Inside the Insanity: *Book Tour & Giveaway* Wanderer of the Wastes-GUEST POST

Monday, October 28, 2024

Book Tour & Giveaway Wanderer of the Wastes-GUEST POST

In a world where magic can save or shatter, Kol Mendona must survive lethal secrets—and an even deadlier love—as he discovers he might not be as human as he believed...

Wanderer of the Wastes

by Kit Karlsson

Genre: Fantasy Romance

Kol Mendona, one of the last humans on the magical continent of Alon, is desperate to escape his dying underground compound. When Alessi, a fierce dragon slayer with silver eyes, arrives, Kol sees a way out. As they journey together through the deadly wastes, an unexpected bond forms between them – one fueled by passion and dangerous magic.

But as Kol’s strange new powers awaken, their bond becomes increasingly unstable. Something within him is changing in ways he doesn’t fully understand, and if Alessi ever discovers the truth, Kol may lose more than her affections...

Amazon * B&N * Bookbub * Goodreads

Kit enjoyed writing as a child and rediscovered her passion during the COVID-19 lockdown. She has a degree in finance and recently graduated from law school, where she was the administrative editor of an academic publication. When she’s not writing, you can find her running barefoot, taming stray cats, or listening to paranormal podcasts.

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GUEST POST

My Publishing Journey: How I Signed My First Book to Lake Country Press

Kit Karlsson

There are many different routes to publication, but most fall into one of three categories: traditional, indie, and self-publishing. Self-publishing is fairly straightforward, while traditional publishing typically involves querying agents who then pitch your book to publishers. Indie publishing, a broad category, includes a process by which you pitch your book directly to publishers without an agent. Some small and medium-sized publishers accept unrepresented books for various reasons—one being they may just prefer not to work with agents.

In the writing community, indie publishing often carries a stigma, and this isn’t entirely without reason. Some so-called “indie” publishers operate under a predatory, pay-to-play model, charging authors to publish their books. If you decide to go the indie route, it’s crucial to vet the publishers yourself, as you won’t have an agent to watch your back.

I initially pitched Wanderer of the Wastes to agents. I probably sent out around 80 queries and received a few partial and full manuscript requests. However, it was during this time that I started to reevaluate the role of agents. I had a negative experience with one, and so did some of my friends. It made me question whether an agent was as essential as the writing community tends to believe. Sure, they negotiate contracts, but as a lawyer, I can do at least some of that myself. Sure, agents are necessary for getting into the largest publishers, but what if I wanted a more boutique experience, at least to start?

Around this time, one of my critique partners, Beka Westrup, signed with Lake Country Press (LCP) and had an incredibly positive experience. So, I decided to query them as well. Before long, I received a full manuscript request, and soon after, an offer! Brittney at LCP turned out to be the perfect fit for Wanderer of the Wastes, especially since she connected with the book’s specific type of humor.

It’s been two years, and I’ve had a fantastic experience with LCP. That’s the story—so far, it’s been a great journey with them, and I’ve loved getting to know my author siblings!