Summer Wrap Up - It Was a Hot One

This summer has been a wild one. I took the leap every author dreads and started self promoting (**internal groan**). I have to say, it's actually been a great experience so far.

Around the fourth of July, I went ahead and published my professional author pages on a few different social media platforms. Like every newbie, I had no idea what I was doing. But I have to say, there is a crazy supportive community of book lovers out there these days and self-published/indie authors have world where they're accepted like never before. I've been so happy with my experience over the last month and can't wait to see where we go from here.

Some things I wish I'd done different:

• Start sooner. I put off promoting my stuff because it freaking sucks (excuse my French). Most people hate putting themselves out there that way and it's not easy. But I wish I had had the courage to rip the bandaid off earlier.

• Market before publishing. This would've been solved if I had done the first bullet. But more specifically, I've learned that generating interest before your book release is kind of key. Especially with the wide use of ARC readers today.

• Pace myself. Especially on Instagram, I've run into issues with growing and engaging too much too fast. I know there are a lot of quirks in the system that aren't necessarily my fault but knowing who and how to follow are engage with helps.

• Establish a routine. It's never too late for this one and something I am going to work at over the next couple months. Social media and marketing are full time jobs. So when you already work a full time job, and a part time job, and have a household to run, and oh by the way you're actually trying to write and edit the books that led you into the marketing game anyway... it can be A LOT. It's hard to focus on any one thing at a time when these platforms are at your fingertips all day every day. So setting time aside to post and engage and then putting the phone away the rest of the time is important.

On the personal side, the summer started rough but we got some time to relax and recover from a horrible spring. Then in July, we hit the road again and got to spend a few weeks in Florida! It's always a nice adventure, even if we went for the sole purpose of helping family out.

Now we're back home and busier than ever as school gets ready to start back. I'm excited to get back into a solid routine. And, of course, next month starts my absolute favorite time of the year!