The publishing industry often feels like a gamble: trying to publish the right thing at the right moment with the right publishing partner. When I first started releasing Book Marketing Now interviews back in 2021, I spoke to YA author Namina Forna about how she beat the odds. I started this feature because I wanted to help authors continue to make their own luck by sharing a variety of marketing/publishing journeys and resources, and allowing authors to trumpet their own work against the noise of the world and state of publishing.

The world is still loud. Our attention is diverted in a hundred directions every day. But I’m starting up this series again after a long hiatus because artistic voices are important and this work we do is symbiotic: writers and readers sharing experiences, resources, and supporting one another.

So it seems only fitting to reboot Book Marketing Now with another YA debut that beat the odds: Flickerstate by F.A. Davidson*

I met F.A. Davidson at Viable Paradise and I can tell you, her stunning debut was no simple stroke of luck—though its magic system is probability based. The book is sharply intelligent, with an even sharper sense of humor, much like Davidson herself. We talked about the careful thought that went into positioning the book to meet the expectations of agents and readers; how leaning into tropes (and looking beyond them) helps pitch genre-bendy books; and who YA is really for.

How did you initially market Flickerstate to your agent?

When I was querying agents with Flickerstate, I struggled to assign it a genre.

For context, Flickerstate takes place in an alternate-history U.S. where a fraction of the world population has developed the power to manipulate probability, a power called navigation. At the same time, mysterious predators called flickerbeasts start manifesting in our reality—which is bad, because a flickerbeast bite increases your risk of death by any cause, whether that’s a fatal car accident or a lightning strike or a murder.

My protagonist, Norah Sullivan, learns she’s a navigator the same day that she and her father are bitten by flickerbeasts. Though there’s no known cure for the bites, Norah hears rumors that a secret cure is hidden in a locked archive at the prestigious Academy of Navigation. She wins a spot at the Academy and enters a desperate competition to become one of the Academy’s few archive assistants before she or her father dies.

When I was writing Flickerstate, I knew it had a science-fictional flavor because navigation is probability-based, but it was also fantasy because navigation is magic: an unexplained reality-warping power, not a development in science or technology. I didn’t worry about Flickerstate’s hybrid genre status until I was querying agents. Then I shamelessly decided to turn a possible marketing weakness into an advantage. If an agent was interested in YA fantasy, Flickerstate was fantasy. If an agent was interested in YA science fiction, it was science fiction. And I was never lying! Both genre descriptions are true of Flickerstate.

I love genre bendy stories, but they are notoriously hard to describe. How have your strategies changed now that you’re pitching the book to readers?

With readers, I usually describe Flickerstate as STEM fantasy or science fantasy. I’m trying to get across that the novel is fantasy, but its magic system and dark-academia elements are inspired by probability and statistics as much as by humanities scholarship.

Currently I’m comping it to Ava Reid’s A Study in Drowning, which is YA dark-academic fantasy, and to Marisha Pessl’s Neverworld Wake, a YA speculative time-loop novel that takes place in the contemporary world. These two novels are quite different from each other, but if you mashed them up, you might get a vibe close to Flickerstate’s. Flickerstate has more zany gallows humor than either, but the only comp I could think of for Norah’s desperate-yet-flippant internal monologue was Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and I wasn’t sure what if anything Buffy would mean to a contemporary teen or crossover audience.

I immediately get the Buffy vibe, but hey, I’m an elder millennial. But I think you’re tapping into some deeper questions about YA audience. There’s been a lot of discourse in kidlit about who the young adult market is targeting now: is it still for teens or has the 30 – 40-something female demographic taken over and changed the game? Who do you see as the audience for Flickerstate? How are you finding ways to reach them?

I have described Flickerstate’s ideal audience as “everyone from age 12 to 99 from now until the heat death of the universe,” but I think my novel has a lot to offer the centenarian demographic too.

Hah! I agree!

But on a more serious note, “young adult” has several different definitions, none of which accurately describe all YA novels:

• Target Audience: YA can mean novels marketed to an age group that includes teenagers, but that range varies from 12-18 to 14-18 or even to 16+ (for crossover or upper YA/New Adult titles). Besides, novels that were originally marketed to a teenage audience can be reframed as adult or universal after publication. Take Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows, whose 10^th-anniversary edition removed references to the main characters’ teenagerdom, presumably to appeal to an adult audience. Is a YA novel still YA novel if it’s now marketed to adults, and adults may make up most of its readers?

• Protagonist Age: Novels are often classed as YA if their protagonist is a teenager, but not always. Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One was marketed as adult science fiction although its protagonist-narrator is a teenager, and Ndedi Okorafor’s Who Fears Death was marketed as adult fantasy although its protagonist-narrator is a teenager. Meanwhile, the protagonists of some Upper YA/New Adult crossover novels are in their early twenties.

• Formal Characteristics: Since the mid-aughts, many popular YA novels have been told in the present tense from a first-person point-of-view. These formal choices are often associated with YA. But not all YA novels are in the first person or the present tense, while many adult novels are.

Flickerstate’s protagonist Norah turns eighteen during the novel, and Flickerstate is told in the first-person present tense. Along those metrics, Flickerstate is squarely YA. And I think high-school readers will really enjoy it (so hand it to all your teen children, nephews, nieces, favorite cousins, students, library patrons, et alia!). I’ve been trying to reach teen readers by doing events like YA Midwest Book Fest, which includes middle-school and high-school students alongside parents, librarians, and teachers.

At the same time, I think adults can also relate to many aspects of Flickerstate: the dread Norah feels when she and her dad get seriously ill; the financial and emotional anxiety that illness causes her family; the maybe-illusory promise that an elite school dangles in front of her that if she just wins the right educational credentials, she can pull herself and her family to safety.

Rereading that last paragraph, I notice I’ve made Flickerstate sound grim. It isn’t. It’s very fun, if I do say so myself. But the worldbuilding doesn’t shy away from the harms that economic inequality and austerity politics inflict on vulnerable people. And that worldbuilding, I think, resonates with many teens and adults in the current moment.

The book definitely isn’t grim, but it is gripping, in part because of the complex subjects you dip into. I’m really curious about the role that tropes play in marketing modern day genre novels. Tropes seem to get books noticed on socials but it’s the original takes on them that make readers stay. Flickerstate is a “magical boarding school” story on the surface but it’s so much more than that. How do you find using tropes (or subverting tropes) affects how you are promoting your book?

I am not a big social-media person. I only started my Instagram account after I got my book deal and when I first thought about using tropes to market Flickerstate, I went spelunking in TVTropes.org, trying to figure out retroactively which tropes applied to the story I’d written. (I have since discovered that most TV Tropes entries are much weirder and more niche than ones you see on Bookstagram.)

I’ve started using the “trope list” format when describing Flickerstate on Instagram, but only half the items I’ll list will be actual tropes. For example, I’ll throw in probability-based magic system alongside dark-academia boarding school, even though probability magic is not a trope, because that pairing better conveys what the world of the novel is like. And sometimes I’ll rewrite tropes for greater accuracy to Flickerstate. Instead of writing rivals to lovers, I’ll write something like one-sided rivals to lovers between a white-knuckled try-hard and an infuriatingly chill guy. It’s silly, but it’s also funny (at least to me). And it gives readers a better idea of the dynamic between Norah and her peer mentor Vik Souza, so that they’re forewarned if they have a very particular idea of what “rivals to lovers” means and Flickerstate turns out to be doing something else.

This strategy allows me to communicate that Flickerstate has some familiar, beloved genre elements but is also doing its own original thing.

You mentioned YA Midwest BookFest and the importance of schools and libraries as an audience for Flickerstate. Can you tell me more about how they fit into your marketing process?

My publisher, Sourcebooks, is very supportive and on-the-ball. Prior to Flickerstate’s release, they sent me to the Texas Library Association conference in March and the American Library Association conference in June, which gave me the chance to discuss Flickerstate with many lovely librarians and sign advance copies for them. I also personally gave the main branch of my county library one of my hardcover author copies in hopes they’d buy Flickerstate. I’ve since learned that they bought two hardcover copies, two ebooks, and the audiobook, which makes me very happy. I’d love to do more library events, but I still need to research what opportunities are available.

I’d also love to do school visits. Because Flickerstate came out in August, I haven’t visited any schools yet, but I’ve received a couple invitations, which I fully intend to accept. On that topic, if you are a teacher or a librarian, and you want me to come visit your school or library, you can email me (f.a.davidsonwrites@gmail.com) or DM me on Instagram (@fa_davidson.author)!

What advice would you give to writers debuting with a young adult novel right now?

Keep writing what you love. Keep writing what enlivens your mind. Writing that way won’t guarantee success, but neither will writing what you think the market wants, so why not spend your precious life-hours on projects you enjoy?

And finally: is there a particular hot or iced beverage that has helped you get through launch season?

I’m the worst person to ask this question. I love coffee, but I am not an enlightened connoisseur of coffee—I’ll pour whatever pre-ground, Mr. Coffee-brewed stuff straight into my face-hole.

I guess I have to say Spindrift, the bougiest of flavored seltzers, because it kept me hydrated when I felt too tired and cranky to do anything wellness-related.

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F.A. Davidson is a writer in North Carolina. She is an alum of Viable Paradise and the Tin House YA Workshop. Flickerstate, a young-adult dark academic fantasy, is her debut novel.

Follow F.A. Davidson: Instagram | Linktr.ee | Website

Order Flickerstate: Bookshop.org | Barnes & Noble | Sourcebooks | Libro.fm (Audio!)

Support F.A. Davidson and other authors out there decoding the publishing process, by following, sharing, reviewing, requesting, and/or reading their books (and buying when you can)!

Happy reading & writing!

~Allison

Writer & Marketing Coach
Keep Writing, Keep Connecting! BlueSky | Facebook | Newsletter | Website | Linktr.ee

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Allison Pottern has happily made books her life’s work. She spent four years marketing and publicizing academic titles before she went to work as a children’s bookseller and event coordinator. She is now living her dream: putting her B.A. in Creative Writing to good use as an author and writing/marketing coach for writers. She is a graduate of the 2023 Viable Paradise workshop and her short fiction can be found in Strange Horizons, Haven Spec, Tales from the Moonlit Path, and Trollbreath, among others. She enjoys science fiction, dark chocolate, and a hot cup of tea.

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Greetings readers & writers,

I know the word “Books” is in the name. I know much of the newsletter has centered around me writing, revising, querying, and subbing a novel. Publishing an anthology. Talking with others who’ve published books. Hanging out in bookstores. Yes, it’s a whole thing.

But the way things are working out, I’m currently in my short fiction era. In addition to two stories that released in February, I had one published in May and a poem and a story slated to release this fall (stay tuned!) It feels wild to be at a moment in my career when I am both working on and publishing stories at the same time.

Especially when a whole lot of chaos is going down in the speculative short fiction writing community right now.

Yes, it’s about generative A.I.

Earlier this month, indie publisher Bona Books broke the story of how they realized they’d unknowingly bought a story written using A.I. and named names. One of those names, Bella Chacha, quickly turned out to be the probable alias of a person publishing A.I.-derived stories under several different names and identities. While this is not an inherent problem—authors often write under pen names and there there are outlets that take A.I. fiction—what broke the SFF short story industry wide open is the fact that Bella Chacha’s (and their various pseudonyms’) stories were accepted, not just by Bona Books, but by more than a dozen paying (and selective) speculative fiction outlets that have strong stances against A.I. in fiction, poetry, essays, etc. and refuse to publish anything written using it.

This comes shortly after a similar debacle with Granta and the Commonwealth short story prize, where a winner was accused of using A.I. to write their story (Granta refused to publish the story; Commonwealth sided with their jury). A.I. already came for self-published romance novels. It’s been coming for SFF short stories for a while, but seemed to be mostly contained to the slush pile.

Now its breached containment.

My feelings are complicated. I have been incredibly fortunate with publications this year, but that didn’t happen in a vacuum. I’ve been writing for thirty years, and short fiction in it’s various forms for the majority of that (which, honestly, is wild to think about too) and only in the last few years have reached a stage where my short fiction is developed enough and I have the right mindset to consistently pursue publication. And some of my stories happen to align with the taste of editors.

So for someone to seemingly stroll out here with machine-generated stories… yeah, it feels like a kind of betrayal. Speculative fiction is one of the few genres that pays for short stories, but those opportunities are sustained by a dedicated readership, aspiring writers, and editorial teams who mostly don’t get paid themselves, but do it for the love of the genre. Hell, at this level we all do it for the love of the genre. And it feels like maybe this person knew enough of the genre to wade in, but didn’t care enough to follow the guidelines, to honor the work. Didn’t respect the editors’ time, nor their fellow writers’ efforts.

It’s especially maddening that this person seems to have figured out a “yes” formula for publication. Up until now, it’s been pleasantly naïve of me to imagine publication as something too ineffable for A.I. to crack — the whims and skills of respected editors + unique, good quality writing + discerning markets. But this gaming of the system reveals that editorial tastes can be machine-predictable. It shows editors may not have the time, energy, or resources to read a story deeply enough to identify the lack of human authorship. And that fiction is something generative A.I. can imitate successfully—or successfully enough. Which is all kind of depressing.

As I’ve been wrapping my head around what this all means, I’ve been thinking a lot about literary hoaxes. And boy, were there a lot in the early 2000s. There was JT Leroy, the literary wunderkind in a wig and sunglasses that befriended celebrities and the literary elite, before being outed either as an extremely elaborate con or radical, queer performance art depending on your perspective. And James Frey, remember him? Who broke Oprah‘s heart when it came out that his best-selling memoir was severely embellished? Who’s book had, in fact, been initially shopped around as fiction, before he and his publisher decided it would do better as memoir? And then there’s the young author of How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild, and Got a Life, an 18-year-old who got a half-million dollar book and movie deal on proposal (alongside her entrance to Harvard) for a YA novel that turned out to be a patchwork of plagiarism and was just as quickly pulped. A book deal arranged through a book packager that may have been trying to exploit her youth and cultural background to create the perfect YA marketing package.

Clearly, there’s no greater sin in publishing than intentionally misrepresenting yourself.

Its easy to ascribe that intention based on how we are most hurt. Were these creators cheating? Seeking quick money/fame through theft, cribbing stories from marginalized experiences for more exposure? Maybe a faulty publishing industry deserves to be undercut by its own self-indulgence. Or editors are too obsessed with high concept stories and/or performative diversity to look too hard at what’s right in front of them. Maybe it’s on us authors for believing that storytelling couldn’t be commandeered, like so many other industries have been, by a soulless machine or a person pretending to be someone they’re not.

All of these points are a little bit true, which makes it easy to grab onto one idea and go about laying blame, whether or not that proves helpful. All the finger pointing during these turn-of-the-millennium hoaxes did little to change the industry, aside from more indemnity clauses in book contracts. They did, however, prompt some important questions that we’re still reckoning with: where do we draw the line between memoir and auto-fiction? How and when should publishers be held accountable for their publications? What “authenticity” does a writer owe their audience? And why do publishers still not have fact checkers?

“The truth is that I — the well-known investigative reporter — had fallen for her hoax because I had fallen in love with her story-telling,” says journalist, author and educator David Weir of JT LeRoy. Weir believed in JT LeRoy because those stories moved him, even if the person behind those stories was duping an entire industry.

This is the truth that we’re reckoning with in the wake of Bella Chacha’s long list of acceptances: A.I.-generated stories were picked up (unknowingly) by respected publishers and we the human creatives are left holding the wig and the sunglasses and going “was there ever a person in there?”

I’ve read a couple of A.I. stories. And while they weren’t brilliant—and though its difficult to admit—they also weren’t terrible? They had, at their heart, some good ideas. The language was often evocative, if sometimes hollow. The stories read like perfectly average, overwrought literary pieces. If you squint a bit. If you don’t read too many of them side by side.

Kevin Young quotes Thomas Mallon in his LitHub book excerpt about literary cons: “Incredibly intimate, ‘plagiarism is a fraternal crime… writers can steal only from other writers.’” Generative A.I. builds off of ideas, forms, language, structures that have been scraped and repurposed from other writers’ work, often illegally or without permission. But these stories feel accessible because you can feel those human fingerprints still in there.

Which is deeply sad to me, but also weirdly reassuring.

I want to believe that the editors who chose these stories chose them for the human work that built them, for the successful ideas humans have created that A.I. is merely repurposing. I want to believe generative A.I. stories are getting harder to detect because we are writing and publishing better stories, not because it’s generating them. That its only going to get harder for generated writing to blend in because of the continued development of our taste and talent. Because the folks using generative A.I. to regurgitate “desirable” fiction to then pass off as non-A.I. assisted work are being equally derivative. Just part of a long line of individuals trying to circumvent parts of the creative or publishing process as a shortcut to publication and readership. Because they are coming to discover what we’ve known all along — that stories have worth.

I know this is rose-colored glasses thinking. I know this doesn’t solve the problems facing publishing right now as it tries to sort out whether the money it thinks it can make from A.I. is worth the souls of it’s authors, or the more functional issues editors face in trying to identify and honor original work, while slogging through submission piles of A.I. slop. It doesn’t make reparations for the work and opportunities stolen from authors whose writing has been scraped or rejected. These are all problems we are going to need to contend with, the important word being “we.”

We—writers, publishers, editors, readers—need to keep talking about the future and the industry we want. A.I. isn’t going away any time soon, so we need to use our speculative skills to plan how we want to contend with it. It’s going to take transparency and information sharing. SFWA is already taking a stand, collating resources. Bona Books has assembled this working draft guide for small presses.

But what I hope my hope does is keep you writing. Not for the magazines or the publishers, and definitely not for the LLMs, but for you. Because these machines, they got nothing on you and your beautiful, creative, humbling, human brain. The world needs human stories, it always has. Stories matter, and you just can’t shortcut your way to ones that really light people up from the inside.

A.I. is just a tool. You are a torch.

Writing/Marketing Links and Resources

The Author’s Guild has put together an action guide for authors who’s books have been challenged or banned. Yes this is still happening. Yes it sucks. Check out Book Riot’s Literary Activism newsletter: here’s a recent round up censorship links and news.

Thanks to for this link to Jim Hanas’s Small Press Insights which aggregates and tracks sales data about small press book sales across a wide range of the market. Find your next indie read!

I recently came across Jed Hartmann’s running list of stories written in response to Le Guin’s classic (and hyper-relevant) “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas.”

If you are looking to dip your toes into speculative short fiction, check out the Ink Foundry’s Free Dynamic Library, developed to connect stories, authors, and readers. Their coolest feature is being able to search by a huge listing of tags so you can explore specific niches that excite you.

I had the extreme pleasure of attending a free Infernal Writing Salon hosted by and Carlos Hernandez, inspired by their TTRPG and generative writing deck, Negocios Infernales. The cards were inspiring and so were these awesome authors! Their next stop is Chicago, but they’ll be back in New England this fall!

Tea Recommendation: Cold Brew

Give yourself the gift of a pitcher of the most delicious, easiest cold brew iced tea ready to go in the morning. The night before: choose your favorite loose tea (check out Harney & Sons Indigo Punch or their Midsummer Peach both of which are 70% off right now!) and add 1 oz of tea leaves (or 1 cold brew sachet) to a 1/2 gallon of cold, filtered water. Put in the fridge to steep overnight and strain in the morning. Then pour yourself a glass, over ice of course, for a perfect sip of summer.

Enjoy the sunshine where you can find it. Give some love to short fiction. Maybe buy yourself an ice cream to motivate you to finish that story!

~Allison

speculative fiction writer & marketing coach
Bluesky | Website | Anthology | Linktr.ee

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Like what you read? Thanks so much for your support! Continue to show the love by hitting that heart button, subscribing, leaving a comment, and/or passing it along!

Dear readers and writers,

It is the second day of the second month and I have two stories releasing today from two different magazines.

Both of these stories were submitted in June 2025. One was accepted five months ago, the other only one month ago. Today is the day they are both finally out in the world, free to read (on 2/2, how auspicious!) Boy can publishing can be fast and slow. You can read them, right now, right here:

• “Mother, Darling” (novelette, Strange Horizons)

• “Bootcut” (short story, Haven Spec)

“Mother, Darling” in it’s novelette form, grew out of the Peter Pan-inspired short story that got me into Viable Paradise. At the time, I was trying to decide if I should cut elements or expand. Every fellow writer and instructor I talked to advised the latter. So this story grew from 8,000 words to 10k, to 12k. It’s a story very close to my heart, about the beauty and brutality of motherhood, raising daughters, conformity and identity, of war and lost boys and losing ourselves.

“Bootcut” (short story, Haven Spec) on the other hand, is short, sharp, and dark. It came from the unsettled feeling I get in thrift stores sometimes: who wore these clothes before and what was done in them? Which led to a weird, darkly funny and violent feminist revenge story about maybe, what those clothes could do to you (editor K.A. Roy had some very thoughtful things to say about it). Trigger warning: sexual assault and violence.

I would not have had the confidence to push these stories into their fullness, to dare submit them to some of the biggest names in the SFF short fiction space, if it wasn’t for the support of my writing groups and writing community. I am beyond grateful that these stories are out in the world for readers to experience, and I hope you’ll take a read. And if you like ‘em, pass it on.

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Two things can be simultaneously true: I am brimming with good publication news and there’s too much wrong in the world right now.

Back in 2020, I wrote a post entitled “So Your Book Launch Has Been Cancelled. Now What?” to address the grief that so many of my friends were feeling, not just for the world in general, but for the intimate loss of the ability to celebrate that which they’d worked so hard for. I’ve been thinking about that time a lot lately: the sense of fear, paralysis, the evaporation of joy. I have several writing friends who’ve had books launch this January (shout outs to The Poet Empress, Winter White, and Ballad of the Bone Road*) and we’re all juggling that same feeling: how rough and wrong it feels to share enthusiasm for the launch of new work in the crush of current events: protests, strikes, deaths and arrests, layoffs and A.I. The energy that’s needed to creatively combat tyranny sits right along side the work it takes to make (and manage) art. It doesn’t feel like there’s enough room (or air) for both.

I don’t have a lot of good answers. Except that I try to remind myself that art and stories by humans are still vital to other humans, both as escape and antidote. Our voices matter. Stories matter. Now, more than ever. So does joy.

I was going to write about marketing when things are hard but I realized I’ve already done that (see older posts above!) So instead, here are some simple reminders to take care of yourself and others:

• Share a favorite book with a stranger. There’s no better way to forge connection than through stories. Donate books to little free libraries, chat up a seat companion on the T, leave a review on Goodreads or Amazon.

• Read something you love. I’m just starting the audiobooks of The Expanse series and I’ve got Dungeon Crawler Carl #4 on hold at the library. Read something that brings you comfort or joy. Preferably both.

• Say thank you. Send a love note to those on the ground in Minnesota. Write your favorite author a fan letter. Bring bottles of water to a protest or your local first responders. Write a thank you note to a politician who is holding to your values. Show the folks around you that you appreciate them.

• Check on your friends and neighbors. Call a friend you haven’t spoken to in a while and tell them about a great book you’ve read. Text the friend who’s kid had the flu last week. Bring your neighbor some cookies. Let’s take care of each other.

• Take care of yourself. My friends asked me how I was going to celebrate my stories releasing. I said “by staying in my bathrobe all day.” Do what you need to keep your head above water… which includes drinking water. And eating something. Have you eaten today? Cookies count.

This is how worlds change.

Not all at once. Not through grand declarations, but through small, deliberate acts of creative survival that ripple outward.

When we reclaim our own reality, we help keep reality itself flexible. We keep imagination alive as a shared resource, not a private indulgence. Creativity is not something we do after we survive. It is how we survive.

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Do you have a book releasing into the wilderness right now? Let us shower you with enthusiasm! Share your new release in the comments!

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Bookish Ways to Support Minnesota & A Free Press

Supporting Minnesota Through Literary Activism {BookRiot}

What to Read to Understand the ICE Phenomena {LitHub}

Send a Love Note to Those on the Ground in Minnesota {Stand With Minnesota}

Support Local Journalism {Media and Democracy Project}

Eight Key Concepts of Media Literacy {Assoc. for Media Literacy}

Just a few fun links

Still need a little intention setting for this year? has a lovely, free little Dreams, Themes, and Schemes zine template for your creative and self-care needs.

If you’re a language junkie like me, you’ll love OneLook Thesaurus which doesn’t just find synonyms, but related words, phrases, even song lyrics.

I’ve been having a lot of fun with this non-AI SFFH Title Generator by and have started collecting inspiring titles for poems and flash stories!

put together a Maker’s Challenge Bingo Board for January. Check it out to find some art-making inspiration.

Tea Recommendation

I have been very much into green tea lately and I’ve found a couple of delicious decaf greens that my sensitive stomach can tolerate. One of my favorites is Numi’s Ginger Lemon. Half decaf green, half lemony herbs with a healthy dose of ginger, this is a sweet, spicy, herbaceous cup of sunshine on a cold winter morning.

Stay warm, take care, and take one small action today to support your community. Nolite te bastardes carborundorum.

~Allison

speculative fiction writer & marketing coach
Bluesky | Facebook | Newsletter | Website | Anthology
*book links are affiliate links; any proceeds will go towards a MN book drive

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Like what you read? Thanks so much for your support! Continue to show the love by hitting that heart button, subscribing, leaving a comment, and/or passing it along!

Want to read more by me? Find my fiction in Trollbreath Magazine and New Year, New You: A Speculative Anthology of Reinvention.

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Dear readers and writers,

For the past several years I’ve been “working” on my second novel. I know I just need to write past the first major turning point. Instead, I keep re-writing those first chapters or writing short stories or pecking at other novel ideas. I just need to really figure out where the book starts, I keep telling myself. Or pin down the antagonist. Or add-subtract-multiply the number of POVs. I’m sure I’ll feel like finishing this book tomorrow. Or the next day.

There is a joke among writers, maybe you’ve heard it, that a writer’s house is never so clean as when they have a manuscript due. I’ve talked before about jealousy, imposter syndrome, validation, and the shape of success. But clearly we need to talk about procrastination.

Procrastination, it turns out, is about more than just putting things off. It’s actually “delaying a task even though you expect that delay to come at a cost.” {The New York Times}. A lot of the research agrees (and of course, I dug into the research because, see above, procrastination) that the kind of delay tactics that result in a clean house but a blank page, are less about time management, and more about emotional regulation.

Dr. Tim Pychyl, who’s studied procrastination and mindfulness, talks about how procrastinators go for the quick hit of relief we get from postponing an unpleasant or anxiety-producing task, even if it means our future self will bear the brunt of the consequences. We like to hope we will “feel like” doing the task tomorrow, without taking into account how the circumstances making our present-selves reluctant to engage will likely still be present later. Dr. Ruchi Sinha talks about many of the reasons we might procrastinate our work: fear, decision paralysis, overwhelm, perfectionism, resistance, even boredom. Procrastination can be a self full-filling prophecy—the more an action is delayed, the harder it becomes to complete, whether out of changing circumstances, guilt, or embarrassment (or all three, as was the case for the long delay on this newsletter!)

I used to think procrastination was part of my process and, often, my success. That I “worked best under pressure.” But that’s a falsehood many of us over-achievers have been sold. Studies have shown that procrastination actually tends to worsen results, even if the individual procrastinators think they did great. But really, the anxiety of the time pressure just supersedes the anxiety that’s causing the procrastination. The work only happens under pressure because I am, in fact, working, and not delaying.

So at this beginning of a new year, I’m working. On my novel, on this newsletter, and on techniques to help me manage or work around my procrastination tendencies. Here’s how:

• Identifying the root of the resistance. Sometimes just acknowledging what makes the work feel difficult is enough to break through the procrastination inertia. With this newsletter, once I admitted to myself it was more about embarrassment and all the things I “should” be doing, I realized I could write my next post specifically about this struggle.

• Disconnecting from social media. Social media feeds off our attention, which is a finite resource these days. I know I’m really procrastinating when I keep compulsively checking my email or switching to my Bluesky tab. My attention is too precious for that. That’s when I close out my browser and go full-focus mode.

• Seeking support. When procrastination turns to paralysis, the only thing that really works for me is asking for help. Sometimes it’s talking through a problem with my spouse; other times it’s seeking accountability in one of my writing or friend groups. I’ve found “body doubling” or co-working (virtual or IRL) to be super helpful too.

• Making it feel more manageable. Last year I started color-coding my weekly to-do tasks to different days of the week, based on priority and deadlines. For big projects, I break them down into the smallest steps I reasonably can. That way, even if my daily to-do list looks long, it consists of smaller, more approachable bits that allow me to progress on the big things while still spreading out the work. I’m not always on top of this, but when I am, it helps. Similar strategies include the pomodoro or the swiss-cheese methods.

• Taking breaks and treating yo’ self. Take a walk or meditate for ten minutes. Make yourself a cup of tea. Call a friend. Go to the gym. Have a handful of M&Ms. Any of these can be much needed breaks or small rewards you map out for yourself throughout the day or a project. There’s definitely the satisfaction of a completed task, but sometimes we need little boosts (or breaks) to get us there.

This January, I’ve roped some fellow writers into an accountability group as we each, in our own way, slog through wherever we are in our noveling process. Knowing I’m reporting to and supporting them means that I’m actually building an outline, slowly but surely. I’ve figured out some important character motivations. And maybe this book has three antagonists. Look, I don’t know yet. And that’s ok. The point is I’m working on it. Now, not someday. Well, ok, after, I hit send on this newsletter.

Which I’m doing. Right now. Despite the fact that it’s so so late and has not been revamped at all and I’m releasing it on a random Friday morning. Sometimes you can’t wait for all the stars to align; you just have to do the damned thing.

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How do you handle work that you’ve put off? Share you favorite strategies!

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Second Star on the Right and Straight on to Publication!

I am beyond thrilled to share that my novelette, “Mother, Darling” will be published online by the award-winning speculative magazine Strange Horizons in early February, and in audio later this year. A grown-up Wendy Darling returns to Neverland to drag back her recalcitrant daughter while contending with memories of childhood, magic, war, and mothering. An earlier draft of this story is what got me into Viable Paradise in 2023 and it’s one I’m super proud of. You’re the first to officially hear about it’s upcoming release! Stay tuned!

Short Story Submission Resources

I sent out 31 short story submissions in 2025, a record for me! These (free! but worth supporting!) sites and newsletters have become indispensable in my quest to publish short fiction:

• (listing includes seminars, classes, and open calls!)

• (extensive monthly list of free-to-sub opportunities that includes residencies & contests)

• (spec fic focused; love that she includes her own experience with subbing to the magazines she lists!)

• Published to Death (exhaustive list of upcoming calls for short fiction, novels, contests, anthologies, everything. Bookmark if you haven’t already!)

• (one monthly free listing, rest behind a paywall, includes job & volunteer opportunities)

• Chill Subs (new, hip submission tracker that sends newsletters with listings & tips)

• The Submission Grinder(the OG submission tracker, esp for spec fic!)

New Year, New Cover

January is the very best time to pick up a copy of our now award-winning anthology New Year, New You: A Speculative Anthology of Reinvention with it’s gorgeous new cover (designed by yours truly!) Available in ebook and paperback!

Writing/ Marketing Resources

If you aren’t already subscribed to Book Riot’s Literary Activism newsletter, I highly recommend it to stay on top of censorship issues facing books, libraries, and publishing. Check out their Top Literary Activism Stories from 2025.

has a great Media Guide for Authors where she assesses the way different forms of media cover books.

In late 2025, it came to light that many publishers had gotten lax at filing for copyright on behalf of their authors. Writers Beware has a lot of great resources at that link and you can check your own book’s copyright here.

If you’re looking to create a regular, simple writing practice, fan of the newsletter, Rebecca, recommends 750words.com. “The idea is just getting in the habit of putting words on paper/screen to ease the flow of ideas out of our brains. They offer a few prompts or fun badges if you get into streaks, but really keep it as simple as possible.”

Tea Recommendation: Gleam’s Glow

One of the great tragedies of falling behind on my newsletter posts is I have discovered tea purveyors that I haven’t gotten to squee about to you yet. Friday Afternoon Tea is a small, geeky, LGBTQ+ tea company based out of Seattle. I’ve been really into low-caffeine green tea options lately, and Gleam’s Glow (thanks mom!) fits the bill: a delightful blend of toasty roasted green tea and nutty rooibos, with the subtle sweetness of ginger. It’s also a fandom blend based off of one of my favorite middle-grade books, Catherynne M. Valente’s Fairyland series!

Pick a small task from that burden of a to-do list and do it. Right now. Swap the laundry. Write that email. Wash the dishes. Eat a piece of fruit. Open your novel document. Know that I’m cheering you on and plunging in along side you!

~Allison

speculative fiction writer & marketing coach
Bluesky | Facebook | Newsletter | Website | Anthology

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Like what you read? Thanks so much for your support! Continue to show the love by hitting that heart button, subscribing, leaving a comment, and/or passing it along!

Want to read more by me? Find my fiction in Trollbreath Magazine, New Year, New You: A Speculative Anthology of Reinvention, and forthcoming in Strange Horizons.

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Dear readers and writers,

I took stock, recently, of my vast tea collection, at least the no/low-caffeine ones that I drink most often. It made me wonder how many teas I had recommend here over the past five and a half years.

Turns out, I have recommend over 40 teas. Embarassingly, I was under the misapprehension that I drink a wide variety of teas, that, with the exception of caffeine, I am tea agnostic. But you will be unsurprised to see, even from just a quick skim, that I in fact gravitate towards the same flavors over and over: rooibos, tulsi, ginger, elderberry, hibiscus, lemon balm, berries, stonefruits, botanicals, warm spices. But if a stranger asked me what type of tea I drink, I would probably answer “Oh, anything herbal or low caffeine.”

Yeah, sure. Chappell Roan doesn’t have a type either.

@callherdaddyDaddy gang, tag someone that applies @chappell roan

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I think we generalize our “type” for three reasons: 1) we don’t want to close off opportunities to buck our usual tastes; 2) we want to seem flexible, versatile, unbiased, open, regardless of if we actually are; a/o 3) we haven’t taken the time to interrogate what we like and why. But there’s something magical that happens when we get specific.

As part of the small group session I taught for the winner of my October giveaway, I had the pleasure of working with an established writing group. Since they were already familiar with one another’s work, I prompted them to describe each other’s specific writing style and voice. This exercise generated heart-felt, thoughtful, and nuanced insight — and a lot of warm fuzzy feelings. It also helped to crystallize taste, both that of the reader (what they admire) and of the writer (what and how they like to write). I encouraged these writers to make note of those descriptions of their work through others’ eyes, especially any that resonated. This is the stuff branding is made of. Plus, it’s the warm coals of encouragement that get a writer through seasons of rejection.

Specificity also makes writing pop off the page. Even if the details aren’t ones your reader has experienced, the specificity is. A character may “not like vegetables,” or they may “refuse to eat anything green except in spring, when they could buy fresh asparagus, to eat lightly steamed and drizzled with butter.” Which of those descriptions opens the mind, the senses? Which tells us more about the character?

I went through a period of reading everything I could by Margaret Atwood. When you read a writer’s full body of work, the themes they’re interested in rise to the surface. Across multiple books, stories, essays, and poems, in addition to the big themes Atwood is known for regarding women, the patriarchy, etc. there were also repeated images of ominous ravines; childhood bullies and friendships; unsettling family secrets; and settings (real and metaphysical) of wilderness that characters got lost in, fought their way out of, or decided to embrace. It gave me a deeper appreciation for her work, an insight into the creative wells she revisits again and again.

When I’m asked what I write, I usually answer “science fiction and fantasy” or “speculative fiction” even though I also write things with no magic or future-setting. If I was to take an inventory of the Writing folder of my hard drive, I know exactly the kinds of stories fragments you’d find there: grief; hauntings; mental health and neurodivergence; sibling relationships; motherhood and mothering; personhood and sentience; birds; technology; heritage; evocative settings; religion; time travel; freedom of choice; questions of gender. Some of my writings are serious, some are silly, some are angry or melancholy or tongue-in-cheek. All of them are me.

I suppose any writer’s oeuvre is like a Rorschach blot test: a way to identify the writer’s perception of and approach to story and subjects. Recognizing my preferred themes and style helps me figure out how to start new works and where I need to push myself. Can I write something that’s about choice and hauntings, that’s tongue-in-cheek, and also… horror? Can I write a story about heritage and family that doesn’t have a speculative element? How many times (and in how many different ways) is a person allowed to write about futuristic cars?

Answers: Yes. Why not? And as many times as you want.

So I say: don’t worry if you keep gravitating towards the same flavors. Your palate will keep evolving (and still love it’s favorites). Each steep is a little different. Drink from the cup that fills you.

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What kind of stories do you like to tell or tea do you like to drink? Share your “type” in the comments!

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Ebook Flash Sale

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a 300-page ebook for only $0.99! That’s right, New Year, New You is on super-sale this week. So if you didn’t get a chance to pick up this project I’ve been yelling about for a year, now. is. the. time!

Buy Now for Only $0.99!

Locus Awards

It’s speculative fiction award nomination season and I’d love to throw my hat in the ring. Would you please consider nominating my projects for a 2025 Locus Award? Voting is open to anyone and closes April 15th. You can use the write in option to nominate my anthology for Best Anthology (New Year, New You: A Speculative Anthology of Reinvention, Chris Campbell ed., Immortal Jellyfish Press). or “Cryptid Car Rental” for Best Short Story (by Allison Pottern, at Trollbreath Magazine).

It's voting time!

Writing/ Marketing Resources

• The yawning gap left by the ending of LeVar Burton Reads has finally been filled — Wil Wheaton has taken up the mantle with his new podcast Storytime with Wil Wheaton which will feature readings of speculative short fiction.

• The Authors Guild as a list of actions and resources for protecting your work from unauthorized A.I. use and data scraping.

• Wild Ramp Publishing, a Chicago-based micropress, is offering four $250 grants to cover printing costs for for zines with a disability justice focus. Deadline 4/18.

• Therese Walsh shares how writers can work on overcoming self-defeating beliefs. This is exactly the kind of writing therapy I needed: “The Rational-Irrational Writer” {Writer Unboxed}

The Books, They Need Our Help! Let’s do this!

• It’s National Library Week! Check out the American Library Association’s Show Up for Libraries campaign page for actions you can take in support of federal library funding, patronize your local library, and/or go hug (or thank!) a librarian!

• 21 States Attorney Generals {The Art Newspaper}, as well as ALA and the largest union of museum and library workers, are suing the Trump Adminstration for trying to gut the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Add your voice! {Everylibrary}

• For regular updates on book activism, subscribe to Book Riot’s Literary Activism newsletter.

Tea: All 40 Flavors!

Check out all forty tea recommendations in one place! Let me know if you’ve tried any, which you’re excited about, or what new ones I should check out next!

Pour yourself a hot cup of tea (or your preferred beverage) and call up a friend you haven’t chatted with in awhile. We all need each other right now (and something sweet in our cups).

~Allison

Bluesky | Facebook | Newsletter | Website | Anthology

Like what you read? Thanks so much for your support! Continue to show the love by hitting that heart button, subscribing, leaving a comment, and/or passing it along!

If you’re looking for more of my writing you can find it in Trollbreath Magazine and New Year, New You: A Speculative Anthology of Reinvention

Subscribe now

Greetings readers & writers,

If you were wondering where my February issue was, you were very observant — there wasn’t one. Between sick days and snow storms, I wasn’t able to manage it. I appreciate your patience now that I’m finally coming up for air.

I’ve been wearing my event planner hat a lot recently. There was of course the in-person launch for New Year, New You, but I’ve also been working with a number of coaching clients who are planning for their book launches. And from a personal perspective, I’m soundly in event planner mode for a couple of pretty involved family reunions coming up this spring.Speaking of events, I’ll be participating in a reading this weekend in Baltimore. Details below! Come say hi!

All this is to say, over the years I’ve encountered a lot of misconceptions about author events. So let’s bust some event myths:

My publisher will set up all my events for me, so why even think about this stuff?

If you’re traditionally published, you will likely have a marketing department at your disposal, but depending on the budget they’ve allotted for promoting your book, a book tour likely won’t be on the table. A good publicist may help you book events but most authors I’ve worked with, whether trad-pubbed or indie, have had to do the majority of launch event planning themselves. This isn’t a bad thing! It means you have control over the details in a way an out-of-state publicist may not.

Any bookstore would be happy to host my launch event!

Every author imagines the day when they will be lauded at their local bookstore. But bookstores are businesses run on very slim margins. Not all bookstores are set up to host events. And the ones that can? They want your event to succeed as much as you do – which may be why they tell you ‘no.’ Think of it like online dating: make sure you pick someone with whom you have more in common than just being attractive book lovers (though there’s nothing wrong with being an attractive book lover). If you take the time to familiarize yourself with local stores, you’ll know which could be the best fit for your needs and vise versa.

Bookstores are the only place worth hosting book events.

While bookstores are wonderful, supportive spaces for authors, they aren’t the only ones! Libraries, community centers, schools, places of worship, even local businesses can be fruitful event opportunities and partners. All of these options have different strengths. Consider the book you’re writing and its key audiences. Who are you writing for and where do they congregate?

My event venue does its own marketing so I can sit back, relax, and wait for the audience to show up.

The venue that’s hosting you – school, library, bookstore – might have a wider marketing reach than you, but it’s not nearly as deep. Your friends, family, and biggest fans may only know to come to your event if you inform them… and remind them. YOU are your best marketing tool. So hustle!

It’s a book reading, so I just read from my book, right?

Sure, but unless you’re already well-known, that’s not going to get people in the door. In the age of social media, readers and fans are looking to engage with authors. They want to hear your writing but they also want to hear about your writing. Share your expertise, your publishing journey, your writing tips. Make ‘em laugh (or cry). A good impression will sell books now and in the future.

I have to host my launch event on my publication date or it doesn’t count!

Look, the publication date is designed to help coordinate marketing efforts, and yes, your launch event is part of that. But sales-heavy events that week are only critical if you’re shooting for a NYT Bestseller List. Realistically, most authors won’t hit the NYTBL and sometimes you’re given a crummy pub date — like the day after Christmas, for example (true story!)— or life gets in the way of a timely launch. The important thing, when it comes to events, is that you plan them for when and where your readers/supports can come. It can help if it’s in that first few months post-release because you’ll get a boost from any additional pub date-related marketing and your book is still considered “new.” But hell, we did our IRL launch four months after the book released and we had an incredible turnout.

My book came out two years ago so there’s no reason for me to do events until my next one is published.

While events focused on just your book may not get as much traction two years out, there are still ways to stay relevant in the book world. Find ways to collaborate with authors that do have newly released titles or host events tangential to your book where you can still sell copies and spread your good name. The more involved you are in your community, the better the turn out will be for your next publication.

I don’t have a book published so obviously I can’t participate in a “book” event.

Hey now, don’t sell yourself short. Even if you don’t have anything to launch, consider how you might participate in your local literary community. Are there events you could volunteer at or assist in planning? Could you moderate a panel? Share/promote local book events? Finding ways to participate in your local literary community will stand you in good stead when the time comes to step on stage yourself.

Writing/Marketing Resources:

• It’s tax season… I’m so sorry. Luckily, The Author’s Guild has got your back with their annual, free Q&A: Tax Tips for Authors 2025 webinar.

• Thanks to for this link to Cyndia Faria’s advice for turning a one-sentence hook into a short book pitch.

• shared with me this extremely comprehensive ”Ranking of 500-ish Literary Magazines for Short Fiction” by author and editor Erika Krouse.

• Speaking of Joy, check out her recent newsletter on 14 Tips on Writing Speculative Fiction { )

• If you’re not hip to the book blogger lingo, no worries, middle grade author Nicole M. Hewitt has a glossary of book blogger terms and slang to get you started.

Speaking of events…

This weekend I’m psyched to be part of Charm City Spec’s quarterly reading series in Baltimore! I’ll be reading from my story “All the Time in the World and None at All” alongside fellow anthology contributors Brigitte Winter and Catherine Castellani, as well as two other speculative fiction novelists. We’ll be at Bird in Hand Cafe & Books on Saturday, March 22nd at 6:30pm. Come on down!

Industry News

• Acclaimed fantasy author Terry Brooks announces surprise retirement, and passes Shannara series to Delilah S. Dawson {Popverse}

• Zando, the independent publisher founded by Molly Stern in 2020, has acquired the highly respected literary press, Tin House {Publishers Weekly}

• Six Indie Publishers Join Forces to Form The Stable Book Group {PW}

• Spotify launches a program to publish audiobooks from independent authors {TechCrunch} Unclear if these audiobooks would use human or A.I. narration. You can read more about their audio publication options here.

• Netgalley is restructuring in anticipation of it’s launch of Booktrovert, “a standalone consumer marketing platform where readers can celebrate their love of books.”

How Books Need Our Help / How Books Can Help Us

• Library Funding Targeted in New Trump Executive Order: What It Means & What To Do Now {Book Riot}

• Defending the Freedom to Read: A Virtual Workshop Series for Organizers and Authors {PEN America}

• Why I’m Replacing Doomscrolling with Poetry {TIME}

Tea:

Every year, my bookclub does a gift exchange. This year, I received the soothing, botanical tea blend Poet from Curio Spice Co. Named for Emily Dickinson, it’s got my favorite herb, tulsi, along side other lemon-y and floral herbs, and is a sip of spring even on cold March mornings.

Write or read a poem today. Check out your local literary events and/or support your local library. You got this.

~Allison

Bluesky | Facebook | Newsletter | Website | Anthology

Like what you read? Thanks so much for your support! Continue to show the love by hitting that heart button, subscribing, leaving a comment, and/or passing it along!

If you’re looking for more of my writing you can find it in Trollbreath Magazine and New Year, New You: A Speculative Anthology of Reinvention

Subscribe now

It’s been far too long since we’ve had a new releases thread. I want to hear what you’re working on or drawn to right now! Now’s the time to share the newly releasing books, writing, or projects that YOU’RE excited for. Is there a title that’s launching that you just can’t stop talking about? A story that just dropped? A Kickstarter gone live? Did YOU have a book or project release this season (toot your own horn!!)?

Drop your favorite (or your own!) Winter 2024/25 release(s) in the comments below!

Leave a comment

Word of mouth is an author’s best marketing tool, so be sure to share this thread with other readers/writers/launching authors. Spread the love!!

My most recent project is this a small group, 5-week virtual marketing workshop I’ll be teaching through The MetroWest Writers Guild starting this Thursday, January 30th at 7:30PM ET. This is an incredible deal: nearly 8 hours of my best marketing seminars folded together to educate, brainstorm, and build strategies around book marketing designed for YOU, for only $150. You do not have to have a book or a book contract to take this course! It’s designed for anyone looking to learn about the marketing engine of publishing. There are a couple slots left but registration closes TODAY! Register here!

Can’t wait to hear what you’re reading/up to!

~Allison

This summer I wanted the peach tree in my front yard to have some extra protection against disease, a little boost to help it thrive. I gave it a little professional TLC and when that resulted in bountiful blooms, I tied organza bags around about a third of the small, green fruits that emerged. The tree has gotten to be probably 10 - 12 feet tall. I figured that would leave some for me and plenty for the birds. We set the automatic watering and went on a long family trip.

I returned to discover organza is no match for an intrepid squirrel and his baby bunny sidekicks. How could I be upset? It was baby bunnies. Honestly, there was a touch of relief. I no longer had to be vigilant, worried that something would happen to the tree’s tiny fruits. Instead, nature had, quite literally, taken it’s course. The tree itself was healthy and robust and there were still a few peaches (and organza bags) hanging on, but the squirrels and windy weather made short work of them.

So I let it be and instead bought pricey local peaches at the farm stand, four or five at a time, letting them ripen on the counter.

That is, until we went to Maine and my brother-in-law showed up with grocery bags full of fresh picked peaches from the trees he tended in his backyard. Heaps of ripe peaches, so many we had to sort through them daily for the ones rotting before we could eat them. We made peach crumble and cobbler and put them in yogurt and smoothies and ate them with every meal. They were juicy and delicious and I could never get sick of them.

A part of me felt sad, maybe a little bit resentful. Why were his trees so productive and mine never even got the chance to ripen? But it’s hard to feel bitter when your mouth is full of sweet, homegrown stone fruit. Our trees grew and bloomed in entirely different circumstances — how could I expect them to have the same result? And I knew how much effort went into caring for fruit trees, yet here was my BIL sharing in his overabundance, his success, expecting nothing in return except, well, helping to find creative ways to consume a few dozen peaches.

Last year, I moderated a panel of writers who shared their experiences editing their novels under the auspices of agents and traditional publishers. These were, for the most part, authors who’d gotten their agents (and in some case book deals) only in the last year. Enviable! Yet they offered up their time and knowledge to their writing community, and in sharing their success, made it more likely for the rest of us to benefit and succeed as well.

Success doesn’t always look the way we think it will. Sometimes it takes longer or comes in a different size or shape than we’d hoped. The two things I published in 2025 were not on my writerly bingo card, if you’d asked me more than a year ago. I had hoped for a new novel draft, maybe an agent, or some serious short fiction publications. Instead, I found a way to bloom in the soil I found myself in.

By the end of August, the peach tree was surrounded by shredded organza bags and peach pits and utterly bare of fruit... except for two sad-looking peaches which had managed to stay clinging to the tree, shrouded in faded green organza, no matter the weather or wildlife assault. They looked too green and too water-stressed to be edible; I was convinced they’d be rotten inside.

But I cut them open anyway, and inside, they were perfect. And there was just enough for each member of my family to have a slice.

Other inspirational peach posts:

It’s Party Time

It’s finally happening: our in-person launch event for New Year, New You is NEXT WEEK at Porter Square Books on January 16th at 7pm!

We have an amazing line-up of authors and guests, including Elizabeth Bear, Chris Campbell, Brigitte Winter, Nick DePasquale, Max Gladstone (moderating), Scott Lynch (emcee!) and, of course, yours truly. There will be kitschy New Year swag, snacks, and speculative stories. You can RSVP with Porter Square Books to help us plan or pre-order a signed book if you can’t make it. Hope to see you there!

2024 Round-up

My Did-Do List of 2024

• Turned 40!

• Co-published and contributed to a successfully Kickstarted short story anthology

• Finished writing 4 short stories; started at least 3 others

• Sent out 20 short story submissions (mostly rejections, but still!)

• Was published in Trollbreath Magazine twice: Cryptid Car Rental | An Interview with Editor Chris Campbell

• Read and gave feedback on 1000+ pages of writing as part of manuscript reviews and writing groups

• Taught four seminars this year with the Metrowest Writer’s Guild, Grub Street, and University of Denver

• Published 20 issues of this newsletter!

• Started working with speckled clay in the pottery studio

• Re-vamped my website

• Still working on a novel

• Attended a personal writing retreat at Highlights

Links You Loved in 2024

• 19 Writing Conferences for Emerging and Established Writers {Electric Lit}

• Why Are Debut Novels Failing to Launch? {Esquire}

• Rebecca Solnit: How to Comment on Social Media {LitHub satire, my friends!}

• Fee-Free Writing Residencies {Erika Driefus}

• Octavia Butler Told the Future {The Atlantic}

Best of Books, Marketing & More 2024

• Seeking Validation + publication, a workshop, & summer loves

• Making the Most of Conferences

• Tips to Crowdfund Your Book

• Revision and Re-vision + opening lines, literary equity, & newsletters

• A Genre Unto Herself + genres, grants, & great upheavals

Hold strong, new beginnings are tough. I’m so glad you’re here and can’t wait to see what you make this year.

~Allison

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Like what you read? Thanks so much for your support! Continue to show the love by hitting that heart button, subscribing, leaving a comment, and/or passing it along!

If you’re looking for more of my writing you can find it in Trollbreath Magazine and New Year, New You: A Speculative Anthology of Reinvention

Subscribe now

My dear readers and writers,

I started writing a short essay about gardens and creativity metaphors but look, it’s election day, and I was already finding writing difficult as we narrowed toward this particular Tuesday.

I don’t know about you, but sometimes it feels like I’m screaming into the void. Whether it’s trying to market a new book or getting form rejections or writing and rewriting the same damn chapters or trying to get people to vote or trying to make any kind of positive change. I’m hoarse, friends, and I bet you are too.

I don’t have a prescriptive solution, only to say that I try to hold a few glowing embers close: that more positive things come of community than negative; that stories are worth telling; that hope and despair can’t exist without one another; and that change can happen, when we show up for it.

So, remember to take a breath (thank you, ). Listen to Vienna Teng’s empowering musical triptych “We’ve Got You” (really, you’ll come away changed) and write or read something today that you find beautiful.

Maybe you want to (or need) help:

• Pizza to the Polls

• Get Out the Vote — Day-of Resources

• Election Protection— Hotlines and Resources {Common Cause}

• Know Your Voting Rights {ACLU}

• How to Avoid Sharing Election Misinformation {NPR}

• How to Stay Grounded Throughout This Election { Stone Soup}

Something to read if you don’t want comfort, you just want change:

I just finished re-reading Embassytown by China Miéville and while this book isn’t for everyone (it is a dense, visceral, wild ride) it felt like exactly the book I needed to read right now. Meaty, complex, incredible world-building, and aliens that feel truly alien. I felt a little bit lost the whole time but like, in a good way. Who isn’t feeling a bit lost right now, to be real? But this is also a story about the power of language and symbolic thought to change a society, and the ways, both intellectual and brutal, that individuals and groups can be de-programmed, though it requires fundamental change.

But like, also you deserve delicious comfort:

We’ve been making these Pumpkin Donuts every chance we get. We prefer them as little donut muffins, rolled in butter and cinnamon sugar. Easier to eat more that way. They come together in under an hour and are all kinds of allergy-friendly. And they’re delicious. Ok, I may have to go make some now.

You also deserve nice (free!) things!

I wanted to gently remind you that I am giving away a book care package and a marketing/craft seminar. FOR FREE. Because I love my subscribers. And I would love for one of these free things to go to you!

• A FREE New Year, New You care package, including the anthology (signed by moi) and exclusive swag! Comment with how your new year resolutions are going/being planned (or your general feeling on resolutions) to be entered in the random drawing!

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• A FREE 90-minute small group session. I never give these away, because they’re a lot of work but you’re so worth it! You choose the topic, I bring the lessons, and we’ll have an intimate learning session together (up to 8 participants). If you’re interested, please fill out this quick form. Don’t self reject! There’s never as many people who enter these things as you think!

Small Group Giveaway

A poem to maybe break your heart a little and put it back together:

Your voice matters. Keep making your art. And make sure your voice is heard.

~Allison

Like what you read? Thanks so much for your support! Continue to show the love by hitting that heart button, subscribing, leaving a comment, and/or passing it along!

If you’re looking for more of my writing you can find it in Trollbreath Magazine and New Year, New You: A Speculative Anthology of Reinvention

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It was around age thirty that I decided I was going to start writing a novel for real. If not now, when? I also resolved that I would try to have a book contract by forty. Historically, my self-imposed writing deadlines were, shall we say, less than realistic. “Novel published by age sixteen” was never going to come to fruition the way I wanted it to, not in the 90’s. So giving myself a decade to write a novel and get it picked up by a publisher seemed eminently reasonable. Gratuitous, even.

For those who have been following for a while now, you know that goal seemed close enough to touch, in 2019. I had a finished manuscript, an enthusiastic agent, and my book was on sub. That was the same year I decided to start this newsletter.

Then the pandemic hit. The publishing landscape changed. Publishers went radio silent. My agent’s ability to show up for me disintegrated. And my ability to write in the same nose-to-the-grindstone way felt more and more futile. This newsletter was a life line, a place where I could show up, write a little something, and help writers connect with each other and the industry. But that dream of a book-before-forty seemed impossible. I had run a good part of the publishing gauntlet and been sent back to the starting line. I wasn’t sure I could make it the rest of the way, especially not by the big 4 - 0.

Then last fall, at age 39, one of my new Viable Paradise friends floated the idea: what if we put together an anthology?

So turns out I did get to publish a book just as I enter this new decade, but it doesn’t look like how I thought it would. It’s not a novel and it’s not traditionally published. It didn’t require an agent, only a team of enthusiastic, invested writers with enough know-how and try-hard energy to figure out how to publish it ourselves. But it is the gift that keeps on giving — allowing me to bring all my publishing and marketing-know-how to bear on a project I care about; to write a short story that may be one of the best things I’ve written; to get the courage to write and publish elsewhere; to feel like a meaningful member of my writing groups again. To realize that all these years of developing community and professional relationships does pay off. And that I get to share a table of contents will some pretty brilliant writers.

My friends, it’s finally here: New Year, New You is officially available to order pretty much where ever you like to buy your books. If you backed our Kickstarter waaaaay back in February, you should be getting your rewards soon, if you haven’t already.

So in honor of my big birthday and this book’s big birthday AND this newsletter’s birthday, I’ve got some gifts:

Free, for you, right now:

• Of course, I definitely see this story as my gift to the world. If you haven’t read it yet, enjoy!

• Check out the exclusive audio excerpt (above) of the opening pages of my anthology story, “All the Time in the World and None at All.” Subscribers who supported New Year, New You during its inception received the full version! If you too supported the book (backed the kickstarter! pre-ordered! shared on socials! added to your Goodreads TBR!) but just forgot to send me proof (or to subscribe!) I still want to send the full audio your way, so please reach out! In the meantime, enjoy this taste of what my story (and the collection) have in store.

Giveaways

• I’m giving away a FREE New Year, New You care package, including the custom jellyfish bookmark and calendar that were only available to Kickstarter backers, plus some other goodies. Comment on this post with how your new year resolutions are going (no matter how gentle) or what ones you plan to make in 2025 to be entered in the random drawing for book + swag!

Leave a comment

• Finally, because this is a big birthday, I am giving away one 90-minute small group session. You can choose from several different publishing topics (Voice, Audience, Paths to Publishing) or craft topics (Spec Fic v. Lit Fic, Worldbuilding, Language) and I’ll teach you and seven of your closest bookish buddies all about it, along with exercises and discussion. If you’re interested, please fill out this quick form. Don’t self reject! There’s never as many people who enter these things as you think!

Small Group Giveaway

Want to give me a gift?

• Share about the anthology: add it to your Goodreads, request it be added to your local library, recommend it to a friend or on social media, and/or, if you love it, be sure to leave a review (Goodreads | Amazon)

• Refer a friend to this newsletter

• Make sure you’re registered to vote

• Donate to Hurricane Helene & Hurricane Milton relief efforts.

• Call a friend you haven’t spoken to in a while, just to say hi.

• Read a poem that fills you up (some faves: Fall | I Saw Myself | The Quiet World)

• Take care of yourself <3

  

Hope you’re able to give yourself the gift of a little TLC this week. Thanks for being here.

~Allison

Writer & Marketing Coach
Keep Writing, Keep Connecting! Substack | Facebook | Website | BlueSky | Anthology

Like what you read? Thanks so much for your support! Continue to show the love by hitting that heart button, subscribing, leaving a comment, and/or passing it along!

Share

This story grew out of two writing prompts we were given at Viable Paradise: 1) a tchotchke I was given on our first night which, for me, was a hot wheels car, and 2) the name of a fake anthology for which we were writing our story: Traveling with Monsters.

I immediately knew my story had to be about a car rental gone sideways. But the more I tried to write a Christine knock-off, the more I lost interest. I had this other idea — it seemed a little goofy, but it sparkled. But did I have the writing chops to write humor? I asked my instructors: should I write this scary or funny? And they said: which would be more challenging? Do that.

I like to believe I have a good sense of humor. But I don’t often let it lose in my fiction. But once I decided I was just going to have fun, it came easily. I didn’t take it too seriously (that’s the point!) and just did my thing.

And people loved it. When we were given time to go around and read one another’s stories, I kept hearing people dying with laughter on the other side of the room. “Who ever wrote that story is killing it,” a classmate whispered to me. Me. It was my story.

I want to read it too!

I’m still shocked and amazed that other people get it, that the humor speaks to them, that me, writing humorously and joyously, can still get me taken seriously. Every new way I do this work of storytelling surprises me.

A huge thanks to Trollbreath Magazine for taking a chance on me, as well as Viable Paradise and all it’s instructors, staff, and my generous classmates. If you’re wondering if you should write that odd little thing that’s been sitting in the back of your mind, the answer is yes. Do it. I can’t wait to read it.

Happy Friday y’all.

~Allison

Greetings readers & writers,

I try not to be too prescriptive when it comes to marketing (and writing!) advice. Everyone’s career, project, and needs are different — you know what works best for you as a creative, a business person, and an overall human. However, there’s one thing I tell every writer that they need to have. Yes, you need to have a website.

Caveat: a website can look like a lot of different things. Primarily, it needs to be a static place online where people can find information about you and your work. But that can mean a linktr.ee or carrd.co page; it can be a Facebook or Goodreads author page; it can be a Substack page, a blog, or a website (of any level of complexity) with your own domain name.

I recently spent some time (ok, A LOT of time) creating a new website for myself. I liked my old website — it was colorful, professional, and opened up a lot of opportunities. But even though I kept it updated, the site design was ten years old. Wix, the website platform, no longer supported several features I had implemented, so there was no way to edit those pages without entirely recreating them anyway, leading to broken links and old information.

But most importantly, I designed that website for my marketing coaching business almost exclusively. With fiction of mine forthcoming, I wanted to make sure my website reflects who I am now — as a marketing coach and a writer (with a little more emphasis on the writer). I wanted something professional but also a little moody, a little whimsical, to set the tone for the kind of writing I do.

So let me give you a little video tour so I can share my thought process and some tips for creating your own:

In case you don’t have time or access to audio for the video, the key take aways:

At the minimum, your website should have:

• The Home page is where folks are most likely to land. This can be an image with links, like mine, it can feature your latest writing or book, or it can be where all your info lives. There should be a link menu somewhere so people can click to get to the info they want, and be sure to include your socials in a sidebar or on the footer.

• The About page is where people go to find out about you, of course! On my site I have an About Page and a Press Kit page; the first has a more personal writer’s statement/self-description, while the second has my carefully written bios for use by media and marketing partners. You don’t have to have separate pages, but I find it’s helpful to have both a personal statement and a professional bio.

  Other things that can live here: endorsements or praise for your work; upcoming events; links to publications. These can all be separate pages if you prefer.

• The Contact page is how people can get in touch with you. Include a contact form or your email; if you have a publicist, you can list them instead as your publicity contact. This is where you can also link to your social media, newsletter, other businesses or websites, etc.

All of these pages can be one giant page! Some people like that scrolling action! But I think it’s helpful to still have an easy-to-identify menu bar that lets you go straight to the info you want.

I often get asked: do I need my own domain (aka a url with my name on it)? Honestly, it looks much more professional if you have one, but it isn’t required, especially if you’re just starting out. However, for folks building up their online presence, domains are relatively affordable and make it easier for people to find you online. Most free options still let you build your name/brand into the url for your site (e.g. Facebook.com/allisonpottern)

But Allison, how do I build a website?

There are many of free or low cost platforms, with different levels of complexity for starting. The ones I’ve seen most commonly used are Wordpress, Wix, and Squarespace. The Author’s Guild offers something called SiteBuilder for it’s members too. The trick, if you’re intimidated by web design, is to pick one of the lovely templates that many of these sites have compiled for just such a purpose. In most cases, they’re fill-in-the-blank, drag-and-drop situations. You can customize with your own colors, images, and content without having to do any of the structural work.

If you don’t want to touch building your own website with a ten-foot pole, congrats! You’ve identified the marketing support you need! Seek out a web designer. Reedsy is a great source, or I’ve been asking folks to chime in on Bluesky.

My Trollbreath Magazine story jumps the paywall this Friday, Sept. 27th! “Cryptid Car Rental” is a quirky, funny, heartfelt romp through the comments section of a travel forum, as a young artist tries to vet a questionable car rental company.

(If you are interested in reading it right now, for the low, low price of a web membership, you can support a nascent speculative fiction magazine that clearly has excellent taste and reads a myriad of cools stories and poetry!)

Writing/Marketing Resources:

• Suyi Davies Okungbowa’s essay “Against Performance” is highly relatable and important food-for-thought for creatives trying to run the social-media gaunlet.

• Are you worried you’ll be stranded without a book? Never fear,

  www.iheartbookstores.com is here, with an interactive U.S. map of over 6,000 indie bookstores!

• The Mass Book Awards are now open to submissions! If you don’t have a novel published (SAME), check out the New England Science Fiction Association’s short story contest!

• In case you want to be hip like the kids: BookTok’s 11 Most Talked About Books Of The Year (So Far) {Rolling Stone}

• Bluesky now offers starter packs to give you following options once you join. Here are some great ones for SFF writers! This is also a great article from The Verge on social media platforms and features that aren’t X.

Level-Up Your Language Skills:

There’s still time to sign up for the Metrowest Writer’s Guild Fall Retreat, where I’ll be giving on a session on leveling-up your language skills, with lots of fun, nitty gritty word-choice writing exercises at the lovely Endicott House in Dedham, MA along side some other awesome writers. Come hang and write with us!

Register Here

News

• The National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) organization came under fire earlier this month for a statement claiming that condemning A.I. is both classist and ableist. {Wired} In addition to rejecting this assertion, many authors, as well as members of NaNo’s own “writers board,” accused the organization of catering to it’s A.I. writing-aid sponsor.

• The Booker Shortlist has been announced! {BBC} Any books on here you’re excited to see honored?

• Appeals Court Upholds Decision Against Internet Archive’s Book Scanning Program {Publisher’s Weekly} For more insight into the opposing sides of this issue: Authors Guild Applauds Final Court Decision Affirming Internet Archive’s Book Scanning as Copyright Infringement | Why a ruling against the Internet Archive threatens the future of America’s libraries {MIT Review}

Tea:

My youngest was crestfallen to discover we were out of two tea favorites, which called for a shipment from Newton-based, online tea-purveyor Virtuous Teas. We picked their Rooibos Raspberry Ripple, which proved an excellent choice: with a warm rooibos base, coconut, and raspberry and rhubarb bits, it smells and tastes like a raspberry truffle. Perfect for a fall tea party.

Your voice matters. Keep making your art. And make sure you’re registered to vote.

~Allison

PS: LAST CALL! If you’ve supported my anthology in any way, reply to this email with proof that you supported, purchased, or shared before Oct. 8th to receive an exclusive audio recording of my story (once I’ve recorded it!) for FREE. This is not an official audiobook; just me wanting to say thanks to my subscribers for all your help.

Like what you read? Thanks so much for your support! Continue to show the love by hitting that heart button, subscribing, leaving a comment, and/or passing it along!

Subscribe now

Greetings readers & writers,

Last year in August, I talked about imposter syndrome. This August, I’m sitting with its slippery cousin, external validation.

I’ve talked before about the way I think media feeds young artists (and especially young female and underrepresented artists) the idea that talent and originality are innate traits. Yes, you can develop them further, through a training montage of artistic practice, but you have to have that je ne sais quoi to be worthy of beginning. And the way you know you have it (whatever it is) is because someone else tells you you do.

As grown-ups, most of us know this is all B.S. Nothing is truly original, talent can be developed, and most people want to read exactly quoi they want, not something ineffable. But as writers, we want that ineffable connection — that our readers really get it and see our intent with deep enough appreciation to ask (even pay!) for more. What gets dicey for me is when I hitch my wagon to other people’s opinions. Because “other people’s opinions” can drag my confidence straight into the mud.

There are the two warring ideas I find myself contending with: on the one hand, I shouldn’t need validation for my work, because who cares what other people think? and it’s art, which has intrinsic value! while on the other hand, it is absolutely validation that keeps me writing (and editing and teaching) when words and story feel hard. That rejections are both a badge of honor (who cares! on to the next!) and a wound (why does no one want this? is it just not any good?)

I’m trying, as usual, to find a happy medium: acknowledging for myself all the ways I need external validation to keep going in my work, and the ways in which I don’t. I got three rejections last week, and found out today I’m losing a home for some of my classes. I’m trying not to look at it as a reflection of the work, but of the market. It feels vulnerable to accept the ways even small encouragements or rejections can affect my creativity and drive. I work to balance it out the same way I do professional jealousy: by trying to look at both my acceptances and rejections as a culmination of efforts— efforts that aren’t finished yet.

Am I always successful at being totally chill with whether or not the publishing industry is validating my work? Nah. But I am super grateful for all the ways you keep returning to this newsletter and support my writing. Its a huge reason why I continue doing what I do — because I know these words matter to you. It may seem like a small validation, but to me, its a huge honor.

If you can, find a small way to validate an artist in your life this week. Even the smallest, encouraging comment can be the most wonderous thing. And if you’re a creative, struggling against the tide of external judgement, know this: you are doing great work, no matter the shape it’s taking right now. Let us know what you’re dreaming up so we can cheer you on!

Speaking of validation…

My weird little story about a young artist renting a car from a questionable rental company is being published in the debut issue of the online SFF magazine, Trollbreath. Woot!

If you are interested in getting the whole issue straightaway on Sept. 1st, which I encourage you to do because these folks clearly have excellent taste, you can sign up for a paid membership now and you’ll be the first to read it! Otherwise, it’ll be releasing for free on their website on Sept. 27th. Don’t worry, I’ll remind you :)

Speaking of conferences…

If you’re excited to dip your toe into the literary conference scene + hang with yours truly, check out the Metrowest Writer’s Guild Fall Retreat, located in Dedham, MA with virtual and IRL components. It’s intimate, generative, super approachable, and lovely. Early bird tickets are on sale now!

Register Here

Summer Loves:

• My current favorite bop:

• This podcast about Hans Zimmer, his music studio, and the Dune soundtrack

• Murdicks Fudge

• Rediscovering Tiny Chef

• This spec fic story about talking to whales: Breathing Constellations

• Tim Walz liking science-fiction and maps.

• Peach Rooibos iced tea

• Olympians proposing to each other at the Olympics

• This delicious Vegan Kale Caesar Pasta Salad (though tbh, I add cheese)

• Eating homemade gluten free mozzerella sticks at The Cabin

Food I’m loving right now:

Ok, you know I have a complicated relationship with breakfast. This summer I’ve fallen back in love with an old favorite: yogurt and granola. This time around, it’s Fage greek yogurt stirred with a generous scoop of jam (I’m enjoying Bonne Maman’s Four Fruits at the moment), topped with berries and whatever flavor of Purely Elizabeth granola I’m experimenting with this week. And if I’m feeling real fancy, I’ll drizzle a little nut butter over the granola because WHY THE HELL NOT.

Your art rocks. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

~Allison

PS: If you’ve supported my anthology in any way (including pre-ordering a copy through BackerKit), reply to this email with proof that you supported, purchased, or shared before Oct. 8th to receive an exclusive audio recording of my story (once I’ve recorded it!) for FREE. This is not an official audiobook; just me wanting to say thanks to my subscribers for all your help.

Like what you read? Thanks so much for your support! Continue to show the love by hitting that heart button, subscribing, leaving a comment, and/or passing it along!

Subscribe now

Greetings readers & writers,

I just had a wonderful, if brief, experience at Readercon, an annual SFF con for readers and writers. Attending writing conferences, residencies, workshops, literary festivals, and/or industry trade shows are a great way to get acquainted with the market, network with other writers and publishing professionals, and learn a ton. There’s one for every budget, genre, and accessibility level. Many have financial aid and some are still hybrid.

Even though I only had time to attend Readercon for one day, it got me thinking about how to make the most of conferences as writer. Here are some of my top tips.

Conferences, literary festivals, retreats, oh my!

Conferences cost time, money, and energy, so it’s important to choose wisely!

• Check out what’s local, to minimize travel expenses and connect with your local writing and reading community.

• Consider what you’re hoping to get out of a conference: book sales? Build your reputation? Meet agents? Network? Learn more about the industry? Meet favorite authors? Allow those needs to help narrow your search.

• Search by genre, then check conferences’ speaker line-ups and programs. Are there authors or panel topics you see your work (and conference needs) in conversation with? Probably means it’s a good fit!

Money, money, money

• Budget extra tight? Many conferences offer grants, scholarships, or discounts that need to be applied for in advance! There are also often free public events on the program, in addition to ones you need to register or pay for.

• Like public speaking and planning ahead? Pitch a workshop or panel and apply to be a presenter. Presenters often get free or discounted conference registration.

• Have the time, but not the money? Consider volunteering. Most events like this run on volunteers, which gets you free access to the conference in exchange for your time and support.

• Have the money, but not the time? You can usually register for specific events or single days. This is a good way to get a taste of a multi-day event without the full expense!

• Electric Lit’s List of Writing Conferences for Emerging & Established Authors

• Poets & Writers Conferences and Residencies Database

• Locus Magazine’s list of SFF conventions

• AWP Directory of Writing Conferences and Centers

Before:

Practice your pitch. Look, if it’s a literary event and you say you’re a writer, someone is gonna ask you what you’re working on. So rehearse your elevator pitch ahead of time, whether its for a specific project or your writing style, . Doesn’t hurt to have a current author/book in mind too, that you can use as an ice breaker!

Business cards. Or bookmarks, we’re book people after all! It may feel a little weird to hand someone you just a met a business card when you’re talking about your favorite fandom. But if you meet some cool folks, you want a way for them to get back in touch with you post-conference, and vice versa.

Introvert tip: Rest up. You’re about to people for a few days. Make sure you’re well-rested, hydrated, and that you’re socio-emotional batteries are topped up.

During:

Introvert tip: Take a buddy. Ok, maybe this is just me, but I feel way more comfortable at a conference or festival if I’m going to know someone there. Even if you don’t have a close friend to go with, see if other folks from your wider community are attending and plan to meet. A friendly face goes a long way towards enjoyment.

Shoot your literary shot. I sat down next to an author I wanted to meet and started up a conversation, which led to me being randomly and spontaneously invited to dinner with her and a number of very cool writers and industry folks. I’m not saying every interaction is going to go kismet, but you never know what connections you’ll make or things you’ll learn by taking the riskier step of saying “yes” to a new experience.

Be open. Attend a panel on a topic you know nothing about. Do the writing prompt in the workshop session. Sign-up for literary karaoke. Go to the author/agent speed dating. Sit in on the reading. Go to the writerly cocktail hour or meet up with a few new friends for a quiet dinner. Give out those lovely business cards. Try a little of everything, time and energy permitting.

Introvert tip: Don’t be afraid to take a break. It’s a lot to be ON the whole length of a conference. Be sure to take time to refuel and relax if you can, get a little fresh air, have a granola bar. Journal or read or scroll your phone. You don’t have to attend everything or talk to everyone. Take the space you need to be able to enjoy the con.

After:

Follow-up. You gave out business cards; hopefully you collected some too! Reach out to relevant and interesting contacts just to say “hey was cool to meet you” or to follow up on specific requests. If an agent said they’d like to see pages, SEND THEM. If you don’t feel comfortable reaching out directly, you can sign up for newsletters or follow new contacts on social media to keep in touch.

Process. You just had a lot of new info (and people!) added to your brain! It will take time to sink in. Sometimes this manifests as a desire to write immediately; others feel like they can’t write anything for a bit. Either is ok! Review your notes, highlight things you want to remember, and take that info forward into your work.

Introvert tip: Nap.

Writing/Marketing Resources

• Huge thanks to writer pal for this incredible Book Launch Survival Guide from author Aiden Thomas. Loved his advice about setting up a Linktr.ee and set one up for my anthology!

• Writer and editor Emma Pei Yin shares great actionable tips for launching an author Instagram page.

• A fascinating look at how New York’s first Black librarians changed the way we read. {New York Time — free gift}

• Agent shares an inside look on when to follow up with your agent!

Reading Corner

I’ve recently read three amazing personal essays by authors on writing through, about, around, and with trauma. These are not easy reads, but I haven’t been able to stop thinking of the questions they pose: how can (or does) a person live with trauma? What does it mean to reject a sense of personal history in order continue living, even if it’s a life of silence? Why do we need to feel comfortable in the rightness of the art we engage with? How do we know when to trust our willingness for compassion against compassion for ourselves?

• The Kidnapping I Can’t Escape by Taffy Brodesser-Akner, author of Fleishman is in Trouble {NYT - free link}

• What I’m Doing About Alice Munro by Tayor, author of The Late Americans {}

• A Tale of Idiot Compassion by , author of MaryLou is Everywhere { }

If writing is opening up a way for you to process things in your own life, checking out Jennifer Crystal’s Writing to Heal Immersive Program for a safe, guided space to experiment with story and form. Applications due 7/22.

Industry News:

• NYC Libraries are getting their funding back {LitHub}

• Hachette Reorgs Workman, Moves Algonquin into Little, Brown and Discountinues Algonquin for Young Readers. {Publisher’s Weekly}

• The New York Times surveyed over 500 novelists and book folks to determine the Best 100 Books of the 21st Century {free link}. Obviously this list is not comprehensive. What other books do you think deserve to be on there?

• Ugh. Earlier this month, Neil Gaiman was accused of sexual assault {AV Club}. Last week, the Toronto Star reported that Alice Munro had been complicit in her daughter’s sexual abuse {Toronto Star — free link}. Both of these stories contain graphic details of the allegations, so take care— its upsetting.

  I highly recommend the above essay by Brandon Taylor, who talks about the Munro reveal specifically (TW: sexual/child abuse), as well as his take on the idea of the art vs. the artist. You can also read my post, “Holding Truths” for my general take re: problematic authors.

Tea

As my sister says, it’s “pint-a-day July!” No, she’s not talking about beer, she’s talking about blueberries. And what better way to celebrate than with Harney & Son’s Blueberry Green Iced Tea. With the round, grassy notes of green tea and lemon grass, and the aromatic sweetness of dried blueberries, it’s ideal for sipping on a hot summer day.

Be open and try something new this week. Remember you can make a difference. Your efforts and your stories matter.

~Allison

Writer & Marketing Coach
Keep Writing, Keep Connecting! Substack | Facebook | Website | BlueSky | Anthology

Like what you read? Thanks so much for your support! Continue to show the love by hitting that heart button, subscribing, leaving a comment, and/or passing it along!

Greetings readers & writers,

I don’t know about you, but the entry into summer is always madness. Between end of school year activities, birthdays, travel, deadlines, and of course, illnesses that strike as soon as the weather gets nice, I feel like I’m in a mental and logistical marathon.

So please excuse the fact that there isn’t an essay or much of a note at the top this month. I’ll make up for it in July. Know that the writing and the anthology are clicking along; the peach tree is faring well so far *fingers crossed*; and I have already frequented at least three lemonade stands since the start of June.

In the meantime, you can look at the very extensive essay from last month on music, genres, and gatekeeping. And for this month, here are some resources, news, and oldie-but-goodie issues to get you through. And be sure to add your favorite new releases to our Summer 2024 new releases thread. What’s on you TBR this summer?

~Allison

Writing/Marketing Resources

Happy Pride! Support an LGBTQ+ owned bookstore near you! {Oprah Daily}

I am definitely one to shelve my books by vibes, as well as a sense of nostalgia for when and where I was in my life when I read them. So I feel a deep affinity for “Bookshelves for Your Book Selves: Monica Wood on Why She Organizes Books by Emotion” {Lit Hub}

Thanks to writer pal for sharing this article in Esquire: “Why Are Debut Novels Failing to Launch?” which looks at the modern debut author’s experience in a historic context, comparing it to that of Jack Kerouac, whose novel On the Road “created the blueprint for the literary “debut” phenomenon.” Already this forebodes the difficult changes that have happened in the industry! Even so, the tldr;? “Community is the single most powerful tool for a debut writer.”

As we’re progressing with our anthology, we’ve been putting together contracts for our contributors. Here are some great resources for writing (and vetting!) literary contracts:

• Model Trade Book Contract Guide {The Author’s Guild} — also check out their legal/contract review services for members!

• Model Contracts— Book, Magazine, Agent, Audii {SFWA Blog}

• Author Rights Resources {Cornell University} — focus on scholarly publications

• MWA Model Novel Contract {Mystery Writers of America}

• A Model Contract for Literary Translations { PEN America}

Industry News:

• Le Guin Family Donates Portland Home to Literary Arts for New Writer’s Residency. They are currently running a public fundraising campaign to both preserve this historic family home and transform it into a working space for writers.

• Beloved Denver indie-bookstore chain, The Tattered Cover, is being sold to Barnes & Noble {Denverite}

• After a spate of high-profile editors and publishers-of-color have quit or been let go from major publishing houses, here’s an in-depth article + an interview from The Atlantic about the current state of diversity in publishing: ”Has the DEI Backlash Come for Publishing?” and “Will Publishing’s Diversity Gains Last?” {free links}

• The Lambda Literary Awards, which honor LGBTQ+ books and writers across a wide range of genres, were announced on June 11th!

• Also the Nebulas, which honor outstanding SFF, were awarded on June 8th! I am particularly tickled that Barbie won the Ray Bradbury Nebula for Outstanding Dramatic Presentation. Sarah Gailey was the Toastmaster for the award ceremony and gave a superb opening speech.

Tea

Y’all know I love my iced tea maker. But sometimes I’m impatient. I can’t wait for a full pitcher of hot tea to cool down all afternoon. So I’ve been experimenting with some other methods. I came across this recipe from Cook’s Illustrated that has you brew 1 1/2 TBS loose leaf tea in three cups boiling water for 4 or 5 minutes, then add a cup of ice water and let it continue brewing for an hour, before serving over ice. It works equally well for MEM tea’s Golden Green as well as a more run of the mill Tropical Hibiscus Herbal tea from Wegmans. I still have to wait a little bit, but it does feel like I have a little more control over the potency of the tea, especially if it’s a strong flavor.

Stay cool, use sunblock, and support your local lemonade and popsicle stands!

~Allison

Writer & Marketing Coach
Keep Writing, Keep Connecting! Substack | Facebook | Website | BlueSky | Anthology

Like what you read? Thanks so much for your support! Continue to show the love by hitting that heart button, subscribing, leaving a comment, and/or passing it along!

Are you gearing up for summer reading? I know I am. Now’s the time to share the newly releasing books that YOU’RE excited for. Is there a book that’s launching that you just can’t stop talking about? Did YOU have a book release this season (toot your own horn!!)?

Drop your favorite (or your own!) Spring/Summer 2024 release(s) in the comments below

Word of mouth is an author’s best marketing tool, so be sure to share this thread with other readers/writers/launching authors. Spread the love!!

Greetings readers & writers,

I’ve gotten to sit outside all morning in this early summer weather. Inside, there are dishes to put away, laundry to do, cleaning up that needs to happen. Instead, I’m tackling every possible email/reading/writing project that will allow me to keep sitting on my patio. Maybe it’s the lovely warmth, cooling breeze, or the buzzing of bees around the thyme blossoms, but I just want to encourage you to take yourself on a little walk today, write or read a poem, indulge in a favorite iced beverage, whatever you need to turn that creative hum in your heart into a song.

*

Speaking of songs…

In the 2007 movie, August Rush, the eponymous main character, played by a young Haley Joel Osmet, is revealed to be a prodigy by the musicality of how he bangs on the strings of a guitar, an instrument he’s never played. There is plenty of Hollywood going on, so we are led to believe that, with no musical training or influences whatsoever, August is able to intuitively create an incredible piece of original music.

As a young writer, especially one with an interest in songwriting, this spoke to me. I think a lot of media encourages the fantasy that raw talent = complete originality = art of the highest value. But push aside the veil of movie magic and there is an actual artist behind that carefully constructed and not-at-all-accidental composition: Kaki King, a ground-breaking guitarist (whose hands are actually featured in the film) that Rolling Stone called “a genre unto herself.”

I’ve been thinking a lot about genres recently, as well as this idea of “originality,” so I went down a long, internet and intellectual rabbit hole and you’re coming with me.

I’ve been a Kaki King fan for over a decade. Big nerd reveal: I didn’t listen to pop music as young person. Somewhere around late middle school/early high school, I discovered instrumental New Age music, including guitar artists like Michael Hedges, Will Ackerman, Alex de Grassi, Earl Kluge, and Leo Kottke. While King doesn’t identify as a New Age artist—and in fact, I’m sure, would reject any genre labels—she’s the first to say that artists like these were a major influence. So when I first heard (and fell in love with) her music, it was for both the familiar qualities and the way that she, specifically, blends and uproots them.

The artists I mention above (and others on labels like Windham Hill and Narada) drew their inspiration from older genres: celtic and Irish guitar and fiddle; Appalachian finger-picking; jazz, blues, and zydeco; and combined them with the newer stylings of rock guitar soloists (Led Zepplin, anyone?); folk music from the 60s and 70s; then incorporated technology and pop rhythms of the 80’s (enter the synthesizer!) New Age was (and is) a category rich in influences and experimentation.

So if King was drawing from this long line of other artists, was she really creating a “genre unto herself”?

Music reviewer Tom Moon gives some context:

King arrived at a moment when the deeply entrenched categorical distinctions between genres and styles were beginning to erode—she was among the unclassifiable whose work rendered classification meaningless. Musicians who’d previously stuck to a well-defined lane were stretching out and experimenting, without paying much attention to the considerations of marketing. There was suddenly room in the large tent of popular music for artists whose work straddled several previously disconnected realms, or seemed to come from a new realm entirely.

I think the literary community has reached this point as well.

At the Muse & the Marketplace conference earlier this month, there was a marked increase in discussion about genres beyond the “literary.” There were sessions on climate apocalypse writing; Latina and epistolary horror; fantasy and sci-fi publishing; and speculative fiction cults. I sat in on author Mark Cecil’s presentation on tropes, where he urged writers to consider how “genre tropes can be a doorway to original creativity.” He shared the late, great designer Virgil Abloh’s 3% rule: that creativity only requires a 3% tweak on a convention to become an original contribution.

My own presentation on re-defining genre examined the features of “speculative” and “literary” writing and how these categories intersect and influence each other. How different participants in the process — readers, writers, agents, editors, publishers, booksellers— perceive these categories differently. How a book can be too “sci-fi” for one agent and too “literary” for another.

And these rooms were packed. I talked to so many writers who shared that they were finally reconnecting with their love of certain tropes and categories they’d always shied away from because they were taught those genres were not associated with “true” writing. Mystery, thrillers, fantasy, horror. I think this is part of a much larger discussion about who traditional writing workshops and MFA programs were originally designed by and for (hint: not folks writing outside approved “literary fiction” cateogries, and certainly not people writing from non-”Western” cultural backgrounds). As places like Grub Street and others implement ways of breaking down those barriers between whose work can be effectively workshopped and how, it’s helping to dissolve genre barriers as well.

(It’s worth noting that if you look up musicians “like” Kaki King (who is queer and female) you get almost exclusively white, male artists.)

Those who try to qualify art — record labels, publishing companies, music and writing critics—do so for marketing purposes. Genre categories allow for discovery of new art and artists, a shared experience and camaraderie, and the structures/audience expectations for artists to build off of. Plus it’s easier to sell you something if they can tell you exactly what you’re getting. Which is helpful for consumers and creatives too! It’s satisfying to reach for a romance novel or an R&B album and know what to expect.

But genre distinctions can also have a flattening effect: an entire, wide-ranging category gets defined by a single work or stereotype, which leads to all kinds of limiting and exclusionary practices. The false narrative that only some genres have value, that pure originality is what everyone wants. When the truth is there’s nothing better than a friend pressing a book or album into your hands that’s impossible to classify except as “this is perfect for you.”

In college, I was half-embarrassed, half-proud to share my musical preferences. New Age was associated with music piped into a waiting room or the mall. Or the as-seen-on-TV CDs like Yanni, Enya, or Pure Moods, which were often considered a joke due to their advertising ubiquity. Considered low artistic value all around. But my musical interests were (and are!) much broader and deeper than just those few touch points.

These days, I’ve embraced the fact that my literary and musical interests can rarely be pinned to a single category. Instead, I lean into the idea of having a personal, artistic palate. I’m enjoying the taste of literary-speculative-weird-narrative-structure books at the moment (try finding that on a bookstore shelf!) and I’ve been in a “broody male singer-songwriters” phase for a while. I also recently discovered handpan music, which, like a good cup of tea, can be either relaxing or invigorating, depending on the flavor. And, as always, some good fingerpicking guitar!

Freshman year, when a new, cute boy asked what kind of music I was into, I hedged, trying to get ahead of the stereotypes:

“Elevator music,” I quipped. “Muzak.”

“Really? Like what?” he asked.

“New Age,” I finally admitted, awaiting the skeptical onslaught.

“Oh, I like New Age music too,” my future-husband said, opening his laptop. “I’ve got all the Narada Piano collections. What artists do you like?”

*

Writing/Marketing Resources

You ready to hunker down and dig into your creative work? The ever-resourceful has compiled a robust list of Fee-Free Writing Residencies on her blog.

Shout-out to my new buddy, writer and editor Kit Haggard for this great link to The Awesome Foundation and their $1000 grants of awesomeness. To apply, check out a chapter near you.

Talking about genres, one of my favorites is the myth/fairytale. Reactor Mag had a great article recently on How to Fight a Fairy Tale: Retellings in the Age of Romantasy that explores how “The trouble with structuring a book around a fairy tale is that fairy tales make no sense—but books have to.”

New to a genre or particular trope? TVTropes.com is a powerful (and sometimes overwhelming!) source of learning and inspiration (“Treat it like a mentor, like your super smart friend who’s read and watched everything and who can help you brainstorm.” - Mark Cecil) I’ve also discovered they have a story generator for when you need an Ephiphany Comeback.

Reading Corner:

I’ve been reading up on plant intelligence lately. Not even for a story, but no doubt one will emerge. Here are a couple of really cool articles I’ve come across:

• Learning the Language of Plants {Orion}

• The Mysteries of Plant “Intelligence” {The Atlantic — free link}

• What is it Like to Be a Plant? {Scientific American}

Industry News:

• In a surprise shake-up, Penguin Random House Dismisses Two of Its Top Publishers {The New York Times — free link}

• PEN America cancelled both its 2024 Book Awards and it’s 20th World Voices Festival {Publisher’s Weekly}, in the wake of heavy controversy around the organization’s response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

• Her stories and exquisite, authentic writing made a huge impact on me in college, so I was very sad to hear that Canadian writer, Alice Munro, a “titan of the short story”, passed away at age 92 {The Guardian} (Here’s a great one: “Friend of My Youth”)

• The Pulitzter Prize winners have been announced!

Tea

Must be on a peach kick over here! We fell in love with this rooibos blend from Nirvana Tea House and Cafe in Millis, MA, which has a fully vegan menu, with lots of gluten-free options. Peach Perfect tea is the ideal combination of nutty, mellow rooibos and tart, juicy peach flavors. My kiddo likes it hot, I like it iced, pick your delicious poison. Alas, you can’t buy it online, but if you’re in the area you can buy it in person or have it delivered to your door!

Own your personal taste, it’s uniquely yours! Read or listen to something you love,

~Allison

Writer & Marketing Coach
Keep Writing, Keep Connecting! Substack | Facebook | Website | BlueSky | Anthology

Like what you read? Thanks so much for your support! Continue to show the love by hitting that heart button, subscribing, leaving a comment, and/or passing it along!

No matter what kind of material you write, from poetry to kidlit to non-fiction, developing your voice is an essential form of self-expression, platform-building, and career growth. Expert writers and editors Aileen Weintraub and Megan Margulies formed their own marketing business, The Witches of Pitches, to help writers find their voice and get it out there — pitching and developing stories, sharing marketing advice, and helping writers zero-in on that magical combination of expertise and a compelling hook.

Attending The Muse & the Marketplace in May? The Witches of Pitches will be presenting on one of my favorite marketing-meets-writing techniques: Writing Your Book Jacket Copy to Nail Down Your Story on Saturday, May 11th.

Witches of Pitches is a very enchanting business name! How did you initially come up with the idea of a pitch-focused business for writers?

We love our name and it’s always such a fun topic of conversation. It’s a great icebreaker with new clients. We chose the Witches of Pitches because it suggests that we are edgy and fun, or at least we think so, and we really think that nailing a good pitch is magical.

We came up with the idea of helping others with their pitches, manuscripts, book proposals, essays, and articles after spending the pandemic in a writing group workshopping each other’s pitches. We enjoyed the process so much, and also noticed that there weren’t many editorial services that focused on the smaller, somewhat mystical aspects of publishing.

The process can feel overwhelming for new and established writers. We thought it would be great to help every writer cast a spell no matter where they are in their writing journey!

What is one of the most persistent questions you get approached with, when it comes to pitching and marketing?

When it comes to pitching articles, essays, and op-eds, our clients want to know how to make their pitch letter stand out. Hint: it starts with a great hook.

Sometimes people are just stuck and they need to talk out a pitch or an idea, and that’s why we have the Kvetch Session. This has turned out to be our most popular offering because writing can be such a lonely endeavor. Talking to two editors during a Zoom session, sharing your thoughts, getting a game plan, and even just being understood  can be really helpful in getting unstuck. Plus, we love love love to give writing advice. We’ve had success, but we’ve also experienced struggles in our publishing journeys— that’s what makes us so well equipped to help other writers!

For marketing, the biggest question is usually: How much time do I need to put into social media?  If you absolutely do not like social media, it will be apparent in your posts and reels. Do what you love and your enthusiasm will extend to your audience. Also, don’t forget about companion pieces! They are great ways to market yourself and show agents and editors that you’re committed to your writing practice.

We often suggest that clients who are interested in learning more about marketing can start with Aileen's Writer's Digest series on marketing and platform building.

For writers new to the process, what’s a companion piece?

A companion piece is an article, essay, or op-ed that is related to the subject you most often write about. If you're working on a book project, it's great for your companion piece to have a tie-in to your story, but it's not always necessary. It's really just about getting your name out there. 

You are both deeply, established writers. How has your experience writing and publishing personal and informative non-fiction informed your approach to marketing?

Marketing isn’t just about selling one book or one product. It is about selling your brand. We quickly learned that the best way to get bylines and interviews as a non-fiction writer is to position yourself as an expert in your field. We advise our clients to step into their authority and utilize those skills to get word out about their book. This can happen in a number of ways—companion pieces, speaking engagements, or social media (if you enjoy it!)

Speaking of pitches… you’ve both written memoirs (among other things!) How did you pitch your projects to your publishers initially? How has that strategy changed now that you’re marketing directly to readers?

We cast a spell of course! Seriously though, we did our research. It’s so easy to type the words, The End, on a manuscript or book proposal, but chances are you need to go back a half a dozen times and read and re-read, cry, sob, and then get some beta readers and workshop your project. Then we found agents by looking at Manuscript Wishlist and Publishers Marketplace. It’s important to look at trends, to see what is selling, and how your book can fit on the shelf.

When we market to readers, we try to connect directly with them, usually around a topic many people are struggling with, like women’s healthcare, and we try to be both relatable and accessible. We’re both memoirists who write about our own experiences, but you have to remember that it’s about how your experience connects with larger issues. You can’t forget to think about the bigger picture when marketing to readers.

What advice would you give to writers just starting out when it comes to marketing themselves?

We love helping our clients market themselves by writing companion pieces. This is because having published pieces shows agents and editors that others are already interested in what you have to say. It also shows a willingness to write about your topic and it broadens your audience well beyond social media. The best part about companion pieces is that you get paid. And the more companion pieces you write, the more confidence you will have speaking about and promoting your topic.

There are so many ways to go about marketing, but the biggest advice we can offer is to do what brings you joy. That is truly the only way to make magic happen.

Finally, what’s your go-to beverage for getting you through the writing and marketing process?

One of the best teas ever is made by the German company Ronnefeldt, called Rooibos Cream Orange. Megan has to give a shoutout to her favorite coffee made by Pavement Coffeehouse—owned by her husband!

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Aileen Weintraub and Megan Margulies, both native New Yorkers, have formed a partnership from the modern love story playbook of online writing sessions. They have workshopped numerous articles, essays, and book proposals, helping writers produce top-notch material. Now, as The Witches of Pitches, they want to continue to share their knowledge.

Together, Aileen and Megan have placed articles in top-tier publications including: The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, Elle Magazine, Vogue Magazine, InStyle, and Glamour Magazine, among others, published two memoirs and over fifty children’s books, and helped numerous writers find their angle and voice.

Their latest works include:

• Knocked Down: A High-Risk Memoir (Aileen Weintraub)

• My Captain America: A Granddaughter's Memoir of a Legendary Comic Book Artist (Megan Margulies)

ICYMI: Upcoming Workshop

This weekend I’m teaching a mini-version of my “Writing Like a Parent, Parenting Like a Writer” workshop, now adapted to reach creatives of all stripes who are in the parenting and caregiving trenches. Connecting with Your Creativity is for anyone looking to re-connect with their artistic side. Join us this Sunday afternoon, April 28th for in-person discussion, brainstorming, and stretching those creative muscles.

Support The Witches of Pitches and other authors out there decoding the publishing process, by following, reposting, sharing, reviewing, requesting, and/or reading their books (and checking out their services if they apply to you!)

Happy reading & writing!
~Allison

Writer & Marketing Coach
Keep Writing, Keep Connecting! Facebook | Newsletter | Website | BlueSky | Mastadon

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Allison Pottern Hoch has happily made books her life’s work. She spent four years marketing and publicizing academic titles at The MIT Press before she went to work for Wellesley Books as a children’s bookseller and event coordinator. She is now living her dream: putting her B.A. in Creative Writing to good use as a novelist and as a writing/marketing coach for authors. She is also a graduate of the 2023 Viable Paradise workshop. She enjoys science fiction, chocolate, and a hot cup of tea.

Greetings readers & writers,

For those who’ve been following along for a while, you know that every spring I gotta talk about my little peach tree as a not-so-subtle metaphor for my writing career (and the writing process in general).

Last spring, a late frost killed all the blooms for most stone fruit trees in New England, which meant no fruit. In fact, any fruit our tree has produced in the past few years has been quickly eaten by suburban wildlife. I’m not proud of the day I ran out into the yard, yelling at the chipmunk sniffing at the tiny, unripe fruits. It did no good.

Usually, I do my best to tend it myself, spraying the bark to prevent leaf curl, which has also been plaguing it lo’ these many years. But this spring I realized — the tree has grown significantly. Despite the fungus and the critters and the frost and too much rain or not enough, it’s nearly 10 feet tall and it’s become a little more than I can handle on my own.

So this spring, the tree is getting a professional treatment, a light pruning, and a fertilizer boost from actual tree people who know what they’re doing.

When life is life-ing and the publishing world feels like it’s churning writers into compost, progress can seem impossible. But growth is happening. Even in winter, even in the times when things are taken from you or turned down or rejected or, I don’t know, eaten by chipmunks. Sometimes, you just need a creative infusion — fellow writers, classes, books, art, nature — and/or a little professional guidance.

Taking a chance on a writing workshop with pro-writers last year was a major creative infusion for me. So has been working on a group writing project. Now I’m making plans for another writing getaway this fall. Just like the little peach tree, I’m blooming little by little — a short story here, a submission there— and hopefully, with that extra investment, that extra TLC, something will fruit. And you can too.

Either way, lets spread our leaves and soak up all that sun together.

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Upcoming In-Person Class!

Dawn Ellis creates nurturing and supportive spaces for new parents (she did for me and my babies many moons ago) and she has a beautiful new studio in which to do it. What better home for my “Writing Like a Parent, Parenting Like a Writer” class? Now adapted to reach creatives of all stripes who are in the parenting and caregiving trenches, Connecting with Your Creativity will be my first time teaching this class in person in a hella long time. Hope you can join us!

Check out this mini interview with yours truly in the latest anthology update!
I share how marketing and fiction inform one another; what’s inspiring me right now; and my favorite time traveler! New Year, New You is still available for pre-order!

I want a copy!

Writing/Marketing Resources

The design nerd in me really dug this article about how Harper Collins saved paper and printing costs through smart font choices and design. {Fast Company}

For anyone near Kansas City looking for inspiration, The New York Times ran a great feature on their new children’s literature museum, The Rabbit Hole {free link} where kids (and adults!) can literally interact with (and read inside!) scenes pulled straight from their favorite picture books.

Literary Boston (formerly known as the Boston Book Blog) is back! I’ve always loved Jessica’s mission to create a Greater Boston hub for book events, new releases, and fresh literary voices, while featuring Boston’s contemporary and historical bookishness.

Sally Wiener Grotta’s very robust report on what “author equity” means to publishers, according to professionals at last year’s U.S. Book Show, and how it’s highly relevant to authors themselves is definitely worth a read — especially considering the new publisher of the same name (see below)!

Industry News:

The American Library Association has compiled a list of the Top Ten Banned Books of 2023, a snapshot of the book challenges schools and libraries are facing in the U.S.

One of the last remaining independent book distributors, Small Press Distribution, has shut down — leaving indie presses scrambling to claim their books from Ingram before a “recycle” deadline. {Publisher’s Weekly}

Three publishing industry veterans, along with several well-known authorial investors, have started Authors Equity, a publishing company based on a profit-share model. Thoughtful takes from around the web: Today in Books | LitHub | The Baffler

Move over Kindle, Kobo Rakuten is releasing the first dedicated e-readers that use color e-ink technology rather than an LCD display. {Tech Radar}

Tea

Ladies and gentlefolk, we have entered the transition period between hot tea weather and iced tea weather. Rejoice! Enter: Organic India’s Raspberry Peach Tulsi. Tulsi, also known as holy basil, is one of my favorite herbs, with a flavor profile that ranges from mint to chamomile, to my taste buds, without ever being too much of either. Juicy from hibiscus and elderberry, floral and lemony from the tulsi, this tea is immensely refreshing over ice or invigorating hot on a chill spring morning.

This is your season, in whatever way you need it to be. You got this.

~Allison

Writer & Marketing Coach
Keep Writing, Keep Connecting! Substack | Facebook | Website | BlueSky | Anthology

Like what you read? Thanks so much for your support! Continue to show the love by hitting that heart button, subscribing, leaving a comment, and/or passing it along!

Little is more magical than the synchronicity of a good writing group. So I am over the moon to feature author, writing co-conspirator, and friend Katie Slivensky. They’re one of the fastest and most heartfelt writers I know, an interdisciplinary genius, and all-around delightful person. They generously shared the magic of finding one’s path, some favorite resources you don’t want to miss, and some pre-historic inspiration.

Katie knows what it’s like to feel different. That’s why (and how) they made their own interesting path in life: studying prehistoric animals, teaching science to big public audiences at the Museum of Science, and writing books for kids—including middle grade sci-fi adventure novels, The Countdown Conspiracy and The Seismic Seven, and the newly-released, heart-tugging picture book about the first instance of canine domestication, This Wolf Was Different (with illustrator Hannah Salyer). They live in Cambridge with their partner, two children, and dear little cat, Darwin.

The creature, real or imagined, that you would magically transform into, given the chance:

The paleontologist inside me wouldn’t be able to resist something prehistoric, fully because I’d get to see what an animal from millions of years ago actually looked like and get an up close understanding of their biology. Which prehistoric animal? Now that’s a harder choice. I have a fondness for early whales, like Rhodocetus. But honestly, any prehistoric animal would be a major boon to dozens of science fields.

How the Path Became Clear:

My agency (EMLA) used to do big agency retreats. I never could go, as they were far away and costly, but when one hit New England and I was granted a little scholarship funding to go, I jumped at the chance. This is a tale of a wholly unexpected transformative experience.

I was already committed to writing. I had already been to many conferences with other writers. I had a great critique group. I had an agent. I had a book deal. I felt like a “real” writer. So I never expected those few days to affect me so much, emotionally and professionally.

At the retreat, I was surrounded and welcomed by not just oodles of amazingly talented people, but oodles of kind, funny, compassionate people, who just wanted to help the world through kidlit. And maybe play kazoo more than normal.

I have always felt like an outsider. Even among friends. I still can’t explain why, but at this retreat, I’d never felt more at home. Deeply. Profoundly. When I left, my spirit was literally soaring. This was what I was meant to do. If these were the people who did this job, I finally *fit*. My path had never been so clear.

And I’m just now making the connection between this story and the end of This Wolf Was Different. Hah!

Magical guides:

• If you get a chance to take a class or do a webinar with Pat Zietlow Miller, take it! When I made the pivot from being a MG-only writer to spreading out across age ranges, a webinar from her on picture book writing gave me the confidence and competence to journey down that new road. She has some great resources for writers on her website, including a free webinar and a whole page devoted to advice for writers!

• Likewise, if you’re going into children’s writing or are already in it and looking to learn more, I can’t recommend Debbie Ridpath Ohi enough. She has amazing resources on her website and is an expert at social media. Follow her!

• And for something entirely different, you must check out NASA TV. They stream constantly. Spacewalks, launches, behind the scenes, you name it. I had it on all the time while writing my first middle grade novel, The Countdown Conspiracy. This isn’t a writing recommendation, just a life one. NASA is awesome.

An enchanting drink for all ages:

I feel like adults just don’t drink enough hot chocolate. Like, really good hot chocolate. Embrace the decadence. If you can, use some kind of milk, rather than water. Use a good, high percentage cocoa. And don’t skip the marshmallows or whipped cream. Peppermint or cinnamon are excellent optional additions.

Follow Katie Slivensky:
Website | Mastodon | Facebook | BlueSky

To order This Wolf Was Different:
Simon & Schuster | Porter Square Books (signed!) | Bookshop.org | Barnes & Noble

Share

Support Katie Slivensky and your other favorite authors by following, reposting, sharing, reviewing, requesting, and/or reading their books (and buying when you can)!

Happy reading & writing!
~Allison

Writer & Marketing Coach
Keep Writing, Keep Connecting! Facebook | Newsletter | Website | BlueSky | Mastadon

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Allison Pottern Hoch has happily made books her life’s work. She spent four years marketing and publicizing academic titles at The MIT Press before she went to work for Wellesley Books as a children’s bookseller and event coordinator. She is now living her dream: putting her B.A. in Creative Writing to good use as a novelist and as a writing/marketing coach for authors. She is also a graduate of the 2023 Viable Paradise workshop. She enjoys science fiction, chocolate, and a hot cup of tea.