#153: What First-Time Authors Need to Know About Hiring Self-Publishing Support

In today’s episode, Becky is joined by Michelle Garrett—public relations consultant, writer, author, and speaker. Michelle shares the candid truth about her self-publishing journey—from unmet expectations to the determination it took to launch her book. If you're navigating the ups and downs of self-publishing, Michelle’s experience offers invaluable insights into what to ask, how to find the right partner, and why strategy—and resilience—matter.

During the episode, you’ll learn:  

• About Michelle and her work in the world. 
• Michelle’s expectations going into the self-publishing process and how they compared to the reality she experienced.
• Michelle’s process for selecting her support team when self-publishing her book. 
• Some of the challenges and disappointments Michelle faced while working with her support team and where she felt she needed more guidance. 
• The questions Michelle didn’t ask when she was selecting a support team, and what she would ask now. 
• The frustration Michelle experienced when she did not receive a timeline or deadlines from her support team. 
• The importance of adhering to goals and milestones.
• The most important qualities and characteristics that authors should look for when they’re hiring an individual or an agency to assist them on the self-publishing journey. 
• How Michelle’s experience affected her confidence and momentum for bringing her book into the world, and how she moved forward from the disappointments she faced.
• Michelle's guidance on what to consider when selecting the right partner for your project.
• Some of the unique challenges self-published authors face when it comes to gaining publicity. 
• PR strategies and tactics that work well for self-published authors. 
• The importance of being the “Chief Marketing Officer” for your book. 

Don’t forget to check out our show notes, which include action steps and resources.

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