Ep 39: Interview with Neely Alexander, author of Love Buzz

05/17/23 • 37 min

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions!

If you love hearing other authors' experiences when it comes to querying, agent selection, and the publisher selection process, this episode is one to listen to!

Neely Tubati-Alexander's debut novel, Love Buzz, released on May 2, 2023. (It's so good, grab a copy through links below!).

In this episode of the Write the Damn Book Already podcast, Neely and I talked about:

Finding her creative outlet in the midst of Covid, and why she started writing (then stopped) another book entirely, felt amazing about it, then trashed it
Neely's experience identifying which agents to query and how she ultimately select hers (she has great tips on how to find agents in your genre)
How she managed the mindf*ck of getting requests for partial or full manuscripts while also hearing “no thank you” from agents
The most beneficial way to respond to an agent’s or editor's request for plot modifications
Why she passed on the first agent who offered to represent her book (even though she loved her)
How she ultimately selected her publisher (Harper Perennial) after her book went to auction and she received multiple offers
How “asking for forgiveness” helped her get her dream agent
The “reality” of the advance for nonfiction versus fiction with a traditional publishing deal (plus, the lesser-talked about benefit of a smaller advance and a smaller publisher)
The important role of diversity in publishing
The value of writing groups (and how to get connected with one)
How Neely got Emily Giffin, q

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Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions!

If you love hearing other authors' experiences when it comes to querying, agent selection, and the publisher selection process, this episode is one to listen to!

Neely Tubati-Alexander's debut novel, Love Buzz, released on May 2, 2023. (It's so good, grab a copy through links below!).

In this episode of the Write the Damn Book Already podcast, Neely and I talked about:

Finding her creative outlet in the midst of Covid, and why she started writing (then stopped) another book entirely, felt amazing about it, then trashed it
Neely's experience identifying which agents to query and how she ultimately select hers (she has great tips on how to find agents in your genre)
How she managed the mindf*ck of getting requests for partial or full manuscripts while also hearing “no thank you” from agents
The most beneficial way to respond to an agent’s or editor's request for plot modifications
Why she passed on the first agent who offered to represent her book (even though she loved her)
How she ultimately selected her publisher (Harper Perennial) after her book went to auction and she received multiple offers
How “asking for forgiveness” helped her get her dream agent
The “reality” of the advance for nonfiction versus fiction with a traditional publishing deal (plus, the lesser-talked about benefit of a smaller advance and a smaller publisher)
The important role of diversity in publishing
The value of writing groups (and how to get connected with one)
How Neely got Emily Giffin, q

Awesome Email Templates for Authors

🎉 CLICK HERE to access to the templates

Support the show

Previous Episode

Ep 38: How to Choose the Right Publisher

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Hybrid publishing is a model whereby an author pays a publishing house to do the publishing legwork---including (sometimes) editing, cover design, interior formatting, and distribution channel setup---while retaining final say over the edits, title, cover design, interior layout, and retail price.

The cost to work with a hybrid publishing house is likely to fall somewhere between $1,500 and $50,000. I consider my publishing house, Finn-Phyllis Press, to be a hybrid publisher. Several of the bigger, more well-known traditional publishing houses offer a hybrid model: Hay House has Balboa Press, and Simon & Schuster has Archway Publishing.

Some publishing houses take no profit off sales, while others take 15% (or more). Some houses pay author royalties every month; others pay them every quarter. Some make it easier than others for authors to order author copies for events or promotion, but almost all of them up-charge when an author does so.

When I began publishing other authors’ books through Finn-Phyllis Press, I put in place the business model that I would’ve loved to have available to me when I started publishing. I wanted someone to help me with the publishing legwork, but I didn't want to give away a portion of my earnings, and I wanted to retain full control over my listing on Amazon and other distribution services post-publication.

That model didn't exist two decades ago (that I was aware of), but thankfully, more and more author support partners have come on the scene since.

Because I've learned of so many authors who didn't know what questions

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Next Episode

Ep 40: How to Sell 2589 Books in 30 Hours (guest: Sam Garcia)

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Sam Garcia's first book, Regenerative Business: How to Align Your Business with Nature for More Abundance, Fulfillment, and Impact made quite a (quiet but impactful) splash right out of the gate.

It sold 2,589 copies in its first 30 hours on the market and hit #1 on several (large and relevant) Amazon lists, including Women in Business, Entrepreneurship, and Environmentalism.

It also hit #72 in the entire Kindle store (which boasts millions of titles), and when I checked it was #949 in the entire paperback store.

These are big accomplishments, without doubt.

But did it all happen with nary a plan? Absolutely not.

In this episode of the Write the Damn Book Already podcast, Sam and I chatted about exactly what led to this incredible launch (and how she's planning to keep the momentum going!).

INTERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS

💥 The REAL reason she was able to hit all t

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