What does it actually take to grow a successful Substack?

More Notes? Better writing? A bigger audience? Or knowing how to turn subscribers into paying customers?

The cool thing is that successful Substack creators, including myself, are taking very different approaches.

Take a few of the experts I’ll be speaking alongside at the upcoming Substack Success Summit:

• Sydney Rheeder grew from zero to 10,000 subscribers in just two months.

• Ciler Demiralp attracted 3,500 subscribers through Recommendations from other Substack publications.

• Lucinda Rae generated $7,200 in her first 10 days on Substack.

• Ana Calin built an audience of 82,000+ readers and generated over $450,000 through her newsletter.

Different strategies. Different results.

And we’re sharing how we did it at the Substack Success Summit, November 11-13.

I’ll be joining 30+ successful Substack creators and experts to share practical strategies for growing subscribers, creating content people actually want to read, building stronger relationships with readers, and making money from your publication.

My session is Growing Your Substack Through Recommendations, and I’ll be sharing how consistent posting helps your growth.

It’s completely free to register, and each interview is available to watch for free for 48 hours after release.

Hope to see you there!

P.S. Each session is only free for 48 hours after release. Grab your ticket now >>

Ger your ticket

The Newsletter Split

The time has finally come, and everything is ready for the next phase. I can’t thank you all enough for being with me and tolerating the information in these newsletters for both writers and readers.

My goal, first and foremost, is to deliver what each audience needs, which is why this split is happening.

The first email is available for Write. Publish. Grow. The first email for Kayla Hicks Story Room will be sent out on Friday, March 6th.

See you on the other side!

Newsletter for Readers

Writer/ Author Newsletter

Forgotten Literary Devices That Make Your Writing Feel Polished

Six techniques that quietly elevate storytelling across every genre

When writers talk about literary devices, the same ones always come up.

Metaphor.
Foreshadowing.
Irony.
Symbolism.

They’re powerful. They’re essential. And they’re everywhere.

But there are other devices, quieter ones, that rarely get discussed. They don’t shout. They don’t announce themselves. And maybe that’s exactly why they’re so effective.

If you’re looking to deepen your storytelling without making your writing feel heavy-handed, these are the tools you should start reaching for.

Find out more here

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Most writers think their problem is the draft.

It usually isn’t.

The draft is messy by design. It’s supposed to be. The real transformation happens in revision. And yet, self-editing is the stage most writers rush, skim, or skip entirely.

They write “The End” and immediately want feedback.
They want validation.
They want someone else to tell them if it’s good.

But if you haven’t learned how to edit yourself first, you’re outsourcing the very skill that turns a writer into a professional.

Let’s talk about how to do it well.

1. Step Away Before You Touch It Again

You cannot edit clearly while you’re still emotionally attached to the sentence you just wrote.

Distance creates objectivity.

When I finish a draft, I don’t open it the next morning. I let it sit. A few days at minimum. Longer if I can afford it.

When you come back, read the first page.

Notice where your attention drifts.
Notice where you feel bored.
Notice where you feel confused.

That’s your first round of editing.

Not grammar.

Experience.

If you lose interest in your own story, the reader will too.

2. Edit in Layers, Not All at Once

One of the biggest mistakes writers make is trying to fix everything in one pass.

You cannot evaluate:

• Plot

• Character arc

• Dialogue

• Pacing

• Grammar

• Word choice

• Tone

All at the same time.

Your brain doesn’t work that way.

Instead, edit in intentional layers:

Pass 1: Big Picture

• Does the story make sense?

• Is the central conflict clear?

• Does the character change?

• Are the stakes rising?

Pass 2: Structure & Pacing

• Are scenes starting too early?

• Are they ending too late?

• Are there repeated emotional beats?

• Is there tension in every chapter?

Pass 3: Line-Level Editing

• Remove filler words.

• Cut repetition.

• Strengthen verbs.

• Replace vague phrasing with specificity.

Pass 4: Polish

• Grammar

• Sentence rhythm

• Readability

Editing becomes manageable when you give yourself one job at a time.

3. Cut the Sentences You Love (Yes, Those Ones)

If a sentence is beautiful but doesn’t serve the scene, it’s a decoration.

Decoration slows momentum.

Self-editing requires emotional discipline. You have to ask:

Is this here because it moves the story forward?
Or because I’m proud of it?

Readers don’t see effort.
They feel clarity.

Sometimes the strongest edit you can make is subtraction.

4. Read It Out Loud

This single habit will improve your writing faster than almost anything else.

When you read silently, your brain fills in gaps.
When you read aloud, your ear catches them.

You’ll notice:

• Awkward phrasing

• Repeated words

• Sentences that run too long

• Dialogue that doesn’t sound human

If you stumble while reading it, your reader will stumble too.

Your writing should feel effortless to consume — even if it wasn’t effortless to write.

5. Look for Telling (And Turn It Into Showing)

Most drafts lean heavily on summary.

“She was nervous.”

“He felt angry.”

“The room was uncomfortable.”

Those aren’t wrong, but they’re surface-level.

Instead of telling the emotion, ask:

• What does it look like?

• What does it feel like in the body?

• What changes in behavior?

Self-editing is where depth happens.

It’s where you replace explanation with experience.

6. Strengthen the Opening and the Ending

Readers decide quickly whether to continue.

Your first page should:

• Introduce tension

• Raise a question

• Establish tone

Your final page should:

• Resolve the core emotional arc

• Leave resonance

• Avoid over-explaining

Often, the strongest endings are tightened endings.

Trust your reader to understand.

7. Know When to Stop

Perfectionism disguises itself as productivity.

There is a point where editing stops improving the piece and starts dulling it.

If you’ve:

• Completed multiple structured passes

• Removed obvious repetition

• Strengthened clarity

• Tightened language

It may be ready for outside feedback.

Self-editing prepares your manuscript for critique. It doesn’t replace it.

The Real Reason Self-Editing Matters

Self-editing builds judgment.

And judgment is what separates hobbyists from professionals.

When you know how to evaluate your own work, you:

• Waste less money on unnecessary editing rounds

• Receive more specific feedback

• Publish stronger books

• Build confidence in your decisions

The draft proves you can create. The edit proves you can refine. And in publishing, refinement is what readers remember.

Just when Cooper Kane, Candice, Leroy, and Leslie think they have made it through the worst of it, life has a way of throwing more obstacles in their way. And one of those obstacles is the relentless Oliver Mercer.
Who would have thought it would be so difficult to escape someone when the world was filled with zombies — well, maybe not just zombies.
Turns out that when the apocalypse comes to fruition, the worst of humanity is also exposed, causing the worst kinds of people to crawl out of the woodwork.
So when Cooper and his group encounter one of these unkind living, they are in for the fight of their lives, but may discover something that could be their saving grace.
This was a great sequel to the first novel, and fully gripped my attention as I followed Cooper and his family along their journey. Despite losing people along the way, I was happy to see new additions to their group that changed up the group dynamic. The situations felt real for the universe this is set in, the characters are still relatable, and I still want to continue reading the series.
I would highly recommend this for zombie fans, and I give this a 5-star review.

Start the series

Indie Reads

Slater's best friend has been murdered, an old flame needs his help, and her little sister has definitely grown up!
Point Road, home of the beautiful and obscenely wealthy Angela Jeffries. When their childhood friend is murdered, she begs Slater to take the case. Maggie, the little sister he barely remembers, offers to help. Turns out the sarcastic redhead is one hell of an investigator.
As their feelings turn romantic, Maggie and Slater follow a trail of deception and lies, hoping to prove their dead friend innocent of what they fear most. No one is safe, and the men involved will stop at nothing to cover their tracks; tracks that will lead the pair into the grim world of human trafficking and expose the darkest secrets of Point Road and the Jeffries' family.

Get it here

A regatta, a murder, and a small town.
As dawn breaks and the horn is about to signal the start of the season's favorite race, a body drifts out from under the main city dock, sending chills through spectators and racers - turning a peaceful morning into a small-town mystery that no one saw coming.
When Doctor Kerry Dearborne challenges the local coroner’s ruling, she’s pulled into a murder investigation that turns her from a tourist into a sleuth. Convinced a criminal is hiding in plain sight, Kerry teams up with Constable Peter George to solve this shocking crime in a town that protects its own.
Kerry is positive that the unknown woman has been murdered, and she wastes no time in telling Constable Peter George what she thinks. Having more faith in Kerry than in his own coroner, Constable George pulls her into the case and soon the two uncover evidence that not only proves there’s a killer in the crowd - but that there are no shortage of suspects either.
As the tormented life of the victim unravels, there is more to this small idyllic cottage town than anyone realizes as tensions mount, and soon the murder victim's life of regret reveals itself one piece at a time.
What starts as a single question of whodunit quickly deepens into a search for a killer.

Get it here

The Newsletter Switch

Expect an email soon letting you know where to go for the reader newsletter and the writer/author newsletter!

Until then, I’m excited to throw a little teaser your way:

The reader newsletter

The author/writer newsletter

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The opening lines of a book serve a functional purpose: they orient the reader, establish tone, and create enough narrative tension to encourage continued reading.

A successful hook does not rely on shock value or exaggeration. Instead, it introduces a moment, voice, or question that invites the reader into the story’s logic.

Below are several reliable techniques authors use to create effective opening hooks, along with guidance on how to apply them intentionally.

1. Begin With Immediate Tension

Opening with tension does not require high action or danger. Tension can come from uncertainty, anticipation, or emotional imbalance.

Why it works:
Tension signals that something is unsettled and worth paying attention to.

How to apply it:

• Focus on a single destabilizing moment

• Avoid explaining its full context

• Let the reader observe before understanding

Example:

The sound echoed down the dock before she realized it wasn’t meant to scare her — it was meant to warn her.

2. Create an Implicit Question

Instead of directly asking a question, present a situation that feels incomplete or unusual.

Why it works:
Readers continue because they want clarity, not because they are told to feel curious.

How to apply it:

• Introduce an abnormal reaction or circumstance

• Allow the question to form naturally

Example:

Everyone else at the funeral cried. She kept track of which doors were unlocked.

3. Introduce Character Through Contrast

Character hooks are effective when they reveal a contradiction between expectation and behavior.

Why it works:
Contradictions suggest internal conflict and complexity.

How to apply it:

• Pair a role with an unexpected response

• Avoid commentary or explanation

Example:

She taught conflict resolution for a living and avoided every difficult conversation in her own life.

4. Reference a Consequence Before Its Cause

Starting with the aftermath or an implied outcome gives the reader a reason to look backward.

Why it works:
Readers are motivated by understanding how events unfolded.

How to apply it:

• Hint at impact rather than detail

• Keep the focus personal, not abstract

Example:

By the time the police arrived, the choice had already been made.

5. Use Setting to Establish Unease

Setting can introduce tension when it carries an implication rather than a description.

Why it works:
The environment shapes expectation and emotional tone.

How to apply it:

• Choose details that suggest isolation or instability

• Avoid long descriptive passages

Example:

The trail map showed a loop, but the signs stopped appearing after the first mile.

6. Let Narrative Voice Do the Work

A clear, grounded narrative voice can function as a hook on its own.

Why it works:
Readers often commit to a story because they trust the perspective guiding it.

How to apply it:

• Prioritize specificity over cleverness

• Allow voice to emerge through observation

Example:

I didn’t believe in patterns until the same mistake started following me into different rooms.

7. Open With a Statement That Carries Weight

A restrained, declarative opening can signal emotional or moral stakes without explanation.

Why it works:
It implies consequence and invites interpretation.

How to apply it:

• Keep the statement personal

• Resist clarification in the opening lines

Example:

Three people knew what happened that night, and I trusted all of them.

Common Reasons Hooks Fail

Most ineffective openings struggle because they:

• Explain instead of present

• Delay tension with background information

• Tell the reader what matters rather than showing it

• Attempt to impress instead of orient

A hook does not need to be dramatic.
It needs to be purposeful.

An opening hook is not a trick or a promise of spectacle. It is an invitation into the story’s structure, tone, and perspective.

When the first page aligns with the core of the narrative, readers continue, not because they are persuaded, but because the story has earned their attention.

Event Update

I am excited to share that I have been chosen to attend the Ephrata Library’s first Local Author Book Fair. This event will take place on Saturday, April 25th, from 1- 4. I hope to see you there!

Short Story for You: See You Tomorrow

I have been working on this in my Fiction Workshop class for school, and I thought I’d share it here for something new to read. I hope you enjoy it!

See You Tomorrow (3)

387KB ∙ PDF file

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What did you think of Naomi’s story?

Leave a comment

Indie Reads

There are no functioning cars, no cell service, no electricity. Nothing but an eerie silence. Alone in the center of the Upper Peninsula, in a remote hunting cabin, Bob Reiniger awakens to a new world that he is unprepared for.
Without the former conveniences of life, he is a fish out of water. He has no survival skills, no food, no running water, no communication or transportation. He’s many miles from the nearest living soul.
With no way to communicate with the outside world, he is left to wonder how widespread this disaster might be. Thus, he has enormous panic but little hope.

Get it here

In the realm of Kravan, children of lower-class citizens are raised in a prison-like structure called “The Tower” from birth until adulthood. Known as the Tethered, they are held in thrall until their powers reveal themselves around the time of their nineteenth birthday.

Every year, the Tethered who are tested and deemed harmless are chosen to leave the Tower and join the outside world as servants to live in the households of the ruling class. Those who are deemed threats are taken away—and no one knows what happens to them, though they suspect the worst.

Shara has spent her entire life in the Tower, longing for the day she will be chosen to leave. She’s always been certain her powers would be minimal just as her mother’s allegedly were, and that she would be assigned to a life of simple servitude.

When Shara receives her Placement in the home of a Noble family, she feels at first like she has finally found her place in the world. But over time, mysteries begin to reveal themselves about her Proprietor and those who live in the house…including the handsome fellow Tethered who shares a wing of the house with her.

When he offers her an opportunity to attend the annual Prince’s Ball and to see the world of the Nobility for what it truly is, Shara begins to learn the ugly truth about the divisions between the ruling class and the Tethered.

After a life spent in near-isolation, Shara must learn to distinguish friend from foe, and to decide if her new allies are who they claim to be...

Or if they will turn out to be her greatest enemies.

Get it here

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Most writing advice tells you to know your characters. But the truth is, fewer people explain what that actually looks like on the page.

A character outline sketch isn’t a rigid template or a personality quiz. It’s a working document, a snapshot of who your character is before the plot starts pressuring them to change.

Think of it as a map, not a script.

What a Character Outline Sketch Really Is

A character sketch isn’t about listing eye color, favorite food, or childhood pets unless those details matter.

It’s about answering one core question:

Who is this person when the story is not happening to them yet?

The outline exists so that when conflict hits, the character’s reactions feel earned, not convenient.

The Core Elements of a Character Outline Sketch

You don’t need pages. You need clarity on who your character is.

This is how you achieve that:

1. The Character’s Current State

Where is this character emotionally at the beginning of the story?

Not their backstory — their present.

Are they:

• Guarded?

• Restless?

• Comfortable but unfulfilled?

• Actively avoiding something?

This establishes a baseline. Without it, growth has nothing to push against.

Example:
Instead of writing “She’s independent,” write “She avoids asking for help, even when it costs her.”

One of these shows the reader the character. One of these tells the reader about the character.

2. The Want vs. The Need

This is where sketches stop being decorative and start being useful.

• Want: What the character thinks will fix their life

• Need: What will actually force them to change

These should not be the same thing.

A character who wants safety may actually need vulnerability.
A character who wants control may need trust.

This tension becomes the engine that powers your character’s story.

3. The Internal Lie

Every strong character believes something that isn’t entirely true.

Not a villain monologue; an internal rule they live by.

Examples:

• “If I rely on anyone, I’ll lose myself.”

• “Love always costs more than it gives.”

• “If I slow down, everything will fall apart.”

This lie shapes their decisions long before the plot does.

How a Sketch Improves the Actual Writing

This is where writers start feeling the difference.

Once you’ve outlined who your character is, the story stops asking “What should happen next?” and starts asking:

“What would this person do next?”

Dialogue sharpens.
Reactions become consistent.
Scenes gain subtext without extra explanation.

How to Use the Sketch While Drafting

A character outline sketch is not a one-time exercise.

Keep it nearby while drafting and ask:

• Does this action align with their internal lie?

• Is this choice avoiding growth — or forcing it?

• Am I letting the character act, or making them serve the plot?

If the character feels flat, the sketch tells you why.

The Biggest Mistake Writers Make

Treating character sketches as a checklist.

If you’re filling in details just to fill them in, you’re missing the point.

A good sketch doesn’t answer every question.
It answers the right ones.

Why This Matters More Than Plot

Plot can be clever. Twists can be surprising. But readers stay for characters who feel real under pressure.

A character outline sketch gives you that foundation: quietly, consistently, and without forcing the story to explain itself.

And that’s what readers feel, even if they never see the sketch itself.

Readers

If you haven’t had the chance to read this yet, Escape City is free today on Amazon!

“Wow!
What a great read!
A very scary, page turner. Just when you think it’s over, it gets even better.”- Debby

Get it here

The Backup Superhero

I am still plugging away at the next three installments of The Backup Superhero series.

Here is the opening line for the next book, taking place after Into the Grey:

Who would have guessed that doing the right thing would get you into so much trouble?

I have had so many requests to switch back to Tanser Girls’ point of view, and I am glad that I finally get to do so. However, despite her heroic efforts in the first novella, The Backup Supehero, no one saw the fallout that would come to Tanser Girl after she took on Level A superhero Goffman.

The Newsletter Divide

I just wanted to let you all know that after my announcement next week, I am in the stages of preparing everything so that in February, we can make the divide into two separate newsletters: one for writers/ authors, and one for my readers.

All this time prepping is so that I can deliver both newsletters’ quality content. And I am so excited for what I have ready for you all so far.

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Even if talking about your writing process is uncomfortable, doing so can build the momentum and the audience you need at your book launch.

The truth is, many authors don’t enjoy disclosing details about their books until they feel as if they have solid work to share information about.

However, the only way you can build an audience for the stories you are developing is to talk about them. And this should happen from day one. Mainly because building this momentum takes time, so why not give yourself more time to build it?

For example, you could post on social media that you just started writing your first fantasy novel and even though you are only 3,000 words into it, you feel as if you are in for a long and enticing storyline.

Yes, in the beginning, it may be uncomfortable sharing how your writing process is going, but you never know who will hop on your audience train or how they will react.

Here are some famous writers who also build in public:

• Margaret Atwood (Author of the Handmaid’s Tale)

• Salman Rushdie (Author of Victory City)

• Atticus (Author of poetry, often on New York Times Bestseller)

By building in public and sharing their work updates, they increase their audience.

What are some examples of building in public?

• Sharing your character bios

• Posting on social media about your character name options

• Location research you are conducting

• Progress made on your word count

• Cover, character, location, and description reveal

Sharing these pieces of information along the way is going to help your audience feel invested in the universe you are creating.

When authors build in public, they are consistent and informative in what they are building.

Be consistent in your posts on social media and build from the beginning, and your audience will come.

Newsletter Update: What’s Changing (and Why)

Over time, something has become clear as this newsletter has grown: it’s serving two very different groups of people.

On one side are readers—those of you who are here because you enjoy my books and want a closer look at the stories, characters, and worlds I’m creating.
On the other are writers and authors—those who are here to learn about writing, publishing, and building an audience.

Both audiences matter deeply to me. But they don’t always want the same things.

Most readers aren’t looking to publish a book. And most writers aren’t here for character spotlights or behind-the-scenes story notes. Trying to serve both in one place means neither gets the full experience they deserve.

So I’m making a change.

I’m in the process of splitting this newsletter into two separate spaces:

• One newsletter for writers and authors, focused on writing craft, publishing strategies, and audience building

• One newsletter for readers, centered on my books—my writing process, character insights, upcoming projects, and exclusive behind-the-scenes content

Each will be more intentional, more focused, and more valuable for the people it’s meant for.

My priority has always been to respect your time and your interests. When everything is ready, I’ll make the transition simple and clear so you can choose exactly what you’d like to receive—no pressure, no confusion.

I’m excited about what this allows me to create moving forward, and I’m grateful you’re here for the next chapter.

Indie Reads

In “The Beam,“ readers are drawn into a world where unexpected characters grapple with their reality after an unexplained beam of light flashes without warning.

Meet the young people who yearn for a better life but find themselves unable to grasp it; the scientists, driven to save humanity, who begin to question the unintended consequences of their actions; and the men and women who dare to hope for brighter days.

Get it here

Tara finds herself at a crossroads during her final year of college following the sudden disappearance of her lifelong best friend, Marley. While their relationship appeared idyllic, Tara soon realizes the toxic dynamic that existed beneath the surface. Marley's narcissistic tendencies and manipulative behavior cast a shadow over their friendship, with Tara unknowingly falling victim to her friend's covert bullying.
As Tara grapples with Marley's absence, she is forced to confront the tangled web of identity that she had woven around her friend's vision. With Marley no longer present to dictate her path, Tara embarks on a journey of self-discovery, striving to break free from the constraints of her former identity and find the confidence to embrace her true self.

Get it here

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When I published my first book, I believed paying a publishing service meant I was doing things “the right way.” Instead, I sold 15 copies, earned almost no reviews, and walked away discouraged and overwhelmed.

Everything changed in 2020 when I met other indie authors online—writers who showed me that self-publishing was possible, effective, and affordable. That moment didn’t just change how I published. It changed why I write about publishing at all.

What you’ll find here

This newsletter is for writers and readers who want clarity instead of confusion.

As a subscriber, you’ll receive:

• Practical insights on writing, publishing, and audience building

• Lessons I wish I’d had before publishing my first book

• Behind-the-scenes updates on my own books, workshops, and events

• Early access to sneak peeks, sales, and announcements

Whether you’re writing your first draft or navigating your next release, my goal is to help you avoid costly mistakes and build something sustainable.

Start here

If you’re new, these posts are a great place to begin:

• How Authors Build Visibility for Their Books on Amazon

• Common Writing Mistakes That Weaken Your Story

A little more about me

I’ve been writing since 2014 and publishing since 2016. Since then, I’ve published over 20 books, novellas, and short stories, earned a finalist award from the Next Generation Indie Awards, and grown a readership of 44,000 across social media.

I also visit schools and childcare centers for children’s book events—and when I’m not writing or teaching, I’m soaking up life with my husband and daughter.

This space exists because I don’t want other writers to feel as lost as I once did, and because I still believe, deeply, that great books deserve readers.

I’m glad you’re here.
— Kayla

Most authors think of marketing as something they do: a campaign, a launch plan, a schedule.

But the strongest marketing often comes from something much quieter, being visible where people already are and letting your book exist in conversation.

Public spaces aren’t just physical anymore. They’re comment sections. Group chats. Threads replies. Instagram stories. Bookish Discords. Local events. School functions. Coffee shops.

Everywhere people gather, attention flows. And when you consistently place your book within that flow, it starts to travel on its own.

Consistency Builds Recognition Across Spaces

Seeing your book once rarely moves someone to action.

Seeing it in multiple places does.

A person might scroll past your post about drafting one day, notice a comment you left about your genre the next, then overhear you mention your book at a local event weeks later. None of those moments sells the book on their own, but together, they build recognition.

Your name starts to stick.
Your book starts to feel familiar.
And familiar things feel trustworthy.

Marketing works best when it feels cumulative rather than forceful.

Online Spaces Reward Presence, Not Promotion

Most social platforms are not built for ads; they’re built for participation.

When you talk about your book naturally in online public spaces, through updates, replies, conversations, or casual mentions, it stops feeling like a product and starts feeling like part of your life.

• “I’m editing a chapter tonight.”

• “I just sent this to my editor.”

• “This scene still won’t leave me alone.”

Those statements invite curiosity without asking for attention. People follow the story because they’re watching it unfold, not because they were told to buy it.

Over time, the book becomes something your audience feels connected to, before it ever asks them for money.

What we are trying to achieve is talking about our books enough that it sparks interest. And interest in what our story can do for them as the reader. But more importantly, has sparked an interest without selling directly to them.

Offline Conversations Add Weight to Online Visibility

Offline mentions ground your online presence in reality.

When you talk about your book in physical public spaces, at libraries, bookstores, school events, meetups, or casual conversations, it gives your work dimension. You’re no longer just a username or a cover image. You’re a real person who finished something.

Those conversations often circle back online.

Someone looks you up.
Someone follows you.
Someone remembers you when your post crosses their feed.

Offline visibility doesn’t replace online marketing; it strengthens it.

Repetition Creates Social Proof Without Pressure

Social proof doesn’t always come from reviews or numbers. Sometimes it comes from consistency.

When people repeatedly see you talk about your book in different spaces, they assume it matters because you treat it like it does.

You’re not announcing it once and disappearing.
You’re not hiding it either.
You’re letting it live alongside you.

That quiet repetition communicates confidence, and confidence attracts readers far more effectively than urgency ever could.

Public Spaces Turn Your Book Into a Shared Experience

The more you talk about your book in public spaces, the less isolated it becomes.

People comment.
They ask questions.
They share their own experiences.
They recommend it to others because they feel included in its existence.

Your book stops being a private accomplishment and becomes part of a wider conversation.

And that is how stories spread.

Not through constant selling. But through steady presence. Through visibility that feels human. Through showing up in the same spaces again and again, online and offline, until your book feels like it belongs there.

Your First Steps as an Author: Writing, Publishing, and Platform

In case you missed the email on Monday, I am offering a workshop on January 30th for aspiring and new authors.

What You’ll Walk Away With:

• A Path to Finishing:

  Handouts and step-by-step guides to help you finish your first draft

• A Clear Publishing Plan:

  Know exactly which path to choose, what to do, and what NOT to waste money on

• Readers Before You Launch:

  Learn how to build your author platform and grow your audience before you publish

• Answers for YOUR Book:

  Live Q&A on your specific questions, genre, and situation

And, for newsletter subscribers, you can use this promotion deal: FOUNDINGAUTHOR

See the Workshop

New Book Reviews for Escape City and The Lies We Keep

“Escape City was one hell of a page turner. I had to slow myself down several times to make sure I was reading each page because I was so engaged in the action.”- Kurtis Rohlf- RoomEscapeArtist.com

See the Detailed Review Here

Review for The Lies We Keep:

As always, I am thankful for every review I receive, and these two were a great addition to my reviews.

The Backup Superhero Series

I know I have been releasing bits of information here and there, but I wanted to throw you all a bone about what we can expect for Tanser Girl in the next installment.

Here is the opening line for the next book:

“Who would have guessed that doing the right thing would get you into so much trouble.”

I’m still brainstorming a title, but once I have it, I will be sure to share.

Indie Reads

We thought our parents would protect us. We were wrong.
Enter the apocalypse, the most gruesome YA zombie novel you will ever read . . . where the horror is ruthless, the fear is dreadful, and the terror is relentless. And. It. Just. Won’t. Stop.

Get it here

They're supposed to live happily ever after... but one miscalculation rips it all to shreds.
Ryan
Anna is the sweetest woman to ever grace this earth. She's beautiful, funny, smart.
And in love with my little brother.
They're a match made in heaven. I've never seen two people so madly in love.
Whoever believes young love is a passing fantasy has never seen the two of them together.
But on the night Ross is supposed to begin securing their happily ever after, everything goes wrong.
Anna is left reeling. Survivor's guilt is ripping her apart inside. She's barely functioning. Her eyes are cold. Dead.
If I don't act fast, I'm going to lose her.
I can't lose her, too. I'll do anything to keep her breathing.
I just hope I haven't waited too long.

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You have a story that won’t leave you alone.

It’s been sitting in your head for months, maybe for years. You’ve imagined holding your finished book. Seeing your name on the cover. Sharing it with readers who get it.

But every time you try to figure out how, you hit a wall. Too much conflicting advice. Too many expensive services. Too many questions with no clear answers.

This workshop is where your book stops being a dream and starts becoming real.

What You'll Walk Away With:

• A Path to Finishing:

  Handouts and step-by-step guides to help you finish your first draft

• A Clear Publishing Plan:

  Know exactly which path to choose, what to do, and what NOT to waste money on

• Readers Before You Launch:

  Learn how to build your author platform and grow your audience before you publish

• Answers for YOUR Book:

  Live Q&A on your specific questions, genre, and situation

Best of all, this is only available to my newsletter subscribers first!

Have a choice between two options:

Choice 1: Founding Author

Workshop

• $99

  Save $50 — Founding Author Pricing Only

• 90-minute live workshop (first ever)

• Live Q&A on YOUR book

• Free course: Starting Your Publishing Journey

• Workshop materials & exercises

• Replay access

Choice 2: Exclusive Founding Author

Workshop + 1:1 Call

• $199

  Workshop + Private Call ($150 value)

• Everything in the Founding Author Workshop tier

• 1-hour private call with Kayla

• Deep dive into YOUR specific book and questions

• Personalized publishing roadmap

• Direct feedback on your questions

• Recording of your private call

Workshop Details and Sign Up Here

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Dialogue isn’t just characters talking; it’s characters revealing themselves. When done well, dialogue becomes the engine of a story, carrying tension, emotion, and subtext in a way exposition never can. It’s where a story breathes.

A reader may forget a paragraph of description, but they remember a line that lands.

Dialogue Reveals Character Without Explanation

Strong dialogue allows readers to infer who a character is without being told.

Compare:

She was angry and felt betrayed by him.

Versus:

“You rehearsed that, didn’t you?” she said.
He blinked. “Rehearsed what?”
“The apology. You sound like a voicemail.”

No explanation is needed. Her clipped tone, his evasiveness, the accusation embedded in her word choice, this exchange does the work silently. Dialogue trusts the reader to connect the dots.

Characters reveal these through dialogue:

• Their emotional state through rhythm and restraint

• Their background through diction and syntax

• Their power (or lack of it) through who speaks more and who controls the conversation

Dialogue Creates Momentum

Dialogue moves faster than narration. White space invites the reader forward, and short exchanges can accelerate tension in seconds.

A page of internal monologue might describe a conflict. Dialogue enacts it.

This is especially powerful in:

• Confrontations

• Negotiations

• Romantic tension

• High-stakes reveals

When dialogue is active, the story feels alive, events aren’t being summarized; they’re unfolding in real time.

What’s Left Unsaid Is Often the Point

The strongest dialogue rarely says exactly what it means.

Subtext, what a character avoids, deflects, or says sideways, creates depth.

Example:

“Did you tell her?”
“She didn’t ask.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”

What matters here isn’t the literal exchange; it’s the avoidance. The tension lives in the gap between the question and the response.

Readers engage more deeply when they have to listen between the lines.

Dialogue Builds Relationships on the Page

How characters talk to each other shows the nature of their relationship better than any label.

• Friends interrupt each other

• Lovers speak in shorthand

• Strangers hedge and over-explain

• Enemies circle instead of striking directly

Dialogue patterns become emotional fingerprints. Over time, readers recognize a relationship by how it sounds.

Good Dialogue Is Not Realistic, It’s Intentional

Real conversations are full of filler, repetition, and dead space. Written dialogue shouldn’t be.

Effective dialogue is:

• Sharper than real speech

• More purposeful

• Filtered for meaning

Every line should either:

1. Reveal character

2. Advance plot

3. Increase tension

Ideally, it does more than one at once.

If a line exists only to pass information, it’s likely telling instead of showing.

Dialogue Is Action

Dialogue isn’t a pause from the story; it is the story happening.

An argument changes a relationship.
A confession shifts the stakes.
A lie plants future consequences.

When dialogue matters, it leaves residue. Something is different when the conversation ends.

Where we falter with dialogue

I often find when I’m editing my book that I overuse filler words in my dialogue, which often leaves my dialogue feeling less impactful.

Avoid filler words such as:

• More

• So

• Uh

• Um

• But

• Like

• You know

• I mean

• Sort of

• Kind of

• Basically

• Actually

• Well

• Maybe

• Just

Let Dialogue Do the Heavy Lifting

When writers rely too heavily on narration to explain emotions, they rob dialogue of its power. Trusting dialogue means letting characters speak imperfectly, defensively, indirectly, like real people with something to lose.

The goal isn’t clever lines.
The goal is truth in voice.

When dialogue works, readers don’t notice the craft. They hear the characters. And once that happens, the story no longer feels written; it feels lived.

The Lies We Keep

I can’t even believe how well this book launch has gone. As an indie author, I get excited if we make one sale in the first month of a book’s release. And so far, this book has had 14 copies sold in three weeks! It may seem small, but it’s huge.

Thank you to anyone who bought a copy; it truly means the world to me.

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Get it at Barnes and Noble

Get it on Kobo

Lucky’s life has been anything but ordinary, from her origin story to her present. A life filled with crime as a result of her father teaching her the ins and outs of a dishonest life from a young age.

But just as she begins building a path for a normal life through college and a normal career, she meets Alex, who isn’t who he says he is. And to make matters worse, her father gets arrested after being involved in embezzlement, leaving Lucky on her own.

What happens afterwards for Lucky is just par for the course of a downward spiral of a life she’s endured.

This book was thrilling and a page turner, making me unable to put it down as I tried to figure out how things would turn out for Lucky.

I give this book a five-star review. You can get it here: Lucky

The Backup Superhero Series

I'm excited about the direction of the next three installments to The Backup Superhero series.
The first installment is from Tanser Girl's perspective and how she handles Goffman's revenge on her and the overarching villain, Grover Pavlov.
The second is on Tanser Girl's superhero origin story, how she gets into the superhero league.
The third will be a spinoff, a different universe type story with Tanser Girl and the League battling zombies.

Your First Steps as an Author: Writing, Publishing, and Platform

Ready to take the next step in your writing? I am offering a course for aspiring and new authors where I teach:

• Ways to begin your writing process

• The different publishing paths to choose from

• The beginnings of establishing an author’s platform

Additionally, you will receive worksheets on:

• Planning your first steps as an author

• A step-by-step guide to creating a book outline and a writing timeline

If you are interested in this, more information will be coming on Monday, January 12th.

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Marketing a standalone book can feel like shouting into the void. You pour months—sometimes years—into a story, hit publish, and then scramble to keep it visible in an oversaturated market.

A series changes everything.

When you market a series well, you’re no longer selling a book. You’re selling momentum, continuity, and a reading experience that doesn’t end on the final page.

Here’s how to market a book series as an indie author in a way that builds readers, trust, and long-term sales.

Think Like a Series Marketer, Not a Book Marketer

A common mistake indie authors make is marketing each book in a series as if it exists in isolation. A series should feel interconnected not just on the page, but in your marketing.

Instead of asking:

How do I sell Book One?

Ask:

How do I guide readers from Book One to Book Five?

Your goal isn’t a single purchase. It’s reader commitment.

That shift changes everything—from pricing to social content to your email strategy.

Make Book One the Gateway, Not the Destination

Book One is your handshake with the reader. It should be the easiest entry point into your world.

Many successful indie authors treat Book One as:

• A low-cost introduction

• A reader test drive

• A loss leader that fuels read-through

This is why series authors often:

• Price Book One lower than the rest

• Run frequent promotions on Book One

• Focus ads only on Book One

You’re not “discounting your work.” You’re reducing friction.

Once a reader finishes Book One and immediately wants Book Two, the marketing has already done its job.

Sell the Promise of the Series, Not Just the Plot

When readers buy into a series, they’re buying consistency.

They want to know:

• What kind of emotional ride they’re signing up for

• What experience they’ll get every time

• Why they should stay with you long-term

Instead of pitching:

“This book is about…”

Shift to:

“This series delivers…”

For example:

• A slow-burn romance where every book deepens the stakes

• A thriller series where each case uncovers a bigger conspiracy

• A horror series that traps readers in the same unsettling world

Your marketing should reinforce that promise over and over—on your book descriptions, your website, your social posts, and your ads.

Use Read-Through as Your Secret Weapon

Read-through is where series marketing shines.

If a reader buys Book One and immediately buys Books Two and Three, you’ve multiplied the value of that single marketing effort.

To increase read-through:

• End books with unresolved tension, not full closure

• Include a preview chapter of the next book

• Add a direct call-to-action at the end:
  “Continue the story in Book Two…”

This isn’t pushy—it’s reader-friendly. You’re guiding them forward while their emotional investment is at its highest.

Market the Series Everywhere, Even When Only One Book Is Out

You don’t need a completed series to start marketing it as one.

From the beginning:

• Brand your covers consistently

• Use the series name prominently

• Talk about what’s coming next

When readers see that a story is ongoing, it signals:

• Longevity

• Commitment

• A reason to follow you now instead of “someday”

You’re not just selling a book—you’re inviting readers into a journey that’s still unfolding.

Turn Content Into Continuity

One of the biggest advantages indie authors have is direct access to readers. A series gives you endless content opportunities without sounding repetitive.

Instead of constantly posting “Buy my book,” you can share:

• Character spotlights

• Behind-the-scenes worldbuilding

• Timeline breakdowns

• Teasers for future installments

• “Previously in the series…” recaps

This kind of content reinforces familiarity. The more familiar your series feels, the more likely readers are to stay.

Use Your Backlist as Marketing, Not an Afterthought

Each new release in a series revitalizes the previous books.

When Book Three launches:

• Book One gets new eyes

• Book Two gains renewed relevance

• Your entire catalog works together

This is why consistent release schedules matter for series authors. Even modest visibility compounds when readers have somewhere to go next.

A strong backlist doesn’t just earn—it markets for you.

Series Marketing Is a Long Game—and That’s the Advantage

Marketing a series isn’t about chasing trends or hoping one post goes viral. It’s about building a system that grows stronger over time.

Each book:

• Strengthens your brand

• Increases trust with readers

• Improves the performance of every book before it

That’s something a standalone rarely does.

When done right, a series becomes more than a collection of books. It becomes an ecosystem—one that rewards patience, consistency, and smart strategy.

Upcoming Projects

I am happy to announce that I have completed the first draft of the next installment of The Backup Superhero series. This novella is from Tanser Girls’ viewpoint as she, Frank, and Dwighter take on both Superhero Goffman from the first book and Grover Pavlov (an overarching villain of the series).

But there is a twist in when this will be released…I will be finishing two more novellas in the series and then releasing them in 90-day increments. I’m hoping that one, this will help sales, and two, give readers of the series quick gratification.

As of right now, I don’t have titles for these novellas, but I’m excited to get the next two finished.

Indie Reads

Earth. The future. Cities have become severely bent. A company has risen to power and employed brutal tactics on selected groups of society. A small band of people are relocated underground, thinking they escaped the scorched earth, but soon discover that things are not what they seem. Terror comes out of the shadows and the group realizes their situation isn't any better underground. Striving for answers, it's a race for survival.

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Some love stories end in blood.

James is the perfect man—successful, thoughtful, meticulous. But perfection has a price, and his comes with a body count.

Narrated by James himself, this isn’t your typical psychological thriller. You’re inside the mind of a man who knows exactly what he is and can’t stop. An unreliable narrator whose childhood trauma shaped him into something monstrous.

Then he meets Laura.

An art curator who sees patterns others miss. She makes him feel something dangerous—hope. For the first time, he believes he might change. But Laura has her own agenda, and in this twisted game of love and obsession, it’s unclear who’s hunting whom.

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Luke Shenstone is a tech-savvy loner who prefers monitoring his colleagues' digital conversations to having real ones. His carefully constructed isolation shatters when Estelle arrives at his London firm as the charismatic new Chief Operating Officer.
Against all odds, they begin a passionate secret affair that threatens to consume them both. As Estelle pulls Luke from his digital cocoon, he becomes her inside source for navigating the firm's cutthroat, male-dominated environment.
But their passionate alliance is built on secrets and lies. A trip to Estelle's home village in France uncovers explosive secrets about her past, throwing everything he thought he knew about the woman he's fallen for into question. And when their affair is exposed on their return, the fallout is catastrophic. As workplace tensions escalate and buried truths claw their way to the surface, the lines between love and obsession blur beyond recognition.

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Most authors think success comes from one great book.

In reality, it often comes from the next one and the one after that.

A rapid-release strategy, especially within a series, doesn’t just keep your name visible. It trains readers to stay with you, anticipate you, and trust you. When done well, releasing a new book every 90 days can quietly compound into stronger sales, better algorithms, and a more loyal readership.

Here’s why it works.

1. A Series Turns One Sale into a Habit

A standalone book asks a reader to make a single decision.

A series invites them to stay.

When a reader finishes Book One and immediately wants Book Two, you’ve shifted from convincing to continuing. You’re no longer fighting for attention; you’re rewarding curiosity. Each book becomes a doorway rather than a destination.

Releasing consistently every 90 days strengthens that habit. Readers don’t forget you. They don’t need reminders of who you are. Your name becomes familiar in the way favorite TV shows or podcast episodes are familiar, expected, and even welcomed.

Momentum does the selling for you.

2. Rapid Release Keeps Algorithms Working in Your Favor

Online retailers reward activity.

Every new release gives you:

• A spike in visibility

• A reason to email your list

• A fresh metadata footprint

• A new chance to be recommended alongside your own books

When releases are spaced too far apart, that momentum fades. But a 90-day cycle keeps your catalog warm. One book feeds the next, and suddenly Book One isn’t just selling because it’s new, it’s selling because Book Three just launched.

Instead of one book working alone, your entire backlist starts pulling together.

3. Readers Are More Forgiving, and More Invested in Series

Series readers don’t expect perfection. They expect continuity.

They’re willing to follow characters through growth, forgive early rough edges, and stay engaged because the story isn’t finished yet. Each book deepens their emotional investment, which means:

• Higher read-through rates

• More organic reviews

• More word-of-mouth recommendations

When releases are predictable, readers trust you to finish what you start. That trust is rare and incredibly valuable.

4. Writing Becomes Easier When You Stay in the World

There’s a creative benefit authors don’t talk about enough.

Writing a series on a 90-day schedule keeps you immersed. You’re not relearning the world, the voice, or the characters each time. You’re continuing a conversation you never left.

That immersion often leads to:

• Faster drafting

• Cleaner continuity

• Stronger character arcs

• Less second-guessing

The story stays alive in your head, and it shows on the page.

5. Marketing Stops Feeling Like Starting Over

Launching a standalone book can feel like shouting into the void.

Launching the next book in a series feels different.

You already have:

• A defined audience

• Proven keywords and categories

• Readers waiting for the next installment

• A clear marketing narrative

Each launch becomes less about “Who am I?” and more about “You’re back.”

And that shift, from introduction to anticipation, is where sales grow steadily instead of spiking and disappearing.

6. Consistency Builds a Brand, Not Just a Bibliography

Releasing every 90 days sends a quiet signal: this author shows up.

Readers notice. Retailers notice. Even other authors notice.

Over time, consistency becomes part of your brand. You’re not just someone who wrote a book, you’re someone who writes books. Plural. Reliably.

That perception opens doors to:

• Stronger mailing list engagement

• Better launch teams

• Higher confidence from readers clicking “buy”

Trust compounds just like sales do.

It’s Not About Speed, It’s About Rhythm

Rapid release doesn’t mean rushing.

It means choosing a sustainable rhythm and honoring it.

For many authors, 90 days is the sweet spot—long enough to write well, short enough to stay visible. When paired with a series, it turns individual books into a connected ecosystem where each release strengthens the last.

You’re not chasing sales.

You’re building a story readers don’t want to leave.

The Lies We Keep

Thank you to everyone who purchased a copy or volunteered to be an ARC reader. This was one of my most successful book launches to date.

I know I have said this before, but if you have read any of my books and have extra time, I would love to hear what you thought in the form of a review. Reviews help books get seen, and they inform other readers.

You can review on the platform you bought it from, Goodreads, BookBub, and more places.

Get it here

The Holidays

I hope you had a wonderful holiday with your family this season! Ours was a quiet one but full of fun. Thank you for being here!

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The holidays are loud for readers—sales emails, bestseller lists, algorithm-pushed “must reads.” But for indie authors, the season is quieter. There’s no marketing team flipping a switch. No warehouse shipping thousands of copies overnight. There’s just one person refreshing a dashboard, hoping a story they poured themselves into lands in the right hands.

If you love books—and especially indie books—there are small, meaningful ways to support authors this season. None of them require spending a lot of money. Most don’t require spending any at all.

Buy One Book (and Mean It)

When a reader buys an indie book, it’s rarely an impulse purchase lost in the noise. It’s deliberate. It’s someone choosing that story.

Buying directly from the author’s website, if they have one, matters even more. It means fewer fees, more control, and often a signed copy or handwritten note tucked inside. But even buying through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Kobo still counts—because every sale signals that the book deserves shelf space, visibility, and a chance to reach someone else.

One book might feel small to you. To an indie author, it’s proof the work landed.

Leave a Review—Even a Short One

A review doesn’t need to be poetic. It doesn’t need to be five paragraphs long. Sometimes it’s just:

“I stayed up too late reading this.”

That single sentence helps more than you realize.

Reviews are how indie books get noticed. They influence algorithms, recommendations, and reader trust. They tell future readers, You’re not alone. Someone else took the chance first.

If you finish an indie book this holiday season, leaving even a few honest lines is one of the most powerful gifts you can give.

Where Reviews Make the Biggest Difference for Indie Authors

Not all reviews carry the same weight—but every one helps. Leaving a review in just one or two of these places can dramatically increase an indie book’s visibility.

Amazon
Amazon reviews influence discoverability more than most readers realize. Even a short, honest review helps the algorithm understand who to show the book to next. Star ratings alone help—but a sentence or two goes further.

Goodreads
Goodreads is where readers talk to readers. Reviews here build long-term credibility and often influence library purchases, book club picks, and reader challenges. Thoughtful or emotional reactions perform especially well.

StoryGraph
For data-driven readers, StoryGraph reviews matter. Mood tags, pacing notes, and content warnings help the book reach the right readers, which leads to stronger word-of-mouth over time.

BookBub
Following an author and leaving a review on BookBub helps with future promotions and deal visibility. Even rating the book without a full review supports discoverability.

Barnes & Noble
If you bought or read the book elsewhere, you can still leave a review here. Retailer reviews matter beyond Amazon, especially for readers who prefer physical bookstores.

Kobo & Apple Books
These platforms are often overlooked, which makes reviews here even more valuable. A handful of reviews can make a noticeable difference in visibility and recommendations.

Libraries (Indirectly)
While libraries don’t always host reviews, requesting an indie book or leaving feedback with librarians helps signal reader demand. Librarians notice which books readers talk about.

A review doesn’t need to be perfect. It doesn’t need to analyze themes or write a mini essay.

Sometimes it’s just:

• What you liked

• How the book made you feel

• Who you’d recommend it to

Those few lines can be the difference between a book fading quietly—or finding its next reader.

Recommend a Book the Way You’d Recommend a Favorite Recipe

Indie books grow by word of mouth—the same way traditions do.

When you tell a friend, “This book reminded me of you,” or post a photo of your current read by the Christmas tree, you’re doing something no ad can replicate. You’re offering trust.

Tagging the author, sharing a quote, or adding the book to a holiday reading list creates ripples that last far beyond December.

Request Indie Books at Libraries and Bookstores

Most readers don’t realize this, but libraries and independent bookstores want to stock books people ask for.

A single request can put an indie book on a library shelf where dozens of new readers might find it. It turns one purchase into many. It gives the book longevity.

And for authors? Seeing their book listed in a library catalog is a moment that never gets old.

Support Without Spending a Dollar

Not every form of support costs money—and indie authors know that.

Following an author on social media. Joining their newsletter. Liking or commenting on a post so it reaches more readers. These actions help authors stay visible during a season when attention is stretched thin.

They also remind authors they’re not writing into a void.

Remember: Indie Authors Are People, Not Just Brands

Behind every indie book is someone juggling deadlines, family obligations, and the quiet pressure to keep going. Someone who wrote scenes late at night. Someone who believed the story was worth finishing even when it was hard.

When readers choose indie books—especially during the holidays—they’re choosing to support creativity, risk, and stories that exist because someone refused to quit.

And that choice matters.

The Lies We Keep is Out Today!

I am so excited that this is finally here, and I hope that you will take a chance on it. Also, if you know someone who reads mysteries, be sure to spread the word.

Get it here

Indie Reads

He promised her a meet cute.
He didn’t expect to fall into one himself.

I know what women want in a man and they pay me a lot of money to find it for them. With the help of my fellow ex-special forces brothers, I opened up a matchmaking business where we use our military skills to help our clients find The One. And it turns out a little military strategy goes a long way.

I treat each new client in my matchmaking business like its own mission. And I’m proud to say that I have a one hundred percent success rate.

Or at least I did. Before Allie Larsen entered the picture.

She’s smart. She’s beautiful. She’s charming…
… and she’s impossible to please.

But when it turns out Allie has secrets she’s been keeping, she not only jeopardizes her own matchmaking mission, but she puts both our lives in danger.

Except this time, it’s not only my life at risk... it’s my heart.

When they said, “All’s fair in love and war,” I’m not sure this is what they meant.

Get it here

When the sky melted, the dead woke—and humanity’s last chance was born.

A nuclear flash tears through Colorado, turning the sky into liquid fire and unleashing a storm unlike anything the world has ever seen. Within minutes, the town of Serenity collapses under the weight of glowing ash, twisted resonance, and the first wave of reanimated dead.

Former soldier Alex Hale only wanted to outrun his past. Instead, he runs straight into the apocalypse—and into a group of survivors depending on him to keep them alive.

Rina Vasquez, a determined young woman protecting a child who hears things she shouldn’t.
Grant Hale, a broken man carrying secrets deep enough to shake the world.
Hank and Connie, two unlikely heroes learning that bravery can come from the most terrified hearts.

But something far worse than the undead is waking beneath the mountains.

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Some story ideas arrive and stick in your brain like glue, gearing you up and ready to begin the story. Other ideas come to us but aren’t heavy enough to stick the landing, quickly fleeing away. And sometimes, you’re standing in the quiet middle ground, waiting for one spark that feels worthy of becoming a book.

If you’re between projects or itching for a new direction, here’s how to uncover a story that doesn’t just entertain — but grips you long enough to write it.

1. Follow What Won’t Leave You Alone

Story ideas often start as a splinter: a question, an image, a person, a conflict. You brush it off… but it keeps coming back.

• A strange thing someone said in line at the grocery store

• A memory that resurfaces without invitation

• A “what if” that stirs something in your chest

Pay attention to the details that linger. Those persistent fragments are often your subconscious begging you to explore something deeper.

Keeping a journal, notes on your phone, or a working Google document for when these ideas spark is a great way to record your thoughts and avoid letting important details slip.

2. Let Curiosity Lead the Way

Sometimes the best story ideas begin with you chasing a thread.

• What scares you right now?

• What fascinates you even though you don’t understand it yet?

• What situation would force a character to change in uncomfortable ways?

Curiosity is the compass. Your job is to follow it without trying to map out the entire world on day one.

Walk toward the questions that make your brain spark. A story doesn’t begin with answers; it begins with exploration.

3. Eavesdrop on the World Around You

The world is full of stories begging for a point of view.

When you pay attention, you’ll hear characters in:

• The argument happening two booths down at a diner

• A co-worker’s offhand comment about their neighbor

• Kids narrating their imaginary worlds at a park

• A news headline that feels stranger than fiction

People already speak in story beats — desire, conflict, fear, revelation. Your job is to catch the rhythm.

If you treat your environment like a living anthology, ideas show up everywhere.

4. Mine Your Own Turning Points

Readers crave emotional truth, and yours is a powerful place to look.

Think of a moment in your life when you were:

• Forced to choose

• Knocked off balance

• Tempted by something risky

• Faced with consequences you didn’t see coming

You don’t have to retell your life. Just borrow its emotional DNA.

A story rooted in something authentic, like fear, regret, hope, thawing, breaking, rebuilding, will always have more weight than a clever idea alone.

Authenticity is the glue that holds a premise together long enough to become a full novel.

5. Look for the Collision, Not the Concept

Most writers have plenty of concepts. The challenge is finding the collision, the moment where two opposing forces create friction.

• A thief who must protect the one person she planned to rob

• A man who hates the woods… until his new property hides a secret

• A podcaster who investigates intimacy but struggles to build any in her real life

• Influencers trapped in a zombie-themed amusement park

Opposing desires, messy stakes, and impossible choices, that’s the pressure cooker where story begins.

When you feel the spark of conflict, you’ve found something worth writing toward.

6. Let Yourself Play Before You Plot

Too many writers suffocate good ideas by forcing them to become an outline too soon. Before structure comes play.

Try:

• A single scene

• A page of dialogue

• A monologue from your future villain

• A description of the story’s most dangerous moment

Let the idea flex its muscles. You’ll learn quickly whether it has momentum or whether it fizzles out. Play gives you instinct. Instinct gives you direction.

7. Don’t Wait for Inspiration — Build Conditions for It

Inspiration rarely appears when you’re staring at a blank page. It shows up when you’re living.

Create a life that feeds your creativity:

• Read widely, outside your genre

• Walk without headphones

• Visit places you’ve never been

• Keep a messy notebook — order comes later

• Talk to people with lives unlike your own

The more stimuli you feed your brain, the more connections it will make on its own. Stories grow in those intersections.

Ideas don’t disappear; they evolve. Every experience, every conversation, every lingering question is material gathering weight.

When the moment is right, one idea will push others aside. You’ll feel the tilt. Characters will start talking. A premise will click into place. And you’ll recognize it — not because it screams, but because it settles into your mind like it belongs there.

Your next story isn’t a treasure you have to dig up. It’s a signal you’re learning how to hear.

Book Release Time: The Great Box Makeover

It’s The Great Box Makeover’s big reveal! And I’m excited to share that I was able to snag some advanced copies that I will be selling at the Jingle Books event tomorrow!

This story is about collaboration, imagination, and recycling. And I hope that you consider adding it to your bookshelf.

Get it here

Jingle Books Event

I hope to see you tomorrow between 10 and 1 at the Lancaster Public Library! There will be 10 authors, a raffle, and a gift wrapping station.

Book Review

Lexi has been moving through the motions of life after the passing of her mom. Working two jobs, living in a small and crappy apartment, and most of all, not living up to her potential. So when Collin, one of her wealthy regular customers at the restaurant, steps up his game and starts dating her, Lexi is swept away. And just when Lexi didn’t think life could get any better, she and Collin went to hike the Grand Canyon on their honeymoon, and it wasn’t what either of them expected. Lies are uncovered, relationships are questioned, and people are torn apart.

Melissa Roos did a wonderful job leading the reader through a whirlwind romance of Collin and Lexi, allowing us to see how life can change when we find the right person. But it also allowed the reader to see how our differences can sometimes not be overcome in the end. Lexi is not from the world of the rich, so it takes some adjusting. And Collin, while lovable, is always looking for another adventure, which leads Lexi to be tugged along.

Although most of this book was a clean romance and an underdog story, slowly, in bits and pieces, we see that there is an underlying mystery working between the scenes. And while I had my suspicions about who the culprit was, I was completely surprised by who the actual culprit was in the end.

I give this book 5 Stars

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Before a book ever meets its first paying reader, it needs something far more crucial: social proof.

Advanced Reader Copies (ARCs) are how authors gather early feedback, generate buzz, and build the first wave of reviews that push a book into visibility.

But finding the right ARC readers — reliable ones who won’t ghost you — isn’t always simple. Thankfully, there are services and platforms built specifically to help authors connect with engaged early readers who actually leave reviews.

Below is a guide to the most trusted ARC-reader services, what they offer, what they cost, and how to use them effectively.

Why ARC Services Matter

ARC teams used to form organically — friends, newsletter subscribers, and polite “would you like to read my book?” pleas. Now, with thousands of books being released every day, authors need dependable systems.

ARC services help you:

• Reach readers who want to read and review books

• Target genre-specific audiences instead of begging strangers

• Keep track of downloads, review links, and follow-through

• Collect reviews ethically and without violating retailer policies

The goal isn’t to chase five-star reviews. The goal is a healthy spread of genuine reader reactions that make your book look alive.

Top ARC Services for Authors

1. BookSirens

BookSirens is one of the most respected ARC platforms, especially for indie authors.

Why authors love it:

• Readers are vetted for review reliability

• You only pay when someone downloads your book

• Genre targeting is excellent — romance, fantasy, thriller, YA, sci-fi, and more

Best for: Authors who want a steady trickle of reliable reviews.

Pricing: Around $10/title + a fee per reviewer who downloads.

Pro tip: Craft a compelling landing blurb. BookSirens readers judge quickly — give them mood, voice, and stakes in 3–4 crisp lines.

2. BookSprout

BookSprout offers a simple, user-friendly platform for distributing ARCs.

Why authors use it:

• Readers commit to reviewing within a set timeframe

• Dashboard tracks who has and hasn’t reviewed

• Strong compliance features for Amazon’s review rules

Best for: New authors building a small but accountable ARC team.

Pricing: Free tier available; paid tiers offer additional reach.

Pro tip: Set clear deadlines and use the automated reminders — BookSprout’s system helps keep readers on track.

3. NetGalley

This is the big leagues of ARC distribution: librarians, booksellers, educators, bloggers, and professional reviewers.

Why it stands out:

• Massive readership and industry reach

• Excellent for wide release strategies

• Can lead to bookstore requests and traditional-style buzz

Best for: Authors with strong marketing plans, hybrid authors, or anyone seeking industry-level exposure.

Pricing: Higher than other services ($450+ per title through NetGalley directly), but you can use co-ops (more below) for lower pricing.

Pro tip: NetGalley reviewers are picky. Your cover, blurb, and interior formatting must look professional.

4. NetGalley Co-ops (Budget-Friendly Access)

If the full NetGalley price tag stings, co-ops offer access at a fraction of the cost.

Popular Co-ops:

• Victory Editing

• BooksGoSocial

• Cover Mint

• Barbour Publishing monthly group promotions

Why authors choose co-ops:

• You get your book listed on NetGalley

• Cost is significantly lower ($45–$100 range)

• Same pool of reviewers; same industry access

Best for: Indie authors who want NetGalley exposure without the full cost.

Pro tip: Join early — co-ops fill quickly, especially ahead of fall release season.

5. Hidden Gem Books

A reliable, results-oriented ARC service.

Why it’s a fan favorite:

• High follow-through rate

• Strong genre matching

• Reviews appear quickly

Best for: Authors who need reviews fast and want a dependable system.

Pricing: Approximately $20–$30 per campaign + fee per reviewer.

Pro tip: Choose the “verified reviewer” option if you want a better guarantee that reviews will be posted.

6. Pubby (With a Caution)

Pubby is popular because it promises easy Amazon reviews — but its structure has raised ethical questions.

How it works:
Authors review books to earn points. Points are then used to get other authors to review your book.

Potential downsides:

• Reviews often lack depth or genre familiarity

• Some reviewers skim instead of reading fully

• Amazon sometimes deletes Pubby-origin reviews

Best for: Authors who need filler reviews — not anchor reviews.

Use with caution and avoid making Pubby your primary review source.

Here are some free and better ARC review alternatives

1. Your Newsletter List

A small, loyal list will outperform a crowd of strangers.

Why it works:
Newsletter readers already care about you. They want your success. They’re invested.

Tip: Keep your ARC team separate from your full list using a form with:

• What genres do they enjoy

• Where they leave reviews

• Whether they want ebook or print

Reward consistency — send early chapters, deleted scenes, or character art.

2. Social Media ARC Calls (X, Instagram, TikTok)

A simple post — “Looking for ARC readers for my upcoming [genre] novel” — can bring in passionate early fans.

Tip:
Use genre hashtags like:

• #Bookstagram

• #BookTok

• #AmReading

• #ThrillerReaders

• #RomanceReads

• #IndieAuthor

Readers love being part of a book launch from the inside.

3. Discord, Facebook Groups, and Genre Communities

Thriller readers, romance ARC groups, fantasy hubs, LGBTQ+ book circles — if a genre exists, so does a community ready for ARCs.

Examples:

• Indie Fantasy Addicts

• Romance ARC Teams

• YA Book Clubs on Facebook

• BookTube and BookTok reviewers’ Discords

These readers often leave thoughtful, detailed reviews.

How to Turn ARC Readers Into Reviewers

Finding readers is one thing. Getting reviews is another.
Here’s what sets successful ARC campaigns apart:

1. Set Clear Expectations

Let readers know:

• Where would you like reviews posted

• Your ideal review window

• That honesty is welcome (not only praise)

2. Make It Easy

Send:

• Direct links to review pages

• A reminder of their reading format

• A short thanks with zero pressure

Ease = follow-through

3. Communicate Like a Human

A warm message acknowledging their time goes a long way. Readers show up more for authors who appreciate — with specificity, not guilt.

4. Keep the Relationship Alive

ARC readers can become:

• Superfans

• Beta readers

• Street-team members

• Repeat reviewers for future launches

The best ARC teams grow over time.

ARC services are powerful tools, but they’re only part of the equation.

What truly drives early reviews is connection — your voice, your gratitude, and the genuine excitement you build around your story.

Whether you choose BookSirens for reliability, NetGalley for exposure, or your own newsletter for intimacy, the key is to start early, stay consistent, and treat your ARC team like partners in your book’s journey.

Books

Arc Reader

Book Review

Book Launch

Readers

The Lies We Keep

We are just 2 weeks away from the release of my new mystery novel, The Lies We Keep. I am thrilled to share this book with readers and thankful for the interest it has taken on through social media.

This book will be offered widely, which means I’m not placing this one on Kindle Unlimited. I would like to see how my books could do on various platforms.

If you would like an ARC copy, be sure to sign up, as I have a few spots left! And if you aren’t sure about the book but are interested in seeing what it’s about, here is a sneak peek.

Receive an ARC copy

Sneak Peek

Preorder here

The Great Box Makeover

And we are just a week away from the book release of my next children’s book, The Great Box Makeover.

This book teaches kids about recycling, reusing, collaboration, and imagination. And I also have learning activities that pair with the book.

Save the Date

Indie Reads

A kingdom divided by betrayal—by one once exalted, now fallen. Thus, the battle of the Great Beginning is set in motion: the first war of wars that will shape all that was, and all that ever shall be.
The kingdom endures, but unrest grows in the shadow of treachery. Now the Prince stands at the threshold of destiny, where the fate of a realm lost to darkness teeters in the balance.
But to save it—at what cost?

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She survived the massacre. Now the real trouble begins.

One minute, Erin Callahan is a hero—the teacher’s aide who miraculously survived the Cedar Ridge Elementary massacre. The next, she’s a pariah. The police are digging into her past. The media is turning her into a villain. The town has turned against her.

But only Erin knows why she’s truly afraid.

Someone left a bouquet on her doorstep.

Tucked inside: a plain white card with five words, neatly printed:

I killed them for you.

Caught between a police force that sees her as a suspect and a killer who sees her as his prize, Erin must plunge into the dark past she fought to escape. Because the real monster is still out there...

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Building momentum for a book that isn’t out yet is one of the trickiest things to accomplish.

For starters, you don’t have any reviews yet to validate your story. Secondly, you don’t want to give too much away and spoil the plot. And third, you have to pique readers’ interest enough that they will remember it at release time.

Personally, this is still something I’m tweaking and working on every time I publish a book.

Ideally, you already have the marketing material available, right? As in the actual book content itself.

It should be easy, right?

Here are some ideas that generate some interest:

• Sharing quotes from your book on social media

• Sharing an excerpt via an image or being read aloud

• Doing character, description, location, and cover reveals

• Talking about your writing process

• Sharing some details if you had to do any research

• Giveaways

These are great but they are also what everyone else does too.

Sometimes in addition to these other great marketing ideas I’ve already listed, we need to think outside the box.

For example, my next book to release this summer is called Escape City with the premise of a zombie escape-room-style amusement park. Five influencer teenagers get to test the park before it opens and discover that the animatronic zombies are more deadly than they appear.

This required me to think outside the box because, for the most part, I believe I have a unique idea.

Here are some ideas that I’ve come up with so far:

• Post a riddle or two from the book and see if anyone can figure it out (for this I would choose ones that didn’t need context clues from the plot as some of the riddles do)

• Ask the questions on social media: If you were going to participate in a zombie escape room-styled theme park that takes 3 days to complete, would you? #EscapeCityBook and If a zombie apocalypse happened, tag someone you’d expect to be the first one to go. #EscapeCItyBook

• Create a book trailer for YouTube (could prove challenging based on my topic)

• Create a website for Escape City for readers to explore. Have riddles on there for them to solve and such

• Research podcasts and blogs that cover the genre, follow them and reach out before the release

• Make an Escape City survival manual and a brochure for Escape City

• Share this excerpt from the book: “Now, the mission is clear. You will have three days to make it to the capital at the center of the city where you will be extracted from the hell hole that is Verismo City,” the general continued. “Along the way, you will encounter the undead citizens who used to thrive in this desert city. You must know that if you get close enough, they will reach out to bite, grab, or scratch you at will. If you are to encounter, what we consider, a hoard of zombies, you may find sewers or fire escapes as a means of escape or barricade yourself in an abandoned vehicle. Should you find yourself in need of defense, we will be providing a weapon to use against the undead.”

• Make a video for readers using someone who looks like the general to read the intro video text that the influencers see upon entering the starting zone to Escape City

• Create a map of the city so readers can follow the characters

Now while all of these ideas sound great for pulling readers in, they are going to take some work on my part.

The point of building momentum for your book until its release is to make your book unforgettable.

If you can achieve this, then your book will do well. But it takes work to do it.

ARC Readers Wanted

Readers are so important, and I am so thankful for each and every one of you. So much time and dedication go into every one of my books, and it’s nice to allow some readers to read my books before they are released.

Since The Lies We Keep is gearing up for its release, I am ready to gather ARC readers. If you are interested in becoming an ARC reader, please check out this form and add yourself to the list to receive an early copy.

If you aren’t sure what an ARC reader is, it’s when you sign up to receive an early copy of a book, and once the book is released, you leave an honest review on platforms like Amazon or Goodreads.

I am looking to send ARC copies out the week of December 1st.

Sign Up Here

Jingle Books

If you live around Lancaster, PA, I would love to meet you! And if you are looking for some gift ideas for someone this holiday, me and nine other authors have something to offer. And you can even have it wrapped at the gift wrapping station.

Black Friday Discount

My course and book Starting Your Publishing Journey: A Beginner’s Guide is having a black Friday sale

Starting Your Publishing Journey: A Beginner’s Guide teaches you:

• How to write a great synopsis for your book

• How to build your author platform and brand.

• The differences between traditional publishing and self-publishing

• How to get traditionally published

  • The publishing process includes finding agents and querying them

  • What a publisher and agent are going to expect you to already have and do

• How to self publish

  • What services can help you self publish

  • How to make important decisions for self-publishing

  • About free resources, you can use for every step

• How to market your book

  • Building an author website

  • Building an email list

    • How to keep content fresh

    • Different types of campaigns and emails to send

    • How to grow your subscribers

  • How to use social media to market your brand and books

  • How to use paid advertising

• Worksheets and resources are provided to help with each section

Black Friday Discount

Indie Reads

Lexi’s spent years surviving—two jobs, mounting bills, and a one-room apartment. Love isn’t even an option.

Until Collin W. Radcliff walks in.

He’s powerful, charming, and impossibly out of her league—a man who could have anyone, yet somehow wants her.

One glance. One choice.

Collin might be her chance at a new life… or her most dangerous mistake. Money can buy anything—except trust.

Because the truth lies at the edge of love and deception… and everything is about to change.

(I was able to be an ARC reader for this book, and it is a great read! Look for my review soon!)

Preorder here

Claire Dawson, a therapist who moves to a seaside town for a fresh start after a painful divorce. She unexpectedly develops a romantic connection with Oliver, the photographer next door neighbor.

• The fear of small-town gossip.

• Ex-husband who tries to manipulate and damage Claire’s credibility.

• Oliver struggles with past wounds.

Now, Claire must decide: walk away to protect everything she’s built-or fight for the man who’s shown her what love is supposed to feel like?

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Knowing your target reader isn’t optional — it’s the foundation of every strong author brand. Here are the essentials your future fans need from you.

1. Understand Their Emotional Need

Go deeper than demographics. Ask:

• What feeling are they chasing?

• What tropes comfort or excite them?

• What do they wish more books delivered?

Readers follow the emotions your stories promise.

2. Build a Brand They Recognize Instantly

Your brand is the atmosphere around your work.

• What three words describe the feeling of your stories?

• What themes repeat across your books?

Make your vibe obvious everywhere you show up.

3. Speak Their Language

Let your online voice match your genre:

• Cozy → warm and inviting

• Horror → tense, atmospheric

• Romance → longing and emotional spark

Let them feel your storytelling through your presence.

4. Create Content They Crave

Post about what they already love:

• Tropes

• Aesthetics

• Character moments

• Behind-the-scenes peeks

When readers see their obsessions reflected back, they stay.

5. Highlight Your Tropes

Make it easy for readers to identify themselves:

• “For fans of survival horror…”

• “If you love slow-burn romance…”

Tropes are a beacon — use them.

6. Show Up Where They Already Are

Find the platforms and communities where your genre thrives and be consistently present. You don’t need to be everywhere — just where it counts.

7. Share the Experience, Not Just the Book

Instead of “Buy my book,” share:

• Aesthetic mood boards

• Quotes

• Hooks

• Scene snippets

Make them feel first, and curiosity does the rest.

8. Build Community Around Your Themes

Invite readers in with:

• Questions

• Sneak peeks

• Exclusive content

• Your creative process

Readers stay when they feel like they belong.

9. Stay Consistent

Tone, themes, values — keep the emotional experience steady. Readers follow authors they trust.

10. Make It Easy to Join Your Universe

Give them simple next steps:

• A strong newsletter welcome gift

• A link hub that’s clean

• A clear “start here” guide

Open the door and let your stories invite them in.

Release Dates: The Lies We Keep and The Great Box Makeover

I am so excited to finally share a release date with you all, as I am finally making my final revisions to the book.

Keep an eye out for an ARC signup in the next week or two if you would like to read it first!

When Abby and Laurel’s parents get a big order, they also get a huge box with a ton of possibilities. But will Abby and Laurel be able to agree on what it will turn into?

This book also comes with information about recycling and uses for cardboard.

(Ages 3-8)

Indie Reads

Nothing can keep them apart, not distance, not the veil, and not even a possessive spirit–no matter how hard he tries.

Thorne

Despite being surrounded by the dead, life is lonelier than ever. I tried to respect her wishes, but it turns out I can’t live without her. When Solaneen Gomez left, she took my heart with her, and I want it back. I want her back. There’s just one thing standing in my way: the dead man who’s obsessed with her.

Little do they know, I never gave up on her. I’ve been tracking, watching, and planning for my chance to bring her home. And once that happens, she’s never getting away again. We had a deal: not even in death do we part.

Sol

Most people run toward love, but I’ve been running from it. Unfortunately, the reason I had to flee came with me. Years ago, I left my happily ever after behind to protect the man I love. It was either let him go or lose him to the jealous entity that’s attached to me.

It was only supposed to be temporary. But as the years stretch on and no one can help free me from his clutches, my resolve weakens. There’s only one way to end our suffering and ensure he remains safe—give the relentless spirit what he wants, me.

Get it here

EIGHT KIDS ARE ABOUT TO LEARN THE SHOCKING REASON WHY THEY WERE KIDNAPPED.
Eight boys and girls, ages nine to seventeen, awaken to find that almost everything they have ever known has been stolen from them. They were ripped from their beds in the middle of the night and transported to an unfamiliar and unforgiving new world where there are strict rules, and they are punished if they refuse to obey.
As the kids grapple with their mysterious new reality, they struggle with disconcerting questions. Where in the world are they? Why were they taken away from their families? Will they ever get to go back home? And the most frightening question of all: Will this be the place where they die?

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In a chilling near-future world, the totalitarian regime of Head Councilor Manglebee ruthlessly controls every aspect of citizens’ lives. But when 14-year-old Rebecca Avair’s brilliant brother Jonathan dies from a mysterious virus sweeping their city, she inherits his dangerous secret: the deadly illness is no accident.
Rebecca — joined by her closest friends — vows to expose the sinister secrets lurking behind their tightly controlled society, no matter the cost. As the courageous teens dig deeper, an even more horrifying plot comes to light, thrusting them into a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse.
Armed with cutting-edge tech and sheer determination, Rebecca and her friends embark on a pulse-pounding mission to infiltrate the heart of the conspiracy. But the clock is ticking, and one misstep could spell disaster. In this gripping tale of resistance and hope, the bonds of friendship will be tested, shocking truths will be unveiled, and the ultimate battle for freedom will be fought.

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The holiday season has a way of turning even the busiest people into shoppers.

Gift lists grow, inboxes overflow with deals, and readers suddenly have the time — and desire — to curl up with a good book. For authors, this is the moment when visibility matters most.

Here are powerful, practical ways authors can market their existing books during the holiday season without feeling salesy or burnt out.

1. Create Holiday-Themed Bundles

Bundling books gives readers more value and encourages bigger purchases.

Examples that work well:

• A trilogy or series bundle at a limited-time price

• A “giftable pairing” such as a book + printable reading journal

• A signed paperback bundle wrapped with festive tissue paper

You’re not just selling a book — you’re offering an experience someone can wrap and give.

2. Run a Limited-Time Holiday Discount

Holiday shoppers love a sense of urgency.

Instead of dropping prices for an entire month, try:

• 48-hour flash sales

• Weekend “stocking stuffer” deals

• Countdown discounts (ex: 7 days of price drops)

Make it feel festive. Think “Cozy Winter Weekend Sale” or “Author’s Holiday Gift to Readers.”

3. Offer Personalized Signed Copies

Readers treasure anything with a personal touch — especially during the holidays.

Consider:

• Personalized signed copies through your website

• A holiday-themed bookmark is included with every order

• Offering gift wrapping or a handwritten note

Showcase photos or videos of you signing books beside a lit tree, a mug of cocoa nearby — visuals make readers want to join that moment.

4. Create Holiday-Themed Social Media Content

People love seasonal vibes, and your book can fit right into them.

Try:

• Posting your book beside ornaments, lights, or snowy windows

• Sharing reels of “Books to Gift for [your genre] lovers”

• Posting reading-themed gift ideas featuring your novels

Let readers see your book as a holiday gift, not just hear that it is.

5. Pitch Holiday Gift Guides and Bloggers

This is one of the most overlooked — and effective — strategies.

Look for:

• Book bloggers running “Best Gifts for Readers” lists

• Local newspapers with holiday shopping guides

• Niche influencers who spotlight small businesses

A single feature can put your book in front of thousands of new readers.

6. Host a Festive Giveaway

Giveaways are a simple way to spark engagement and attract new readers.

Try offering:

• A signed copy + a cozy winter gift (mug, candle, ornament)

• A “book lover’s holiday box”

• A chance to win the entire series

Make it visually appealing with a holiday backdrop or themed graphic.

7. Share Year-in-Review Posts

The holidays are reflective. Readers love seeing the journey behind your work.

You can share:

• Highlights from your writing year

• Milestones reached

• Photos from signings, events, or your writing space

This type of storytelling draws readers closer to you — and when they feel connected, they’re more likely to buy.

8. Collaborate With Other Authors

Cross-promotion is powerful, especially around the holidays.

Ideas:

• A shared holiday giveaway with multiple authors

• A group sale or bundle

• A “12 Books of Christmas” promo where you each spotlight one another’s work

Your audience multiplies instantly.

9. Send a Holiday Newsletter That Feels Like a Gift

Instead of a sales-heavy email, send something readers want to open.

Include:

• A heartfelt message

• A freebie (short story, printable, recipe from your fictional world)

• A special holiday discount code

When your email feels like value, readers naturally gravitate toward your books.

10. Lean Into the Cozy Reading Season

Paint the picture for your audience.

Show your book beside:

• A flickering candle

• A warm drink

• A fireplace or snowy window

The more you help readers imagine themselves curled up with your book, the more likely they are to add it to their cart — or someone else’s stocking.

Indie Reads

When a local businessman’s arm is found in the jowls of a large alligator, Clint Wolf and Susan Wilson investigate to find out how it got there. They quickly discover that the man was murdered, but thanks to a secret force working against them, solving the case will be no easy task.
A new dog comes into Clint’s life, and not only does it bring him hope after having lost his wife and daughter two years earlier, but it proves to be quite the guard dog when a dangerous stranger comes sneaking around.
As Clint and Susan dig deeper into their case, the body count begins to rise, and they soon realize that no one is safe...not even the law. Will evil prevail, or will Clint and Susan get justice for their victims? Read this chilling mystery to find out.

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Clio Ambrosia’s uncanny gift for reading people has made her the secret weapon of New York’s power players. Known as the human lie detector, she’s built her career decoding powerful CEOs and coaching top performers. A former figure skating prodigy turned executive coach, she’s sharp, strategic, and impossible to rattle. But when a cutting-edge tech firm hires her to refine their emotional intelligence strategy, she meets Dillon Whelan, the one client her instincts can’t predict.
Dillon Whelan built his success on logic, precision, and control. But Clio’s insight threatens to upend everything he believes about leadership, and love. Their boardroom sparring crackles with wit and tension, each conversation a duel neither wants to lose.
Clio’s sharp instincts are supposed to help him strengthen his team before a major launch. Instead, her quiet confidence and uncanny ability to see through his defenses have him rethinking every rule he’s built his life on.
As professional lines blur and trust deepens, both must decide if love is worth risking the armor they’ve spent years perfecting. What begins as a razor-sharp war of words turns into a slow-burn romance that sweeps them from a glittering New York gallery and a tense escape room to a moonlit gala and the historic streets of York, England; blurring the lines between ambition and heart.

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Social media is a powerful tool that allows us to connect with tons of readers. However, it’s also a fast-paced social space that, unless you hit your target, gets lost in the mix.

So, how can you take on the fast-paced world of social media as an author?

Step 1: Research

It’s not the fun portion, but it’s necessary. Take the time to research authors in your genre. Make note of:

• Follower Count

• Types of content they post (And how it did)

• What platform are they on

• Any other details you think could help

This step will take time, so do it thoroughly.

Step 2: Create Content

Once you have seen what other authors in your genre are doing, brainstorm some ideas of content you could post and begin drafting some content items. This could be:

• Image posts for Instagram

• Book comps

• Quotes from your book with an aesthetic backdrop

• Creative posts (look at my shelf, about me, where did my book travel)

Creating a slew of different content is key to keeping things fresh, but also having pools of content ideas you can use is useful as well.

Step 3: Plan

Now that you know what types of content you can use, and you have created content to use, it’s time to plan when it will be seen.

For this to work, block a period of time to dedicate to posting this content, considering how often you will post and for how long. (For example: I will post 5 days a week for a month and see how my followers/book sales/ or stats have been affected.)

Then use a planner, calendar, or scheduling app to get all your content sorted and planned.

Step 4: Reflect and Assess

Once your time period is over for your social media experiment, it’s time to look back over the content you posted and see how it did.

You can check:

• Book sales

• Follower counts

• Stats on each post

• Compare likes and comments

Doing this will help you figure out what your audience wants and how you can move forward.

See this helpful video by author Bethany Atazadeh about this:

Watch it here

Anywhere Else is Free today!

If you are new to my newsletter, I wanted to let you know that my book Anywhere Else is free today.

What is it about?

In the aftermath of a brutal breakup and her mother’s alcoholic tendencies, Leena finds solace in the unwavering support of her best friend, Sydney. Together, they carve out a new beginning in a shared apartment, setting the stage for Leena’s journey toward healing and independence.

But when two captivating men enter her life, Leena’s newfound stability is thrown into disarray. Brent, the charming risk-taker, offers passion and excitement, yet harbors secrets that challenge Leena’s trust. Meanwhile, Garrett, her ex-boyfriend’s steadfast friend, provides comfort and familiarity, tempting Leena with his unwavering support.

As Leena navigates the complexities of love and loyalty, she must confront her deepest fears and make a choice that will shape her future. With each path holding unforeseen consequences, Leena embarks on a quest to discover not only whom she desires, but also the person she strives to become.

Get it here

Lititz Public Library Local Author Event

I had a blast speaking with readers this past Saturday and even seeing some returning readers. One who wanted a photo with me! I’m always thankful for these events as they give me time to connect with readers.

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Indie Reads

Jason Walker, a recent addition to Manhattan’s prestigious Dwayne Whitewood High, is just your ordinary, mild-mannered high school junior. His new friends at this school … aren’t so ordinary. They belong to a secret society of ghost hunters called the Moderators. Their duties are to keep the peace and moderate the conflicts between the Living and the Dead, hence their name.

One night, Jason stumbles upon one of the gruesome creatures of the dead and unwittingly awakens these powers in himself. Now Jason must join the Spirit Society and fight a dangerous enemy of the Moderators called Shadow Monsters. Will Jason be able to step up to the challenge, or is he just too fragile for this new world he has stumbled upon?

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A young woman born into a world ravaged by drought. An entity controlling everything from water credits to borders. And a dark secret that could change everything.
In my town, graduating high school doesn’t mean looking at a bright, shining future of endless possibilities. It means accepting the role you’re offered. Even if it’s something you vowed never to be part of.
Now it’s here. The day I’ve been dreading.
The good news? I won’t be stuck in the mill like my parents, toiling away until my features are as drab as their uniforms.
The bad news? I’ve been recruited.

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When you’re preparing for a book launch, it can feel like you need an entire marketing department just to keep up with the buzzwords: Build an ARC team. Recruit a street team. Work with influencers.

And while each of these is important, not every author needs all three. The trick is understanding what each one actually does, how they differ, and which best fits your goals, budget, and energy.

Here’s a breakdown of each to help you decide which one is best suited for you.

The Almighty ARC Team?

An ARC team (Advanced Reader Copy team) is your early-review squad — the people who read your book before release day and help build the first wave of credibility.

ARC readers are valuable as they help boost your book’s visibility online through sharing your book and talking about it in social places. However, ARC readers may need to be vetted and given clear instructions to ensure they follow through with leaving a review and spreading the word.

How it works:
You send free early copies of your book (digital or print) to a group of trusted readers. In return, they agree to post honest reviews on launch day — usually on Amazon, Goodreads, BookBub, or their blogs.

Why it matters:
Those early reviews act as social proof. When potential readers see that others are already enjoying your book, it builds instant trust.

Best for:
Authors who want to generate early buzz and strengthen their online presence before launch day.

Pros:

• Builds credibility fast.

• Kickstarts algorithms on launch platforms.

• Encourages organic word-of-mouth promotion.

Cons:

• Not every reader follows through (life happens).

• Requires gentle reminders.

• Smaller lists may result in slower review accumulation.

Tips:

• Make it easy for readers to follow through — send direct links to your book’s review page and a short note reminding them how much early reviews help authors like you.

• Research your ARC readers to see what their online presence is before they become ARC readers

• Be sure to send ARC readers shoutouts on social media to help them feel valued

Knowing What a Street Team Is?

If your ARC team spreads the word with reviews, your street team spreads energy.

A street team is your group of super-fans — readers who love your work and want to help you promote it. They share teaser graphics, quotes, and release-day excitement. Some even help moderate giveaways, launch parties, or online events.

How it works:
You invite a select group of readers (often your newsletter subscribers or biggest supporters) to join. In exchange for their help, they get early access to news, behind-the-scenes content, or even exclusive swag.

Best for:
Authors with an established audience who want to turn loyal readers into active advocates.

Pros:

• Creates community-driven excitement.

• Increases visibility across social platforms.

• Builds lasting connections with readers.

Cons:

• Requires regular communication and updates.

• Works best with a small, engaged audience to start.

• Needs incentives to keep the momentum going.

Tip:

• Create a private space for your team — a Facebook group, Discord, or dedicated email thread. Provide ready-to-share assets like teaser graphics and captions so helping you feels easy and fun.

What About Influencers?

Then there are influencers — bookish creators who can amplify your visibility to new audiences.

These are BookTokers, Bookstagrammers, YouTubers, or reviewers with established platforms who share your genre and reader base. When they feature your book, it reaches people you might never have connected with otherwise.

How it works:
You reach out to influencers who align with your book’s tone and readership. Some may post in exchange for a free copy; others may require payment depending on their following and format.

Best for:
Authors ready to expand beyond their existing audience or boost brand awareness fast.

Pros:

• Expands reach into new communities.

• Offers high engagement when matched well.

• Adds professional polish to your promotion.

Cons:

• Can cost money or a product.

• Not all influencer audiences convert to sales.

• Results can be unpredictable.

Tip:

• Don’t chase follower counts. Choose influencers who genuinely read and enjoy your genre. Ten smaller, engaged creators who care about your story are worth far more than one large, disconnected account.

• Take the time to research your influencer to ensure they are the right match. This should be done months before you reach out to submit your book for consideration.

• After researching your influencer, interact with their content over a few months to help yourself become an active member of their audience, thereby increasing the chances of a partnership.

So… Which One Do You Actually Need?

Here’s the truth: you don’t need all three at once.

What you need depends on where you are in your author journey and what your immediate goal is.

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Simple formula:

Start small with an ARC team.
Add a street team once you’ve built reader loyalty.
Incorporate influencers when you’re ready to scale.

You don’t need to rush the process — let your marketing evolve as your readership does.

Combining Them Strategically

Some authors find success blending these groups:

• ARC + Street Team: Reviewers also share graphics and help spread launch-day buzz.

• Street Team + Influencers: Your fanbase generates organic excitement while influencers boost reach.

• All Three: Perfect for experienced authors with multiple releases or a larger platform.

Just remember: quality over quantity. A small, enthusiastic team will always outperform a large, unengaged one.

You don’t need a massive launch team to make an impact — you just need the right people for your goals.

Whether it’s five ARC readers, ten loyal fans, or one influencer who loves your story, what matters most is authentic enthusiasm. Because the truth is, readers can tell when someone is shouting about a book they don’t care about — and they can feel it when someone truly believes in your story.

The most powerful marketing doesn’t come from the loudest voice. It comes from the most genuine supporters.

Lititz Public Library: Local Author Event

Tomorrow is the day! And I have been ordering products and prepping for the past month. Even if you don’t want to buy a book from me, there are tons of great authors to meet, and Aaron’s Books Bookstore of Lititz will also be there. Have a book of mine already? I would love to meet you and sign it.

Indie Reads

• Grumpy sunshine dynamic and banter

• Feuding neighbors

• She’s the outgoing town sweetheart who helps everyone

• He’s the grumpy songwriter who moved to the small town to disappear

• He hates Christmas, she’s the head of the decorating committee

Wren King is the one person in town everyone can rely on: need someone to watch your kids? She’s got it, you deserve a night off! Want five dozen cookies for a bake sale? Call up Wren; she loves to bake. As the small town of Holly Ridge’s sweetheart, she’s always available to help, even if it leaves little time for herself along the way.

But this holiday season, it’s ramped up to the next level. As her first year as the head of the decorating committee, a title she inherited after her grandmother passed away, she’s determined to make it the best and brightest year Holly Ridge has ever seen. A bigger festival, decorations on every possible inch of town, and, of course, more lights. Who cares if she’s tired and worn down? She can sleep in January. Christmas only comes but once a year, after all.

Adam Porter moved to Holly Ridge in search of peace and quiet. As a well-known songwriter with writer’s block, he’s hoping a sleepy small town will be the perfect place to find his inspiration and write again. The problem? He hates Christmas. This year, he’s hoping to hide away in the small town, avoid Christmas completely, and write the next big hit by the New Year.

Unfortunately, when he tells his new next-door neighbor, Wren, that he has no plans to decorate his home and thus threatens to break a sixty-year tradition in the town, a battle of decor ensues. As the season progresses and Wren becomes increasingly determined, Adam remains steadfast in his conviction that nothing will make him enjoy the holidays.

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When a New York City commuter line erupts into chaos during a morning rush, the nation demands answers.
The suspect found at the scene, Miles Carter, a soft-spoken data analyst with no criminal record, remembers nothing but fragments of numbers and phrases looping in his mind.
Federal Investigator Bethany Baltrop is called to lead the case. What begins as a standard domestic-terror probe unravels into something far stranger: Miles is not a mastermind, but a manufactured product of an invisible behavioral-engineering network known as Project Mind Transition.
Through forensic data trails, encrypted chat logs, and the help of a guilt-ridden neuroscientist, Bethany uncovers a system capable of turning ordinary citizens into unwitting weapons, by rewriting the emotional algorithms that drive belief.
As she closes in, the same digital rhythm that controlled Miles begins to infiltrate her own thoughts.
Haunted by loss, faith, and the weight of truth, Bethany must confront the machine behind modern obedience and decide whether exposing it will save humanity’s free will or end her own.

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Senior year is off to a rough start for Augusta “Gus” Bowles; her boyfriend James “Fish” Fisher just left for college, and no amount of reassurance can fix the ache he left behind. At least next year, they’ll reunite at Colgate when she locks in her spot on their Division 1 soccer team.
With the help of her loving family and best friends, Gus drags herself out of the blanket burrito phase just in time to start enjoying her last year of high school. Tired of watching her friends drool over the mysterious new guy, Reed Donovan, Gus decides to do what no one else will: introduce herself. To her surprise, Reed isn’t just a quiet loner. He’s funny, intriguing, and in a long-distance relationship of his own.
Finally, someone who gets it.
As Reed and Gus grow closer, their friends, and especially Fish, begin to doubt the platonic nature of their relationship, no matter how much Gus denies that it’s anything more.
As senior year hurtles forward, Gus finds herself torn between the boy she thought was her forever, the boy who understands her better than anyone else, and the version of herself she’s still figuring out.

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