So, this just happened… It’s like I’m wearing training wheels all over again, especially when it comes to publishing a book, as I’d idiotically published two books in one day. What was I thinking?
Actually, I was doped to the eyeballs suffering with Covid chills. Chills. In the outback. Like some freak, snuggled in snow gear — and I was still freezing.
But I still pressed that dang ‘Publish’ button.
Twice.
Two books.
Same day.
It’s like I’m wearing training wheels all over again, especially when it comes to publishing… Share on X
Back when I published my first book…
The first book I ever published took forever. It took me years to find the courage to publish anything, like my first website, a simple tweet, let alone a blog post and a book. *gasps*
So, every time I press publish on a book, I still hesitate.
It was book twelve for me as a fiction writer, and it made the top 5 on the bestseller lists. Without any form of paid advertising!
But that was done with a publishing plan in mind. Plus, I’d been building up my author platform for years. Even though I have some amazing 5-star ARC reviews, I still freaked out over publishing my latest fiction novel.
Publishing my first non-fiction book…
As for my first non-fiction book, it just happened. And I told no one I was even publishing it.
I wanted to see what it was like for a new author who hadn’t started their author platform.
So, my first non-fiction book, that wasn’t an corporate inhouse guide no one reads, title is…
Drumroll (quietly please, I still have a headache)
Sexy, huh?
And I didn’t even launch it.
I didn’t tell anyone.
You see, when I’m normally popping champagne, I was hugging it out with my pillow, in a dark room, curled under a mountain of thick blankets in weather that many consider summer!
Why didn’t I share the news about publishing the book?
I forgot. Or too sick. Too rushed. Not thinking straight… so many excuses.
Really, I did nothing, except press publish.
I didn’t even talk about it on my author platform for my fiction side.
Why?
Because my fiction readers aren’t authors. They’re fiction readers. It’s that golden rule: know thy reader that I talk about in my non-fiction books. (How’s that for a shameless plug!)
However, if you’re an author reading this, it technically makes you a reader, too.
But then this just happened… I published book 2—to no one.
I am currently gallivanting through the outback to look at this big rock that sits amongst a lot of red dirt.
I’m doing an outback road trip and will be out of any mobile (cell) phone range—playing tourist, singing really badly to the road tunes, with my camera as a permanent accessory.
Yes, the desk duchess is currently away from her desk, trying to find the write-life balance.
But I still published book 2!
So what were the two books I told no one about…
YOUR AUTHOR GOALS and YOUR AUTHOR BRAND
Besides the editors, the proofreader, and a few aspiring authors, I told no one I was publishing these books.
I wanted to be reminded of what it was like to publish without an audience when starting an author platform. And it worked.
So, what do you want to achieve with your author platform?
First, do you really need an author platform?
If you haven’t started your author platform, read this post. It’ll save you both time and money by going through the questions to help you decide.
If you decide you want an author career, then give yourself a fighting chance by working out your Author Goals.
Then brand yourself with book 2 in the series, Your Author Brand. It’s where I share the secrets on how to brand yourself as an author—even if you haven’t published a book! And it’s easier than you think.
So, what are you waiting for? It’s your time to turn to make it happen by turning those dreams into reality today.
