My 30th publishing anniversary was also at the end of last year 🎉 - I started as an editorial assistant in 1995 (and struck out on my own in 2020 & ended up navigating the pandemic…!) Great piece, really useful for authors. Especially the point about word of mouth and relationships.
This is so insightful and relatable at the same time! I have been in the industry for five years and I love it. I have gone solo already. I wonder if it is good or bad yet. But I love what I do and i am hopeful and confident, quite equally so. Currently reaching out for my first set of clients! :) its exciting!
This is plain talk that needs to be understood at the get-go by every author whose books gets picked up by a burgeoning and encouraging and loving small publisher as mine has by Alisa Kennedy Jones's Empress Editions. I restacked this, Kathleen, and have subscribed.
We all need a reality check, as we proceed. I've been at it for a long time--and ever so grateful that Alisa found me when I serialized Who by Fire and she read the novel that now has a new opportunity with Alisa's faith and hard work--under this new title: Who By Fire with a gorgeous cover.
But as we know, even gorgeous covers do not sell books.
We who write are driven to do so. We're not natural marketers because writing for most of us doing the "literary" —for lack of a better word—are introverts by nature. The gift comes from that way of thinking and living with 'the words' --and I've now spent weeks without sleeping, working during the nights and trying to do everything I can to help Empress Editions, including buying her other books and promoting others and asking for pre-orders for the launch now scheduled for late February and seeking community for this my third book. So, yeah, I have to read this plain talk and take it to heart. The beauty of the work stays in my heart and holds me.
I really appreciate the hard work publicists do for authors— and for readers— to make sure a book created and carefully honed through editing has a chance to find its audience. Thanks for writing so insightfully about it.
So much of what you talk about doesn’t impact me directly (going indie with my first book) but I feel like I’m getting an education that is broadening and widening my understanding. Thank you. And a wonderful fulfilling Hapoy New Year to you.
Thanks for the wrap-up. The following hit home for me:
Community is essential - the more I'm in the bookish online spaces, the more I see the importance of community. To the point that it looks like community nurturing is going to be one of the skills I'm going to have to develop in 2026.
BookTok is not a cure-all - hearing talk of the algorithm being retrained once the American market is acquired has me looking at the other platforms when it comes to that market.
Word-of-mouth still rules - if I'm honest with myself, most of the books I read are either through word of mouth or walking around bookstores and libraries. And I'm still figuring out how to translate to what I can do to encourage this.
No one knows what will work - this reminds me of that random book written under a pen name that sells with absolutely no promotion. Or my books selling at the local bookstores because the staff make a point of showing them as local books. It sometimes feels like throwing all the spaghetti at the wall and hoping some of it sticks.
Wonderful wrap up and great points! I just completed my first paint by number canvas and am obsessed. I may have finally found a hobby that won't translate to work? Maybe?! Happy new year!
Happy Anniversary, Kathleen! Love your Substack. It's my first time commenting. Wanted to also congratulate you on eventually shifting to self-employed where word of mouth and connections are crucial! Difficult? You bet. But look--you have arrived! Kudos to you, Kathleen. Love your posts. I've been self employed since 1994. If you ever need a cohort in this wilderness, feel free to call on me. (Not my substack though. That was an accident! I don't even post there.) Happy New Year!
Thank you so much for sharing your insights! I don't have a publicist for my memoir that released in October, and it's been a huge learning curve as I do it all myself. I've relied a lot on my experience as a freelance writer and the contacts I've made over the last 15 years of writing and pitching editors. Relationships DO matter!
I couldn’t stop watching the vapid ladies either!
Very interesting and not so different from how things works in the italian publishing system
Interesting!
Thanks
I was nodding along to everything you wrote!
My 30th publishing anniversary was also at the end of last year 🎉 - I started as an editorial assistant in 1995 (and struck out on my own in 2020 & ended up navigating the pandemic…!) Great piece, really useful for authors. Especially the point about word of mouth and relationships.
This is so insightful and relatable at the same time! I have been in the industry for five years and I love it. I have gone solo already. I wonder if it is good or bad yet. But I love what I do and i am hopeful and confident, quite equally so. Currently reaching out for my first set of clients! :) its exciting!
This is plain talk that needs to be understood at the get-go by every author whose books gets picked up by a burgeoning and encouraging and loving small publisher as mine has by Alisa Kennedy Jones's Empress Editions. I restacked this, Kathleen, and have subscribed.
We all need a reality check, as we proceed. I've been at it for a long time--and ever so grateful that Alisa found me when I serialized Who by Fire and she read the novel that now has a new opportunity with Alisa's faith and hard work--under this new title: Who By Fire with a gorgeous cover.
But as we know, even gorgeous covers do not sell books.
We who write are driven to do so. We're not natural marketers because writing for most of us doing the "literary" —for lack of a better word—are introverts by nature. The gift comes from that way of thinking and living with 'the words' --and I've now spent weeks without sleeping, working during the nights and trying to do everything I can to help Empress Editions, including buying her other books and promoting others and asking for pre-orders for the launch now scheduled for late February and seeking community for this my third book. So, yeah, I have to read this plain talk and take it to heart. The beauty of the work stays in my heart and holds me.
I really appreciate the hard work publicists do for authors— and for readers— to make sure a book created and carefully honed through editing has a chance to find its audience. Thanks for writing so insightfully about it.
So much of what you talk about doesn’t impact me directly (going indie with my first book) but I feel like I’m getting an education that is broadening and widening my understanding. Thank you. And a wonderful fulfilling Hapoy New Year to you.
As always you are right on target!
This is a priceless look to the past and to the future! Thank you for this insightful look at the industry! AND, thank you for telling us the 411!
Thanks for the wrap-up. The following hit home for me:
Community is essential - the more I'm in the bookish online spaces, the more I see the importance of community. To the point that it looks like community nurturing is going to be one of the skills I'm going to have to develop in 2026.
BookTok is not a cure-all - hearing talk of the algorithm being retrained once the American market is acquired has me looking at the other platforms when it comes to that market.
Word-of-mouth still rules - if I'm honest with myself, most of the books I read are either through word of mouth or walking around bookstores and libraries. And I'm still figuring out how to translate to what I can do to encourage this.
No one knows what will work - this reminds me of that random book written under a pen name that sells with absolutely no promotion. Or my books selling at the local bookstores because the staff make a point of showing them as local books. It sometimes feels like throwing all the spaghetti at the wall and hoping some of it sticks.
Until next year.
Hi Kimolisa,
Your observations are on point. Happy New Year!
Wonderful wrap up and great points! I just completed my first paint by number canvas and am obsessed. I may have finally found a hobby that won't translate to work? Maybe?! Happy new year!
Thanks for your insights, Kathleen. And happy anniversary! Here's to community and relationships!
I too have spent part of the week doing watercolors. I too have a hard time resting. Wishing you a healthy and easeful entry into 2026!
You too!
Happy Anniversary, Kathleen! Love your Substack. It's my first time commenting. Wanted to also congratulate you on eventually shifting to self-employed where word of mouth and connections are crucial! Difficult? You bet. But look--you have arrived! Kudos to you, Kathleen. Love your posts. I've been self employed since 1994. If you ever need a cohort in this wilderness, feel free to call on me. (Not my substack though. That was an accident! I don't even post there.) Happy New Year!
Thank you so much!
Thank you so much for sharing your insights! I don't have a publicist for my memoir that released in October, and it's been a huge learning curve as I do it all myself. I've relied a lot on my experience as a freelance writer and the contacts I've made over the last 15 years of writing and pitching editors. Relationships DO matter!