Posted on by hrchow12

What I Wish I Knew Before I Published My First Book

So right after I self-published my first book, I published my lessons learned here, but now that my eighth book (Into the Fire) is coming from Whimsical Publishing in April, I thought I’d reflect again on what advice I’d go back and give to myself if I could on a couple topics.

Self-Publishing Vs. Querying

Ah, yes the question I still get asked the most. I queried agents with Odriel’s Heirs for over a year, and while I was disappointed I wasn’t able to sign with an agent then, I’m still glad I self-published. Through self-publishing, I found the writing community, learned so much about the craft, and found writing friends who helped me grow. Also, I’m not sure I would’ve continued writing without the invaluable feedback and encouragement from readers. Lastly, I was able to get closure for this story and move on to the next one to keep growing as a writer.

A part of me does wish I had investigated small presses more, who perhaps could’ve guided me in terms of marketing, but at the time, I don’t think I even knew enough how to tell a good press from a poor one.

Overall, this choice worked out for the best. These days, I’m working with an amazing Small Press (Whimsical Publishing) and now have an agent (the incredible Kristen Terrette) but I don’t think I would’ve ever gotten this far without my experiences in self-publishing first. Of course, every publishing journey is different, so I hope you follow the one that feels right for your goals!

Editor, Proofreading, & Formatter

Editing and proofreading are expenses I agonized over as a new writer (my imposter-syndrome was through the roof), but if could go back, I would tell myself to invest in my book like any publisher would. (Within your budget, of course.)

The developmental editor I hired was invaluable, and due to their amazing feedback, I made extensive revisions. After that, I wished I’d invested in a copy-editor and a proofreader. While I love how Odriel’s Heirs turned out, I was weeding out typos for some time after release, and for my first book, I would’ve preferred to put my best foot forward from the outset.

I’d still skip hiring the formatter though. In formatting it myself, I like having the flexibility of going back and fixing typos in a matter of minutes. If I was deadset on complicated formatting though, I think I’d invest in formatting software instead of hiring out.

Cover Art

Oof. This is the one where I needed most guidance on. A good cover can make or break a book, and once again as I was unwilling to invest as I should have. Also, at the time, I didn’t think I would publish more than one book, but if I knew I was going to write the series, I should’ve bought all five covers together so I could have a matching set. (And get a discount!) I should’ve done WAY more research into current cover trends in my genre as well investigated a variety of cover artists. (I still find cover artist research difficult, but I recommend checking out cover contests, and looking into the artists of the winners.)

But maybe I’ll still get a chance to put this lesson learned to the test when I make an Odriel’s Heirs omnibus one day. (I just have to find the perfect cover artist first!)

Going Wide vs. Amazon Exclusive

There are some who’ve been wildly successful in KDP, but I’m not one of them. I did find the Amazon-exclusive benefit of doing regular free ebook promotions critical to increasing my exposure. However if I’d gotten a competitive cover from the start and gone wide, it would’ve allowed me to start doing BookBub promo deals sooner, which has almost doubled my downloads in the last year. (After I discovered that you can ask Amazon to price-match to free.) If you don’t think you’d be able to get the BookBub promo deals though (either due to a lack of a competetive cover or reviews), I’d definitely stay Amazon-exclusive.

Audiobooks

Past self, I know you want to do this, but don’t. While ACX (Amazon’s audiobook publishing process) makes it affordable do to royalty sharing, their inflexible and expensive prices make them incredibly hard to market. Unless your book is already a best-seller, you’re going to narrate it yourself, or you’re going to shell out big bucks for a narrator with their own following, I don’t think it’s worth it. Which is SO sad considering I’m almost exclusively an audiobook listener these days. 😭

Marketing

Ah yes, the bane of my existence. I wish I had known that this process starts AS SOON AS YOU START WRITING. If you can build an engaging, bookish following on any of the popular social media sites, then you already have a huge advantage. (Still working on this one, myself.) A website is also a must, even if it’s just a professional “about you” with your links. (For example, I don’t put a whole lot of time into promoting mine, but it’s had 3000+ visitors and 5000+ views this year, so it’s still worth it.)

I tried a few recommended trade reviews and a variety of ads on different sites, but didn’t find any of them to be worth the buck.

And although it took me some time, I definitely found commissioning bookish art (ideally in the months leading up to release to build hype – Whimsical has a great database of artists here), entering awards (see ALLI’s list here), sending out ARCs in advance through BookSirens and a NetGalley Co-op, and using book promotion services (see Reedsy’s list here) to be the most effective and fulfilling methods of marketing.

Also, putting together a street team has been a super fun way to get ready for release and build hype by recruiting your other bookish friends and followers to help post about your book leading up to release. I’m still learning the best ways to utilize a street team, but definitely recommend, especially if you have a great social media following.

Conclusion

Wellp, those are the big rocks that come to mind. Hopefully this is helpful for anyone making choices about their own book baby, but if you have any questions I missed, please feel free to ask away and good luck with your publishing journey!

Posted on by hrchow12

NYC Midnight Challenge – 100 words – Final Round – What the Children Couldn’t Save

What the Children Couldn’t Save

August 2023 (Final Round)
Genre: Open
Action: Seeing a reflection
Word: Best
Time Constraint: 24 hours
Length: 100 words

Mama tugs Ellie toward the ship that will take them sailing through the stars, saving them from acrid air and sun-cracked soil.

But Ellie stops to pluck a flat stone from the path, then the fluffy weed beside it, sending a beetle scurrying. She skips away, admiring her colorful respirator in an iridescent puddle before splashing through it.

A century later, aboard Ark C-24, Ellie clutches her treasures, telling children of wishing flowers springing from walkways, stones dancing across glassy lakes, ladybirds bestowing luck, and water falling in gems to pool in rainbows underfoot.

Then together, they dream of home.

This one didn’t place, but the feedback is below!

WHAT THE JUDGES LIKED ABOUT YOUR STORY

{1943}  This was a beautiful story, full of gorgeous images. Your worldbuilding was very strong. The contrast between the description of the remnants of nature – the fluffy weed and the beetle – and the pollution – the iridescent puddle – was ingenious. I loved the fact that the respirator appeared to be colorful and thrilling to a small child due to pollution. The idea of Ellie remembering “glassy lakes, ladybirds bestowing luck, and water falling in gems to pool in rainbows underfoot” a century later was very poignant. This was a moving, thought-provoking story. Well done.

{2063}  A short story spanning 2 centuries.  Presumably the worst case scenario of global warming has destroyed the earth.  Your visual description of the innocent little girl who skips and picks up stones, paints a picture we know well, but the the stark contrast of the respirator in the puddle brings the reality of the situation home. The second act shows Ellie, now  a mother, telling stories of her past on earth, and they all imagine a life that used to be. A tragic story, but with a glimmer of hope in the resolution, even if it is through dreaming. 

{2125}  This story of Ellie and the rest of humanity escaping environmental catastrophe is compact and strong. The details are quite realistic and the image of a child wearing a respirator to breathe on Earth is shocking but also well done. I love the details of the items she brings on the ship. The flash forward in time works well.

{1788}  Though there were only a few descriptions, the author fashioned an excellent dystopian environment. Ellie finding beauty in such a sobering setting was incredibly touching, and the fact that she held onto the objects for a century impressed the reader immensely. The children’s response to Ellie’s prized items was lovely to witness. While no one could save the Earth, it was encouraging how they embraced the remnants and held onto the history.

{1963}  Generation ship stories crop up a surprising amount, but it’s heartening to see one that can find some hope in the concept of generations, rather than all being about the admonishment of humanity. It’s also nice to see how something that seems so insignificant as a stone can gain significance over the years, which feels true to life. Refreshing work! 

WHAT THE JUDGES FEEL NEEDS WORK

{1943}  I loved the images of the fluffy weed, the beetle, ladybirds etc. I wonder if the next step might be to see where you could make some more adventurous word choices to evoke an even more vivid picture. I would consider where you might surprise us with some word choices that evoke a sensory image, maybe creating an even stronger sense of a texture, color or scent.

{2063}  Does the journey through space keep the human’s young?  As Ellie is still alive a century later. Consider how you can create more conflict in act two to produce some rising tension.  Even though the conflict might be that they have to evacuate the earth, there doesn’t seem to be any barrier here.  Try not to make it too easy for the protagonist.  Perhaps they almost don’t reach space? Or the spaceship almost breaks up on leaving the atmosphere.  Something that makes the reader believe that Ellie won’t make it.

{2125}  I might like to know how old Ellis is during the opening scene. Is she four? Eight? Twelve? That information might make us interpret the story differently. If she is under five, does she have memories of her home planet? Or are the objects all she has left? Is she sharing real memories with the children or are these memories that have been imposed on her by others? This is a strong and sharp story, but I might like a stronger sense of who Ellie was then so we can understand who she is now.

{1788}  One of the plot elements would be more believable with further attention. Ellie living for over a century was interesting, but she did grow up in an unhealthy location, so the reason for her long life should be more clear to the audience. Why not tell the reader one phrase about the ship? For instance, maybe it’s a ship that protects its inhabitants from disease/germs. That would explain her amazing health and the author could say this briefly. The plot element can definitely work, but an explanation would make it easier to accept. “What the Children Couldn’t Save” is a beautifully written and resonant sci-fi piece. Once the author touches on one aspect of the plot more, it will be a laudable microfiction work.

{1963}  The opening word “Mama” wrong-foots the reader by hinting at a first person story which remains instead in 3rd person throughout. I assume this is more about saving words than a stylistic preference, but I’d try to fix this if at all possible, as the first words are the most important for orienting the reader.

You can find the rest of my NYC Midnight Challenge entries and feedback here.

Posted on by hrchow12

Audiobook Review – Night Will Find You

Got the NetGalley audiobook widget for this one in my email and decided I was totally in the mood for a thriller. Totally turned out to be an excellent choice, because I really enjoyed this one. Loved the evocative writing, the twisting of several different mysteries, and the seamless blending of science and paranormal. I really enjoyed Vivi Buchet’s character and complexities as well as her back and forth with Jesse Sharp in a very subtly changing relationship (even though I thought the shift at the end was a little abrupt or sudden.) The only thing that I didn’t like was Vivi’s weird relationship with Mike and her sister. I didn’t feel like it added a whole lot to the story and it just seemed uncomfortable and odd. Luckily, it was one minor element, with so much good to balance it out. I was totally drawn in to the whole story, and found the ending extremely satisfying. Would totally read the sequel if there ever was one. Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for the free copy! (Which reminds me, the narration was excellent. Definitely one of my favorite narrators.)

⭐⭐⭐⭐¾

I think I’m ready for another thriller!

Thanks for reading!

Posted on by hrchow12

Favorite Reads of 2023!

So far in 2023, I read (and by read, I mean, mostly listened to, as I’m primarily an audiobook listener) 66 books! Instead of categories or a top 10, for this year’s favorite lists, I scrolled through my Goodreads reviews and tried to pick out the reads that were a cut above the rest of me.

For the record, I usually love fast-paced books with likable characters and satisfying endings. Throw a slowburn romance in there, and you’ve got me completely hooked. That said, sometimes the books I like the most are those I had no idea I was looking for. This year, I read three fantasies, three romances, and one wildcard that rose above the rest.

Without further ado (and in no particular order):

Favorite Middle Grade read

Okay, this one was a *complete* surprise. I’m not a huge middle grade reader, but I’m a sucker for a magical school. The writing in this one was so completely fabulous, and while the comparison to Harry Potter is unavoidable, I loved the family dynamics, the rich magic system, and the bigger themes here. Honestly, when I started reading this, I was like, why aren’t more people talking about this book?! Highly recommend, and I will TOTALLY be reading the sequel. Full Review here!

Favorite Young Adult Read

Defy the Night (book one of this series) was one of my favorite reads of 2022, and this sequel did not disappoint! More fast-paced action and fun romance. Though I didn’t necessarily enjoy the third POV added here, I really liked the plot development and will totally be reading book 3. Full Review here!

Favorite Fantasy

Normally, I find that incredibly hyped books rarely live up to expectations, but this one totally did. The writing, the characters, the unique setting… it was almost like You’ve Got Mail, in a WWII setting, with magic. I loved just about everything about it. (Except that cliff-hanger ending!) I’ve recommended it to pretty much everyone I know and currently have the sequel on hold at the library. Full review here.

Also worth the hype

Another book that totally lived up to the hype. After loving Beach Read, this one cemented me as a Emily Henry fan. Perfectly balanced between thoughtful and fun, with characters that just sizzle with chemistry. Even though this was one of my earlier reads in this year, it has totally stuck with me. And now I’m on hold for Henry’s next book, Happy Place as well! Full review here.

Favorite Romantic Comedy

Felicity Chen might be one of my favorite rom-com heroines. Her voice is so punchy and fun, the romance was perfectly executed, and the premise of a reality show in the world of titanium and gold matching technology was *chef’s kiss.* I would LOVE to have more books in this world, and a movie, pleassseee!! Full review here.

Favorite Historical Fiction

This was one I didn’t know I was looking for. A darker, more literary historical fiction outside of my normal reading wheelhouse, I fully enjoyed this masterpiece. It was actually only after reading this that I realized I’ve really loved most of Lehane’s work. This was no exception. Despite the grittiness of the tale and the instensely flawed characters, something about that ending was so satisfying. Highly recommend, and fully expect a movie. Full review here.

Favorite Romance

Another fantastic contemporary romance that totally sold me as a Jimenez Fan. (I’ve now read all the books she’s published so far and can’t wait to read her next release.) Her banter is always delightful, and her characters so loveable even as this one explores a deeper blend of themes. Reading a Jimenez book feels like easing into a hot bath, and I can’t wait to read more of her work! Full review here.

It was a such a great reading year! I’m still catching my blog up on my Goodreads reviews. But if I missed some of your favorites from this year, definitely drop them in the comments and I’ll check them out on Goodreads! Please remember to support your favorite authors with ratings and reviews to spread the word about their amazing books, and as always, thanks for reading! 😊

May your 2024 be filled with new and amazing books!

Posted on by hrchow12

Audiobook Review – Divine Rivals

This is going to be a short review, because I friggin’ loved this book. Drawn in from the first page, I loved the magic of this fantasy world with a WWII feel. Loved the You Got Mail interaction between the two main characters. Loved the two leads themselves – complex and deep (though they felt a little older than they were.) Loved the writing. Loved the premise. Loved the narration. Honestly, the only thing I didn’t love was that cliffhanger ending. It felt weird to me for some reason. But will 1000% be reading book 2, and have already recommended this one to basically everyone I know.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

SOOOOO good! Can’t wait for book 2!

Thanks for reading!

Posted on by hrchow12

Audiobook Review – Fourth Wing

So, someone told me this book was weirdly addicting and they were NOT wrong. It was totally invading my brain space at all times, so do yourself a favor and make sure you clear your schedule so you can read it (as close to) straight through as humanly possible.

A high fantasy with a great, modern voice and solid military vibe. Cool magic. Interesting world. Likable characters. Touch-her-and-die. High stakes. Danger everywhere. Enemies-to-lovers (with plenty of lusty tension and some spice if you’re into that). Fast-paced.

And the DRAGONS. This is how dragons should be. Scary, dangerous, brutal, intelligent, loyal. Just YASSS.

Yeah I’ll be honest, I’m always leery to get into super hyped books, and this one didn’t really grab me from the start. But even though it’s long, this book just fllooooowwwws, and as soon as the dragons really entered the picture a quarter of the way through I was IN IT.

At times, I did get a little tired of the lusty sexual-tension dance between the MCs, but that ending was totally just *chef’s kiss.*

Does it live up to the hype? I honestly don’t know if that’s possible, but this was a solid 5 stars for me. I’ll definitely be reading the sequel and going to the movies. (Please, Hollywood, do them justice.)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Yes awesome, scary dragons! I’m ready for the movie!

Thanks for reading!

Posted on by hrchow12

Audiobook Review – Any Way the Wind Blows (Simon Snow #3)

So I loved Simon Snow 1 & 2, and while I still enjoyed this one, it was probably my least favorite of the series. Of course, I love Simon and Baz and Penelope, but the story seemed to be a little wandering. And Agatha’s POV really didn’t come together for me this time. It felt disconnected from the others, and kind of incomplete. I’m not sure if there will be a book 4, but on the whole, I feel like Agatha has always been kind of an afterthought, and even more so in this book. Would still totally recommend this to fans of book 1 & 2, and would definitely read a book 4 if there ever is one!

⭐⭐⭐⭐¼

Cheers to more Simon Snow!

Thanks for reading!

Posted on by hrchow12

Audiobook Review – Wayward Son (Simon Snow #2)

I honestly don’t know why it took me so long to read this book. I loved Fangirl, I really liked Simon Snow #1, and I’ve read all of Rainbow Rowell’s novels, soooo yeah, I am a fan, and I totally should’ve read this sooner.

There is little to say here other than I excessively enjoyed this. Simon Snow (ex-chosen one who is going through some stuff), his broody (but sweet) vampire boyfriend, Baz, and his BFF, Penny, go on a magical American roadtrip, and it is chaotically fun. Rowell’s fast-paced style and amazing banter is totally brought to life by the narrator, and I picked up book #3 immediately. Basically, if you liked the first book, or you’re a RR fan, you’ll be down for this.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Big thumbs up for this one – totally made me smile.

Thanks for reading!

Posted on by hrchow12

Audiobook Review – The Marvellers

I really had no idea what to expect when I picked this up, but I really enjoyed this one! The audiobook was the perfect listen for my roadtrip, and I was totally immersed in this word. The voice was perfect, the audiobook was wonderfully narrated, and I loved the rich magic. The Harry Potter parallels were a little too strong to ignore (which was kind of distracting), but this book felt so much bigger. I feel like it was like: let’s make it an international school, where everyone brings their own unique magic, and let’s also have some bigger world themes of prejudice and acceptance. And of course, the New-Orleans-flavored conjuring magic was just chef’s kiss. Snagged a copy for my middle-grade nieces and will totally be reading book 2.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Loved it! Will now be recommending to everyone and bring on book 2!

Thanks for reading!

Posted on by hrchow12

Audiobook Review – In the Lives of Puppets

Okay THIS book.

This world felt like the 2001 movie A.I. (with Haley Joel Osment) crossed with Ghibli vibes. Initially I was a little thrown off because this audiobook narrator isn’t my favorite, and the inciting incident was unfortunately caused by a parent deciding to keep a secret from their adult child in a way I felt was just to serve the plot. (And this is the second time I’ve seen that particular trope this month, so I was already kind of sensitive to it.)

However! Putting that aside, this author’s ability to create charming characters is really amazing. They totally pop off the page, and I loved all of them. Huge found family vibes and really cute banter. This colorful world really played out for me like a Ghibli film in my head, and though the voice here is super similar to The House in the Cerulean Sea, this one is a lot darker and heavier. I liked the philosophical questions posed, but on the whole I found it a little long, and the ending was just a little too bitter on the bittersweet spectrum for me.

So yeah Ghibli x A.I. If that sounds interesting, or you liked The House in the Cerulean Sea, I would definitely give this one a try!

⭐⭐⭐⭐

A reminder from Elsa to watch out for the bittersweet ending.

Thanks for reading!