Book Publishing Secrets with S.M. Adams #books #bookpublishing

S.M. Adams is a licensed secondary school teacher and experienced college instructor with over 10 years’ experience in the field of education.  She holds graduate training in both American History and Adolescent Education. A confessed late bloomer Sarah returned to college as a student-parent to uncover her life’s passion for education and helping others. For years of community service and volunteer work, S.M Adams was awarded the prestigious New York Life fellowship from the Colin Powell Center for Leadership and Service in 2008 and received the Phoenix Award from Urban Resource Institute thereafter. She also briefly spent time on the policy committee of HEAASC, the Higher Education Alliance for Advocates of Students with Children. As a domestic violence advocate, she has appeared on NYC Fox 5, NYC Bronx 12 as well as in Marie Claire magazine. A graduate of City College of New York and Pace University this New York transplant by way of Jamaica W.I. loves the summertime, reading on the beach, eating mangoes and spending time with her son and husband.

Arise and Walk: From the Sidelines of Life to the Next Level is her latest book.

Visit her website at www.ariseandwalk.com. Connect with her on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Whatever challenge you may currently be facing, Arise & Walk: From the Sidelines of Life to the Next Level offers a proven framework to assist you in making that much needed life transformation.

During the pandemic with her classroom shuttered S.M. Adams an experienced educator and instructor shifted her focus from teaching adolescents to creating a different kind of lesson plan, one to help survivors of the Covid 19 pandemic and its devastating aftermath, reimagine and reinvent themselves.

Always a teacher first, this new author with over a decade’s experience in New York City classrooms uses verbal imagery, examples from her own life along with interesting analogies to make clear the mindset shifts and action steps which lead to a transformed life.

So, if you’re unsure of what to do, look no further.

Arise & Walk: From the Sidelines of Life to the Next Level will help you to think about:

• How to begin to process change
• How to emotionally and mentally deal with downscaling
• Whether to continue with the old venture or start something new
• Which relationships to embrace and lean into as you undergo a life change
• How to clear the path to accomplish new money goals

and

• How to better manage time in a way that suits the new you.

 

 

Thank you for your time in answering our questions about getting published.  Let’s begin by having you explain to us why you decided to become an author and pen this book?

S.M. Adams: I’ve always played with the idea of writing but really found my voice and got serious at the start of the pandemic. I used to clap with my neighbors out the window every evening at 7pm when the nurses and doctors ended their shift. After a while I felt like that was not enough that I needed to be doing more to help out. The idea came to me that based on how devastating Covid-19 was many people would need to reimagine and reinvent themselves. And as someone who made a life transformation a few years ago I decided that maybe I could write a book that would be useful.

Is this your first book?

S.M. Adams: Yes and no, yes in that it feels like the first because it absolutely captures my voice as an author and attempts to do what I’ve always wanted to do which is share my life experiences in a way that others can find meaningful. No in that I have put together other books in the past but I think those works represent the struggle I had to find my voice. I never promoted them and do not really even think of them as mine. Inside I feel like this is my first book.

With this particular book, how did you publish – traditional, small press, Indie, etc. – and why did you choose this method?

S.M. Adams: I published with a tiny independent publishing company

Can you tell us a little about your publishing journey?  The pros and cons?

S.M. Adams: Its tedious and you have to get all the little details together that a major publishing house would have done for you. But there are small publishing companies that can make it easier if you can pay for it.

What lessons do you feel you learned about your particular publishing journey and about the publishing industry as a whole?

S.M. Adams: It takes a lot of commitment but it breaks down the barrier to entry

Would you recommend this method of publishing to other authors?

S.M. Adams: Yes especially to those who are serious about writing and willing to do the marketing.

What’s the best advice you can give to aspiring authors?

S.M. Adams: Keep at it, Toni Morrison didn’t start writing until she was 39 years old.

Book Publishing Secrets with JD Wise #books #bookpublishing

JD Wise is a West Virginian-born author who believes that the world can be changed for the better, by one person, one time, doing the right thing.

“Just think what would happen if we all did that,” said Wise.

Wise is happily married to the love of his life. Together, they have four wonderful children, who are the true inspiration for the book.

Nomophobia is his latest children’s book.

Visit him on Instagram and Facebook.

Welcome to NOMOPHOBIA – A PLACE IN TIME WHERE OVERUSED CELLULAR DEVICES TURN CHILDREN INTO OGRES.

This is a somewhat true, mostly exaggerated story of modern-day children – children who have spent way too much time on their phones. One night the children are mysteriously turned into ogres. At first the children blame each other for their condition. When they finished blaming each other, they worked together to find a cure. They searched the house for a cure…but they could not find one. They tried to wash the ogre off…but it stayed on.

They had all but given up when sissy’s phone accidently falls into the fish tank. When the phone gets wet, a hidden message appears: YOU WERE TURNED INTO OGRES, BECAUSE ON THE PHONE YOU DID STAY! NOW, PUT IT AWAY AND GO OUT AND PLAY!

So the children rushed outside, where they returned to normal. That day the children learned a valuable lesson. OVERUSED CELL PHONES TURN CHILDREN INTO OGRES.

 

Thank you for your time in answering our questions about getting published.  Let's begin by having you explain to us why you decided to become an author and pen this book?

JD:  Children in my life inspired me to write Nomophobia.  One little boy that I know told his grandma that he did not need to learn how to tell time.  He said that if he wanted to know what time it was, then he'd just ask the phone.  Another time, I was in the waiting room at the doctor's office.  The nurse came out to call in a child who was playing a game on their phone.  The child would not move until the game was over.  This is what sparked the idea for Nomophobia.  

Is this your first book?

JD:  No, this is my second book.  My first book is A Child Called YOU.  A story of kindness without judgment for everyone.

With this particular book, how did you publish-traditional, small press, Indie, etc. - and why did you choose this method?

JD:   I went Indie with this particular book.  For months, I sent out queries but to no avail. I thought that I had an important story to tell.

Can you tell us a little about your publishing journey?  The pros and cons?

JD:  There are more no's that yes's:  No's seem frustrating, but it's worth it all when someone finally says yes and sees the significance of your work.

What lessons do you feel you learned about your particular publishing journey and about the publishing industry as a whole?

JD:  I learned to never give up.  No one else will believe what you write unless you believe in it first.

Would you recommend this method of publishing to other authors?

JD:  I would recommend trying to get a traditional agreement first.  All the rejections will help you to refine your skills as a writer.

What's the best advice you can give to aspiring authors?

JD:  Use the rejection that you receive to your advantage.  Once you've completed your manuscript, let someone else read it and don't be afraid to change things according to the critiquing.

 

Book Publishing Secrets with Maria J. Andrade @andradeauthor #books #bookpublishing

Maria J. Andrade was born in Ecuador, South America, and raised in New York and California. She has a bachelor of arts degree in English literature and a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology. As a licensed therapist and writer, Maria has been diving into other people’s minds and her own, through dreams, poetry, and books for over three decades. She traveled with the Four Winds Society where she studied and was initiated into Andean shamanism in 1990.

Before Maria retired as a therapist, she specialized in women’s issues and founded the Wise Women’s Circle a ritualistic and transpersonal study group that continues today. The women support each other through life’s challenges and in the growth of mind, body, and spirit.

Maria Andrade’s books for children and adults is found in a variety of genres. This is an unforgettable first novel that reflects her imagination and creative storytelling.

Defiance and Redemption is her latest release.

Visit her website at www.booksasfriends.com or connect with her on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads.

Based on a true story, Defiance and Redemption, A Lifetime of Unbroken Bonds, brings to life the joys, dramas, and triumphs of two sisters, Eva and Victoria Alisio and their loyal friend Marta. The sisters are raised by their atheist Grandfather Marcus and religious Grandmother Maria Luisa. Eva, a proud and strong-willed young woman defies her family, society, and culture, faces scandal and disgrace, for her forbidden love affair. Victoria finds herself in the center of a multigenerational conflict as her benefactor bestows a great inheritance on her excluding the rightful heirs. Marta, loyal to the childhood bond with the Alisio sisters, brings humor and support to their twists and turns of fortune. The young women’s bond of love, and perseverance, carries them through ordinary and extraordinary losses, triumphs, and ultimately to their destiny in the United States.

An important novel about 20th Century women, Defiance and Redemption, is an absorbing epic that moves through decades and destinies. It blends personal and historical events into a collective tale of self-determination, love, and sisterhood.

ORDER YOUR COPY

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3CQWKhJ 

B&N: https://bit.ly/3BLZYS9

Draft2Digital: https://bit.ly/3EQFud3

Want a signed copy? www.booksasfriends.com

 

Thank you for your time in answering our questions about getting published.  Let’s begin by having you explain to us why you decided to become an author and pen this book?

Maria:  I wrote this story in honor of my family, especially my mother. I wanted to share the story of her early life and the difficulties she overcame as a woman living in the early 20^th Century who defied the rules of her society, culture, and religion simply because she chose a path outside the norms of her day. In addition, I also wanted to express the moving story of sisterhood that the three main female characters express in my book and how women have historically supported each other and do so today, to survive and create better worlds for themselves and their children.

Is this your first book? 

Maria: No. I have written four other books for adults and five books for children.

With this particular book, how did you publish – traditional, small press, Indie, etc. – and why did you choose this method?

Maria: This book was published by a small press and supported by Spiro Books. I chose this path because it afforded me more creative control of my work from its inception to its future.

Can you tell us a little about your publishing journey?  The pros and cons?

Maria:  I think my journey was made a bit more complex with the fact that I translated a novel of 77,000 words from English to Spanish. This meant, much more work than if it had been one book. Nevertheless, I did this to fulfill a vision I had to support my culture and to the extend the readership of this story.

What lessons do you feel you learned about your particular publishing journey and about the publishing industry as a whole?

Maria: The publishing world is in great flux. In the past, the only option writers had was to find an agent, which could take a good deal of time, then hope to get signed by a large publishing house. So, from start to finish this could take several years to see a work manifested. Then if the book did not sell at the level expected, the publisher could shelve the book and it would be out of print.

With small presses, Indie publishing, or hybrid publishing writers have a good deal more choices about what path to take regarding publishing. I still find limitations, for example, in the publication of Spanish books from finding the right agents, to finding traditional publishing houses to bring those books to readers. Moreover, today, writers must know about marketing their work. Even large publishing houses expect a writer to help market their book. This entails wearing another hat beside that of “writer.” This is a challenging role and requires a good deal more knowledge about social media and other forms of selling a product. Here, I think traditional publishing has an advantage.

Would you recommend this method of publishing to other authors?

Maria: I think each author must find their own path according to their temperament and financial resources.

What’s the best advice you can give to aspiring authors?

Maria: Believe in yourself and in your writing but continue to improve. Get feedback from friends, and professionals about your ideas and work. Write and re-write until you know the writing is at the best level possible. Then dare to share it with the public because if they can’t find it out there, they won’t know it exists!

A writer is like a mother who gives birth and then must wash, dress, and comb the child’s hair before sending it out to the world. Good moms stick around for support until that child matures enough to have a life of its own. So it is with a piece of art, or a book. You created it and now it’s your job to find a place in the world for your book so it can thrive.

Publishing Tips with Children's Author Faye Rapoport DesPres

Author: Faye Rapoport DesPres

Title: Frazier: The Very Special Cat

Genre: Children’s Books

Publisher: Writer’s Coffee Bar Press

Website: www.fayerapoportdespres.com

Thank you for your time in answering our questions about getting published.  Let’s begin by having you explain to us why you decided to become an author and pen this book?

Faye: I have been writing since I was a child, and I used my writing skills to build a career in journalism and public relations for environmental organizations and businesses. At some point I felt as if it was “now or never” to get back to creative writing, so I pursued a Master’s of Fine Arts Degree with the goal of publishing my first book. 

Is this your first book? 

Faye: Frazier: The Very Special Cat is actually my fourth book. My first book is a memoir-in-essays titled Message From a Blue Jay, and many of the personal essays in that book were first crafted during my MFA program. Since publishing the essay collection, I have written and published three children’s books.

With this particular book, how did you publish – traditional, small press, Indie, etc. – and why did you choose this method?

Faye: This book was published by what many people would consider a “hybrid” publisher. The publisher is a professional who chose to publish my children’s books, makes some of the high-level editorial decisions, and handles the editing, illustration approval, layout, design, file creation and production for a flat fee. In return I receive 100% of the royalties.

Can you tell us a little about your publishing journey?  The pros and cons?

Faye: With my first book, I had an agent. Our agreement was unusual, however, in that my agent was a long-time colleague who had her own publishing company at one time and is an author herself. She agented a select number of other authors’ works part-time. I paid her up-front so that she would be compensated regardless of whether or not she landed a publisher for my book, which is not the usual way agents work. In the end she got two offers, but it took time and a lot of initial submissions to presses that ended up saying “no.” The two offers she got were great, but I ended up choosing a third publisher, a small independent press called Buddhapuss Ink. I happened to interact with the owner of the press on Twitter, and she asked to see the manuscript. Then she made the offer to publish it. 

Like many writers, I initially dreamed of working with a major publisher or a university press, but I was happy with the professional way Buddhapuss Ink handled my book. They put a lot of care and effort into getting it out into the world, and their passion for the project made me feel good about the book.

After that, Buddhapuss Ink was interested in my children’s book ideas. Over time, unfortunately, the owner of the company — long-time publishing pro MaryChris Bradley — decided close up shop due to the financial challenges faced by independent, traditional publishers (although Buddhapuss Ink books are still in print and available). She has since moved forward with a different financial model for publishing future books under the imprint Writer’s Coffee Bar Press. Because MaryChris is such a pro and I was so happy with the way Buddhapuss Ink published my first book, we mutually decided to move forward with my children’s books under the Writer’s Coffee Bar Press imprint.

What lessons do you feel you learned about your particular publishing journey and about the publishing industry as a whole?

Faye: The publishing industry — especially when it comes to the major houses — is a “tough nut to crack.” There is so much competition, and publishers understandably have to make decisions based on the perceived marketability of a project and how it fits with their goals and lists. It is hard if you are not a well-known author or personality to break through, though of course writers do. It takes persistence and a thick skin in the face of a lot of rejection. Sometimes it takes having or making the right connections. Sometimes you can work hard at it for months (or even years) and not get any offers. It can be discouraging.

For me, it made sense to find ways to make things happen that weren’t happening the traditional way or the way I’d initially dreamed they’d happen. My agreement with my agent for the first book is an example. I don’t know of anyone else who has worked that way with an agent (I don’t even know if any other agents would consider it). The decision to go with a small, independent press for Message From a Blue Jay was another example. Then, with my children’s books, I wouldn’t have felt comfortable self-publishing the books because I wanted the stamp of approval - and skills and experience - of a professional publisher behind the books. But I was willing to switch things up financially. Sometimes you have to find creative ways to make publishing happen, just as you find creative ways to tell stories.

Would you recommend this method of publishing to other authors?

Faye: Yes. Actually, it depends. If getting your work out into the world with a professional publisher is a priority and you can handle the publishing costs, absolutely. But for some writers it makes more sense to go the traditional route, and for others it makes more sense to self-publish. I think it’s different for every writer and project, depending on many factors.

What’s the best advice you can give to aspiring authors?

Faye: Focus first on the writing. Work at it, study it, practice it, and produce a manuscript you feel good about. Leave the worry about publishing until you have a manuscript ready to go. Then, explore your options and get your thick skin on. For some authors that will mean contacting agents, for some it will mean seeking out a small press without an agent, for some it will mean self-publishing. But no matter how you do or don’t publish, try not to let rejection by agents,  publishers, or readers affect how you feel about yourself or your work. Believe in yourself and your own voice.

//////////////

Frazier: The Very Special Cat is the third book in the Stray Cat Stories children’s book series. It tells the heartwarming story of a big orange tom cat who needed help and the humans who came to his rescue. The book, which is based on a true story and features colorful, charming illustrations by Laurel McKinstry Petersen, teaches children about compassion for stray animals and ways they can help. It also includes a message about being different and still being happy and loved. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of books in the Stray Cat Stories Series is donated to non-profit animal rescue organizations. Find out more on Amazon. 

Book Publishing Secrets with Connie Berry, Author of 'The Art of Betrayal'

Name: Connie Berry

Book Title: The Art of Betrayal

Genre: Traditional Mystery

Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

Links to book: 

Amazon: The Art of Betrayal: A Kate Hamilton Mystery: Berry, Connie: 9781643855943: Amazon.com: Books

Indiebound: The Art of Betrayal: A Kate Hamilton Mystery | IndieBound.org

Website: www.connieberry.com

Thank you for your time in answering our questions about getting published.  Let’s begin by having you explain to us why you decided to become an author and pen this book?

Connie: Like many, probably most, authors, I’ve been writing all my life. As a child, I wrote and illustrated my own stories. Interestingly, most of them contain a mystery although not a murder. My fascination with books and reading came from my mother, who’d been a teacher. She read to me every day and brought the words on the page to life by adopting different voices for the characters. In junior high, while wandering the stacks in my local library, I discovered P. G. Wodehouse, Agatha Christie, and the other writers of mystery’s Golden Age. I was hooked on books set in the UK and especially on mysteries.

As an adult I wrote academically and for business. I also did a lot of editing for others. My teaching career required me to prepare a fifty-minute lecture each week, so that required writing as well. When I retired from that job, I decided it was now or never. I’d pursue the dream that had been lurking in the back of my head for decades—writing a mystery. I wish I could say it was easy. That first book was written and rewritten over a period of almost ten years.

Is this your first book?

Connie: No, The Art of Betrayal is the third in the Kate Hamilton Mystery series. One of the joys of writing a series is the opportunity to follow characters over an extended period of time. They learn, grow, change, adapt. Sometimes they make mistakes and have to pay for them. They fall and have to get back up and go on. I recently moderated a panel of historical mystery writers, and the participants all said that as you write multiple books, you learn to write faster. I still waiting for that to happen. 

With this particular book, how did you publish – traditional, small press, Indie, etc. – and why did you choose this method?

Connie: From the beginning, my goal was to be traditionally published. That’s certainly not the only path, nor is it necessarily the best path for a writer to take. But being traditionally published does give you a certain standing in the writing community. Your book is eligible for industry prizes, for example, like the Agatha Awards, the Lefty Awards, The Edgars. My first novel, A Dream of Death, won the IPPY Gold Medal for Mystery and was a finalist for the Agatha Best Debut.

Being traditionally published also provides some support in the way of publicity and marketing. Plus the distribution is handled. Some authors love the business-end of publishing. They’re great at social media and love having their finger on every stage in the process. Other authors (like me) just want to write. I’m glad I don’t have to worry about printing costs, cover design, and distribution. 

Can you tell us a little about your publishing journey?  The pros and cons?

Connie: My story isn’t typical. As I said, getting published took me almost ten years. That in itself isn’t unusual. Many writers have a similar story. For me, a lot of that time was spent learning craft. Although writing has always been one of my top skills, and in spite of the fact that I had a graduate degree in English Literature and had read literally thousands of mystery novels, I didn’t have a clue how to produce a good story. I had to learn, and one of the best ways to learn is by making mistakes. I made plenty of them. 

During those years I did a few good things, though. One was reading a wonderful book on craft—Don’t Sabotage Your Submission by Chris Roerden. Another was joining writers’ organizations such as Sisters in Crime, Guppies, and Mystery Writers of America. These groups offer valuable opportunities to learn and receive feedback. The problem is, you have to listen. Some of the advice I was given meant major revisions. I dug my heels in and kept trying to polish my words. Finally in the fall of 2017, I decided to do a final, massive revision that involved changing from third to first person, eliminating all but one POV, and cutting out several characters and an entire story line. I finished that revision on January 1, 2018. In February, I went to the SleuthFest Conference in Florida and met my editor at Crooked Lane. She offered me a two-book contract. I got an agent, signed on the dotted line, and that was that. 

What lessons do you feel you learned about your particular publishing journey and about the publishing industry as a whole?

Connie: I learned that my publishing journey is unique. Even though the lead-up to publication was long, once I’d whipped my story into publishable form, the contract came quickly. That rarely happens. 

What I’ve learned about the publishing business as a whole is no secret. Publishing is profit-driven—period, end of story. Publishers want to sell books; they need to sell books; and that requires exposure. You might have the most beautifully written book in decades, but if no one knows you and if no one hears about your book, it may languish near the bottom of the all-important Amazon rankings. That’s why it’s so important for aspiring writers to make connections in the writing and publishing world. If the ivory-tower days for writers ever existed, they certainly don’t anymore. I love the saying I heard first at Malice Domestic, the annual mystery fan conference that takes place near Washington, D.C.: “No one must fail so that I can succeed.” Writers don’t compete against each other. We support each other and promote writers we know and respect. Jump in and make friends.

Would you recommend this method of publishing to other authors?

Connie: Oh, yes. Writers need to know, however, that publishing traditionally will take time—lots of time. For most people, that means a long query process, first for an agent, then a publisher. After that, the process of editing can take many months. I signed my first contract with Crooked Lane in March of 2018. A Dream of Death was published in April of 2019. That’s more than a year. There was a lot to be done besides editing. A book design had to be chosen, then the cover art and back cover copy produced. ARCs were sent out to solicit reviews and endorsements. I had to have an official author photo taken and write my author bio. I honestly had no idea all that went into producing a book. 

What’s the best advice you can give to aspiring authors?

Connie: I love this question because I wish someone had given me this advice when I was starting out. My best advice is four-fold:

1. Begin writing as early as you can. In my case, my teaching career was so intense I didn’t have time to focus on outside projects. But many people can. If you can mark off time during the day—or even just on the weekends—write, write, write.

2. Read widely—in your genre and outside. This trains your eye and your ear to recognize excellent writing. Notice how successful authors construct scenes, how they develop character, setting, and plot.

3. Take the time necessary to learn craft. Check out available resources such as classes, seminars, and workshops. Don’t be too quick to throw out queries. You usually get one shot. Don’t waste it.  Listen to the advice of those who’ve gone before you. You aren’t required to take that advice, of course, but do listen. Be willing to make changes.

4. Join writing groups in your genre (MWA, SinC, RWA, SFWA, Authors Guild, CFWA). Attend conferences if you can afford it. Make connections with other writers, both published and unpublished. They will become your advocates and encouragers.



Book Publishing Secrets with Amy Rivers, Author of COMPLICIT

Name: Amy Rivers

Book Title: Complicit

Genre: Psychological Suspense

Publisher: Compathy Press

Find out more HERE.

Website: www.amyrivers.com

Thank you for your time in answering our questions about getting published.  Let’s begin by having you explain to us why you decided to become an author and pen this book?

Author: I’ve always loved writing. As a former director for a sexual assault program, I developed a passion for violence prevention and social justice. After moving to Colorado, I had an opportunity to write full time and I began writing stories about women and the things that they juggle in life. As a voracious reader of crime fiction, it seemed natural to mingle women’s narratives with some of the harder social justice topics. 

Is this your first book?

Author: No, this is my fourth novel. It is the first book in a series featuring forensic psychologist, Kate Medina. 

With this particular book, how did you publish – traditional, small press, Indie, etc. – and why did you choose this method?

Author: I worked with a small press for my first two novels, before deciding to self-publish. Complicit is the second book I’ve self-published under my imprint Company Press. 

Can you tell us a little about your publishing journey?  The pros and cons?

Author: My first published piece was an essay in a Chicken Soup book. When I started writing novels, I was in a rush like most emerging authors. I wrote my NaNoWriMo project at the end of November and was ready to send it to print in December. Thankfully, the process of revision slowed me down and the reality of pitching was a shot of much needed perspective. I went through all the paces—pitches, queries, rejections—and eventually published my first two women’s fiction novels with a small press. 

That first experience taught me many lessons about what happens when you sacrifice control of your work for the sake of having a publisher. And when I wrote my first suspense novel, All The Broken People, I was determined to get an agent, sell it to a big publisher, and become a New York Times Bestseller. Then, at a conference, the keynote asked me why I didn’t self-publish. And I didn’t have an answer. Up to that point, I’d been allowing myself to be carried on the current of advice, publishing industry standards, and a healthy dose of fear. Until then, I hadn’t considered that my fear of “failing” wasn’t even related to my own work or career. 

I had a long talk with myself, established actual goals based on my life and what I wanted to accomplish through my writing, and I decided that self-publishing was actually the best choice for me. It’s a ton of work, but I have a background in marketing and business, so part of what usually scares authors away is not terrifying to me. But I did decide that if I was going to self-publish, I was going to do it as if I were a traditional publisher in terms of hiring professionals who could help me do everything well. Editors. Book cover designers. Publicists. 

So, I’ve chosen self-publishing, but I am surrounding myself with amazing people who will help me get my stories into the hands of readers in as polished and professional a manner as I can. 

What lessons do you feel you learned about your particular publishing journey and about the publishing industry as a whole?

Author: I’ve learned so much I could write a book about it and still keep on learning. My two main takeaways, though, are this. First, self-publishing is a lot of work. If you’re looking at self-publishing as a way to avoid rejection or negative feedback, you’re in the wrong place. Self-publishing is a great way to maintain control of your creative works and guarantee that you get to tell the story you want to tell, but it takes dedication, ingenuity, and lots of hard work. Second, no author is an island. You know the stories we hear about authors working in isolation and magically turning out brilliant, bestselling works while avoiding contact with the outside world? Well, those stories are a myth (until you reach Stephen King fame maybe). Regardless of the publishing method you’ve chosen, authors these days should expect to do some of the work related to get their book out in the world. As a self-published author, you are responsible for all the work and unless you have endless financial resources and a whole lot of coffee, you’ll probably need some help with editing, distribution, promotion, and other business-y things. And that’s ok. As it turns out, there are wonderful people in the outside world and it’s also where your readers live. Embrace it. 

Would you recommend this method of publishing to other authors?

Author: I would recommend that every author take an honest look at their goals and make informed decisions about their publishing journey. Self-publishing is absolutely the right choice for me and it is probably the right choice for many others, but I can’t stress enough how important it is to have all the facts before moving forward. 

What’s the best advice you can give to aspiring authors?

Author: Keep writing! A lot of people want to be authors but finishing a book and then doing all the work to get it out in the world is an arduous process. It’s totally worth it but you have to keep going. When you finish one project, start the next one. 

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About the book:

A tangled web of deception and duplicity where predators are shielded by respectability and no one is safe.

Kate Medina had been working as a forensic psychologist and loving every minute until a violent attack left her shaken to the core. She’s retreated to her hometown where it’s safe, accepting a job where the prospect of violence is slim to none. As a high school psychologist, Kate tends to the emotional needs of the youth. It’s not the career she envisioned.

Five years later, a student disappears, leaving the school in crisis. Roman Aguilar, the lead detective, reaches out to Kate for assistance. Kate’s position at the school and her training make her an ideal ally, but her complicated relationship with Roman puts them at odds. 

When the girl’s body is found, changing the focus of the investigation to homicide, Kate finds herself in the middle of a situation she never anticipated. What started as her desire to help puts Kate directly in the crosshairs of an enemy who remains largely in shadow. As her past and present collide, Kate is dragged into the middle of a dangerous game where only one thing is clear—no one can be trusted.