The Road to Self Publishing Success

Hello! 

I'm writing this to share my personal success with publishing to market. More specifically, in the paranormal romance academy genre. I've published books in the past that I've written based on my personal interest and preferences which got me zero sales or page reads. So trust me, I've been down the deep deep rabbit hole of "I'm not good enough to be a published author". 

London Book Fair Photo

Here it goes! 

I began writing my paranormal fae romance academy book, High Fae Academy: Year One, in October of 2019 when I joined 20Booksto50K and learned about the power of writing to market. I set the pre-order up for November 22nd, 2019 after getting my covers professionally done. This date and the few pre-orders I got from friends and family kept me accountable to finish writing the book by October 28th. 

To begin advertising the organic way I utilized social media to post about my title and the BookFunnel link for advanced readers copies. I had twenty-seven downloads and was blown away by the positive feedback on my story. I even had two people volunteer for beta reading and proofreading which I didn't have the budget for at the time (BIG MISTAKE, more info to come). After making changes, taking my beta readers into consideration, and using ProWritingAid to edit I uploaded my manuscript by the deadline using the Kindle Create software for eBook creation. I'd also like to note that my book is enrolled in KU which is HUGE for my genre. 

On launch day I had several organic FREE advertising gigs set up. I had several authors through Story Origin sending out my book in their newsletter campaigns, all of my ARC readers uploaded their reviews on Goodreads and Amazon which got me over twenty reviews on launch day, shooting me up in the rankings. I also posted on my personal social media which has over 5,000 followers and posted to several Facebook groups I had joined in my genre. 

Launch day ended with 54 eBook sales, and 3,890 page reads. I was ecstatic as I didn't expect this at all. It didn't end there though, over the past few weeks (not even a month yet), I have accumulated 106 eBook sales and over 157,000 page reads. I have also accumulated over 70 reviews on Goodreads with a 4.14 out of 5-star average. I just hit 10K page reads in a day yesterday which prompted me to post this to help others. 

But this came with some difficulties. A lot of my lower reviews could have been avoided if I had the book professionally edited before publication. I now understand the power of a human editor over beta readers and paid software. It should be a combination of all three in order to make your book the best it can be for launch day. I've since had it professionally edited. However, I would have a much higher rating on both Amazon and Goodreads if I had gotten it edited sooner. 

Takeaways: 

1. Make sure to utilize all of the resources at your disposal. I have not paid a dime for advertising, and while I may in the future if sales dip, I don't plan on it any time soon. 

Free advertising tips: 

Build your newsletter before launch using social media and Facebook groups in your genre by offering a reader magnet. After building your newsletter to over 100 subscribers join Story Origin for author promotional swaps and schedule your entire launch month ahead of time, even going as far as to pre-make the newsletter emails for automation. One launch day use your social media with the proper hashtags to gain traction and create attractive graphics using Canva. Post to Facebook groups in your genre that allow self-promotion. 

2. EDITING IS A MUST. I got several two, three, and four-star reviews that could have been five if I had sent it to a professional at the beginning. 

3. An attractive cover is important. And contrary to popular belief, it doesn't have to be super unique. Covers in my genre are similar because they sell books, so I jumped on the bandwagon. 

4. Continued marketing efforts through social media and your newsletter swaps are important. I'm still promoting. 

5. Continue writing! I have booked two up for pre-order (publishing in January) with over 40 ordered. I also have a related novella with 20 preorders coming out this Friday to keep the interest of my dedicated readers. I plan to publish one book and one novella per month over the course of 2020 to grow my backlog. Wish me luck! 

I hope this post has given some good actionable steps for those of you that need it! Don't give up! It is possible! This once again proves that writing to market WORKS!!!

Thanks for reading, 

Kaylin Peyerk

Newly Published Titles

Hello! 

Thank you for tuning into my most recent blog post. If you follow this blog you might know that I am an author. I've recently published a paranormal romance book known as High Fae Academy Year One that is in the new adult genre. It has a gotten quite a bit of traction over the last twenty or so days since it's release. I appreciate each and every one of my readers, and today I come to them with a request! If you have read my book and enjoyed it, I'd love for you to leave an honest review on my Goodreads and Amazon page. It helps other potential readers find my work, and as an independent author I need all the help I can get! Also, share it with friends and family that you believe would love the title as well. The review links are listed below: 

High Fae Academy Amazon Page 

High Fae Academy Goodreads Page

If you enjoyed High Fae Academy I have a companion novella coming out on December 20th, 2019 called Arctic Hunter. This follows an important shifter through her time at the academy for gifted supernaturals. I've already had several beat readers say that they adore the story for which I'm grateful! Check it out at the links below so you may add it to your Goodreads and Amazon wish lists! 

Arctic Hunter Amazon Page

Arctic Hunter Goodreads Page

You may also subscribe to my newsletter in which I send out release updates and weekly novel suggestions from other indie authors! Check out that link below: 

Author Email List Sign-Up

Thank you so much for reading! 

Sincerely,

Kaylin Peyerk

Paranormal Romance Author

Top 10 YA Fantasy Books of 2019

Happy Thursday everyone!

Today we will be discussing my personal top 10 list of young adult fantasy novels so far in 2019. I like to call myself an expert in this subject as I am an avid reader a nd writer of young adult fantasy books as well as a YA fantasy book box owner. And we have some pretty bombshell books to choose from that have been released this year.

So without further ado here is my top 10 list for 2019:

1. The Wicked King by Holly Black
2. King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo 
3. A Curse so Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer 
4. Finale by Stephanie Garber 
5. We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal 
6. Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson 
7. Spin the Dawn by Elisabeth Lim 
8. Wicked Fox by Kat Cho
9. Nocturna by by Maya Motayne 
10. Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan  

I hope you enjoyed my list of the top 10 YA fantasy books of 2019. However, I may be doing some changes or a final list in December of 2019. Let me know if you would change my ranking or the books that I included.

Sincerely,

Kaylin Peyerk 

Starlight-Reads Interview with Fantasy Monthly Owner

Guest Post Via Starlight-Reads:

Source: Starlight-Reads Blog

Hello everyone! Today, I am absolutely thrilled to bring you an interview with Kaylin, the owner of Fantasy Monthly. If you haven’t heard of Fantasy Monthly yet, be sure to check out my May unboxing post, which also goes into more detail about the box.

Fantasy Monthly is a relatively new book subscription box, which started up in May. It offers two options: a classic box, which contains an art print, two bookmarks, and a hardcover book, and a deluxe box, which contains premium items like candles, bath bombs, tea, and more in addition to the same items from the classic box.

Now that you know a bit about the box, let’s get into the interview with Kaylin!

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1. What inspired you to start Fantasy Monthly?

I have been an avid reader for my entire life. Starting with Harry Potter at age seven  and progressing to visiting my school and local libraries daily. I had found I didn’t care for romance books but loved a good fantasy novel. Anything that had an alternative plotline to our current world had me hooked. My first venture, Literary Dream Crate, is another subscription box that sends used books in both romance and mystery/thriller genres. I had originally sent young adult books as well but found it increasingly difficult to source quality young adult books in bulk that are both gently used and reasonably priced. And while I love packaging my boxes for Literary Dream Crate I knew my true passion was for young adult fantasy. Thus Fantasy Monthly was born! I wanted to share my love of young adult fantasy with other book lovers in the community while keeping it affordable for people who cannot afford the more expensive options.

2. What makes Fantasy Monthly different than other book boxes?

The Deluxe May Box (photo via Fantasy Monthly)

Fantasy Monthly is a more affordable option than other book boxes which I believe is a big differentiator. Most book boxes are between $35-50 plus shipping. The classic options for Fantasy Monthly is $22.99 including shipping in the US. And you still receive extra merch to use and hang up on your bookshelves! We also have an online Facebook community where we do weekly live videos to discuss the book club question card that comes in each box. This goes along with my inspiration of creating a great community of like minded readers! And while we also have a deluxe option everything included in the deluxe box is made my other small business owners found on Etsy. I loved the idea of supporting small businesses. 

3. What’s it like being a young business owner?

It’s incredibly rewarding and fulfilling to know that I’ve found what I’d like to do with my life. And while I have a fulltime job currently,  I would love to someday move to running my two businesses fulltime. And creating the community and cultivating top tier customer service has allowed me to have incredible relationships with subscribers and followers on social media. I’ve also made friends with other book box owners, vendors, and artists. It’s been an incredible experience but it is a lot of work to curate boxes each month with new items and continued quality. 

4. Before your boxes ship out, you announce the designs for the art print and bookmarks. What inspired you to do this?

The art print, bookmarks, and book that came in the May Classic Box

Other book boxes keep things mysterious which some people may enjoy. However, I personally have never liked the concept of ordering something that I wasn’t exactly sure what I was getting. I assumed that other people had the same view point and would like to know the book and contents of the box before agreeing to a purchase. Also, I reveal the artwork on my website and not as a post on social media usually so the element of surprise can still be in effect for subscribers who wish to have it. 

5. How do you pick your monthly books? 

I generally look at the Goodreads list for the upcoming months of the year for new releases in young adult fantasy. I also ask subscribers what they’re most excited for between my final choices. But I would love to include YA fantasy picks that are not popular enough to make the lists or to be published by the top five publishing houses. However, I’m not sure that would be something subscribers would prefer. I’d love some feedback on that for whoever may be reading! 

6. The Classic box is definitely one of the more affordable options when it comes to book boxes. How did you decide on that price point?

I was able to calculate a low price point by keeping the box simple and only including prints and a hardcover book. And by only including printed merchandise I can utilize media mail which is a lower cost in the US. This allows for the total price to round out to about the price of a hardcover book in store including tax. And I did this for people who prefer less merch or who are looking for a more affordable option. 

7. What are some of your future plans/goals for Fantasy Monthly?

The classic July box (photo via Fantasy Monthly)

I would love to create custom covers for each book, and include an author letter and signed bookplate. However, the book boxes who are able to do this have hundreds or thousands of subscribers which makes publishers willing to work with them to include these extras. Smaller book boxes have a harder time customizing our orders. So as I grow I plan to add those features when I’m able. I also plan to start including enamel pins in each deluxe box! 

8. Anything else you’d like to add?

I’d like to say that I appreciate everyone who orders from smaller book box businesses. While I know Owlcrate, Fae Crate, or Fairyloot are fantastic options, they have thousands of customers. So every sale for a small business counts and helps them to grow! And I appreciate every single person who decides to do that!

Spin the Dawn: Book Review

Hello,

Today we will be talking about the latest Fantasy Monthly title that was sent during July. Spin the Dawn by Elisabeth Lim is based on a Mulan retelling story. That initial description is what drew me to the book and pushed me to choose it for the month of July. Let's just say that I am not disappointed! Before I jump into my review, here is the book synopsis:

goodreads.com

"Maia Tamarin dreams of becoming the greatest tailor in the land, but as a girl, the best she can hope for is to marry well. When a royal messenger summons her ailing father, once a tailor of renown, to court, Maia poses as a boy and takes his place. She knows her life is forfeit if her secret is discovered, but she'll take that risk to achieve her dream and save her family from ruin. There's just one catch: Maia is one of twelve tailors vying for the job.

Backstabbing and lies run rampant as the tailors compete in challenges to prove their artistry and skill. Maia's task is further complicated when she draws the attention of the court magician, Edan, whose piercing eyes seem to see straight through her disguise.

And nothing could have prepared her for the final challenge: to sew three magic gowns for the emperor's reluctant bride-to-be, from the laughter of the sun, the tears of the moon, and the blood of stars. With this impossible task before her, she embarks on a journey to the far reaches of the kingdom, seeking the sun, the moon, and the stars, and finding more than she ever could have imagined."

Now for my review of the title. This book started slowly for me which is similar to my experience with We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal. Personally, when I read a fantasy book I want to be thrown right into the world that is different than our own. I want to know exactly what makes the book a fantasy rather than contemporary piece. I didn't see my first aspect of fantasy until chapter 9 where she used her magical scissors to create a shawl for the princess. So that was one con that I noticed in this book. The other con I have for this story is that the romance started much later in this book. That is another aspect i like my stories steeped with. However, I know that was not the main goal of this story so I'll let it slide. 

Furthermore, the pros for this story far outweigh the cons in my opinion. After chapter 10 this book picked up in magical ways. It pulled me in and I finished the remain two hundred pages in less than two hours. The magical fantasy I was waiting for was spectacularly delivered with a weaving sweet love story that made me swoon. And the author left us on a cliff hanger that I thoroughly enjoyed and hated at the same time which is exactly how a cliff hanger should make you feel. Overall, I give this book four stars simply due to the slow start that left me feeling disappointed. But the author saved herself in the final chapters! I highly recommend this book and cannot wait to read the next Fantasy Monthly book which is A House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig. Right now, they have their September box up for sale which will feature The Girl the Sea Gave Back by Adrienne Young the author of Sky in the Deep. I'm also very excited for that one. I'll link the website below if you're interested in order from Fantasy Monthly! 

Thanks for reading! 

Sincerely,
Kaylin Peyerk

www.fantasymonthly.org

Sorcery of Thorns: Book Review

fairyloot.com

Hello! 

Today we will be reviewing Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson. This book was published in early June of 2019. It is a fantastic magical YA fantasy book based on magical libraries. This was the second book featured in the new Fantasy Monthly book box. 

Here is the synopsis:


"All sorcerers are evil. Elisabeth has known that as long as she has known anything. Raised as a foundling in one of Austermeer’s Great Libraries, Elisabeth has grown up among the tools of sorcery—magical grimoires that whisper on shelves and rattle beneath iron chains. If provoked, they transform into grotesque monsters of ink and leather. She hopes to become a warden, charged with protecting the kingdom from their power.

Then an act of sabotage releases the library’s most dangerous grimoire. Elisabeth’s desperate intervention implicates her in the crime, and she is torn from her home to face justice in the capital. With no one to turn to but her sworn enemy, the sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn, and his mysterious demonic servant, she finds herself entangled in a centuries-old conspiracy. Not only could the Great Libraries go up in flames, but the world along with them.

As her alliance with Nathaniel grows stronger, Elisabeth starts to question everything she’s been taught—about sorcerers, about the libraries she loves, even about herself. For Elisabeth has a power she has never guessed, and a future she could never have imagined."

I fell in love with this book the moment I started reading. The theme of magical books and libraries along with sorcerors is so enthralling that I couldn't help but read this book in less than three days. The main character was extremely relatable and had an honesty to her conveyed emotions that I really enjoyed. I also loved all of the side characters, especially Silas. He had great character developement that really made the story shine. And the romance in this book was perfect for me. Not too overwhelming, just the perfect amount to keep you smiling and interested in the couple. 

Overall, I loved this book and give it five stars. I suspect it will be my top read for 2019. If you haven't read this book yet I highly recommend grabbing a copy of it and starting as soon as possible! I also recommend her other book, An Enchantment of Ravens.

I hope you enjoyed this short and sweet review of Sorcery of Thorns by Maragaret Rogerson.


Sincerely,

Kaylin Peyerk

We Hunt the Flame: Book Review

Hello! 

Today we will be talking about We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal. This book was published in May of 2019 and was the first book that was featured in the new Fantasy Monthly book box. 

Here is the synopsis: 

"People lived because she killed. People died because he lived.

Zafira is the Hunter, disguising herself as a man when she braves the cursed forest of the Arz to feed her people. Nasir is the Prince of Death, assassinating those foolish enough to defy his autocratic father, the sultan. If Zafira was exposed as a girl, all of her achievements would be rejected; if Nasir displayed his compassion, his father would punish him in the most brutal of ways. Both Zafira and Nasir are legends in the kingdom of Arawiya—but neither wants to be. 

goodreads.com

War is brewing, and the Arz sweeps closer with each passing day, engulfing the land in shadow. When Zafira embarks on a quest to uncover a lost artifact that can restore magic to her suffering world and stop the Arz, Nasir is sent by the sultan on a similar mission: retrieve the artifact and kill the Hunter. But an ancient evil stirs as their journey unfolds—and the prize they seek may pose a threat greater than either can imagine."

Personally I really enjoyed this book. However, it did start rather slowly for my taste. The main theme of the story did not begin until chapter ten or twelve. After that the story became extremely enrapturing and I finished it in one day! The magical Arabian theme came as a pleasant surprise and was a breath of fresh air from other YA fantasy books. I also wished the romance was a bit more prominent in this book but I suspect we will see more of it in book number two. The best part of this book was the twisting ending it had. I literally gasped when I read the last ten pages.

Overall, I give this book four stars instead of five due to the lacking of romance and the slow start. But I do highly recommend it as a different type of YA fantasy read than others I've read in the past. If you've read this book let me know what you thought of it in the comments below! 

I hope you enjoyed this review of We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal. 

Sincerely,
Kaylin Peyerk