From Zero to Six Books: My Publishing Journey
In an industry that often feels like an uphill climb, I want to share a story of perseverance, resilience, and the unexpected paths that lead to success. If you're an aspiring writer—or even a seasoned one—I hope this inspires you not to give up, no matter how tough the road gets.
Five years ago, I signed with an agent, brimming with dreams of seeing my books on shelves. But here’s the reality: during those five years, I walked away with zero book deals. Yes, you read that right—zero. Four of my manuscripts went out on submission, including a duology I was told would “die on sub.” The rejection letters poured in, each one a sting of critique about what wasn’t working, what wasn’t liked, or why I didn’t make the cut. More than 150 publishers—ranging from the Big 5 to well-known indie publishers and even small presses—rejected my books.
After years of trying, I made the tough decision to part ways with my agent. Just three months later—three months!—I landed a book deal with a small press on my own. The very duology that was supposed to “die on sub”? My new publisher believed in it so much they extended it into a three-book series.
Fast forward to today: that three-book contract has just been extended to a six-book deal. Yes, six books. And the reason? My publisher reached out to let me know that based on my sales and page reads on Kindle Unlimited, I’m doing really well as a first-time “baby author.” In an industry where we rarely hear positive feedback—where critique, rejections, and endless “no’s” seem to echo louder than anything else—it was incredible to hear my publisher gush about how proud they are of me.
Let me be clear: this isn’t a Big 5 publisher. It’s a small press. But it’s a launching pad. It’s a place that believed in me, my stories, and my potential when the traditional path didn’t pan out as planned.
Here’s what I’ve learned and what I want to pass on to every writer out there:
✅ Keep an open mind. If querying isn’t yielding what you expect, don’t close the door on other publishing paths. Landing an agent doesn’t guarantee a book deal, but that doesn’t mean your stories aren’t worth telling.
✅ Even with an agent, you can be on sub for months and even years. Yes, some writers get huge book deals seemingly overnight. But that isn't common. It's more common to be on sub for a while. Many authors even have to shelve books that have "died on sub."
✅ Don’t dismiss small presses. These publishers are often passionate, hands-on, and invested in nurturing new voices. My small press gave my books a chance, and I couldn’t be more grateful.
✅ Rejection isn’t the end. Every “no” is a step closer to a “yes.” Those books I was told would “die on sub” are now thriving.
✅ Celebrate the wins. Even the small ones. Because in an industry like ours, every win is worth cherishing.
So, to everyone chasing the dream: keep going. The path might not look the way you imagined, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth walking.
The Serpent Series continues to grow, and I’m thrilled to share some updates:
Book 1: The Serpent’s Bridge will be just $1.99 from 12/20–12/27 as part of a BargainBooksy promo.
Book 2: The Serpent Woman is currently available for pre-order! For the month of November, you can get it for 25% off through Tertulia with code WOMAN or snag it for 50% off when you become a Tertulia member.
Book 3: Twilight of the Serpent is almost complete! I’m at 73k words and should finish drafting soon. The release is planned for April 2025.
Books 4, 5, and 6 are forthcoming, and I can’t wait to share more details about them as the series unfolds.
To my readers, thank you for believing in me, supporting my stories, and coming along for the ride. I’m beyond grateful to announce that my three-book contract has been extended to a six-book deal with my publisher. Here’s to more thrilling adventures ahead!
⭐️ Don’t give up. You never know when your breakthrough is just around the corner.⭐️
Five years ago, I signed with an agent, brimming with dreams of seeing my books on shelves. But here’s the reality: during those five years, I walked away with zero book deals. Yes, you read that right—zero. Four of my manuscripts went out on submission, including a duology I was told would “die on sub.” The rejection letters poured in, each one a sting of critique about what wasn’t working, what wasn’t liked, or why I didn’t make the cut. More than 150 publishers—ranging from the Big 5 to well-known indie publishers and even small presses—rejected my books.
After years of trying, I made the tough decision to part ways with my agent. Just three months later—three months!—I landed a book deal with a small press on my own. The very duology that was supposed to “die on sub”? My new publisher believed in it so much they extended it into a three-book series.
Fast forward to today: that three-book contract has just been extended to a six-book deal. Yes, six books. And the reason? My publisher reached out to let me know that based on my sales and page reads on Kindle Unlimited, I’m doing really well as a first-time “baby author.” In an industry where we rarely hear positive feedback—where critique, rejections, and endless “no’s” seem to echo louder than anything else—it was incredible to hear my publisher gush about how proud they are of me.
Let me be clear: this isn’t a Big 5 publisher. It’s a small press. But it’s a launching pad. It’s a place that believed in me, my stories, and my potential when the traditional path didn’t pan out as planned.
Here’s what I’ve learned and what I want to pass on to every writer out there:
✅ Keep an open mind. If querying isn’t yielding what you expect, don’t close the door on other publishing paths. Landing an agent doesn’t guarantee a book deal, but that doesn’t mean your stories aren’t worth telling.
✅ Even with an agent, you can be on sub for months and even years. Yes, some writers get huge book deals seemingly overnight. But that isn't common. It's more common to be on sub for a while. Many authors even have to shelve books that have "died on sub."
✅ Don’t dismiss small presses. These publishers are often passionate, hands-on, and invested in nurturing new voices. My small press gave my books a chance, and I couldn’t be more grateful.
✅ Rejection isn’t the end. Every “no” is a step closer to a “yes.” Those books I was told would “die on sub” are now thriving.
✅ Celebrate the wins. Even the small ones. Because in an industry like ours, every win is worth cherishing.
So, to everyone chasing the dream: keep going. The path might not look the way you imagined, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth walking.
The Serpent Series continues to grow, and I’m thrilled to share some updates:
Book 1: The Serpent’s Bridge will be just $1.99 from 12/20–12/27 as part of a BargainBooksy promo.
Book 2: The Serpent Woman is currently available for pre-order! For the month of November, you can get it for 25% off through Tertulia with code WOMAN or snag it for 50% off when you become a Tertulia member.
Book 3: Twilight of the Serpent is almost complete! I’m at 73k words and should finish drafting soon. The release is planned for April 2025.
Books 4, 5, and 6 are forthcoming, and I can’t wait to share more details about them as the series unfolds.
To my readers, thank you for believing in me, supporting my stories, and coming along for the ride. I’m beyond grateful to announce that my three-book contract has been extended to a six-book deal with my publisher. Here’s to more thrilling adventures ahead!
⭐️ Don’t give up. You never know when your breakthrough is just around the corner.⭐️
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