author, Keith Robinson, to join me. For my own books, I eventually signed with Jumpmaster Press™ and continue to submit my works through them today.
I have a young adult, urban fantasy series through them, and recently released a ghost mystery novel, “Ghosts of Bleu Mountain,” in October of 2021.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not at all. There are a lot of obstacles. For me, one of the greatest was, and continues to be, improving the craft. Anyone can sit down and type out a few hundred pages of thoughts and ideas. Making those same pages into a novel that others will enjoy and crave more of is another story (pun intended).
As I already mentioned, money is another obstacle. Some platforms seem to find new and inventive ways to take a larger piece of the pie. Again, this is why we’ve created GOATreads.com, which launched in October. We want to find ways to give more money back to readers, authors, and small presses while connecting these three groups into a community of booklovers.
Finding good, profitable outlets for authors has been a general struggle. It continues to be that way.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m known most for “Chronicles of Stephen,” a young adult, urban fantasy series. This story focuses on a young man with special abilities that belongs to a larger community of people, also with various gifts. It’s a good versus evil story, but that theme goes deeper than just what is on the pages.
There’s a spiritual component that challenges young adults to reconsider what passes for good or bad in their everyday lives. What I love about this story is that it’s very real in the sense that our hero, Stephen, is a very broken individual looking for some form of acceptance or redemption but has no idea where to find it or even what he is truly seeking.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
The reason I do all of it is to give something back, writing, GOATreads.com, even Next Chapter (a convention I run in Dalton, Georgia) are all born from a desire to help others in some meaningful way.
I’ve been blessed beyond measure in my personal life. I believe it is all so I can help others.
Pricing:
- GOATreads.com is $10.00 a month or $100.00 for a full year
- Any of my books are available for $15.00
- Next Chapter Convention admission for readers is $10.00, or free with an active GOATreads.com subscription
Contact Info:
- Email: KenyonTHenry@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.GOATreads.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Kenyon_T
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KenyonTHenry
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/KenyonTHenry
Image Credits
E. G. Rowley, Janis Orr, Amy Burger, Shaunna Henry, Jennifer Spurlock, Keith Robinson, and Kyle R. Hannah.
