My self-publishing journey
I have self-published two poetry collections so far. Here's what I've learned and why I love being an independent author.
Grab your copy of Coffee Mug Rings today!
If you told me 10 years ago that I would publish not one but two poetry collections by 33, well, I’m not sure if I would have believed you.
Well, look at me now. I am beyond excited to announce that my second poetry collection, Coffee Mug Rings, is officially published!
This particular collection was a long time coming. I had originally planned on publishing this back in October, but two pregnancy losses and a loss of a loved one resulted in more poetry that deserved to be in this collection.
How it started
I started writing poetry fresh out of postpartum with my now four-year-old daughter. I had been hit hard with postpartum depression, and my then-therapist and I discussed finding a creative outlet to get all the emotions out.
I have always been creative. I went to school for journalism and English and was a writer/reporter and publicist by trade. And while poetry is something I was always drawn to, I didn’t believe I had the skills to become a poet.
But I learned very quickly that poetry can be simple. Throw away the ideas of iambic pentameter and other literary devices, and you can find a style that works for you because you control the pen. And as a new mother, that was life-changing.
thus emerged a poet
my friend said that
postpartum unveiled a secret vault
hidden behind vines and tangles of uncertainty
and when it opened
a poet emerged.
she was uncertain at first
blinking blindly in the sunlight
but she was filled to the brim
and ready to pour out her soul
so that other mothers
feeling grief
feeling alone
feeling too much
but never enough
could trace their fingers
over the familiar words
and feel at home.
Through my poetry, I am able to play with words, formatting, and punctuation. I can reject the status quo and push limits. This is so important because, as a mother, you feel limited. You are at the mercy of an unpredictable little human, and life feels out of control. As a poet, I make the rules.
Why I decided to self-publish my poetry books
After I had a few poems under my belt, I started sharing my poetry on my Instagram. The amount of love and support I received was so validating — not only because others were telling me that my poetry spoke to them, but also because they were feeling the same way as new mothers. Sharing my poetry was a leap of faith, and my community did not disappoint. In fact, it has only grown.
Over a certain amount of time, I found myself with 100 or so poems. I could not believe the volume, and decided to speak to a few writer friends about publishing options. After some research, I decided that I was going to self-publish my first poetry collection.
Call me Jo March, but I wanted to own my book. And for me, publishing these books is never about the money. It’s not about the “fame” or the number of followers on my Instagram. It’s about the connection I feel with myself as I process my emotions on paper. It’s about those one-on-one conversations with mothers that I hope stick with them for as long as they do with me. From the very beginning, my poetry has been part of my healing process and a recording of my motherhood journey.
There are plenty of platforms that you can use to self-publish. I have chosen KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) because it is so intuitive, but others use Ingram Spark, and they have seen excellent results as well. Find the best fit for you!
Ultimately, at the end of the day, these books are also for my children; they are living and breathing testaments of my life and devotion to being the best mother and person I can be.
How to promote your work and sell books
With a background in public relations and marketing, I promoted the heck out of my first book. With poemspartum, the support from my Instagram followers led to more than 100 copies sold in the first few weeks, and through grassroots marketing, my Substack, word-of-mouth, and community artisan shops, my first book has sold close to 1,000 copies since publication (at least what I’ve been able to track on my own).
Coffee Mug Rings is now out in the world, and like my first book, my preorder sales sold out in two days, with nearly 70 copies before it was published. As of right now, I am at 90 copies sold or secured by local vendors.
Here are 4 practical ways I have sold my books online and in my community.
Post consistently, 3-5 times a week, with content from your book. I use Canva to create content graphics with my logo to ensure consistency and brand recognition. These graphics will go on my Instagram stories and Substack Notes linking to my book page.
I will also take videos of my poetry and post them on Instagram and TikTok, referring viewers back to my website to order my books. I try my best to make my content as interesting as possible, albeit poetry is such a niche market, let alone poetry about motherhood. I am still working on finding my audience, and that’s fine! I am proud of every like, even if it’s “small."
And connect with other writers on social media. Genuinely interact with their work, follow them back, and engage with their vulnerable art. You will be amazed at how kind other artists can be. It is not a competition. The indie author community is absolutely amazing.
Connect with your local coffee shops, bookstores, and artisan shops. I visited my local coffee shops and artisan shops to see if they would sell my book. I also called independent bookstores around New England to see if they would carry my book through their consignment programs. I was lucky enough to get interested parties through my Instagram posts as well, and because of my amazing bookstagram community, my book is being sold online at an independent bookstore in my home state, as well as physical copies at bookstores in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New Jersey.
It’s a lot to put yourself out there, and some contact forms and emails may go unanswered. But if there’s anything I’ve learned recently is that independent bookstores and small business owners value local artists, and they will support you in any way that they can. Just try!
Host small, in-person events. I’ve been lucky enough to host a few author talks/book signing events at locations in my town, and it is a great way to meet people and connect. It’s also a great way for your fans (read: family and friends) to come and support you.
Fun fact: At my first book launch party, I met a producer from NPR in the coffee line, and they had me on “Where We Live” to talk about my book and the importance of maternal mental health. Anything is possible! Put yourself out there as much as you can!
I also reached out to my alma mater, and they were interested in hosting me for their Central Author series. It was surreal to be back on campus in the bookstore and see my book being sold here. I also connected with old professors who continue to support me even 10-years+ post graduation.
Participate in local artisan markets. This is THE best way to connect with your community and not only share your art with the world, but find opportunity as well. Partnering with other artists, discovering businesses that will sell/promote your work, and making friends with like-minded artists make the day worthwhile.
I learned quickly that people aren’t going to approach your table if you have a pile of books there. That’s why I started painting and selling my art as well as printables (think bookmarks, postcards, and stickers with my words on them — all designed on Canva) to entice people to come to my table. Just this past weekend, I sold six copies of my book, and four of them were to strangers. Teenage girls came over and complimented my art (honestly, the biggest compliment of all), and some even purchased my paintings and stickers.
I always tell people that even if I just sell one book, it’s a day well spent. For me, it’s about the connection. I have people come over and ask about my work, and I tell them why I do it. I tell them why maternal mental health and talking about motherhood are important. If I sell just one book to a mother or someone whose sister just became a mother, or a mother worried about their daughter who is a new mother, then my work is done.
It takes a village to raise a child, but that village must also nurture the mother. We can’t leave her behind. 🤍
Here’s how you can support my newsletter and work:
Subscribe to my Substack and visit my author website and blog.
Like and comment on this post or others that you may enjoy.
Keep It Kassual is always free. Buy me a coffee to support (and help fuel) my work!
Purchase my new poetry book, coffee mug rings! Get a signed copy and bookmark/printable.
Purchase my first poetry book, poemspartum, directly from me (signed with a bookmark/printable!)
Follow me on Instagram and TikTok: @keepitkassual
So happy to be a part of your community! I've got both collections on my nightstand as we speak.