Embracing Imperfection and Indie Publishing with Oliver Lendon
In this episode of The Write and Wrong Podcast, host Jamie is joined by web developer and middle grade fantasy author Oliver Lendon. Oliver discusses the upcoming 27th of August release of his traditionally published debut novel, No Tune Ned, his journey from self-publishing to signing with an independent press without an agent, and why aspiring authors should embrace writing simply for the joy of it.
Key Takeaways:
No Tune Ned is a middle grade fantasy set in Dravenlock, a kingdom where music is magic, following an eleven-year-old boy whose terrible musical abilities become the key to defeating a villain named the Crooner Below.
The novel's core theme is about embracing imperfection, showing young readers that doing things differently from everyone else can actually be a unique strength.
Before landing his traditional publishing deal, Oliver self-published two children's books—including Emily's Cosmic Journey—which helped him use writing as a therapeutic outlet during the chaotic newborn phase of his daughter's life.
As an unagented author, Oliver signed with the indie press Everything with Words after pitching during an open submission window, receiving a positive response from the publisher within just four hours.
Oliver's writing process has evolved significantly; while he used to meticulously edit each chapter as he went, he now prefers to write a fast "vomit draft" all the way to the end before beginning the real work of editing.
Magic, Music, and Embracing Imperfection
Oliver’s debut traditionally published novel, No Tune Ned, is a middle grade fantasy set in the musical kingdom of Dravenlock. The story follows eleven-year-old Ned, who desperately wants to be a bard but is entirely tone-deaf. When a villain known as the Crooner Below uses perfect music to control monsters and steal voices, Ned discovers that his terrible musical ability might be exactly what the kingdom needs to survive.
Though Oliver is not a musician himself, the concept stemmed from his own childhood reflections on imperfection. He wanted to explore the idea that a perceived weakness—or simply doing things differently from your peers—can actually be an incredible strength.
From Self-Publishing to Indie Press Success
Before No Tune Ned, Oliver self-published two children's books, including Emily's Cosmic Journey. He wrote these during the newborn phase of his daughter's life in 2023, using the creative process as a relaxing, therapeutic way to support his mental health. Writing self-published books gave him a crash course in the technical side of publishing, including learning about ISBNs and Amazon's metadata.
When he finished the first draft of No Tune Ned, friends with self-publishing experience encouraged him to try the traditional publishing route. After a few months of receiving polite, positive rejections from literary agents, Oliver submitted his manuscript to an independent publisher called Everything with Words during an open submission window in August. The publisher, Mika, replied within four hours to request the full manuscript. Oliver remains unagented, proving that authors can still find traditional success by directly approaching the right indie press.
Writing for Joy and Evolving the Process
Oliver approaches his writing career with a remarkably grounded mindset, treating it like a beloved hobby rather than a high-pressure career. He compares writing to playing in a Sunday football league—something done purely for the love of the game, rather than the expectation of turning professional.
His drafting process has also completely changed over time. Initially, he would write a chapter and heavily edit it before moving on to the next. Now, he writes a fast "vomit draft" straight through to the end, acknowledging that the true writing actually happens during the editing phase.
A Terry Pratchett Masterclass at the Cabin
When asked which book he would take if snowed in at a cosy woodland cabin, Oliver immediately selected Mort by Terry Pratchett. A massive fan of Pratchett’s work, Oliver praised the late author's unique ability to seamlessly blend profound human heart with incredible humour—a tonal balance he actively tried to emulate in No Tune Ned. If Mort was unavailable, his backup choice would be The Colour of Magic, which he noted completely blew his mind when he first read it around the age of twelve or thirteen.
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