“Just send it.” This is something my 13-year-old has been saying lately. At first, I thought it meant sending a text or snap (because I’m old, yo, and that’s the tea). But of course she clarified that it meant “Just go for it.” (Duh, Mom)
Deciding to publish THE LAST HUNTSMAN has been my “Just send it” moment.
Some history: I wrote the first version of TLH in 2010. My agent gave me some revision notes, and after a few back-and-forths, he sent it out. I did an exclusive revision with a lovely editor at a Big 5—only to be shot down at acquisition by Sales & Marketing (insert groan and eye roll). Then, the Chris Hemsworth and Kristen Stewart Snow White and the Huntsman movie came out and…suddenly my book would just be a copycat attempt. Curse you, Hollywood!! (But not you, Chris, I still love you.)
Immediately after that I was told that fairy tale retellings were out or my previous sales numbers weren’t high enough, etc. Sigh. Time to move on.
So, I did, and I wrote my Dispossessed series, starting with THE BEAUTIFUL AND THE CURSED. My next few years were consumed with that series, then after that, my adult historical romance series (as Angie Morgan, written with friend and co-author Amalie Howard). Seriously, how did nearly ten years pass by so quickly???
And in all that time, I kept going back to TLH every now and again, peeking at it, thinking about it, working on it here and there. My agent even sent it out on another round of submissions. Of course, the timing was awful because that was around when the second Huntsman movie came out. I know, right?! *shakes fist at the sky*
I still loved my Huntsman story, but was it just going to sit on my computer desktop for all time?
After seeing so many traditionally published author friends make the transition to independent publishing for certain projects of theirs—and loving it—I realized I could do the same thing. Still, making the change has been a challenge. There is A LOT of behind-the-scenes work that goes into publishing a book that I’ve never had to deal with before. It’s a learning curve that I’m taking at my own speed.
But I’m going for it. I’m publishing the novel I’ve loved for years, and having control over that decision has been so empowering. I have no idea what to expect, and in the end, my goal is just to get TLH into as many hands as possible so readers can have the chance to love the story as much as I do.
Speaking of which, if you’re a reader who loves YA fantasy, romance, revenge, adventure, and fairy tale retellings, I’m looking for early readers and reviewers! Fill out the Google form here, and I’ll send you an e-ARC (advanced reading copy). I only ask that you consider leaving a review online when you finish!
Keep reading, keep taking risks, and keep creating, my friends!
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