My First Book Launch

Writing A Lion's Head was a journey of discovery. Along the way, I had many kind friends who served as inspiration or catalysts for paradigm shifts in my thinking. The woman who said she would only publish traditionally ended up indie-publishing.

The author, who wanted an illustrated cover, ended up creating a jaw-dropping, stop-what-you're-doing, pick-me-up-from-across-the-room cover.

The first person I must be grateful for is my husband, Steph, who encouraged and supported me while I took time away from my 'old' life to pursue a new life as an author. My children Kiran, Rohan, and Enora have also been pushed aside from time to time as I tend to my writing. The surprise, I believe, is that they are better for seeing their Amma strive.

The rest mentioned are out of order... here are the invitees.

My best friend Michelle has known me since the days when I was drafting on paper in a binder. She also knew me through my Pentium I days, though I was living outside the country when I published The Taking. Throughout my more recent journey, she was the one who took long walks with me, fanned my ambitions, and listened to my repetitions. The moment I had a draft version of the two books, she pirated them away with her... and regretted her decision the moment she saw the new and improved cover. Suffice to say, today, she holds a copy of the recent published A Lion's Head. I think it was worth the wait.

Laki held some great debates with me over my use of religious figures in my books. The Hindu gods are very much active and real to massive swathes of the human population. She helped me find my voice and path, navigating the material I was researching with respect and intent.

Dinush, Kushan, and Manel were all involved in reading my earliest version of the 1st chapter (now the 5th) that was told from Sinha's POV (now told from Saida's) and which introduced the greater gods and Sinha's creation. The chapter no longer resembles at all what it had been. At the same time, Kushan helped me forge my first successful synopsis and agent letter. He served as a good foil for asking the tough questions and getting me uncomfortable with finding the answers.

Reza's mom passed away, and I helped him publish her memoir posthumously. This was the first time I navigated the creation of a book cover. This would lead me to convert my children's book covers to my own creations and move them to mass distribution via IngramSpark. Nishi's talent for art, reminded me that we all have this inward light that we can either nurture or allow to hibernate.

I pined for a perfect cover, one featuring an illustration comparable to the covers of 90s fantasy authors. My friend Jen pointed out that, even though Tolkien didn't have a drawn cover at the beginning, I needed to put my work out there and see how it was received. Eventually, I may have fan art that I could select for a reprint.

Bridget was my beta reader before the book was polished. When I made my first major revisions (somewhere around version 5.0), she asked to re-read the copy. Her feedback was insightful. The story lived in her head. The characters were real. She asked good questions. I made lots of changes. She would go on to read the book three times before I ever handed her a polished, finalized copy. She also preferred A Lion's Head to A Lion's Pride.

Kevin and Kiran, two of my beta readers, preferred A Lion's Pride. Kevin, in particular, was the first to suggest that it be obvious that the novel was two books. It wasn't until my editor, Elise, stepped in and carefully suggested that I split the book, and after some weeks of thought, that I eventually split the novel into two parts that now comprise the Duology, Pawn of Samsara.

Lisa S. kept asking, "Why not self-publish? Everyone is doing it right?" I kept making my excuses as I waited in the traditional publishing queues for agents to consider my work. Every time I had to answer the question, I would question my intentions.

Lisa G. was a loyal companion as I received subjective rejection after rejection. She would be the first reader for the book that comes after Pawn of Samsara, despite it not being her genre. Through her feedback, I built much confidence. It's important to have a developmental editor with whom you can bounce early ideas off of.

Karen provided me with a safe space to work. But driving an hour across town was horrendous. I only went to her office once. The prospect of using her space pushed me to do more and finish more with the time and space that I had. I drafted a marketing plan while at her office. I strayed from it constantly and, in the end, did something completely different—but that was the beginning of treating publishing as a business. I continued revising that plan and listening, watching, and learning from others.

Eunah showed me what it is for a person to keep shifting occupations until the right shoe fits—persistence and not accepting the status quo. Who cares what the world thinks if you're happy and living in your purpose?

Sharilyn and Brian of Forty Hills Forge took a flying leap into entrepreneurship with a farm, a forge, and a pottery business. Sometimes it's years before you break even, but you never stop raising the bar for what you can and can not do. Watching them, I have learned that you can pivot and pivot hard. Some ideas are good, some need iterations.

Not everyone could come... but everyone is mentioned in my acknowledgements page. I am grateful. I would not have reached my goal in quite the same way without them.

There are signposts along the way, but it's up to us to see them. In the same way, good friends will always guide you towards your light.

I stand with the help of giants.

Many people have helped me along this journey.

The Erudite BookwormD.M. De Alwis