Somewhere Between Ten And A Thousand

It’s been almost two weeks since the launch of Beyond That Starry Sky. As much as I originally thought that moment would feel like the triumphant end of a year-long journey, I’ve quickly realized it was really just the beginning.

So—now I’m a published author. Now what?

Well… besides writing more books, of course.

As of now, my debut novel has sold a bit. I don’t have the exact number in front of me, but it’s somewhere between “more than ten” and “definitely not a thousand.” Some days, I look at the reports and feel a wave of doubt, questioning whether I should have started this at all. Other days, I look at those same numbers and think: someone is reading it. And in those moments, it feels like mission accomplished.

It’s a bit of a roller coaster.

Then there’s the part I knew would be difficult—marketing and promotion. This is where the whole endeavor feels the most unnatural. I’ve never been much of a social media presence (nor do I particularly want to be), and I’ve always been terrible at “tooting my own horn.”

Still, I’m trying.

I’ve made it a point to post daily on Facebook, and now TikTok as well (God help me if Fictional Dan Madison ever finds out). I’m doing what I can—within my limits—to make the book visible in a very crowded world.

I’ve even dipped my toes into advertising, running a small test campaign on Amazon, along with an even smaller experiment targeting a niche audience of English-language readers in Japan. Whether any of that will amount to something remains to be seen.

But despite all the not-so-fun work that comes with publishing, I am still writing.

Siri and Carl’s story is continuing to unfold—growing and shifting in ways I didn’t fully anticipate when I first outlined it. And I’m excited for the day when their story makes its way onto your e-readers and into your hands as paper pages, as the world of When the Hills Were Ours continues to expand.

For now, though, I suppose I should go tend to my cats… and then get back to it—promoting the current book while finishing the next.

Until next time…

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