She debuted with the Crimson Snow in November of 2024, and only a few months later she published her second book, Darkland in April of 2025. Both books are the first installments in two beloved series. The Crimson Snow is followed by the Crimson Realm, which is expected to release near the end of 2025, and Darkland is followed by Everland, which will be following sometime in 2026.

 

You can add her books to your Goodreads page here!

 

I had the honor of asking Laura Vega some questions about her journey as a Self Published Author. She gives insightful tips about what to expect, making the best out of tough situations, and keeping the magic of storytelling alive.

 

What is your Indie Author origin story? What got you into writing and why did you choose to go the self published route?

 

I guess you could say my indie author villain origin story mirrors my characters a bit too closely. I’ve always had my head in the clouds—born a little too dreamy, maybe a little too chaotic. There’s never been a time when I wasn’t writing or spinning thousands of stories in my head.

 

As a kid, I wanted to find secret doors. On my way to school, I’d imagine the world freezing over—and me, somehow, becoming its savior. I’d daydream that a star might fall into my yard and turn into an alien best friend so we could go on epic adventures and save the world together. And I wrote it all down. Stories, poems, songs, feelings… all of it.

The turning point came when I realized that not writing was making me feel worse. The stories grew too big in my head. The characters felt real. I needed to meet them on the page. Writing became the only way to process the whirlwind of emotions I was living through.

 

And if you ask me how I ended up publishing a book? Honestly… it was an impulse. I thought, “Why not? No one’s going to read it anyway. Maybe someone will find it in 10 years and feel less alone.” But somehow… here we are.

 

I chose self-publishing not because it was the easiest path (which is not! Both are equally hard and beautiful), but because it felt right. I write because I love it. I never seriously considered traditional publishing—I don’t regret it for a second. I’ve had the time of my life learning not just how to write better, but how to make a book from the ground up.

Being indie opened a door to people—first readers, then friends, then chosen family. I call it the indie circle of life. (Cue The Lion King theme as I raise my book like it’s Simba.)

And truly? I wouldn’t trade this for anything.

 

You are known for your amazing Street Teams! What made you decide to run them in such a hands on and immersive way? Do you have any tips for authors looking to establish a successful Street Team?

 

Before deciding to publish my novel, I was part of some amazing street teams—and I noticed that most of them asked for the same types of things. That’s when I had the idea to create something different—something immersive. I thought, what if I turn this into a full experience? Maybe then readers would step into my world and see the book through my eyes.

 

Of course, it doesn’t exactly work like that—but along the way, I discovered something even better: the joy it brought to others. So, I kept going! Quests, quizzes, playful teases… I realized that as an author, I don’t just write books—I can write experiences too. And why not start with my street team?

 

My advice?

1. Know your audience.

2. Numbers aren’t everything. Care more about your readers’ passion than their follower count.

3. Bring your book’s energy into your team—infuse it with the same spark and atmosphere.

4. Go wild. There’s no such thing as a “silly idea.”

5. Ask them what they want!

6. Have fun. Let it be something that lights you up too—because self-publishing is hard, and your street team should bring joy, not pressure.

 

And finally: don’t be afraid to break the rules. There’s no one-size-fits-all formula for a street team. There’s just you, your words, and your vision. Don’t compare your process to anyone else’s. Your readers, your energy, and your journey? They’re uniquely yours.

 

Oh—and know when to rest. Taking a break is part of the magic, too.

 

Did you encounter any issues along your Self Publishing journey? If so, what were they and what advice can you impart to help others avoid running into the same problems?

 

I jumped into this with no roadmap—completely blinded, honestly. And while self-publishing isn’t for everyone, my journey came with some unexpected (and pricey) lessons.

 

At first, I didn’t expect to be so welcomed, or to have anyone sign up for ARC submissions. But they did. So I started investing—design tools, goodies, formatting software. Then came editing costs. A cover. And while there are definitely more affordable options out there, I went with the “go big, go better” mindset… which meant a big investment.

 

That’s just the surface. I also had to figure out internal formatting, get ISBNs, learn how to use both KDP and Ingram from scratch. And trust me—that’s just for the book itself.

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So my biggest piece of advice? Know your budget. I didn’t. I dove in headfirst and learned everything the hard way—on my own, through trial and error. I failed multiple times. But I also grew.

 

Double-check your manuscript. If you can, hire a good editor. If not, build a solid BETA team you trust. Explore formatting tools and learn your trim size and page count—I messed that up early on, and it matters more than you think.

 

Protect your peace. Your readers are everything, but privacy is a blessing. I had to learn that the hard way—some things are sacred, and keeping certain moments for yourself is okay.

 

If your book touches on sensitive topics, be upfront about it. Readers appreciate content warnings. It’s not about censorship—it’s about care.

 

And please—be kind to yourself. I went through a period of being my own worst critic. It’s hard getting used to people reading you—really reading you. Both the praise and the criticism can hit deep. And yes, reviews can hurt. Some have truly broken me. I’ve wanted to scream, to defend myself—but I’ve learned to breathe, say thank you, and let go.

 

Because at the end of the day, books are reflections, and every reader brings their own lens. That’s part of the magic.

 

So here’s my final thought: write for you. Write what brings you joy. Be brave. This industry is what I call a beautiful, whimsical nightmare—in the best way. Every day something new will happen. So stay grounded. Keep going. You’re human. You’ll make mistakes. Learn, grow, and never stop dreaming.

 

For a good portion of writing and publishing both your books The Crimson Snow and Darkland you were living in Colombia! Can you tell me anything about your experience and how it may have affected or altered your journey?

 

I’d say my writing journey has been filled with passion, but also its fair share of challenges. Handling goodies, not being able to run a pre-order campaign, or host an in-person event—that part was tough. I couldn’t even check most of my own books before launch. To this day, I’ve never held a proof copy or a physical ARC. They wouldn’t ship those to Colombia, and logistics were both difficult and expensive.

 

There were extra costs I hadn’t planned for, and honestly, it drained me. I felt far from my readers, and that distance hurt more than I expected. I put so much heart into my debut, and while I still believe anything is possible, I had to face the reality that there are limitations depending on where you live. The shipping fees, the time zones, the distance… they took a toll.

 

I couldn’t hire a PA, I couldn’t meet with my editor in person. And maybe this all sounds like I’m being overly emotional—and hey, maybe I am—but it was rough. Still, it taught me a lot. Most of my biggest lessons came from those moments.

 

But if there’s one thing I want to say loud and clear, it’s this: you can do this. No matter where you live, where you’re from, or what you have access to. Your roots don’t define your limits. This journey humbled me, but also showed me that nothing is truly impossible when you work hard for it. The barriers? They exist. But so does the power to rise above them. You can win this.

 

Looking back on your Self Publishing journey so far, if you could go back in time and tell past Laura one thing that may save her a lot of trouble, what would it be?

 

If I could tell her something, I’d say: be gentle with yourself. Write the stories you love. Don’t stress over Goodreads—honestly, maybe even remove it for a bit. Let go of anything or anyone toxic, and don’t be afraid to set boundaries. Learn how to say no without guilt.

 

Also… don’t blindly trust logistics companies if you're shipping from outside the U.S. (trust me on that one). Know when it’s time to stop scrolling and return to your writing. Social media can be powerful—but so are your words. Don’t let the noise drown out your voice.

 

And lastly—budget wisely! It helps avoid burnout (even if I don’t regret working hard one bit, it’s still advice I’d pass along to another version of me, in another dimension).