Publications and Honors | On The Cobblestone Road

After sending dozens of query letters to literary agents and then slowly accumulating rejection letters, I started to question whether I really wanted to publish traditionally. The idea of signing away the creative rights to my work and potentially losing any control over my cover design left a pit in my stomach.

As an artist as well as a writer, these were important points for me to consider. I also realized that while I was patient and willing to wait however many years it took to connect with an agent, life wasn't quite as patient. I had loved ones I wanted to hold my book and go on this journey with me rather than being an "in loving memory of" dedication.

In 2018, after a lot of research and a decision to change course, I published my debut novel independently through Barnes & Noble Press. It was a rocky experience, and I made some rookie mistakes along the way. I transferred my titles to IngramSpark in early 2019 after repeated and unnecessary issues with B&N Press, and in 2020, I published the series sequel through IngramSpark as well. Both books won the Literary Titan Gold Book Award in 2020.

I remember the frustration of scouring the web for answers to my self-publishing questions, and I remember all too well the pitfalls I fell into that could have been avoided. This is why I'm open about the blunders I made and willing to share my experiences and resources with fellow indie authors walking a similar path. I've connected with inspiring upcoming authors and lent my advice and cautions based on my own journey. What worked for me may not work for every author, but I hope you find some helpful information on this website.

Below, you'll find resources that I have used and recommend. If you contact any of the references I've listed, I would appreciate if you would mention that you found them through my recommendation. I do not earn any commission or royalties from referrals, but I do enjoy making sure people know that I was happy with their work and gladly recommend their services to others.

P.S. I've had people kindly ask if they could pay me for my time in exchange for advice. I don't accept money from fellow authors; I'm happy to simply pay it forward in gratitude to the authors who helped me start my journey, and I'm certainly no expert, just someone sharing my story as I go so others can learn from my successes and failures. If you find valuable information on this website and wish to show support, you're welcome to buy me a drink as a thanks!

I also invite you to order a copy of my book either for yourself or as a gift, but there's no obligation. Every copy that finds its way out into the world is a small victory. Links to my books and other merchandise are on my shop page. Thank you all... and best of luck to you on your publishing journey.

Pros:

• Thorough and professional

• Up to date on current traditional publishing standards

• Different pricing tiers depending on work stage, including blurb and query letter critiques, beta reading, proofreading, and copy editing

• Flexible to work out a payment plan if needed

Cons: • Nothing significant to list at this point in time. I've used Nikki's services for both of my novels after her services were highly recommended to me by another author I met at a writing conference.

Pros:

• Print books are higher quality

• Trusted global distribution network used by bookstores and libraries

• Allows you to sell on major online platforms, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, etc.

• Books can be returnable, which makes vendors more willing to place an order • One dashboard across multiple selling platforms, keeping everything together in one place with only one set of ISBNs

Cons:

• Higher quality book = higher print cost

• Registration fee (unless you have a promo code)

• Revision fees (again... codes are usually available if you hunt for them)

• Setting up the title can be a little confusing if you don't know what you're doing, but there are a lot of articles available to help you

• Ebook royalties are slightly lower than they would be if you registered/uploaded directly on every platform

• During the pandemic, CX Team was very difficult to reach, and print times were unreasonably long for authors, although this did not seem to affect the front-end printing for customers who ordered your book... hopefully these issues will be resolved

* Learn more about my experience, plus some tips and tricks, in my blog post

Pros:

• Ebooks are formatted by hand, not by running it through a software that may miss hidden bugs and weird layout glitches in the manuscript

• Limited ability to customize the ebook (they worked with me to make my chapter headings a unique font)

• Willing to make small tweaks and fix typos at any time without an extra charge (unless major changes are being made)

• Small operation, so you get personalized attention and correspond with the same person

• Pricing was comfortably in the middle of other services I researched, so I felt like I wasn't overpaying but also not cutting corners by picking the cheapest option

Cons:

• Located in Australia (I'm in the US), so the time difference meant communication was slow

• A few issues with my emails ending up in a spam folder, prompting me to reach out via Facebook when I didn't receive replies

• The small operation perk can also be a negative if they're very busy

* Polgarus Studio also offers editing services. I have not used this service and cannot personally attest to the quality of the editors associated with this company.

Pros:

• Option to purchase an annual slot and swap multiple titles in and out of NetGalley

• Option to list your title on NetGalley for one month (going through NetGalley itself would require a minimum of 6 months)

• Economic if you're on a budget (paying for one month is obviously much more affordable than paying for six)

• Co-op administrator corresponds with NetGalley on your behalf, reducing the learning curve and the hassle about addressing any technical issues

• Detailed, step-by-step instructions are provided to you so you can update your title after the administrator has done the initial upload

• Responsive and helpful if you have any questions or concerns

Cons:

• I personally had a mixed experience, but this was a reflection on NetGalley, not the quality of the co-op... check out my blog post to learn more

* Victory Editing also offers editing services. I have not used this service and cannot personally attest to the quality of the editors associated with this company.