What I learned from 100 Reviews ♥︎
✨And a big THANK YOU!✨
I’m so grateful for everyone who left a review for Saints and Monsters! Thank you! Writing a book is a massive undertaking. My writing journey often felt slow due to health struggles and writing in the margins of life, but I didn’t give up. 諦めないで Maybe that’s why anime and manga resonate so deeply with me. The relentless pursuit of justice, excellence, moving forward in the face of great odds. It’s something I’m passionate about and a quality of so many great manga heroes.
I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. I finished my first complete book in 2014 and didn’t publish until 2024. That’s a decade, my friends. And it’s still not an easy road. But it’s worth it.
Writing is a very personal art. As Ernest Hemingway said, "There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed."
I’m SO grateful my stories have made it out in the world, no matter how small or large an audience they have. I write for everyone who has felt broken, unseen, weak, or unworthy. I write for those tired of battling darkness and corruption, to cheer them on the journey and remind them that they aren’t alone or powerless. To everyone who has given my book a try, THANK YOU <3
Newsletter Highlights
🎨
💪 100 REVIEWS!
📚 2025 Book & Anime Recs
Lessons Learned from 100 Reviews
Less than 10% of readers leave a review. Some stats say only 1-2% of readers.
The best reviews are organic. Use proper etiquette to ask for reviews or give out ARCs before publication.
Authenticity and community are more important than marketing. I’d rather build genuine relationship than just peddle books. Story is about people.
Marketing doesn’t need to be expensive. I only used one book tour and did a few promos for my book, selling ebooks for $0.99 because my goal has been to find more readers not make more money (though it would be nice!)
Generally, publishing doesn’t pay much unless you are with a big publisher or have a huge indie audience. I think I broke even on what I spent in marketing.
Your book will not be for everyone and that is OK!
Encourage yourself with the positive reviews and don’t read the rest unless you have thick skin like Godzilla. 3-4 star reviews can be good to identify growth areas for future books. 1-2 stars tend to be trolls or people who were not a good fit in the first place.
Decide what matters to you and how you define success. I’d rather have a quality book than 1,000 reviews for example.
Keep Writing!
BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS!
FROST GATE by Hannah Sandvig is a gorgeous Snow White retelling with clean romance and a book on want on my shelf! Not only is the author kind and a brilliantly talented artist, but she spins clever words too. Mirror mirror made of gold,
Here's the story you were never told . . .
DEFENDER OF HISTORIES by Haley Walden is a gripping epic YA fantasy with magic, political intrigue, tragic romance, and lovable, flawed heroes. This entire series has the most beautiful covers and I’m looking forward to checking them out!
THE THIEF’S KEEPER by Magnet by Kyrie Wang is a heart-warming, coming of age Middle Grade adventure story with loads of action and beautiful themes. I’ve listened to part of this on audible with my own kids and my 10-year-old very much enjoyed it!
Congratulations!! And also, your cover is beautiful! I screenshotted it because I loved it so much.
I went and read some of the one star reviews for my favorite book by my favorite author. I found that pretty much all the one-star reviews were just people who had picked up a book in the wrong genre and were blaming the author!
That genuine connection is so important! What keeps me writing is the little group of encouraging friends I've found over the years. That support is so vital!