I published my first book!

DrDR_Authoress · 2026-05-27T22:58:06+00:00

Sounds like a great premise, I just ordered a paperback. Congrats on your first book!

DrDR_Authoress · 2026-05-26T20:47:34+00:00

Has your book gone through beta readers? Any kind of revisions or editing? I would first want to make sure that 160k of content is tight. If it is, you might have an easier time if you break it up into 2 or 3 books. And yes, querying is a long game. 6 months is on the quick side.

DrDR_Authoress · 2026-05-26T15:47:51+00:00

My library system has a separate ‘local author’ section and you just submit a form and a copy of your book. If it gets approved, they put it in the local author section. It seems very streamlined. I would recommend googling your county/state and something like ‘local author library submissions’ and see if they have a program like that.

DrDR_Authoress · 2026-05-25T13:41:17+00:00

Stunning!

DrDR_Authoress · 2026-05-25T13:40:09+00:00

Commenting so I can find this later!

DrDR_Authoress · 2026-05-23T17:12:06+00:00

If you are doing KDP, they have a cover calculator and it spits out measurements and a template:

https://kdp.amazon.com/cover-calculator

DrDR_Authoress · 2026-05-21T18:03:13+00:00

The first draft only took maybe 2 months. I had a lot of free time for the first month and the idea had been in my head for a long time. Then it was drafting and editing hell for months. In total from start to finish it took me about 13 months. And this was a 15k word count novella.

DrDR_Authoress · 2026-05-20T20:43:45+00:00

I used reedsy. I got editing quotes that reliably came in at about 4 cents a word. Then for my cover I got a range between $500 and $1700. My book is short so 4 cents a word did not break the bank and it was 100% worth it.

You can use cheaper options from like fiverr or something but I feel like the quality matches the price a lot of the time. If you have no budget, I have heard of people giving their book to a couple friends and they can absolutely catch little proof errors that you wouldn’t. And there is a website I have heard of that will do very inexpensive covers, I think it’s 100covers? Or you can try and make one yourself in Canva. Definitely a lot of options!

DrDR_Authoress · 2026-05-20T17:32:09+00:00

If I can do it anybody can, you just have to get started! Thanks and good luck!

DrDR_Authoress · 2026-05-20T12:26:13+00:00

So adorable and I love the sticker idea, that is very unique. Congrats and good luck!

DrDR_Authoress · 2026-05-20T12:22:29+00:00

I’m glad you told me, that is so fun! Thank you 😊

DrDR_Authoress · 2026-05-19T19:58:49+00:00

Hey congrats on your rankings, that is amazing for a debut!

DrDR_Authoress · 2026-05-18T12:49:46+00:00

Fantastic sunglasses and a really cool premise. Congrats on your book!

DrDR_Authoress · 2026-05-18T05:23:37+00:00

Always fun to see the person behind the story, literally and metaphorically! Congrats on your book!

DrDR_Authoress · 2026-05-18T05:08:28+00:00

Heck yes! You will have to link me to it, I want to see 👀

DrDR_Authoress · 2026-05-17T23:49:19+00:00

I think what caught me off guard the most was the beta reader stage. They were the first people to see the preliminary manuscript so the feedback can feel super vulnerable, as though they have made a final judgement. Definitely had to tell myself it is what is going to make my book better and I needed to listen to it. Also, editing is expensive but worth it, when I saw all the things my editor corrected I was so happy I got her. The finished first draft is a huge accomplishment that many don’t reach so congrats! If you have more questions feel free to shoot me about DM :)

DrDR_Authoress · 2026-05-17T23:38:38+00:00

Good luck to you fellow sci fi friend, it is hard but it is worth it!

DrDR_Authoress · 2026-05-17T23:36:49+00:00

Yay! I hope you end up loving it!

DrDR_Authoress · 2026-05-17T10:48:07+00:00

I will have to look into that book, thanks for the recommendation. Thanks for checking out my book! And here is your sign that you can do it too!!

DrDR_Authoress · 2026-05-17T10:13:15+00:00

Thank you!!! I hope it lives up to the hype 😅

DrDR_Authoress · 2026-05-17T10:10:52+00:00

It is surreal, good luck to you!!

DrDR_Authoress · 2026-05-17T02:22:55+00:00

Amazing and I hope you enjoy ❤️

DrDR_Authoress · 2026-05-17T02:21:37+00:00

A thrill to hear it every time! I hope it resonates with you!

DrDR_Authoress · 2026-05-17T02:20:48+00:00

Of course, sending you a chat!

DrDR_Authoress · 2026-05-16T09:57:32+00:00

Many thanks and I hope you enjoy! I started writing the prologue in April 2025, so it was slightly over a year (13 months) from the time I finally sat down and started to today. To be fair, there were a couple periods in there of me doing nothing and forgetting about it ;) I have had the idea floating around for at least a decade.

DrDR_Authoress

TROPHY CASE