I've always seen myself as a published author. However, I envisioned myself as a nonfiction writer, telling stories of my life, sharing faith-based insights, and helping Christians navigate everyday life struggles. I would've never imagined I'd have the words for a full-blown fantasy-fiction novel.
I'm an avid simmer and no, I'm not referring to a boiling point or a temperature, but rather, to the informal name given to players and fans of the Sims 4. I've been playing the Sims since I was twelve, but I don't just create people and aimlessly live out their lives. Instead, for every Sim I create—whether it's an individual or a family—I come up with an elaborative, imaginative storyline that I bring to life through my Sims. If you’ve ever heard me ramble about the stories I create, you know exactly what I'm talking about.
One day, the ideas for The Cove struck me, and I began to play out the story in the Sims like I always do, but this idea felt too big for a game, so I turned it into a book.
I knew right away I wanted The Cove to be published, so I started reaching out to publishers and agents through QueryTracker. I submitted a partial manuscript to around forty contacts, and only one asked to see the full version. The rest came back as rejections. In hindsight, I realize I should have waited to submit until after professional editing, but I was eager to get my work out there and took the leap anyway.
I was ready to keep submitting my manuscript until my stepmother encouraged me to consider self-publishing. Although I’d thought about it, I hesitated because it meant funding everything myself—editing, cover design, interior layout, marketing, and distribution. Traditionally published authors have these expenses covered, but indie authors shoulder them all. To be honest, I was also nervous: Would people take me seriously? Could I make a profit? But after researching, I found that self-publishing offered incredible benefits, including full creative control. Here’s how I made it happen:
I Created an Imprint Name
Before anything else, I needed an imprint name—a trade name publishers use to group their books. Given I was self-publishing, this wasn't something I had to do, but I'm glad I did because nearly every step in the process required an organization name. After months of brainstorming, I finally found a name that resonated deeply: Dear Diary Books. I checked to make sure no other entity had this name before I started listing it as my official imprint name and then, I created my own logo using Canva.
I Bought ISBN's
I purchased ISBNs for both the paperback and eBook versions through IngramSpark, a self-publishing platform. While Amazon KDP offers free ISBNs, I chose to invest in this to maintain a professional touch.
I Had a Professional Edit My Manuscript
After completing my own edits, I knew I had to find someone with expertise to edit my manuscript professionally. I needed another set of eyes to access the storyline, grammar, and punctuation—ideally within my budget.
I came across a site called Fiverr that allows people to sell their services and I found a reputable editor to work within my range. She returned my manuscript with tracked edits in Word, which I reviewed for a month, refining and proofreading along the way. After several rounds (and a final pass through Grammarly), I felt ready for the cover design.
I Designed a Cover
I have a premium Canva account (worth every penny), so I came up with a concept design for The Cove using that platform. I guess I could have used what I created as the actual cover but I felt it needed that extra umph to stand out.
Here is my original, Canva created, cover design So, I turned to Fiverr again and found a designer with stunning fantasy covers and positive reviews. I sent her my concept and, after several rounds of feedback, she transformed it into the final cover I had envisioned. The result was beyond my expectations.
I Designed the Interior
Designing the interior layout was my final step in the manuscript-to-book-process, but I should've tackled it before the cover since the page count impacts spine width. Because I initially estimated the length and was 143 pages off, the dimensions ended up being wonky! Luckily, my cover designer adjusted the spine dimensions to reflect the accurate page count for free.
Because my book has unique elements like letters and diary entries, I wanted each character to have their own distinct handwriting. I also had text messages that I wanted to show up as actual text bubbles in the paperback. I had a vision for this book and I wanted to find an interior designer to bring it to life.
I didn't want whoever I chose to go at this blindly with a mere written description of what I wanted, so I took a stab at creating how I wanted the chapter titles to look in Canva, chose the fonts I wanted for each character's handwriting, and developed a sample layout for how I wanted the texts to look. When I finally found an interior designer, I sent a document to him with all of this visually laid out so he knew exactly what I wanted.
We went back and forth A LOT. The original font I chose for Markos' handwriting wasn't readable, the font I chose for Jaxson looked childish, and there were several formatting mistakes that, thankfully, I caught and had to ask the designer to fix. After nine or ten revisions, he delivered PDF and epub files of exactly what I imagined and more all for the low price of $170.
Publishing!
After getting a final product back, it was time publish. Thankfully, Amazon makes it super easy for authors to self-publish through Amazon KDP. So, I entered in my book's details (the title, description, etc), uploaded the eBook and paperback files, and set the release date.
To reach other markets like Google Play and Apple Books, I used Publish Drive, another self-publishing platform. It allowed me to input all my book's information just like Amazon KDP and set the date for my book to be published.
I also published the eBook and paperback versions on Barnes & Noble using their painless process on B&N Press. I had the option of distributing my book to stores like Target using IngramSpark. However, I thought it might be less profitable for me given that unsold copies are returned at my expense.
Marketing!
Marketing was the most challenging part for me since I don't have a large social media presence, but I knew there were still things I could do within my capabilities to get the word out about my book.
I started by using Canva to create eye-catching content. Then, I made a separate Instagram account just for book promotions. Lastly, I announced the book across my Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube accounts, leveraging hashtags and frequent posts to reach new audiences.
I Bought Liability Insurance
To protect myself, I invested in professional liability insurance for peace of mind against any potential claims of plagiarism or copyright infringement. Although this was one of my priciest decisions, it felt like a smart investment. Better to have and not need, then to need and not have, right?
Self-publishing has been a whirlwind, but the biggest reward is holding my finished book in my hands. While I still hope The Cove reaches large audiences and defies indie author odds, the accomplishment of seeing my work in print is more than enough satisfaction for me. I believe that by doing my part, God will bless the rest.
So, if you're thinking about self-publishing, I hope my process gave you insights on how to do it confidently!
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