I once naively thought that the book publishing process went like this: you write a novel, a publisher picks it up, and then you sit back and relax as they take care of everything from there.
Yeah, I was way off on that.
It turns out there are many moving parts when it comes to publishing a novel, many of which fall on the author even if they have a publisher. I used to believe it was only the self-published authors who had to do lots of heavy lifting. Authors with a publisher still have their share of work to do.
Not that it's a bad thing. I've learned plenty in this process and found joy in all the little nuances. Allow me to take you behind the scenes and show you how everything is unfolding for me as my novel inches closer to its release date.
After I signed the contract with Rowan Prose Publishing, they sent me several documents with resources, references and best practices for promoting my novel. It was a lot to take in, especially for someone like me who wants to tackle as much as I can at once. I read through the documents and slowly began formulating my plan.
It started with securing author headshots. While I can moonlight as a photographer (I took my share of mental notes from the photographers I worked with during my journalism days), I wanted something professional to use for promotional material and the novel. After that, the next biggest step was creating a website. Fortunately, I have limited experience with website builds. I looked to other author pages for inspiration before crafting mine with its own distinctive look.
Next came my author social media pages. I spoke about this in an earlier blog, but this was a difficult step for someone who's not the biggest fan of social media. Nevertheless, I quickly learned that you need to be where your potential readers are and the majority of them have some form of social media. I also created author profiles for Goodreads, Bookbub and Amazon.
Establishing a website and social media pages, though, was just the beginning. The next challenge was producing content for each of them. That meant blog posts on the website, book-related posts on Instagram, reels for TikTok and announcements and updates on Facebook, Twitter and Bluesky. I also joined horror groups on Facebook and became a member of the Horror Writers Association.
My attention then shifted to additional promotional efforts. A conversation with my publisher turned into me ordering bookmarks to share my novel with readers and anyone interested in a fun horror story. I found the Milwaukee Horror Fans group on Meetup and spent part of a September evening meeting people who appreciated horror as much as I did.
I also began contacting libraries in my area and making a list of independent bookstores to connect with in the summer. I started attending book fairs (Hello Spooky Frog) to network with horror enthusiasts and get ideas for table setups when I attend these events as a published author.
This is all the stuff I did in the back half of 2024. Fast forward to the present day and my mind continues to soak up knowledge and look for new opportunities to spread the word on Legend Has It. Currently, I'm considering collaborations with local businesses in the area, as well as radio and podcast interviews. I'm also looking at book conferences and discussing author-related events, such as meet-and-greets and book signings.
Yes, this author thing has a lot going on behind the scenes. It's much more than I expected, but at the same time, it's a welcome challenge. While it might be cliche to assume many writers are on the introverted side, I enjoy connecting with people and discussing my work. There's something satisfying about walking into a bookstore or coffee shop and discussing something you've poured so much time, energy and love into. I've been told my voice gives away this passion when I talk about Legend Has It. I'll take it.
So much for that old thought about sitting back and relaxing while my publisher handles everything hey? The best part is that Rowan Prose is also doing plenty of its own heavy lifting. With our combined efforts, I hope that Legend Has It becomes a novel readers can't put down and one they'll speak of as passionately as I do.
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