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Untangling Success From Bestseller Status
I typically post 1-2 times each month, but this topic really hit me. Recently, I’ve heard two authors (including one of them mine) share that she felt like a failure because the book didn’t hit a bestseller list and she didn’t land an interview on a major podcast. I’ll tell any aspiring or published author… Continue reading
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Building Early Buzz with a Small Budget
Nonfiction authors don’t need a full-scale PR machine to start getting their books into readers’ hands. A few small moves can create real momentum long before launch day. Start by refreshing your online presence. Updating your socials with a clear announcement that your book is available for preorder signals to your audience that something exciting… Continue reading
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Debunking the “Experts”: Why Aspiring Authors Need to Question Online Voices
The internet is packed with publishing “rules” passed down like gospel. But if you’re an aspiring author, it’s time to start interrogating the advice on your feed. A lot of it lacks crucial nuance or is flat-out wrong. Take a LinkedIn post I saw recently claiming authors must “fight for a cover design they love.”… Continue reading
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Mourning the Tandoori Chicken I Left 200 Miles Away
Stepping into a new press can feel a bit like diving into a new novel without reading the jacket copy: you’re trying to learn the lore, memorize the characters, and figure out where you fit in the universe. Happily, our recent all-staff retreat provided the ultimate crash course. While our daytime agenda was packed with… Continue reading
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Owning the Sales Driver’s Seat
Let’s get real for a moment about what a publisher actually does and what they can’t do. A publisher is your ultimate strategy partner. They will take your manuscript and polish it to a brilliant sheen with professional editing, typesetting, and cover design. They’ll plug it into distribution channels, put it in front of libraries,… Continue reading
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Over-communicating with Your Editor is Your Best Strategy
When your manuscript moves from “contract signed” to “in production,” it’s easy to feel like you’ve been handed off to a giant machine. You might see my name pop up in your inbox at the start of every month for a status check, but I want to let you in on a secret: I am… Continue reading
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Achieving a Book with Long Life
Let’s clear the air about a common first-time author misconception: signing with a publisher doesn’t guarantee a strong-selling book and certainly not a bestseller. That contract is a professional partnership, and it’s only as strong as the parties involved. A publisher provides the engine, but you are the driver. If you want your title… Continue reading
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Navigating the Editor Handoff for Authors
So your editor — the person who listened to your book pitched, signed you to a deal, and served as your primary contact — is leaving the press. Now, they’ve introduced you to their replacement. Scary business! Whether you’re weeks from launch or mid-book tour, the “honeymoon phase” with your new editor is actually a… Continue reading
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Understanding the “Support” Promises
Authors must realize that their network is not a monolith is the first step toward a successful nonfiction launch. When you announce your book project, the chorus of “Congrats! I’m buying copies” feels like a nice hug, but as an author, you need to trade that warmth for hard facts. I recommend getting this clarity… Continue reading
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Calling in All Favors for Book Launch
If you’re writing your first book, let me give one of most important pieces of advice I’ve learned: call in every favor you’ve ever earned. This is not the time to be shy. That podcast you guested on three years ago? Reach out. That journalist who quoted you in a piece once? Send them a… Continue reading
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