Brightly Burning Paperback Cover Reveal!
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Brightly Burning has a new cover for paperback release, which I am thrilled to reveal here! Now my debut novel will have a look that closely matches that of my second release, THE STARS WE STEAL, out February 4, 2020. Sadly, you must wait until my next hardcover release to get your hands on this gorgeous paperback.
The cover design was done by the incredible Billelis, who is also responsible for such covers as King of Scars, Everless, and Pride. I am geeking out!
I was fortunate to have my lovely publisher, HMH, come to me to brainstorm the new cover direction. I suggested using an old-fashioned key as a symbol for secrets, though there are no keys at all in Brightly Burning--all the locks are bio-locks or push button! But it felt like a nice homage to Jane Eyre and Gothics. They took it to the next level by shattering the key, and thankfully kept one of the things I adore about my hardcover--the purple! I think it's mysterious and romantic, but also signals the high drama and romance in the book.
I hope when it releases February 4, 2020, that you'll pick it up!
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I'm co-hosting the Novel Tea Show podcast & live chat
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I am BACK in the podcasting game! I'm now co-hosting a YouTube live show about writing and publishing with my fellow authortube/booktubers Kat O'Keeffe and Lainey Kress under the moniker Novel Tea Show, and we've just launched a bi-weekly podcast version. Join us on YouTube for regular discussions about a craft and the industry. Thus far, we've covered NaNoWriMo, Being a writer on YouTube, Growth as Writers, Revision, and Agents and Querying. Starting with our April 14 live show, find us on Novel Tea Show on YouTube, where we also upload our podcast audio!
BUT you can also find our podcast on all major platforms--Apple iTunes and Google Play, as well as on our website.
Follow us on Twitter and use the #NovelTeaShow hashtag to ask questions.
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Author burn out, and recognizing what you can handle
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Some days, publishing feels like a runaway freight train chugging too fast down the tracks. You're stuck on the train, feeling queasy as it careens around a bend. It's overwhelming. But YOU committed to being on this train--keep up!
Today, I want to talk a bit about author burn out and essentially how it's okay to not do All The Things. How your relationship with writing, promo, publishing friendships, social media can and will evolve and change as you navigate the choppy waters of publishing. And while all the things one has to manage, the potential to be overwhelmed, does increase dramatically post book deal, every author trying to "make it" can feel this at any stage. If you're feeling over your head, it's okay to slow down.
Building A Brand--and Keeping Up with the Jones'
A huge contributing factor to the exhaustion I've seen in myself and many friends is the pressure we place on ourselves to "build our brand" in publishing. I played the game for many many years--and I'm hardly "giving up" now--I'm proud of all the work I've done, and the meager space I have carved out for myself. Aspects of brand building can be fun! Figuring out your writing niche, what readers love about your work, using key social media platforms to show aspects of yourself. I advise every writer to pick 1-2 social media platforms that they genuinely enjoy, and then... try to genuinely enjoy them!
We no longer live in a time where an author can be a recluse and have no public facing persona. Readers expect it--especially in YA. Increasingly, the author is just as important as the book, which is why we have to work so hard to be present online and IRL, representing ourselves and our work. Diligent work can really pay off, but just as easily, it can become exhausting, to always have to be on, and be someone online. It's easy to suffer from the comparison game, too--to try to Keep Up With the Jones'. It seems so easy for other people, being shiny on social media! Their platform blowing up, and it seeming to lead to success with their books.
One of the most important things I've realized over the years is that social media is never a complete picture. It's not worth twisting ourselves into pretzels over what someone else is able to do, or achieve, because first of all there's likely more under the surface. But also, everyone's success is their own--and doesn't take away from yours. And, most importantly: not everyone needs to be a social media darling.
Releasing myself from the pressure of being fabulous and winning online all the time has been enormously helpful. It's enabled me to step back from social media whenever I need to and just focus on the writing. In fact, even the most wonderful authors on social media (whose talent at tweeting we can't help but admire!) take hiatuses to get the work done. Never get so tangled up in social media that you forget the point is to write books! It's also okay to fall out of love with one platform, and throw yourself into another one--your social media presence and brand can evolve!
Being Dazzled by the Buzz Machine
Speaking of keeping up with the Jones'! One of the most frustrating aspects of being in publishing is being gaslit by publishing. ie: falling for marketing and PR, and buying 100% into the book buzz machine. Publishing's job is to create hype for books they think will sell. This harkens back to "not everything you see is real." Or, really, you shouldn't take too much at face value. We're in a buzz-driven atmosphere, particularly for debut books, and something I underestimated about being published is getting swept up in the machine.
Just like the point about how social media doesn't paint a complete picture: neither does marketing! It's literally the job of marketing to convince you a book is the greatest thing since sliced bread and everyone loves it. It's far easier said than done to divorce yourself from the comparison game, and because I have trouble doing it, I'm not going to be the person to wag a finger in your face and tell you not to do it. But I find it helpful to stay aware of what marketing is, how buzz functions, and not to beat myself up too much. That's the best advice I can offer, whatever stage you are at: you can only do your best when it comes to writing a good book, getting it out there, being on social media, finding readers, etc. No one can control how things shake out in publishing, least of all the publishers! Some marketing and buzz sticks, some doesn't. Great books sometimes don't find readers. Meh books sometimes blow up.
It's important to remember that buzz on Twitter doesn't always translate to book sales, or finding a readership. You don't have to be a buzzy darling to find your footing. But also, it is true that once your debut is done, publishing tends to move onto the next hot debut. I imagine this cycle never ends! Once any book comes out, it's very normal for the buzz and marketing machine to bump along to the next anticipated book. It's a natural part of being an author, being a part of the marketing cycles, and learning to not let them dictate your sense of self worth, or guide all your feelings. Just like with social media, often the best solution is to turn away from it all and get back to writing!
It's Okay If You're Not BFFs with Everyone
This one has been really difficult for me to come to terms with and manage, and I think it's something most authors struggle with. We naturally seek out connections with those in our industry, but many of us are socially awkward, have anxiety, or are introverts (or all three!), among other things. We're expected to network and relationship build, but not social climb, walking a tightrope between professional connections and proper friendships.
And I'm here to tell you it's okay if you're not super close amazing friends with every author you meet! Really, is that even possible? But I think it's a pressure that we place on ourselves, especially as we attend events and meet both our heroes and our peers (and your heroes are technically your peers now? What?!). We can find ourselves both let down and frustrated with ourselves if we didn't feel an instant spark, or have a fabulously zingy conversation that lead to instant BFF-ness. Or, the disappointment that comes from a great social connection followed by... no Twitter follow back?! (This is normal, FYI, and not a personal slight--everyone manages their social media differently!)
Plus, sometimes you beyond "don't click" with a person. Like, you grind against each other. That's okay too: just be friendly and professional and move on. Some personalities naturally clash, but we're all grownups and can get along.
My best advice is to find your core group of publishing friends and stick to them through thick and thin. Don't get too big a head if you experience success and ditch that core. Yes, expand and make new friends, but with all the ups and downs of publishing, you'd be surprised who ends up being there for you and who doesn't. Hold those actual BFFs super close to you, and then just relish the perfectly pleasant and lovely publishing conversations and social moments you'll have with everyone else along the way. Be brave at events in terms of introducing yourself and talking to fellow authors. Have a good time. Just don't feel the pressure to get super close to everyone you meet.
Writing a Good Book Matters
What all of this keeps coming back to is the writing. For me, burn out comes from all the other stuff--social pressure, social media, the buzz machine, the comparison game, etc.--but ultimately if you want to make a real go of publishing, the point is to write books. When all the other stuff is starting to wear you out, don't feel bad or apologize for letting it all go and focusing on writing your next book. We can't all be perfect all of the time, balancing social media and friendships and never ever letting comparison or jealousy get to us! No one is going to get mad at you if you step back and write books.
Trust me, that media darling who you think has it all feels the same pressures you do, and needs the same breaks. This is one case where playing the comparison game can help you! Pay attention to who takes social media hiatuses, who stands back at the fancy author events because they need their own space, who may have buzz now but didn't always--they're some of your writing heroes, and they're getting through this weird industry and so can you.
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Here are some of the highlights from my YouTube channel since the last newsletter:
If you have any topic requests, drop them in a comment on any video, or tweet me!
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Need to find specialized knowledge for your book, but don't want to go so far as to interview someone? Or just not there yet?
Google whatever you're looking for + "Reddit AMA"! An "AMA" is an Ask Me Anything session, which Reddit is famous for hosting. You can find AMAs on all sorts of topics, hosted by a wide variety of people. Name a profession or hobby or niche interest, and odds are you can find a Reddit AMA on it. This is one of my favorite tools when I'm doing early character and book research.
AMA's can be hosted on any subreddit, but there is also a dedicated space for them, if you want to subscribe and keep up on them. You never know what interesting things you'll see that you can work into a book!
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I have been on a mad thriller binge, and you can hear about ALL the books I read in my YouTube wrap-up, but Happily & Madly was one of the YA standouts. It's not out until May 21, but I want this on people's TBRs!
If you like the trope of "lower class protagonist spends summer among the uber rich of the Eastern shore" plus a dash of forbidden romance and well-kept secrets, you might enjoy the book as much as I did. It's a perfect summer read, with a moody but not flowery writing style and well-developed characters I experienced a deep empathy bond with. It's a lower key thriller--more like a suspense romance--and that's exactly what I liked about it. Really makes me crave a resurgence of "ridiculous rich people on vacation doing fucked up things" sub-genre of YA :D
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