Wicked Hunt: a moment to reminisce
Three months ago, I set sail on an exhilarating journey—the launch of my inaugural novel, “Wicked Hunt”. Join me as I reflect on the experiences that shaped this literary venture.
Much like many of my fellow authors, I always dreamed of publishing a book, but life turned out differently. I went to university and got a diploma I don’t use. But soon after graduating, the thought of giving writing another chance beckoned.
Skeptical about the traditional route, my brother suggested I look into self-publishing. The media's negative portrayal of self-publishing made me hesitant. My research on Amazon left me unimpressed and strengthened my reservations. Instead, I contented myself with living my passion through writing fanfiction and web fiction.
The discovery of editing tools like Grammarly and ProWritingAid marked a turning point. The latter, in particular, became a catalyst for change when I learned about their “Crime Writers’ Week”. The event was an eye-opener, as it dispelled many misconceptions and revealed the professionalism inherent in modern self-publishing.
Navigating the Writing Journey
Fueled by newfound inspirations, I delved into my stories. The path was uncertain, but my commitment remained steadfast. Thus, I learned about writing, publishing, and promoting a book.
My job as a writer for a magazine helped me with the basic process of filling a blank page into a canvas of words. Still, outlining a plot and breathing life into characters proved to be a challenge, as it differs from writing reports or interviewing experts.
Witnessing the story evolve, from the raw 'vomit draft'—where words flowed recklessly, and grammar and spelling took a back seat—to the polished manuscript of “Wicked Hunt”, was a heartening experience. After multiple rounds of self-edits, I submitted my manuscript to a professional editor, whose services I discovered on Reedsy—an author service marketplace catering to the needs of the self-publishing community. After several rounds of edits, I finished the final manuscript.
Amidst this whirlwind of creativity, I delved into book marketing. I soon discovered that this was no less challenging. Fortunately, my profession once again proved useful, as I could draw upon my past collaborations with web and graphic designers, as well as my experience in email marketing and engaging in social media.
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The result
The launch of Wicked Hunt exceeded all my expectations, as the book has already found nearly 200 eager readers. This achievement may not seem like a big deal, but it's pretty amazing. Most authors don't even sell 100 books in their entire career.
Now I know for sure that storytelling is my passion. It is a path I am eager to walk for the rest of my days—to tell stories and entertain you. With each word I write, I grow and improve.
Buy Wicked Hunt
Wicked Hunt is the first book in "The Empath Series", a paranormal suspense series about a reclusive empath rejoining the world and the people he left behind.
