Discover lessons from publishing When Blood Meets Earth.
Tonight, I’ll Be Taking When Blood Meets Earth Down: Here’s What I’ve Learned
Get Brutally Honest Alpha, Beta, and Critique Partners
If you truly want your story to be the best it can be, surround yourself with people who aren’t afraid to tell you the truth. This means checking your ego at the door. Learn to take feedback and, just as importantly, learn to discern it—not all feedback will be applicable. During the critique stage, focus on listening. Absorb what’s being said and apply what resonates.
2.Vet Your Editors
This is where I went wrong—or right, depending on how you see it. I hired an editor I believed would deliver an amazing copy/line edit, but it turned out they weren’t as qualified as I thought. If I’d done just a little more research, I would’ve spotted the red flags and avoided the mistake. That said, I learned a hard but valuable lesson. I took classes, did thorough research, invested in my education, and ultimately found amazing editors.
3.Have Pride in Your Work
I’m not going to tell you to be humble—society already does that enough. Instead, I’ll tell you to be proud, be loud, and learn how to pitch your book. You wrote a book! Celebrate that achievement unapologetically.
4.Find Your Voice
People will tell you your story "isn’t enough." For example, WBME sparked debate when I called it sapphic. Many readers felt it wasn’t “sapphic enough” because they wanted more of Bellamy and Silvia’s love story and less focus on Malakey. As a Queer woman, I’ve been told my entire life that my sexuality and identity aren’t “enough.”
Defending my novel helped me realize that I am enough. My story is enough. My writing is enough. I’m not a monolith, and I don’t fit neatly into a Queer/Sapphic box. I write stories that reflect my experiences, often with unlikely protagonists. Overcoming these challenges helped me discover my author voice. Remember: You are enough, and your work is too.
To those who loved my debut novel, flaws and all, I truly appreciate you. This journey has been one of the best experiences of my life. Thank you, and cheers to the updated release!
Re-Release Update:
The re-release will be either March or April of 2025. I am working with a team to help with the release and will keep you posted. The audiobook will be re-released in the summer, but if all goes well, it might come out a little earlier. To stay updated, please follow me on my social media accounts. I will make announcements there. Thank you!
