"Lessons & Libations," Lessons Learned

Trying to keep this schedule is not the greatest.  However, the goal for the day is to post 2 posts to make up for Sunday and stay on track.  Let’s see how it goes.

So what did I learn this year in creating Lessons & Libations? I’m a pantser, always has been, probably will continue to be. (For non bookish people this means, I don’t plot things out or make an outline, I just fly by the seat of my pants.) 

I also found a really excellent editor, Ms. Deneishia LeArtiste! Deneishia was a “dope find” because she’s now a person I consider a friend. I wish her well on her journey, and will call on her to edit future works. This was also really special because I haven’t been able to find a editor that I can actually call on, and get like real feedback.  The icing on the cake is that she was local, and I love working with local folks. In speaking of editors I also reconnected with an old friend, Lonnie Gatewood. This was great because he created a book cover for me. I ended up using a different cover for the e-book, but I was able to use his cover for the audio-book version, which was very cool. Reconnecting with Lonnie was great because this is a bro’tha that I’ve known for about 20 years, and talking with him gave me confidence I thought I’d lost.

I realized I could write a 8,000 word book or 8,000 words in about three months if I stuck to my process. Speaking of processes, I also found out that going analog (actually writing in a notebook with a pen) still works for me. It still breaks the writer’s block. Also with this process I figured out how to format an e-book using google docs the right way with links and all that good jazz.

On the business side of things, I finally figured out a place to host my own bookstore.  Payhip has been great! It’s super easy to use, and I’ve even made a couple of sales and spent the money (lol). But this was actually a big one for me because for years I’ve preached on having your own and not depending on “big box” stores like Amazon and Barnes & Noble.  They’re ok, but so many people have issues on the way they pay authors, do business, are a monopoly, etc.  So it’s good that I can direct people to a more indie destination for people who are conscious about they way they spend their hard earned money.  And that is important, that does matter. On another business front I bought 10 ISBN’s.  ISBN’s will list me as the publisher instead of the “big boxes” like Amazon. So I’m really a publisher  now. 

This fact of having my own ISBNs has changed my mindset in a big way. I try to think more as a publisher, than just a writer who publishes. Anyone who has self-published has more than likely understood this concept. It’s not an easy concept to wrap your head around because success can look more economic than just putting something up on Amazon. I want my book in the hands and ears of people. To do that, I have to be dedicated to promotion, going to different author events, create in-person events, and freakin’ sell books. (I’ve never been keen on selling, but hey, I’m in publishing now!)

Lessons & Libations was the first book I made into an audio book. The possibility has been there, but this year with this book I made it a reality. As a spoken word artist, I’ve been to different studios, recorded with different people; hell, I’ve even recorded my own shitty albums. But this was different. I didn’t want to do this for the sake of doing it. I didn’t want it to be shitty.

I wanted good sound, good quality; something I could be proud of. I bought a new mic, scheduled time, read the book out loud in practice and then recorded it. I can fully understand why authors want to hire a voice actor but I also understand finances and wanting to create regardless. It is what it is. I also found a great site to alter my voice using Ai, so it’s not really allowing Ai to create for me, but using it as the tool it is. Lesson & Libations is filled with different characters, and I don’t have a large vocal range. However, I wanted to be able to give these characters a voice, and I didn’t have any budget. So I did what many are doing and utilized Ai. Am I wrong? Do you want to pull my “creator card” now? I’ll be happy to field any comments or have any conversations regarding this.

There is always passion in recording. I’ve been hesitant about making a spoken word album/cd/download/streams but making an audio-book wouldn’t be that. I spoke about this a little bit with Mitch on the Poets Podcast. Recording is just a different beast. There is nothing like hearing yourself in those headphones, or hearing your work, take a new life of its own. I thought about putting music behind the whole thing, then thought about having music on certain ones; I ended up landing on no music, but crisp solid tone heavy audio. The only bad thing is that I want to do more. Therefore, be on the lookout for more audio books. 

I’ve also learned to take my marketing more seriously. I did a cover reveal for both books, and updates for them. I did a lot, and I mean A LOT of posting on social media. I scheduled and did multiple podcast interviews, which was great! And for the beginning of next year I’m working on an online book tour. I wouldn’t say that I’ve mastered launching a book, but now my process is becoming more clear. I will say that I have to learn patience! Patience is key because you won’t be able to schedule interviews on podcasts on a moment’s notice.  Things take time; it’s not just your schedule, it’s the schedule of others. Also money has to line up. Marketing cost and I have to make sure I know what’s needed in the “kitty” to make sure my paid marketing, pays off.  

These were the lessons, at least the ones that have come off the top of my head the last 12ish hours or so. As for the libations part, I wrote this sober. I also think the libations are just a part of my author lore at this point.

Well, kiddies, I think that will be that for a bit. Hope this helps, or was at least enjoyable to read.  As always, thanks for the read, and I hope your reading and writing goes well.

See you soon!

Unpause

My last post was from June 23rd–yikes, and damn!  It’s like the blog ran off the wheels, I tumbled off into the weeds, and the poet/writer/performer/publisher got lost. 

Well, I’m back.  

I’m going to do my best to fill in some gaps and be consistent for the last few weeks of 2025.  2025 was a big year for me. Please excuse some of the random photos I’m including in this post.  I think it’s always kind of nice to have some visuals as well as thoughts

When I last posted it was in June.  The weather was warm, my car broke down, my house had plumbing issues and I had just released the book “Lessons & Libations” on May 2nd. It was a hell of a mid-year.

July brought in my best friend of over 35 years as a roommate who had been overseas for 15 years. July also brought heat and a second job. July and the rest of the summer felt like a blur of getting my roommate acclimated to the U.S. again and trying to launch a book, a website, and a new career while trying to hold down two jobs.

I won’t go through month by month of the last 6 months, but the writer in me feels like

the last 6 months were more promoter, more publisher, more social media poster than writer. Instagram has been my online home since I left Twitter (refuse to call it X) back in June. 

The writer in me has demanded this post, this expulsion of emotion. Writer Me was all up in my head today at my second gig. It was saying  hey, you should do some blog posts to finish the year.  It whispered to me as I half-heartedly listened to people in recovery. There were flashes of ideas for blog posts that I didn’t get the idea to write down; but the urge was there.

So now here I am at 8:53pm laying in bed, writing. Typing actually. It feels a bit foreign. It’s not working on a graphic for an IG post, or scanning over pages in Lessons and Libations for a blurb. It’s not sitting in front of a camera, or planning an ad, or making background music for a reel. It’s just some piano music in the earbud, the old but reliable Macbook Air, my thoughts, and hopes that someone actually takes the time to read this. 

Shit–I’m actually writing. This has not been the last 6 months. This feels almost cathartic.

So today is the 13th of December and I’m not fully out of Publisher Planning Self, but I want to take like the next 11 or 12 days, and just write blog posts. You know, like ‘The 12 Days of Christmas’ but in a writer-kind-of-way.  I’m hoping to stay true to it, and consistent with it. I’m hoping that a writer or agent or publisher will read a post or two and say, you know what–I felt that, or I understand. I’m hoping I can put down my phone long enough to write words. I hope some of these words make sense.

Some of the topics that have been rolling around are:

• The Journey of Lessons & Libations and some things I learned
• Do I try and start teaching a writing class–combining love and some well needed money??
• Do I work on a book of poems as I submit my work to agents and publishers?

These were just a couple of ideas that were whispered into my imagination as my brain was struggling to stay present with job stuff. 

It’s December now, and currently 35 degrees outside, and there isn’t any snow. My eyes are a bit tired from this screen, but I’ve written about two pages. I’ve expressed myself. I wrote some words and got out of just posting stuff on IG. 6 months is a long time, but the blog is back.

I don’t say that with 13 year old fever watching my favorite rock star on stage. I say that with the intention of doing this practice more. Explaining more of the writing process, of the publishing process, of processing life while trying to be a self publishing writer.

Here’s to the writer in me. Here’s to the reader who got to this ending Here’s to the writer who came across this blog. And here’s to the all the humans who have done the same.  

See you soon.