My name is Yuwanda Black and I'm a freelance writer; self-published (indie) and traditionally published author; and web entrepreneur. INDIE AUTHOR I've been a freelance writer since 1993, a self-published ebook writer/author since 2002 and an internet marketer since 2008. I've self-published over 100 ebooks (fiction and non-fiction). TRADITIONALLY PUBLISHED AUTHOR The Ultimate Freelancer's Guidebook: Learn How to Land the Best Jobs, Build Your Brand, and Be Your Own Boss (Adams Media, a division of Simon & Schuster) PREVIEW: THE ULTIMATE FREELANCER'S GUIDEBOOK Do you fight the urge to throw your alarm clock across the room each morning? Do you feel the most energized from 5:00 p.m. ‘til midnight? Is morning your least favorite time of day? Do you have vacation time circled in the calendar in your cubicle? Freelancing offers flexibility, ie, to work with your natural body clock instead of against it; to plan work around life (ie, vacation) instead of the other way around. But how do you grasp the brass ring of freelancing? How do you go about it so that you don't fall flat on your face? That's what you'll learn -- in comprehensive detail -- in "The Ultimate Freelancer's Guidebook." Nothing is left to chance. Everything you need to succeed is covered -- from how to secure your first clients, to how to brand your freelance business, to how to charge, to how to get paid. Learn more at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1440596786. TRAVELING FREELANCE WRITER I'm American. In 2009, I started travelling frequently to Jamaica (Negril). In 2014, I made the move permanent until 2019, when I transitioned back to the states. I keep an apartment in Jamaica and still go back two to three times a year for a few weeks, or a few months, at a time. ABOUT LIVING IN JAMAICA FULL-TIME I loved the experience and advise everyone to soak up another culture for a period of time at least once. I learned a ton in the five years I lived there full-time, and it made me ever so grateful for things in my life that I'd largely taken for granted before this experience. I always look forward to going back. My apartment (a studio) has a balcony and an AMAZING ocean view. I'm talking a 270-degree view (it's one of the photos listed here) that is about a 20-minute walk to the beach and 5 minutes to bars and restaurants. Note: See my YouTube videos to get an idea of some of the fun stuff there is to do in Jamaica -- and to see how beautiful it is. They detail one of the many trips I've taken to the mineral springs in the Blue Mountains. They can be found at on my YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/inkwellny. I have the most amazing massages when I go here ... and talk about natural beauty -- this country is absolutely gorgeous! THE THING I LOVE THE MOST ABOUT BEING A WRITER ... It allows me to live and work where I please. As long as I have an internet connection, I'm good to go. I've worked everywhere from a hotel room in Barcelona, Spain; to a cafe in Stockholm, Sweden; to a farm house in Cordoba, Argentina; to a condo in St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. As far as work, I feel like the luckiest girl alive most days. WANT TO LIVE & WORK ABROAD (perhaps from a tropical paradise like Jamaica)? One of the first things you'll most likely need is a portable career (like freelance writing). Here are some online writing courses that can get you started: InkwellEditorial.Teachable.com. THE THING I LOVE THE MOST ABOUT BEING A SELF-PUBLISHED AUTHOR In a phrase, "income stability." As long as I can write (ie, produce new products), I can make a living. How much I earn is entirely up to me. Thanks to places like Amazon, you don't have to be famous to make a living as a writer. RUNNING, RUNNING, RUNNING! I'm also a marathon runner. I've completed two full and 8 half marathons (three of them being the Reggae Marathon in Negril). I'm always training for the next one (assuming the old knees hold up). LIFE PHILOSOPHY Just do it! (As a runner, of course Nike's philosophy fits who I am :-)). LEARN MORE ABOUT ME You can learn more about me at http://InkwellEditorial.com/about. Inkwell Editorial is my freelance writing website. It's been live since 1999 and has hundreds of articles on how to start a successful writing career -- whether it's in self-publishing, or writing for others. Want to know about SEO writing? Visit my in-depth blog on the ins and outs of this high-paying freelance writing niche at SeoWritingJobs.com. InkwellEditorialPublishing.com is my publishing company just for fiction. The company publishes primarily romance, erotica and crime novellas. CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA For Publishing Company: Pinterest (Pinterest.com/InkwellEditor); Twitter (Twitter.com/AnInkwellPub); and Facebook (Facebook.com/InkwellEditorialPublishing) are my preferred social media outlets. For Freelance Writing: Twitter (Twitter.com/InkwellEditor) and Facebook (Facebook.com/InkwellEditorial). Thanks for dropping by, and feel free to send me any questions you have about my books, freelance writing, ebook writing, internet marketing and/or self-publishing in general. Sincerely, Yuwanda