Frequently Asked Questions
Shop Information
Are the physical books signed?
Yes! All physical book orders are fulfilled by me, and are signed. If you want the book personalized when I sign it, just make sure to put a note in your order comments!
Why are your physical books so expensive?
Self-published books do not have the luxury of cheap printing and distribution that traditional publishers do. At the price I sell my books for, I make $2 off each paperback sale, and $2.50 off each hardback sale.
I physically cannot lower the price any lower, or I won't make any money by selling my books.
It's a hard reality for self-published authors, which is why eBook sales are the primary format for self-published books. The options available for print books are limited, and thus can charge whatever they'd like and are continually raising the printing costs to authors.
How are my eBooks delivered?
eBooks are fulfilled through BookFunnel. When you place your order, you will get a confirmation email from me, and then a second email from help@bookfunnel.com with your ebook download. From the BookFunnel email, you'll be able to download the eBook to your preferred eReader of choice.
How can I read the eBook?
Through BookFunnel, you're able to read on:
- Kindle Fire tablets after 2015
- Nook tablets after 2014
- Kobo eReaders apart from Kobo Aura
- Apple devices:
Apple Books, iTunes, iPads, iPhones using a minimum of iOS 10+ (2016) (but most were upgraded to iOS 10 after 2012) - Android Tablets and Phones after Android 5.1(2013)
- Your computer using Chrome or Firefox browser
Is there a download limit for eBooks?
Yes. You can download the book once, and you have 14 days after you receive the email from BookFunnel before the download link will expire. If you need to download it again, or you're not able to download it within the 14 day timeframe, please email me and I'll work with BookFunnel to get you a new link.
How do preorders work?
Preorders will charge your payment method at checkout, and then once the book is ready, the order will be fulfilled at that point.
Physical preorders will begin shipping out the week before release day, with the hope it will arrive in time for release day!
eBook preorders are automatically fulfilled at midnight EST on release day. You will get an email from help@bookfunnel.com with your preorder and the download link.
Do you ship internationally?
I am working on this! Currently, I ship to the US, Mexico, and Canada. I'm working with my accountant to be able to sell to the UK, EU, Australia & New Zealand. VAT rules are complicated, so please be patient. Once it's all ready, I'll make an announcement!
Book Information
Do I need to read The Syren's Mutiny duology in order?
Yes! Please yes. If you just read book 2 you're going to be very, very confused.
Book 1: The Syren's Mutiny
Book 2: The Captain's Revenge
Will your books be released in audiobook?
Yes! The audiobook for The Syren's Mutiny is currently in production, and the audiobook of The Captain's Revenge will begin recording in May.
Will your books be translated into my language?
Translations are very difficult for self-published authors, as they cost a lot of money up front. The best way to get my books translated in your language is to tell a local publishing house in your country about me and my books!
That said, I am working on the following translations:
- Italian - through Saga Edizioni, estimated release in 2024
- Spanish (publisher and details TBA)
Will your books ever be in Kindle Unlimited?
No, they won't be. Kindle Unlimited requires authors to have their eBooks be exclusive to Amazon, and for both personal and financial reasons, I'm not comfortable with that. My books are available on all ebook sites, library sites like Hoopla and Libby, and I run sales often. If price is a concern for you, please email me and we can work out a solution!
If you're in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, or the Netherlands, I encourage you to check out Kobo Plus, which is like KU but Kobo is much more supportive of their authors and don't require exclusivity.
Where can I buy your books?
You can buy my books at all major book retailers, as well as right here on my website!
I sell eBooks and physical books direct here, but you can also go to the book information pages (not the sales pages) and find the links to all other retailers.
Retailers include: Amazon, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, Apple Books, Bookshop.org, IndieBound, Books a Million, Waterstones, Indigo, Angus & Robertson, Book Depository, Thalia, Scribd, Smashwords, Hoopla, and many others!
Where should I buy so you benefit the most?
Buying direct from the author will always benefit them the most, but I would much prefer that you buy from the retailer that's most convienent for you.
What are you writing after The Syren's Mutiny duology?
I have a lot of ideas! I'm currently working on my next project, which is a trilogy of connected standalones that explore Irish mythology and folklore.
Will you write more books in The Syren's Mutiny world?
Maybe! I have a prequel novella in the works that will focus on Brigid's early years with the syrens.
I do have ideas for spin-off stories as well, but only if there's interest and time.
Will you write a Kyla/Cam book?
No, I will not. To write a Kyla/Cam story, I would be writing from the point of view of a black woman, and that's not something I'm comfortable with. Black authors already have to struggle for space in publishing, and I won't take up their space by writing a black FMC. I am comfortable writing Kyla as a character, but writing her story is not my place as a white woman. That said, I love Cam and Kyla together and will for the rest of my days!
Are you doing ARCs for The Captain's Revenge?
I did do ARCs for The Captain's Revenge. These were handled through four tour companies (Hidden Hollow, The NExt Step PR, Book of Matches MEdia, & RR Book Tours).
Unfortunately, sign ups for all of those ARC opportunities have now closed and ARCs are being sent out beginning March 1, 2023.
These sign-ups were posted on my website and my social media for several months. If you'd like to be the first to hear about future ARC oppourtnities, make sure to subscribe to my newsletter.
Are you doing PR Boxes for The Captain's Revenge?
Unfortunately, no. The PR boxes for The Syren's Mutiny were amazing and so much fun to make, but they were very expensive to put together and ship. Sadly, I don't have that much free income this time around, so I will not be doing PR boxes for TCR. I hope to bring them back for future books though!
Will there be special editions of The Captain's Revenge?
I hope so! I had 2 special editions of The Syren's Mutiny, one through Fabled Co and one through Obsidian Moon Crate. I'm not actively in talks with either for special editions of TCR, but I would love to get matching editions done.
Do you have a street team or an ARC team?
Not yet, but I'm actively working on building both! Subscribe to my newlsetter to get first dibs on the application once it's ready!
Author/Publishing Information
How do you get started self-publishing?
It's a very involved process, but the first step is to write your book! Then, research things like: editing, formatting, cover design, distribution options, and marketing. Take your time while you figure it out.
Where do you publish through?
I use a combination of direct publishing and aggregators.
For physical books, I use IngramSpark.
For eBooks, I publish directly to: KDP, Kobo, Barnes & Noble Press, and Google Play. I use the aggregator Draft2Digital to reach other eBook marketplaces.
When should I start marketing my book?
Whenever you feel reasonably confident that you're going to go through with publishing it.
If this is your very first book, I would wait until you've at least written the full first draft. I also recommend still filming and jotting down content while you're writing that first draft to use later.
Once you're sure it's actually going to happen (so you don't get people's hopes up), go for it! Start marketing!
What's the best way to market my books?
That depends on a lot of things, including: are you KU or wide, your genre, and your goals
However, the best way to market is the way that means you will actually go through with marketing. If that's only marketing on Facebook and not using TikTok or Instagram at all, that's fine. Do what you know you can do consistently.
What is Wide v. KU? Which one should I do?
Wide simply means that your book is available wherever you can publish it. For eBooks, that typically means publishing on sites like Amazon, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, Apple, Google Play, Smashwords, and others.
KU means that your eBook is enrolled in Amazon's KDP Select program, meaning that your eBook has to be exclusively available on Amazon.
As for which you should do...that's a very personal decision.
Check out this blog post for more details on the differences and what to consider when making the decision.
Do I need a newsletter?
Yes, if you want to have any semblance of control over your readership data. Social media is remarkably unpredictable. Sites can go down, accounts can get banned, trends change...but newsletters give you the control. Those emails are yours to collect and you control the content you send out.
That said, you don't have to go all out. Start simple, and build as you can. MailerLite has a free plan that works fantastically and is free up to 1,000 subscribers.
Check out this post for more info.
Do I need a website?
You need something. While you may not need a website as elaborate as mine, you at least need a linktree-esque platform to put in your social media bios that can direct people where to buy your books and find you. Even if it's just a free linktree plan with the link to your Amazon listing, and then the links to your other social media accounts, that's fine! But don't make it difficult for your readers to find your book. They will give up.
Should I be on (insert social media platform here)?
Not necessarily. Forcing yourself to be on social media platforms you don't enjoy is a recipe for resentment and burn out. If you don't like social media at all, marketing will be a bit harder, but it is still possible.
I recommend picking 1-2 social media platforms you genuinely enjoy (or at least, don't despise) and focus on those. You don't have to do everything.
Will you read my book and provide feedback?
While I'd love to say yes, I am not a good person to ask. I'm unreliable at best due to mental and physical health issues and the fact that I work a very demanding day job still. You can find much more qualified beta readers or critique partners than me. That said, if you'd still like me to take a peek or chat about your book with you, I'd be happy to! Shoot me an email or a DM on Instagram.
Do you offer author services still?
I used to! But since becoming an author myself, and getting a promotion at my day job, I just don't have the time to take on any new author clients. I still work with a couple clients that I'll never let go, though (*cough Aleera cough*)
If you have questions though, please shoot me an email and I have a plethora of PA friends I can refer you to!
Personal/Miscellaneous Information
What are your favorite books?
Kate Daniels series - Ilona Andrews
Hidden Legacy series - Ilona Andrews
Mercy Thompson series - Patricia Briggs
The Hollow - Jessica Verday
Sea of Ruin - Pam Godwin
The Bridge Kingdom - Danielle L. Jensen
A Dance With Fire - Aleera Anaya Ceres
Hall of Smoke - H.M. Long
Daughter of the Pirate King - Tricia Levenseller
A Touch of Darkness - Scarlett St. Clair
A Cursed Kiss- Jenny Hickman
All the Stars and Teeth - Adalyn Grace
Shadow Grove Universe - Tate James
Who are authors you look up to?
Ilona Andrews, Scarlett St. Clair, Aleera Anaya Ceres, Adalyn Grace
What's your favorite color?
Pink.
Why did you decide to self-publish?
I'm a control freak.
Technically, my therapist calls it Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder, but control freak is just as accurate.
The idea of not having control over things and having to rely on someone else if there's an issue makes me physically itchy.
Have Other Questions?
Have a question that I didn't answer above? Shoot me an email or fill out my contact form!