Rising Talent -- Our First Debut Author Feature
The author community is not only welcoming, but offers critical support during the launch and rise of your own career.
When I released The Rising Order in October, I wish I’d understood the immense value of having fellow debut author friends like Steve Urszenyi and J.M. Adams in my corner. I was so focused on getting the word out about my story, I didn’t think to ask other authors how they were navigating the release of their own. Looking back, I realize I could have learned so much from them.
Meeting other debut authors has been the most unexpected and joyful part of publication. Not only have they become friends to commiserate with, but they are friends to celebrate and champion (with the added plus of their delicious new books to sink my teeth into). The process of writing a novel can be one of the most isolating endeavors, so when it’s finally time to step into the publishing forum it can be jarring to navigate the behemoth task of self promotion. Not only is it unnatural for many authors, it’s overwhelming.
Cue friends. Writer friends who understand the daunting vulnerability that comes with exposing your creative soul to others to judge and critique. In a short time, both Steve and J.A. Adams have stepped up and extended themselves to me in ways I will never forget. Meeting them has been one of the most treasured parts of this journey. How did we meet you ask? Facebook. Another huge, intangible benefit of social media platforms that should be leveraged outside of promoting yourself over and over again.
All of our writing careers are just getting started. Isn’t that an exciting thought? I can’t wait to see where we go, and better yet to watch how this ride unfolds together. I decided to ask J.M Adams and Steve some questions about what they’ve learned since releasing their debut novels late last year. Here’s what they had to say…
*My goal is to feature debut authors across all genres. If you’re interested in sharing your journey, please reach out and connect with me!*
1) Knowing what you know now since releasing your debut novel, what's the number one piece of advice you would give to other authors building their readerships?
Steve: Building your readership is tricky. You need to be active on social media platforms, but at the same time, you don't want to overwhelm your audience with so much content that you create ‘follower fatigue.’ There’s a fine line. Also, it's worth remembering that building your readership doesn't happen overnight. You need to start early, perhaps years before your debut novel is released.
My top piece of advice is to be kind and supportive of other writers and creatives. Engage with their content by liking their posts, reading their books, and sharing their messages with your followers. When you post on social media, be positive and try to create content that people will want to engage with and share. Ultimately, aim to create content that leaves a positive impression on your audience and encourages them to follow you on your writing journey.
J.M. Adams: Preparation and networking with fellow authors are the two most critical components of staging a successful book launch. There are so many elements to keep track of. Get your book signings scheduled early and make sure they can get your books on site and on time. Also, through your networking with other authors, make sure you invite them to your book launch and lean on them for advice.
2) What's been your favorite part of having your book out there in the world?
Steve: I love it when people send me a text or an email or share a post on social media to tell me and others that they read and enjoyed my novel! I think there’s nothing better an author can hear than something as simple as, “Hey, I really liked your book!” It’s also a real treat to see my book on the shelves in bookstores, especially when readers around the country share them from wherever they are. Seeing your book ‘out in the wild’ is a unique and fulfilling experience!
J.M. Adams: It’s been very interesting to connect with all the people from my past. My book was like a time machine. When you write a novel and get it out there, people from various stages in your life pop up expressing interest in your work. Grade school friends, high school, college, coworkers and other people I haven’t had contact with for more than forty years reached out to talk about the book.
3) If you could do one thing differently about launching your book, what would it be and why?
Steve: Patience is not my strong suit. I was a paramedic for over thirty years, and I think even people who aren’t paramedics understand that things in that environment have to happen fast. Treating a life-threatening injury doesn’t occur by committee. You have to recognize, assess, and act in seconds—not minutes, hours, weeks, or months.
My impatience is my own problem to deal with. So, if I had to do one thing differently around the launch of my book, it would be to recognize that the publishing world has its own timelines and processes that by their nature take time. In the 2003 action-comedy movie Bad Boys II, Martin Lawrence’s character attends an anger management class where he is told to say whoosah to help him pause and breathe deeply whenever he’s worked up.
So, Steve, whoosah…
J.M. Adams: I would have worked a little harder expanding my influence on social media. I did a great deal of social media marketing and connecting before the novel was released, but looking back, I could have done more. If I could offer one piece of advice, make sure you go to conferences and connect with fellow writers. That form of networking is not only educational, but you’ll discover that they run into the same challenges you do. The author community is very supportive and that makes all the difference when navigating your first book release.
4) What has been the hardest or most unexpected part of releasing your debut novel?
Steve: I couldn't pick just one, but I think the two hardest things were: Firstly, the waiting period between signing my publishing contract and the actual publication date felt like an eternity. It took nineteen months in my case. During this prolonged period, I found it challenging to strike a balance between promoting my upcoming book and not overwhelming people with my message. I had more than a year and a half to stew in the anticipation and anxiety of it all!
The second most challenging thing has been the aftercare required once the book is out there. As great as your publisher may be (and mine has been terrific), it still comes down to the author getting out there—literally and figuratively—to connect readers to their book. Distribution may be great or maybe not so great, but whichever the case, you need to keep taking the message—that positive message I mentioned earlier—out to your prospective readers.
As an author, it's important to create interest, build your brand, support other creatives, and engage positively with your fellow writers and readers. With a bit of luck, they may help spread the word about your work, attracting even more potential readers. And who knows, if you're really fortunate, a major influencer like Reese Witherspoon, Oprah Winfrey, or Joe Rogan may discover and love your book, sharing it with millions of their followers. Fingers crossed!
J.M. Adams: By far, distribution has been the single most frustrating challenge for me. Amazon and Indigo were amazing in stocking and providing my books for anyone who ordered them, but that’s where the good times end. Other outlets had stocking issues. I spoke to no fewer than ten bookstores that wanted to stock my novel, but the distributors are very disorganized. Maybe the toughest part of this particular challenge is that I still haven’t learned how to fix the problem.
So, tell me what’s been the most unexpected part (the highs and the lows) of releasing your novel into the world?
Next Week: The importance of attending writers conferences
Learn more about J.M. Adams and Steve Urszenyi:
J. M. Adams is an award winning and Emmy nominated journalist with more than 15 years of on-air television journalism experience, reporting for major news networks across the United States and abroad.
Highlights from his career include going on sea patrols with the Navy after the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and reporting from Kuwait and Iraq while the Air Force enforced No-Fly Zones over Iraq. He also covered a number of hurricane and wildfire disasters across the United States and covered multiple high-profile federal court cases around the country.
Steve Urszenyi was a paramedic in Toronto and a tactical medic with the Ontario Provincial Police, where he was a specialist in SWAT, CBRNE, and other special operations environments. Steve is also the former commander of the Province of Ontario’s disaster medical team, EMAT, and is a recipient of the Governor General of Canada EMS Exemplary Service Medal and Bar in recognition of his distinguished service. When not writing, Steve loves traveling the globe and touring on his Harley-Davidson motorcycle with his wife, Lynne. They live in Toronto and have two grown children.
Hi Claire, thanks for sharing these great tips for debut authors. My book will be coming out on March 19 and I'd love to share my journey with others.