One month until launch day!

In exactly one month, I will be a genuine published author. While I have self-published my two children's books, putting a novel out into the universe is a whole other beast. I started this process more than three years ago with a random Word document titled "Book Brainstorm." In it, I dumped everything I knew I wanted in this book, and eventually it grew into a loose outline for The Year Before Hope.

I spent 1 year outlining, 1 year writing my first draft, and another year polishing it. Since January, I have been working on self-publishing and promoting it. This has included a whirlwind experience of me delving into social media.

When I first started posting in Facebook groups, I felt like a minnow in a shark tank. I was inundated with so many unsolicited messages from strangers saying they could help with my cover design and interior layout, or they could help promote it. I felt discouraged. No one seemed interested in actually reading my book.

Enter my TikTok era. It felt weird and cringey at first to open an account and start making content. But I remember one of my first videos that actually hit. It was just me in my dim-lit living room, mouthing the words to a famous Jennifer Lawrence line "Hello....what do I do?" I referenced being new to Booktok and unsure how to promote my novel.

Surprisingly, I wasn't alone. So many others admitted that they, too, didn't have a clue what they were doing. That's when I found my community, among other indie authors.

I have learned so much from the creators I've met, from what expectations to have during launch to how to set up an ARC reader group. I'm so incredibly grateful for the encouragement and support from other writers and those who have signed up to read my book. The few reviews I've gotten already have blown me away. I'm just so humbled by the overall response to this book. I came in with such hesitation and uncertainty about how this story would be received. It's truly been an incredible journey. And I hope that this book gives back as much love as it's been given. In fact, my entire intent is for this book to put more good into the world. Not only by being a source of comfort and hope to those who are suffering alone. But also in a monetary way. Stay tuned for a big announcement in the coming weeks. And be sure to check out The Year Before Hope on Amazon on Mother's Day.