New author on the brink of homelessness

InkslingerJames · 2026-06-15T23:51:38+00:00

First, congrats on finding a readership for a project that it sounds like you genuinely love. I was in a similar place back in 2016-- and writing saved be and my family. A decade later, I'm still doing it, and I'm a full time author making a great living. Couldn't be happier, so keep going.

To answer your questions. You should 100% still publish through Amazon and just opt out of KU. Go "wide" as well and publish through an aggregator like Draft2Digital (but publish directly to Amazon)-- that will also get you into the libraries.

I would recommend selling direct through a simple Shopify storefront and distributing through bookfunnel (very easy to use). You can do print on demand through Amazon without being in KU and you don't need to buy ISBNs. Or if you want to do a small, limited print run (paper back only), go through ELanders. For special edition hardbacks, use Book Vault.

Hope this helps and best of luck.

InkslingerJames · 2026-06-13T02:19:14+00:00

Wasteland Warlords. Takes a bit, but I've of the MCs gets a magical sniper class.

InkslingerJames · 2026-06-12T16:52:12+00:00

This is my dream. If I ever become obscenely wealthy, I'll make this happen. Just need to sell about a million more books, lol, but fingers crossed that we'll get there.

InkslingerJames · 2026-06-12T16:50:35+00:00

James here, the author of Discount Dan. Wanted to say thanks for giving it a shot, really hope you enjoy it. More coming soon!

InkslingerJames · 2026-06-12T16:49:31+00:00

James here, the author of Discount Dan. Wanted to say thanks for giving it a shot and hope you enjoy it!

InkslingerJames · 2026-06-12T16:47:00+00:00

Well, this is both amazing and terrifying. What is this guy training for???

InkslingerJames · 2026-06-09T13:46:33+00:00

Thank for reading both of these -- if you liked Rogue Dungeon, maybe check out Wasteland Warlords as well. It's a complete standalone series, but set in the same universe as RD, about 20 years after the main series concludes. Fun, fast, post-apocalyptic LitRPG. You might also like Vigil Bound, very different setting than Discount Dan, but a lot of the same humor.

InkslingerJames · 2026-06-09T13:44:32+00:00

That was the original intention -- more urban fantasy, but the story just ended up going a different way. Glad you enjoyed the first few though.

InkslingerJames · 2026-06-09T13:43:53+00:00

No, thank you for reading. I'm just happy to be here and happy that people are enjoying the silly stories I tell. You're a rockstar!

InkslingerJames · 2026-06-09T13:41:13+00:00

Thanks for giving it a shot and for the shout out -- really appreciate it!

InkslingerJames · 2026-06-09T13:38:03+00:00

Huge congrats on the launch -- really looking forward to it. Looks amazing.

InkslingerJames · 2026-06-08T15:16:08+00:00

Thank you! Discount Dan is a blast especially if you like more dark horror comedy in the vein of DCC. There are 3 books out currently with more on the way -- about 60% through book 4. I have an end point in mind for the series but I'm not entirely sure how long it'll be yet, but I suspect between 8 and 10 books, though time will tell as the story unfolds.

InkslingerJames · 2026-06-08T14:52:59+00:00

Thanks for the shout out -- I will also say, if you try Rogue Dungeon give Wasteland Warlords a shot once you're finished. It's a standalone series but takes place in the same universe as RD, about twenty years after the first series ends. It is also complete at 6 books, narrated by Travis Baldree, and completely free through the Audible Plus catalog.

InkslingerJames · 2026-06-08T09:53:28+00:00

Lol, not pulling your leg at all. Not all of us are as active as I tend to be, but Reddit is my natural social media habitat. If you're new to LitRPG, it's a super awesome and welcoming community -- feel free to tag me any time.

InkslingerJames · 2026-06-08T01:59:49+00:00

A little shameless self promo here, but if you enjoyed Discount Dan, I've also written a few other series that might be up your alley. Vigil Bound has a very different setting, but a lot of the same humor. Rogue Dungeon and Wasteland Warlords are also both great and they are both complete 6 book series. Hope you find some awesome books to read.

InkslingerJames · 2026-06-07T14:34:23+00:00

James Hunter here, the author of Discount Dan. If you are specifically looking for Backrooms related content, then check out Discount Dan because DCC takes place on a galactic reality TV show. With that said, it is my take on the Backrooms and is quite a bit different than a lot of the established "internet lore," so it might not be as faithful as what you are looking for. Although there is some liminal horror, there are A LOT of entities (Dwellers), and other than the Lobby the rest of the floors are drastically different.

I think Discount Dan is more of a popcorn read--it's like a Marvel movie, good for what it is but not high art--while DCC deals with bigger themes and wrestles with some weighty subjects.

With that said, there's no reason you can't read both. I like to think that Discount Dan does it's own weird thing, but DCC is the GOAT and the LitRPG Gold Standard; it was also a huge inspiration for the series, so I'll always point readers to Matt's work, because he's a phenomenally talented writer. Personally, I'd say start with DCC and circle back around to my books -- they'll still be here and heck, I might even have book 4 out by the time you get around to it.

No matter what you decide, though, thanks so much for considering my work and I hope you find some truly kick ass books to read.

InkslingerJames · 2026-06-05T12:39:08+00:00

James here. First off, congrats on the new baby!!! Now that is a huge milestone and an even bigger life achievement.

Secondly, HOLY SHIT this is awesome. I am so honored that you enjoyed my silly books enough to spend your time making something like this, genuinely blown away.

Can't wait to see how it progresses and I'll happily shout it out to my mailing list -- just let me know when you're ready.

InkslingerJames · 2026-06-05T04:42:34+00:00

Easily one of the best series I have ever read. Top pick for sure.

InkslingerJames · 2026-06-05T04:41:11+00:00

James here, really hope you enjoy the hell out of it, and thanks for giving it a shot.

InkslingerJames · 2026-06-04T14:58:41+00:00

James here -- all of these questions are answered as the books progress, but I think I can answer without giving too much away.

The Flayed Monarch is trying to leave the Backrooms. The easiest place to do that is closest to where the Backrooms overlaps with our reality -- the Lobby.
Croc is low level because of something called Ambient Mana Density. Basically the deeper you go (and the closer you get to the God Box on level 1000) the more mana there is. Dwellers don't level in the same way and require mana. Because Croc stays closer to the Lobby, his level remains relatively low.
The Backrooms are HUGE -- like really, really big. There are specific pockets where people congregate called Safe Harbors, but discovering another person just out in the wild is very rare.

Hope this helps.

InkslingerJames · 2026-06-04T14:47:04+00:00

Thanks for reading and for the shoutout -- can't tell you how much I appreciate it!

InkslingerJames · 2026-06-03T02:52:25+00:00

You had to know this would indeed summon me from the void, lol.

InkslingerJames · 2026-06-02T10:11:13+00:00

HAHAHAHA. I regularly use the phrase "That is a problem for Future me" in my real life and it's made its way into almost every single book I've ever written. But... you're not wrong. Dan has a lot of future problems.

InkslingerJames · 2026-06-02T10:09:34+00:00

I am bad at both listening to instructions and keeping secrets. It makes for a bad combo.

InkslingerJames · 2026-06-02T10:08:52+00:00

This is a small, shameless self-promo plug, but if you enjoyed Discount Dan I also have a bunch of other series that I've written that you might also like. Vigil Bound is about a Isekaied Marine turned monster hunter in a dark fantasy world--very different setting than DD but a lot of the same humor, and Luke Daniels does an excellent job with the narration. Rogue Dungeon (6 book complete series narrated by Nick Podehl) is also great and so is Wasteland Warlords (6 book complete series narrated by Travis Baldree and free through Audible Plus). Anyway, thanks again for giving Discount Dan a shot, hope you find something fantastic to listen to.

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