Student Spotlight: Why She Ditched Her Agent And Self-Published Her Debut Novel With Stefanie Medrek
Ever wonder what happens when you break up with your agent and decide to self-publish instead? This episode is a must-listen if you're curious about the ins and outs of self-publishing and how it can possibly safeguard your creative control.
In this Student Spotlight episode, my guest, Stefanie Medrek, is back on the podcast—and boy, has her story changed! The last time we chatted (about 2 years ago), she had just landed an agent and was about to go out on submission. But now she's releasing her debut romantic suspense novel, Into the Fire, as a self-published author.
You might be wondering how she got here or what changed for her. And that’s exactly what we talk about in this week’s episode.
Tune in to hear why Stefanie parted ways with her agent, how she navigated the world of self-publishing, and what it's like to prepare for a self-published book launch (happening this week).
In the episode, you’ll hear us talk about things like:
- [07:39] A recap of Stefanie's journey since our last chat: from landing an agent to trusting her gut instinct and choosing self-publishing over traditional publishing for creative control.
- [16:00] The nitty-gritty production phase details involved in preparing a book for self-publishing. And, of course, Stefanie's cover design mistake that led to a complete do-over.
- [24:02] The unexpected challenges (and absolute joys) of self-publishing, how she's learning to roll with the punches, manage delays, and why self-publishing is the best decision Stefanie's ever made.
- [26:43] How Stefanie tackled book marketing, including working with a fantastic PR firm and creating special edition ARCs (advanced reader copies), and her super-savvy strategies to reach readers and build buzz for her book launch.
- [33:00] The importance of building an author email list and a smart reader magnet to connect with your audience (and why this matters in terms of your book launch).
- [37:35] The heartwarming story of Stefanie's dad, a successful self-published author, his influence on her publishing journey, and how they celebrate each other's milestones.
If you've ever felt unsure about which publishing path to take, or if you're just curious about what goes on behind a self-published book launch, you'll LOVE this episode with Stefanie Medrek!
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