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Cassidy’s War is one of my latest books, published in November 2024. It is a fantasy romance with spice! Set in the fantasy world of Xeyeira, the world-building has been intricately detailed, from the treacherous mountain terrains and luscious sandy beaches to the tranquil rolling hills. Fully submerging the readers in all the delights this world has to offer.

The carefully crafted storyline follows two princes after their father (the king) dies. They both want it all: the throne, the kingdom, and the girl – Cassidy. A rare soulmate bond connects the two brothers to the same girl, and it is for her to decide who has truly captured her heart. It is not an easy decision; spending time with each prince leads to further confusion and heartache. As stakes rise and the kingdom becomes desperate for a king, a battle splits the kingdom apart, and only one brother can survive. Will Cassidy allow the fate of battle to decide for her?

I chose to self-publish rather than going down the traditional route, I have full control of the front cover, the cover for Cassidy’s War I created myself. I also have control over when they are released, so there are no deadlines or pressure to complete the next story unless I give myself one. The journey can vary between the different books I write, however, they ultimately go like this: completion of first draft, several re-reads and self-editing. This usually includes ripping apart chapters or adding in new scenes, which then leads to further tweaks later in the story before being released to my editor. Once we have worked closely with the professional edits, I then issue to a select few ARC readers for feedback before uploading my books on KDP. I will then re-read the author’s copy of the book, highlighting and marking any formatting or content tweaks before finalizing the manuscript and also uploading it to Draft2Digital for a wide-spread publication across other platforms such as Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Kobo, Fable, Smashwords and IngramSpark. 

Each day is different, being a mom and working full time, I write whenever the opportunity arises. I often wake up early (around 3 am) and get in as much writing as possible before getting ready for work and taking the children to school. I will write on my lunch break from my car, jot down notes in my notebook or my mobile if I am out and about, as well as trying to spend an hour an evening writing or promoting my books online. 

This can depend on the genre and the story itself. Cassidy’s War is a fantasy story, so I chose some more unusual names or names that felt like they embodied the characteristic traits. Logan is stoic, reliable, and loyal, whereas Jax is more carefree and reckless. Cassidy, however, was a baby name that I liked for my daughter before she was born, and I changed my mind!

Personally, it is the marketing side of self-publishing. Having the confidence to put myself and my stories out there and going against my introverted and self-conscious tendencies to be actively engaging online and promoting my books on various social media platforms. It does get easier, there are strategies that I have looked into – such as monthly newsletters, online and in-person author events, and participating in groups such as bookclubs that read the genres that I write, has helped massively. It is through the latter that I have managed to get all of my books into independent bookstores from here in the UK, where I am located, as well as in two stores in the USA!

I avoid AI, so I tend to use royalty-free images for promotional graphics, front covers, or purchase stock images. Using software to crop, edit, and enhance them until they embody the idea that was in my head.

Hundreds! Writing for as long as I have, there are USB sticks and hard drives full of stories in various stages of completion – most of which I will never do anything with. However, currently, I have around seven WIPs (works-in-progress) that I will complete and publish. Currently, I am in the process of finishing the first draft of Jax’s Vengeance, the second part of The Silverthorne Prince’s Collection after Cassidy’s War. 

I do a lot of online promotion across various social media platforms, sharing into groups and including relevant hashtags so that my content is easily found. I am not in a position to spend out a lot on marketing so I don’t tend to run ads, which is something I may consider later in the future.

I also use promotional materials such as handing out free bookmarks and getting permission to leave them in cafes/coffee shops and bookstores as well as in other stores. Attending in-person author events, short-time price reductions, as well as sometimes running some competitions on my platforms for readers to grab a free ebook!

I have found those who have won a free ebook or taken advantage of promotional prices, have often gone on to purchase my other books available and are now eager for the next books to be released!

I always read reviews when I receive them, and I often share them on my platforms and website. So far, I have received 4/5 star reviews across all of my books and have not dealt with any bad/negative reviews, though I know they will come. My stories may not be everyone’s ‘cup of tea’ – even some of the greatest authors have had negative reviews, so I will take any bad review with a pinch of salt and not let it affect my writing or my confidence. I have a relatively “thick” skin. 

There is nothing better than having a physical copy of a book in hand. I love paperbacks. I have shelves full of books I have read once, many times, as well as some books that are waiting to be read.

That being said, I do have a Kindle library full of books – as it is so much more convenient when out and about, waiting for appointments or going on holiday, etc., to take my iPad/Kindle than to take a whole bunch of books (as I read quite fast when given an opportunity to relax in the sun or by a pool!)

I ensure all of my books have both format options available – ebooks and physical copies. Of course, ebooks are the cheapest option, as the books are print-on-demand, which means they are only printed when the order has been placed for them, which is a lot more expensive than the traditionally published and mass-produced books that line the shelves in your major bookstores and grocery stores. Competing with their prices and offers is a challenge, but those readers who prefer the physical book do have that option.

I have honestly not tried audiobooks, though this is something I may look into not only as another format option for my self-published books but also for listening to other stories while I am out and about, in the car, and doing the housework!

My favourite all-time author is Edgar Allen Poe – I love his dark, macabre style. Aside from him, there are others, such as J.R.R. Tolkien, who have inspired me. I tend to read a lot more self-published author stories these days, I love to find hidden gems! Moonbaby by Troy Poppler and The Lady and the Assassin by Sevennah Storm have been my most recent reads.

There have been many trends; werewolves and vampires, fae, and right now dark romance are currently blooming. But like most things, trends tend to come around again and true fans of these genres will never fade away. Loyal fans will always look for new books in those fields to read, which is why I tend not to follow the latest trend.

I have a passion for writing fantasy, supernatural, and romance books (with varying levels of spice), and I will continue to do so for my growing fan base as well as staying true to who I am as an author.

Having published three books in three consecutive months at the end of last year, it can be challenging marketing each book equally – but I was eager to get them out into the big wide world! Patience is not my middle name!

This year, I am spreading out the stories that I am publishing, as they are the second books of different series, so I can focus on marketing the first book beforehand. As well as allow myself some more ‘down time’ between each book published and time to focus on writing more!

Never give up! There have been trailing times, times where I thought about giving up. Imposter syndrome is a real thing, and it can strike at any time. This is why it is important to have a good support network around you, whether that is your friends and family or other authors you may meet on social media.

Throughout my journey, I have sought advice from all of those mentioned; my family is amazingly supportive; my friends, co-workers, and even other authors have read through drafts and helped give feedback on where I can improve. Once you find the right people, those who will back you up and encourage you, you will feel more confident and have more focus on where you want to go with your stories/ author journey.

It is also important not to view other authors as ‘competition’ – we are all little fishes in a big, scary ocean. We need to support each other in any way we can, and if you read one of their books – leave a review! I never understood the importance a review can have for the author’s visibility until I became one!