I didn’t expect to spend 2024 learning the ins and outs of self-publishing. But life comes at you fast. Going indie is a lot of work. Is it worth it? That depends on how you define success. For me, success means this: I'm proud to call myself an author again.
Tag: book marketing
Why I Got My Rights Back, Part 2: Burned Out
When I signed with City Owl Press, I had a dream of making a career for myself as a traditionally published author. After my botched second book release, I let that dream fade away. “City Owl Depressed” I had serious nerves before posting the first part of this story last week. Part of those nerves … Continue reading Why I Got My Rights Back, Part 2: Burned Out
Why (And How) I Got My Rights Back, Part 1: Slow Burn
Thank you so much for your support this week as I rereleased Cambion’s Law! I’m relieved the book I worked so hard on is out in the world again. You can buy it in paperback or ebook now, but if you're buying the paperback, just be sure you get the right one. Some of the … Continue reading Why (And How) I Got My Rights Back, Part 1: Slow Burn
Feeds Don’t Nourish Me: Social Media and Creativity
Social media is overrated for creators. There, I said it. Surprised to hear this from me? I am too, a bit. I spent the last year or so learning how to use social media to promote my books, even sharing a few how-to posts here. Lately, though, I’ve done a lot of reflection on my … Continue reading Feeds Don’t Nourish Me: Social Media and Creativity
Meet #SelfPitch: a Pitch Event for Indie Book Lovers!
How did it get to be July already?! But I'm excited that it is, because July is #SelfPitch month! The brainchild of indie author Shoshana Rain with some coparenting from me, #SelfPitch is happening July 13 and 14 this year. During July, I'm also trying to take it a little bit easy (she said, as … Continue reading Meet #SelfPitch: a Pitch Event for Indie Book Lovers!
SJ Whitby on Self-Pub, Superheroes, and Series Writing
Welcome to the latest edition of my occasional interview series “How Tho?!” in which I ask cool writers doing amazing work about their writing path and process. Today I’m chatting with S.J. Whitby, author of the Cute Mutants series (now, with their first multi-author anthology in the world, legitimately the Cute Mutants Extended Universe!) SJ … Continue reading SJ Whitby on Self-Pub, Superheroes, and Series Writing
Debut No More: Why the Second Book Hits Different
Read on for an excerpt from Cambion's Blood! My debut year has come and gone. In a way, it's nice to be able to say that. There’s so much expectation and pressure wrapped up in first-time authorship. I wrote here extensively about my debut experience. It was a wild year of ups and downs, lessons … Continue reading Debut No More: Why the Second Book Hits Different
The 5 Essential Ingredients of an Effective Query Letter
This is not a recipe blog. Or is it? Okay, maybe it is, because today I'm sharing my recipe for cooking up the publishing equivalent of a soufflé: the much-dreaded query letter. Most authors hate writing them, but query letters are a prerequisite for fiction submissions to most agents and editors. A good one will … Continue reading The 5 Essential Ingredients of an Effective Query Letter
How to Create Book Trailers in Canva
What a long strange week it's been! My book launch for CAMBION'S LAW was a wild ride, though I'm starting to feel the comedown now (note to self: do NOT keep looking at my sales rank). My publisher has assured me the release was a strong success by their metrics, for which I'm extremely relieved … Continue reading How to Create Book Trailers in Canva








