In this special launch-day episode of Your Book Is In There, host Inger E. Johnson pauses to reflect on the journey from “Can I really do this?” to “Look what I did.”
Yesterday marked the official release of her debut novel, Veiled Halos: A Saga of Betrayal and Redemption, and today she’s taking a moment to look back at everything it took to get here — the countless rounds of edits, navigating the publishing world’s terminology and platforms, debating ISBN strategy with a 20-year industry veteran (and being right), building a website from scratch, and launching this very podcast after a $60,000 marketing proposal sent her in an unexpected direction.
Drawing on the Japanese art of Kyudo, Inger explores how hitting the target is only part of the journey — the archer’s growth matters just as much. Whether you’re drafting your first chapter or staring down a messy second draft, this episode is your reminder that the distance between doubt and accomplishment is often shorter than it feels.
Talking Points
• The official launch of Veiled Halos: A Saga of Betrayal and Redemption
• Reflecting on the journey from writing the first drafts to becoming a published author
• The many rounds of editing and learning to trust the finished story
• Navigating the publishing process and learning about ISBNs, distribution, pricing, and metadata
• Gaining confidence in making publishing decisions
• Building connections with other authors and advance readers
• Creating an author website and learning new skills along the way
• The challenges of marketing a book and how Your Book Is In There became part of that journey
• The Kyudo philosophy and the idea that the journey matters as much as reaching the target
• Taking time to recognize and celebrate how far you’ve come
• Encouragement for aspiring authors who are still asking, “Can I really do this?”
• A preview of next week’s episode, ARC Readers Demystified
Find more tools, warnings, and honest guidance on the Resources page.
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