1.    What can you tell me about your experience as a writer? 

Well, in high school my best friend and I had notebooks that we would pass back and forth between classes. I say notebooks because we filled up so many of them. We haven't looked at them in 20+ years but they are there. Maybe when we are old ladies we can have a good laugh. 

I just have always been better at expressing myself through writing… Although I tend to write too much, as you will notice in this interview, it's ultimately how I most feel comfortable processing life around me. 

2.    What made you decide to write a book? 

I wasn't finding the information that I was imagining in my head as a teacher. So, I decided that I needed to create a workbook on my own. 

There is a saying, “If there’s a book you really want to read but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” – Toni Morrison

3.    What circumstances brought you to the decision to self-publish your book? 

It really happened by accident. I was an online Spanish teacher at the time, and I really go all out with my materials. Tons of images and bright colors to get my students really into the lessons. 

I really wanted something the students could have in their hands during class, especially since it was conversational and we used the breakout rooms on Zoom a lot, so they didn't always see my materials on the screen. 

When I saw the 100+ pages that I had prepared in communicative activities just for my Spanish 1 course, I knew parents would not appreciate printing all of that out in color ink. 

Looking at other options, I came across Amazon KDP. It was really just a way for me to get my learning materials to the students cheaper and easier. 

That was my 1st experience self-publishing a book. 

4.    What has your experience as a self-publisher been like? 

When I initially published a few workbooks for my students, I had an existing audience of at least 200 students every 4 months purchasing the required book for the course. This made my first books bestsellers on the Amazon charts over and over again, and that felt great. 

I only made a couple hundred dollars off the actual royalties for those books however. Mostly due to the cost of the color interior. But, one day, I received a call from a college in Houston, Texas. They decided to use one of my books as the course materials for their adult Spanish conversation courses. 

They had already purchased several hundred copies, but were contacting me because they were interested in teacher training for their professors to be able to use the books and activities effectively. After all, it wasn't written instructionally because I was the teacher who created it, and I already knew what to do with my own classes. 

These experiences really opened my eyes up to the power of being an author. My courses definitely benefited, as parents and students loved the books, but it also opened me up to new professional avenues. First, teacher training (which I had already done for years abroad) and then to start my own publishing company. 

5.    How do you respond to the negative stigma attached to self-publishing and self-published books? 

Before I was a publisher, I was an educator, so I think it's just a question of education. There are so many misconceptions about the publishing industry in 2023 because of all the changes in the past 20 years. 

Most people don't realize that the major, traditional publishers don't accept unsolicited manuscripts today. On top of that, they all have their own self-publishing presses working under them. It's not something they publicize of course, but ALL publishers are active in the self-publishing industry if they are in business right now. 

There's just no other way to stay in business. There aren't enough Prince Harry biographies to keep these companies afloat. 

Anyway, I am rambling… back to the education point. 

Here are my go to stats:

The self-publishing industry is projected to grow 17% each year. 

The traditional publishing industry is projected to grow just 1% in comparison. 

It's obvious that self-publishing is the future. 

6.    What is one very important lesson you have learned as a self-publisher? 

Books don't market themselves. 

This was a hard lesson for me when I started self-publishing books that were not tied to my courses. I figured, like most 1st time authors do, that being on Amazon would be enough to sell the book. 

I couldn't have been more wrong. 

I have learned that the ONLY way to sell books in 2023 is through personal connection. There is just too much out there, too many options and not enough readers. Personal connection is what is currently driving book sales. And that is difficult for many authors because many of us are introverts. 

We wish that our words would be enough, and that we wouldn't have to be on social media… and don't even get me started on Reels and TikTok. 

7.    What do you know now about self-publishing that you wish you knew at the beginning? 

I don't think there is anything I wish I would have known, because I strongly feel that every book that I created and published was a learning experience for me to be able to do a great job in my current role as a publisher. 

However, putting myself into the situation of a one-time author, I would say that I wish I would have known that buying an ISBN will give you more options for distribution and sales than using the free one from Amazon. Now, I purchase ISBNs for all my paperbacks and hardcovers. 

8.    A lot of authors of self-published books have reservations about promoting and marketing their book. Some even feel that it is a form of vanity or self-importance. What is your opinion about this? 

Oh, I guess I have to go into Reels and TikTok now, LOL! 

Just to summarize… authors like to write. We feel comfortable hiding behind our words. Things like social media promotion and especially video content are basically our worst nightmares. 

That being said… I have worked with 75+ authors in the past 2 years and when it comes time to launch their books, I can give them 100+ book marketing ideas and all the social media templates in the world, but if they aren't having fun, it will show. Nothing will be effective if they aren't in their elements. 

When it comes down to it, the only way to screw up your book marketing is to be silent. The authors who hit publish and then NEVER mention their book to anyone… well, they don't sell any copies as a result. 

Author branding and book marketing are necessary if you want to actually sell copies of your book. There is no way around it.

If you know that your story is one that will entertain, help, inform, and/or inspire others, there is no reason to worry about being seen as vain. 

9.    How do you promote your books and what form of book promotion has worked the best for you? 

You have to remind people as much as possible that you have a book available. That doesnt mean to torture your family and friends, begging them to buy the book and leave you 5-star reviews. It means that you need to be consistently connecting with your ideal audience. 

Here are some of my most effective strategies: 

1.  Take pictures with your book. All the time. Everywhere you go. Bonus if you change your profile picture to include your book (Facebook will push it out to your friends and followers!). 

2.   Take advantage of promotions through Amazon KDP: Kindle Unlimited, countdown deals, and free book giveaway options to promote your book on Amazon. It won't make you a lot of money in royalties, but it can help you reach a new audience and at least get some positive reviews coming in. 

3.   Set up in person events, author book signings, and meet and greets at your local libraries, book stores, businesses, etc. It's so much easier to arrange these than anyone would imagine. And as a bonus, it's a great opportunity to add on a speaking engagement and take more pictures with your book (see point 1). 

10.  What are some other important things you have learned as a self-publisher? 

Self-publishing is a misleading term. Sure, you CAN self-publish (as in doing everything yourself), but most authors don't. 

Even if you are on a budget, you realistically will need some of the following help/services if you want your book to be successful: 

• Writing coach

• Developmental editor

• Line editor

• Formatter 

• Graphic designer 

• Beta readers 

• ARC readers

• Social media strategy 

• Book marketer or paid book promotions 

• Ongoing PR 

I don't say this to scare people off from self-publishing, but instead to encourage you to be realistic about what goes into successfully writing, publishing, and marketing a book. You can absolutely learn to do a lot of these yourself, and it may well be worth it if you are planning to self-publish several titles. 

11.  Do you feel that self-publishing is a viable choice for other authors? 

There really isn't a debate between self-publishing or traditional publishing unless you have an existing offer in front of you. 

So, yes, self-publishing is not only a viable option, but the most realistic one for aspiring, 1st time authors. 

12.  How do you feel that self-publishing their books has helped many unknown authors finally get the recognition their books deserve?

There is so much more diversity in self-published books. There is no secret that traditional publishing favors white men. Self-publishing is where women and minorities especially are finding a ton of success. 

Traditional publishers work on the blockbuster model, so they need the audiences of people like Britney Spears to really fund their entire operation. Unfortunately, the aspiring authors who don't have millions of followers aren't given a chance. 

ABOUT SARA:

Sara Tyler is a travel-loving expat mom and 6x bestselling author and publisher. She believes travel is essential for mental health and the best education for kids, teens, and adults. 

She started Nomad Publishing in 2021 to help aspiring authors share their travel experiences with the world. 

She has written for International Living about expat life in Mexico and organized TEDxBocadelRio in 2022. Her homebase is Boca del Rio, Veracruz, Mexico, with her partner and two young daughters. 

Work with Sara as a multi-author book contributor or solo book author. 

For more information:

https://www.nomadpublishinghouse.com

Contact Sara directly:

sara@nomadpublishinghouse.com

But, authors who are writing about niche topics, like my travel books, are finding great success because they have personal connections with their own audiences. I have seen authors with less than 1K social media followers/total audience sell more copies of their books than influencers with millions of followers.