I started PaperWild because I believe indie authors deserve more.

Hi! I’m Arya.

I started my self-publishing journey 4 years ago, when I woke up one day and had a sudden idea for a book.

Since then, I have learned so much about the self-publishing process and connected with so many incredibly talented authors, editors, narrators, and book lovers, and every day I am inspired and motivated by this community.

But I have also experienced first-hand how overwhelming the self-publishing process can be, and seen a lot of friends have terrible experiences with scammers charging extortionate amounts and delivering AI-generated slop. Which is why I decided to start PaperWild Publishing: To help indie authors navigate the self-publishing process with care, guidance, and human integrity from start to finish.

To the writer standing where I once stood... Almost four years ago, I had the wild idea to write a book.

I always knew I wanted to write a romance, but I didn’t know how to make it original, until one day, I woke up with an idea: “What if a couple witnesses a murder on their first date?”

And so, A Secret Escape was born...

3 years later... I knew I never wanted to pursue traditional publishing. After hearing horror stories of incredible books getting rejection after rejection, and even after getting an agent or even being picked up by a publisher, having to wait 2+ years for your book to release, and also losing rights and a significant percentage of royalties... No thanks.

So while I was writing my first book, I spent hours scrolling Booktok and Bookstagram, connecting with other writers and readers, and learning everything I could about self-publishing.

And what I found was...

It was so fragmented! There was conflicting advice everywhere, and everyone had a different experience and a different opinion.

And then with the recent rise of AI, I had so many friends who had been conned by so-called 'artists' who charged extortionate amounts and delivered AI-generated slop.

And so I came up with PaperWild.

A home for all that wild creativity, where indie authors could come and ask questions and share concerns, get advice and support from someone who's been there and done that, and where authors could be matched up with exactly what they need to create their books to a professional standard, without worrying about AI.

For me, one of the best feelings in the world is opening a new book by an indie author and falling in love with it, and that's exactly the feeling I want to bring to life through PaperWild.

Authors having the book they've always dreamed of, the story they've poured their heart and soul into.

Readers discovering more incredible indie authors.

More Joy. More Hope. More Passion. More Love.

Yours sincerely,

Arya Walton xx