5. EARLY READER FEEDBACK WAS OVERWHELMINGLY POSITIVE
I believed in my young adult novel, Spoken, not only because I thought it belonged in the marketplace but because others did too. When my writing teacher at StoryStudio in Chicago, who was also an accomplished novelist, began her notes on my draft with "What a powerhouse of a novel, I loved every minute of it," I was thrilled. When I had early readers of various ages provide me with similar accolades, I was doubly thrilled. When I got an agent within one month of querying, I felt that my book was in good hands to find its way to market.
4. MAJOR PUBLISHING HOUSES PASSED ON MY BOOK
My agent did send my book out to the larger publishing houses but received only "not interested" responses of varying degrees. After eighteen months of my book sitting out there with no interest, I decided to look at publishing with a smaller publishing house.
3. IMMEDIATE GRATIFICATION OF SELF-PUBLISHING
The publishing house that accepted Spoken was a hybrid publisher, so I would take on some of the costs of getting my book in final tip top shape, and a publishing date 12 months out was set. I had already had my book sitting around for two years at this point and did not want to wait another 12 months to see it in print. In November 2018, I decided self-publishing would be a better way to get Spoken out there quickly. By March 2019, Spoken was published in paperback and available as an eBook.
2. GOOD NEWS: TOTAL CONTROL; BAD NEWS: TOTAL CONTROL
Finding an editor I could afford and who I trusted was a difficult process but once I found someone I was in good hands with, I could relax and work with her on making sure my book was edited and proofread and in its best shape for publication. Working on the cover illustrations and copy were daunting but I also enjoyed the freedom that traditionally published authors do not have of designing every aspect of my book to reflect what I want to put out in the world.
1. MY MISTAKES, MY SUCCESSES
I learned how to promote my book in the hard knock way of connecting with other authors, reading blogs and books on marketing, working with marketing experts and trial and error. As difficult as it is to be found and read and discovered and reviewed, it is worth putting in the work because at the end of the day, your book is your creation, and you want others to experience it. I have now self-published two young adult and one children's book and have grown my marketing skills and my knowledge base immensely to have found my groove. The commission checks I get monthly are hard earned, but they are all mine!
I'd love to talk to you about your publishing journey. If you have any questions, please contact me.
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