Lexie Janson's Blog

Well, hello there. Recently, I shared my own rather intense experience working with an editor on my upcoming fantasy novel, Crown of Shadows. And I know, not everyone gets or wants to work with a publisher, but the question remains... Do you really need an editor?

The Role of an Editor - What Do They Do?

Now, when I say 'editor,' I'm not just talking about someone who corrects your grammar and spelling, although those commas can be surprisingly elusive little blighters (I sometimes put them in random. Where it feels right). A good editor does so much more...

Big-Picture Issues: They're like a literary architect, ensuring your plot is sturdy, your pacing is engaging, and your characters are consistent. They'll help you see those gaping plot holes you've become blind to!

And let’s be honest… After reading your own book 100 times - you become BLIND.

Line Editing: Think of them as a prose polisher, tightening your sentences, improving your flow, and banishing those pesky comma splices to the nether realms.

Pros of Working with an Editor

So, why should you consider handing your precious manuscript over to another pair of eyes? Well, for starters...

Objectivity: They're not emotionally attached to your story. They can see the forest for the trees, pointing out inconsistencies or confusing passages that you've overlooked.

Professionalism: An editor elevates your work to a higher standard, giving it that polished, professional sheen that readers expect.

For traditionally published authors: This is often part of the package! A valuable resource provided to you. How lucky are we?

For self-published authors: A chance to level the playing field and compete with traditionally published books. If you want your book to be taken seriously, invest in editing!

Cons of Working with an Editor

Of course, editing isn't all sunshine and roses. There are downsides to consider...

Cost: Let's be honest, editing can be expensive, especially for self-published authors on a tight budget. But think of it as an investment in your book's success!

Creative Differences: You might not always agree with your editor's suggestions. It's important to find someone who understands your vision and respects your voice.

I had the biggest issues discussing the army structure with my editor… She’d ask for real-life example of the force I made up… for my fantasy novel… and I could not find a real-life example of one force for the life of mine.

Time Commitment: Editing is a collaborative dance, not a solo performance. It requires time, effort, and a willingness to revise.

Speaking of success, I'm thrilled to announce that Crown of Shadows is now available for pre-order! You can find it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, Waterstones, and many other fine retailers.

And for those of you who want a signed copy with a special goodies pack, head over to my website – the links are all in the description below, along with a link to add it to your 'Want to Read' list on Goodreads!

If you are a published author already - did you work with an editor? How was your experience? And if you are just an aspiring author - do you plan on working with an editor? Let me know in the comments!

Here’s a video about my personal experience with an editing process, and here you’ll find a playlist about the process of book publishing.

I’ll see you in the next one. Until then - stay awesome fam. Bye!

12th of June 2025 - Yes still THAT behind with my content

This week I started to work with my editor, Hannah on my debut fantasy novel that will get published this halloween. I already talked about all of my publisher’s timelines and I knew that starting June - we will be working hard on making my book the best it can be.

But dear gods I did not anticipate this:

Yeah a lot of it is blurred but the point will stand… We typically ask that authors return edits within a week, or two at most.

My book was 120.000 words when I sent it… So… I blinked at the email, realised that I need to read my whole book again… at speed… and send it back.

The work? Accept or reject changes. Add clarifications where needed, explain things where needed, add some info or characteristics.

FEAR INTENSIFIES

Let me tell you I have spent the next 4 days on the couch doing just that. Only that, actually. I don’t think I have ever read a book so fast in my life, actually.

So… on the 17th of June - I returned the whole manuscript back to her.

And got a pat to my head for that.

There were still a couple of things to correct, and we had a bit of back and forth about certain issues within military structure (because can you imagine that there’s no real-life example of a force in a fantasy book? Like… I made it up!)

Anyway…

Back and forth

Working with an editor is a lot of back and forth, as well as some little fights (My biggest shock was that one of my fav character’s character trait was taken away because it wasn’t “necessary”. I disagreed. Snarky comments are necessary, it’s a character trait. It’s obviously back because I say so.

So… as you may imagine, this has been going back and forth for a while.

BUT! We have been done with all the edits pretty effectively and got down to 107.000 words. Which means 386 pages of the book. It’s thick

Now… I will say that working with a professional editor has been refreshing. Hannah knew which parts made little sense, or how to better explain what I had in mind. Sometimes I become bye-lingual. You know… when you forget a word in any language…?

Hannah also managed to make some sentences more concise, to the point, and simply easier to read. It’s something that only a professional human can catch on. While yes, I used grammarly to find my typos before sending the manuscript to Hannah, it is a much different experience to work with an editor. If you want me to make a post about why working with an editor is important and what are the pros and cons of working with one are - let me know in the comments - we’ll make it happen.

Leave a comment

And! I can tell you that the book is currently on pre-sale on amazon, barnes&noble, Bookshop.org, Waterstones, and more! You can also add it to your “want to read” on goodreads, which is extremely helpful for the new authors!

PRE-ORDER CROWN OF SHADOWS NOW

So if you are interested in an epic, dark fantasy with multiple POVs and folklore themes mixed with a dark world and mental issues - it may be down your alley!

I will see you in the next post. until then - stay awesome fam! BYE!

And a big tantrum… because… I had a tantrum moment

BOOK COVERS ARE IMPORTANT!

I think we an all agree that a book cover is one of the most important decisions… We say “don’t jusge the book by its cover” but let’s be fair - WE DO JUDGE THE BOOKS BY THEIR COVERS. Sometimes we pay attention to a book only because the cover made us stop and stare. In which case: What was the last book cover that stopped you and made you get the book? I’ll start - T. Kingfisher - A house with good bones

How about you?

So let me tell you a story: (And I’ll show you the cover of my book at the end, so keep reading. It’s beautiful.)

6th of June 2025 - YES… I’M THAT BEHIND WITH MY CONTENT.

This week we started working on my cover design with Catherine. To be fair I was extremely excited to get Catherine as I was already following her and I prayed to all the deities to get her. Then… an email from my publisher came, and Catherine was officially assigned to my book.

That meant we were to have a call and discuss what will be needed or wanted. I’m obviously not a designer, and I don’t have any experience in covers, so it’s refreshing to talk to someone, who has all of that knowledge.

After this… there was the good old…

WAITING TIME

And once I got the first ideas of the cover - I had a small panic attack.

The covers I got were missing the genre.

While I cannot really show you the cover ideas I have gotten… Let me just quickly paint you a picture…

My book is categorised as dark fantasy (pop with a dark picture). There are folktale monsters like banshees, licho’s, and more. The general world is based on celtic, nordic, and slavic folklore… and the title “Crown of Shadows” is worn by both male and female rulers.

And the crown on the covers looked like it was taken directly from princess bride.

This is literally what I saw in my head when I saw the first covers design.

While I have nothing against pretty crowns, you can imagine that I couldn’t imagine a big viking guy wearing that crown. Unless they were really strong into their feminine, no judgement. But… they were supposed to be feared… and the crown… is not… cute and nice to the wearer let me put it that way.

So… as you may imagine… I have drafted a professionally sounding, evidence-based email stating that this will not be accepted.

I lost it internally, and tried not to lose it externally.

But I was ready to fight. Here’s why:

Looking at the cutsie crown I’d assume the book is about knights and princess’s… while in reality the book is about… folktale monsters, dichotomy of good and evil, torture, mental issues, and more.

So even if the cover was pretty - it was completely missing its genre. The people that would pick it for the style - wouldn’t like it. My target audience would not bat an eye on it.

But thank gods someone agreed with me, and we decided for a crown re-do.

So after…

MORE WAITING TIME

We got the new cover designs and started the official vote on my publisher’s website. The winner? Yes, this hand-drawn beauty.

I was actually shocked at how many people voted on the cover, but that’s a different topic. I love it.

But! Picking a front of the cover is not all… We need to design a whole wrap.

After the front has been picked, Catherine has gotten to design the full wrap of the book. This included a blurb as well as a short bio of yours truly. Now… I know that some books only do the writer’s bio. But to be fair - I’d rather learn about the book, so I requested the blurb and was actually happy to skip completely on my bio.

But apparently it fit.

So… Behold the full wrap of the book!

How do you like the cover and the wrap? Please do let me know in the comments!

Now hear me out - working with the designer is mostly giving feedback, giving a yes/no/maybe, or I guess throwing a tantrum, which I believe I have done.

And yet a good, visible cover is necessary to make your book stand out in the sea of… well… books out there.

We can say that the book shouldn’t be judged by the cover, yet… I noticed a couple of books thanks to the cover.

So… There’s that.

Do you like what you see so far!?

Actually, since I have your interest - my debut fantasy novel - the white raven tales - crown of shadows is now on pre-sale. You can get in in Barnes and noble, amazon, and more! I would also appreciate if you went to goodreads and clicked “want to read” on it - if you are interested.

It’s a multiple POV (5 to be exact), dark fantasy series with dark magic, folklore themes, dark entities, deeply psychological themes, and even a bit of forbidden romance. If this sounds like it’s down your alley - be sure to check it out and give it a try. Even clicking the “want to read” is extremely helpful for the writers. So thank you for doing that.

PRE-ORDER CROWN OF SHADOWS

If you are interested in my publishing process - check out my other posts on substack!

So, I hope to see you in the next post. If it proved to be entertaining and interesting, don’t forget to give it a thumbs up! I’ll see you in the next one. Bye!

This blog post is available in a video version…

Because I have YouTube

And I post stuff there.

I also have Instagram

And TikTok

And Substack

And goodreads ;)

(Pre-sale stragegy)

If you prefer video format - here’s a video about the topic on YouTube

My Debut Fantasy Novel is scheduled to be published on the 31st of October 2025. According to my publisher’s timeline - we will work on the book in separate chapters (pun intended). This means that for example: my cover will be done by July. The pre-orders will start at the beginning of August or end of July.

So this left me with one, really big problem: How does one market their book and build a momentum when there’s nothing I can really show for the book except for the signed contract!?

Well, it turns out that the answer is: A LOT.

So, let me show you what I have done so far to market my book, while I don’t have much to actually… SHOW.

Social media following:

I took an approach of “collecting people” first. This means that my current instagram is focused on BookStagram content. I am also considering reviving my YouTube for the same purpose. Yes… I have TikTok, but… meh.

Why would I promote other people’s books while I have my own?

Well… hear me out. The types of books I read (along with my general looks and animated personality) fit a really interesting niche. You guessed it - the niche is basically my “perfect reader”. Those people already read the stuff that I will want to sell them later.

This also allows me to tag other authors and set up a relationship with them (I may have reached out to one of my fav authors to ask if he’d like to read my ARC (Author’s review copy). He agreed!

While I will later start posting about pre-sale etc… I will already have a relationship and connection with them before I have stuff to show them. While yes, I do also post updates about my own book, and send them to…

The website :

Ok, I may be cheating in a way… I already had a pretty impressive social media following. Heck, I have over 3.000 people in my newsletters.

Hence I understood how important it will be to create a website that will collect more interested people into… my newsletter. It’s cool to talk about your book, but let’s face it - if someone doesn’t do anything (or has no action) - they will forget about it.

This is why my website has a “pre-order and release reminder” just at the beginning.

See, I want to give people an actionable thing to do. If they like the general vibe, things I talk about on my socials, maybe read through the content on my website… THEY HAVE AN ACTION that will keep them in the loop.

What goes to that website?

Well, I made a full video about it, there’s also an article (below) so I won’t bore you here.

Substack

I decided for substack as opposed to a simple blog. Mostly due to my sick aesthetics, but also for the possibility of a further reach. Funny enough - I copy those posts into my blog for SEO purposes, but the main “blog life” happens on substack.

I am writing about book publishing, writing, world-building, etc. I will also write more about my book. This is a similar approach to the one I have currently on social media. This is also more natural for me. I like spreading love to different things instead of making “BUY MY BOOK!” content only.

But I will ask you to check out my pre-orders. It’s dark fantasy with folktale monsters, magic, runes, and multiple POVs (you can read more on the website).

Substack is a good place for people, who want to own their audiences (and don’t trust algorithms, meta, etc… meta stuff seems to go downhill anyway).

It also allows me to have separate topics in the publication, so if you don’t want to get the book club stuff, but only my publishing journey - you can.

Let’s just say I love possibilities.

Pinterest

You may be shocked to see pinterest as one of the ways I am helping to market my book - Crown Of Shadows - before I even have a book cover. Because… how on earth is this helping?

Well, this idea came from “a need”. My sister is one of my alpha readers. While I am a person that hallucinates vividly while reading - she is not. She often asked me how things look and if I can show her examples. So I made pinterest boards. I also made boards for different characters.

This helps me in a couple of things:

I have visuals that are also linked to my website

I have content for some of the reels or short-form videos that I can prepare and later start pushing when pre-orders are LIVE

I can put them as a QR code inside of the book for “those that need inspiration”.

It allows me to present SOMETHING when people ask me for the general mood of the book.

I made a video about how Pinterest can benefit you as an author, and you can find it in the description as well as here in cards.

Goodreads

I have set up my Goodreads account (add me as a friend!) as one of the first things to secure my name as an author. If you have one already - GET ACTIVE. Goodreads is a great place to go through reviews, find ARC people that will review your book well, and also… to set up your existence. Some people may follow you or click you just because your review was great… then boom! You also write a book. If they follow you (or befriend you) - they will get your updates.

Also, Please click “want to read” on my book. It helps to spread the word!

Yes, great idea.

Tome app

This one is new. It’s a social media platform about BOOKS. I have set up my account not so long ago and currently test it. Since it’s new - it’s not perfect. But jump on that wagon when it’s fresh.

My approach? Just like everywhere else.

Conclusion?

Marketing your own work even before you have much to show for it is not only POSSIBLE it is NECESSARY to start your empire!

While it’s not the easiest of tasks - I am sure that you are absolutely capable. Even sharing your story is something that you can share with others and build a community of people that will get excited to see your work!

Don’t wait until the last moment. Start building NOW!

Feel free to ask questions or share your thoughts! Cannot wait to discuss it with you!

If you prefer video format - here’s a video about the topic on YouTube

How helping your reader will ultimately help YOU.

Are you hallucinating vividly while reading? Do you hear character’s voices in your head? I recently got to know that this is not something that everyone experiences. Heck, I have gotten to know that not many of us are capable of such things.

One of such people is my alpha-reader (and beloved sister) - Maja.

Maja asked me a couple of times how certain characters and places look like, she asked me for examples and visuals. I wondered why. I wondered if she just wants to get the “general vibe”, and then I got to know… she doesn’t hallucinate while reading.

The information crashed into me like a tsunami. “What do you mean you cannot… see things in your head?” I asked, gaping at my sister as if I was staring into an alien.

“I just don’t. I never did. I can imagine some things, but when I read - it’s words.” She answered as a matter of factly, shrugging with a blank face.

“Do you… read with your voice?” I asked as a followup.

Maja thought about it for a moment. “Sometimes I hear my voice, other times I just see letters.”

I stared at her in shock. I didn’t know it was a thing.

The next day I have assembled a Pinterest board to create general visuals for my sister to follow while she read the book.

She loved it, and said that it was helpful.

So I went further. Within a couple of days I have created several Pinterest boards for my characters, places, and general book visuals. Some of them I kept secret, since the stuff in them was connected with book 2. I also kept some of the pins away in a separate folder, not to spoil anything.

My sister’s reaction? Instant love to the idea. She also said that the character she hated is “pretty hot” and she was unsure why the female character wouldn’t like the guy (well, except for his character that is).

I later shared the boards with my alpha and beta readers. They all appreciated it and some came up with some conspiracy theories right away.

But what’s the point?

At this point of my Debut Novel - I have not much to show. My publisher has other books and authors to take care of, and there’s a timeline. This means my cover will be made June/July. My editor will take care of me May/June. Until then - I cannot really share much about the book except for the general concept. But my marketing needed to start NOW.

If you go to my website - you will see that I am hard on that debut novel. You will also see, that I have added “Pinterest Mood Boards” not only on the main page, but also on the series page.

Why would I do that? Because I want people to be able to get excited. Because I can later use those pictures for my short-form videos and marketing (videos such as… “If you like books with such a vibe… then you’ll love CROWN OF SHADOWS).

Bam! Marketing assets make themselves!

Shocking, isn’t it?

I bet as an author you have a couple of Pinterest boards or folders with inspiration/visuals. Why not make them public and help those, who need a little nudge?

The boards? I love them. Not all of them are public (but here’s the sneak peak of 2 that are still secret. I’ll publish them when the book is out in the stores)

I will highly suggest to go to my Pinterest boards and check the stuff that I have made there. Maybe it will inspire you to make your own. Or buy my book. I’d appreciate both ;)

Don’t miss out on more stories about marketing my novel, as well as how I wrote it (we also have a book club!)

and it's a tough read for a neurodivergent.

“Hey, kids! It's your old buddy Stve King telling you that if they ban a book in your school, haul your ass to the nearest bookstore or library ASAP and find out what they don't want you to read.” - Stephen King (Our Lord and Savior)

I won’t lie: I was raised as a person of knowledge. I always had my nose stuck in books and was taught critical thinking early on. I am also a neurodivergent (with ADHD) who sees patterns.

I love history, but instead of being cute, “Did you know that in 1865…” all I do right now is “THE SIGNS!”.

Anyway, my mother always said, “The ones burning the books are never the good guys after all, are they?”. This sparked my general need to ensure I read through and UNDERSTOOD the banned books. Especially the ones that have been banned recently.

For those of you who are in the USA, where Orwell’s “1984” and “Animal Farm” are banned - I had those books as Mandatory Reads IN SCHOOL.

So, in the light of the new banned books list - I reached out for one of the “most banned books”, and no… it’s not the Sarah J. Mass Court of Thorns and Roses… That whole thing got read in November 2024 (and yes… it’s on the list).

It’s Margaret Atwood - The handmaid’s tale

And dear gods… It’s a challenging read.

I thought I was prepared

See, I watched a TV series. I remember that the first episodes left me speechless, especially. Throughout the entire series, I saw patterns. I thought of the (then) current situation and how it was progressing with time.

I thought I’d know what would happen in the book since I saw the series. I thought it couldn’t shock me beyond the visuals I saw on the screen. How could letters make me more emotional and terrified than the visuals of the events unfolding before my eyes?

SPOILER ALERT: THEY DID.

I heard stories of people reading it as well. They said it’s a short read, and they finished it in a couple of days or maybe a week.

I also saw Margaret Atwood reacting to her book getting banned by creating a fireproof version and using a flamethrower to raise money for charity.

Heck, it was actually why I decided I needed to read it.

I was NOT prepared

Reading the book, I saw that the hell gates were wide open, and I saw even more than I had seen before.

Our tiny book club (3 members) is reading The Handmaid’s Tale together. My sister (member number 1) said, “Atwood loves her descriptions, “but I see it differently.

The whole book is written in the first person. It actually often sounds like my own brain. The main character (Jude, as we know from the series) jumps from topic to topic, frequently getting her mind away from what is happening in front of her. There are detailed descriptions of things around her. But it’s not because of “descriptions”. It’s because of detachment.

I have an odd feeling that this is a nuance that will be understood only by a specific group of readers. The ones that have experienced detachment. I know that my sister did not experience many things I had the “luck” to live through. I am happy for her, but I see that she doesn’t see this nuance, and frankly - I am unable to describe it.

This is why I need to close my eyes and put the book down every couple of chapters, while my sister says it’s an “easy read with short chapters” while I am going through flashbacks. My brain knows the state the story's narrator (and hopefully not the author) is in.

The issue I see in this book is that I experienced those emotions. I know the thought pattern; I understand it. I cannot imagine having it ALL THE TIME as the narrator does. She does not have a break.

I also see many patterns of currently happening, followed by “we did not react when XYZ happened” and “we did not react when they took XYZ”. Because I see that many of us don’t react to things that are happening right now.

It hurts me on a deeper level. That’s why it’s a really tough read for me.

Lexie Janson - Crown Of Shadows is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Why would someone ban it?

Well, many reasons, I guess.

I always thought of banned books as the ones that someone in charge has read through and thought to themselves, “Well, that’s an amazing idea!” or… “Oopsie… I’m doing a similar thing. Better not get people thinking about that too much.”

With The Handmaid’s Tale - I see a lot (and I mean A LOT) of laws, situations, and thoughts that point “to the past” when people did nothing until it was too late.

They are also based on actual historical events. History likes to repeat itself, though.

And let’s agree on one thing: A lot of us do nothing until it’s too late.

This also makes me wonder if I want to read Orwell’s “Animal Farm” and “1984” again. Why? Because I read it as a teenager. It may hit differently now. How do I know? Because in 2024 I re-read the Lord Of The Rings - and it hit me on a different level.

General review:

Thought-provoking: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Easy to follow: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (The detachment moments sometimes make the reader confused)
Historical background: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Attention to detail: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The ending (historical note): ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (I only figured out what it was BECAUSE I watched the series)
MUST READ

Anyway, what banned books have you read and do you think they have been banned for a serious reason? Conspiracy theories are welcome because Harry Potter was on the list too.

Recently, I had a call with “the publisher” (aka, a person taking care of me as an author). He has visited my website and asked if I will be using it as my author’s page.

I knew that my website, lexiejanson.com would need a refresh as I wanted it to become my Author’s page. At the previous state this website was made as my general portfolio as a content creator. I actually have 2 websites, so I can just move that stuff to my other website, no hard feelings.

The idea of what I needed to change? Well, most of it. I am currently working on that, but if you want to join the newsletter there - I will be starting with the news and updates soon-ish.

So, John and I discussed the potential changes (I wonder what he’ll say about the website now) and I want to share all of the important points with you:

In other news - my website has been refreshed - be sure to sign up for a newsletter there not to miss out on the book updates and offers!

Website & Newsletter:

My plan: To change the Home page to fit more of an author style. I will also create a page for “my books” as well as “events”, “coming soon” (for new books) and bonus content.

And actually… if you now go to my website - you’ll see what I’ve done there. So you can look at the text below + the visuals.

Fun fact: While creating the website I understood that my fantasy REALLY fits the Dark Fantasy Theme that I have been given. Before I believed for it to be just an epic fantasy.

What’s important in the website structure?

Here’s the current website structure and why I made it like that:

Home page:

The header picture with info on where to buy the book and when the release date is - such an info should be the first thing that people see when entering the website. Keeping things simple.

Section with links - I know it’s the same up on the header, but some graphics added to links for the pages may be useful.

Coming soon section

Events section

Books section

Now available - this will be the section I’ll add once the book is on pre-sale showing people that it is already available and can be bought. With a purchase link, obviously. (Currently it has a link to the pre-order reminder/stripe account for last chance pre-orders from me)

This is currently a “Coming soon section”

A small About me (the previous one was outrageous)

Newsletter sign up (with bonus content)

Kinda pretty footer with info

My Books Page: Considering the fact that The Crown Of Shadows is the first book in a series - I will obviously have more books. I was also considering changing the cover of my older non-fiction book, but I have not decided yet.

Events: I won’t lie - I want to sign up for in-person events such as public speaking, book clubs, events I’ll be attending (like fantasy balls), as well as some lectures etc. It will allow people to see that I can be met in person. It will also show bookstores etc. that I can be booked for such stuff!

Coming Soon: Again, Crown Of Shadows is the first book in a series. This means I will obviously do my best to publish them all (first goal: sell 2.000 books to get the next contract signed!). It’s a good place to start the marketing of the first book while it is being written.

About: Info on the author - so I am less of an alien to my readers (and you)

Blog: Well, actually that’s a link to this substack :D

Ok… that will cover the website…

Important points of the website

Make sure your social media links are correct - I cannot tell you how many times I click on someone’s instagram to be taken to “page doesn’t exist”.

The main picture and info should show the most recent book (or your debut book for the time before it gets published)

The logo (or your name) should be simple to read (and be visible)

Blog/most recent news section - make sure that your website looks updated and looks as if you take care of it (because you do!)

Newsletter - if all the social media goes to the abyss - newsletter is what will save you and keep you connected with your fans and potential readers. How to hook them up? Bonus content, early access information, exclusive information.

Menu should be simple and easy to read - white letters on white backgrounds won’t do.

Make sure your website is responsive - people tend to visit websites from different devices. Mobile and desktop are absolute minimum.

Contact options for potential public speaking gigs etc. - Make sure that you can be contacted. Yes, not everyone will use it as it’s supposed to be used, but better to have an option.

SEO optimization. - Your name, surname, book title, series title, genre, etc. Whatever comes to mind - be sure that you are searchable.

I think that’s all of the important points. Have I missed something? Hopefully not!

Remember to spend some serious time building up your website and filling it in with information. Not too much, not too little.

The good-looking website can sometimes be a life changer. Trust me, I gave up on some authors that seemed not to care about that.

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I came back to it… after years

I remember reading The Demonic Cycle by Peter V Brett back in High School (yes, I am that old). It’s a story that I truly believe is post-apocalyptic (like… if you read it - I believe that flamework weapons is guns, and whatever they have found was a tank) story where at one point of human history - the demons emerged from the ground. The kicker? Humanity forgot all about magic, runes, etc. That could actually stop the demons.

Every night the Demons emerge from the core and go for a hunt. They obviously like eating people. They are also connected with their surroundings. There are demons of air, wood, water, sand, fire… and more.

The story of the Demonic Cycle is focused on people that want to fight instead of hiding, so they do everything they can to get the magic and more runes back into the world.

Why am I talking about demonic cycle while the post is about the nightfall saga?

Well, because The Nightfall Saga is… the continuation. Fifteen years after the last book. So if you like the idea of this series (5 books in demonic saga and so far… 2 of the nightfall saga) - you are in for a solid treat.

Back to the Nightfall Saga

I started the nightfall saga back when the first book, the desert prince came out. I won’t lie - I did not like the story, mostly because it was a teenager POV and I guess at that point in my life I had no patience for teenagers. But then, my sister started to read the Demonic Cycle with her friend, and I absolutely loved discussing the books with her.

She then moved to the desert prince and I said “yeah, no,”. But then, something funny happened.

“Where did you ragequit?” My sister asked, holding the book in her hands and giving me a searching look.

I bit my inner cheek and looked up at the ceiling, which was apparently helping me think. “I believe it was somewhere around page eighty.” I finally answered, pretty sure I did not get any further.

“Ah.” My sister purred, moving her eyes towards her book. “It starts getting good at page one hundred. Maybe you should pick it up.”

I frowned at that, but got up, went to the attic, digged the book out of my box and came back to the couch. I was right, I finished around page eighty-two. I pout my lips and looked at my sister, visibly excited with the contents of the book.

“Are you telling me I gave up too soon?” I asked.

“Yep.” My sister said, not even honoring me with a look.

So I opened the book. I remembered exactly where I finished (I tend to remember everything I read), and continued.

My sister was right. I gave up too soon.

The desert prince was… exciting. I may have closed the book a couple of times just to say “daaaaamn” out loud with a face painted with shock. This may have happened in public a couple of times.

The plot twists, interactions between the characters, the whole world-building… SO GOOD. I missed Brett’s works it seems. And so this is how our small book club (3 people) has been set up. We met up for the last 5 chapters of the book in a cafe, just to experience it together.

Dear gods I already had the “hidden queen” which is the second book of the saga. I got it before even finishing the desert prince.

Dear gods, the emotional damage of those two have really gotten me. It’s obviously a fantasy, no spicy scenes (I mean… It’s mostly teenagers. like 15/16). The book tells the story of how teenagers see the world (and adults) and let me tell you - adults in those books tend to make idiotic decisions.

Anyway… I may have been writing to the author asking for the third book… But it seems that I’ll have to wait. Thankfully, he won’t release it close to my debut book… I would never win with THAT competition 😂.

This post is public so feel free to share it.

General Review

Writing style: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Storyline: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Adult decisions: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Teenager drama: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“I did not see it coming”: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Well, that was unfortunate”: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot twists: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Fighting scenes: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (some seem to take too long)
World-building: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The map that does not include the ocean: ⭐️ (you’ll need to read the hidden queen to get this one).

Overall: Great fantasy read with strong characters, great world-building and intrigue. Some political themes as well. LOVE IT, CANNOT WAIT FOR THE 3rd one.

What’s your current read?

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My Second Meeting With the Publisher (and what I learned)

Two days ago I had a pleasure of having a second call with my publisher. During the first call we have discussed the timeline for my debut novel as well as the general processes behind publishing. But the second call was more focused on the tip of the iceberg - The Marketing.

Contrary to a popular belief (which I actually did not have, but I saw many authors on facebook groups, who do) - writing the book is not “the end game”. While yes, writing the book is probably the biggest part of its success, marketing is the actual force behind the sales.

There is a reason books say “BestSeller” instead of “BestWriter”.

Marketing was one of the parts of publishing the book that I knew was coming. I just didn’t know what to expect. But hey, let’s just write it all down (for myself and you).

But first: Quick Q&A

Q: When should you start working on the marketing?
A: Now seems to be a great moment.

Q: Should I start Marketing my book once it goes on pre-sale?
A: You should start way before this happens.

Q: Can I skip on marketing myself and just run ads?
A: Ads are a form of marketing but I’d argue it is not enough.

Q: What do you mean by “Marketing my book?”
A: Social media, website, blog, in-person events, podcasts, TV, Radio, Newspapers, telling your friends, Book clubs, Screaming to the void.

Now that this is clear: Here’s what I discussed with my publisher:

First things first: my contact person has checked all of my socials and em… let’s call it a “digital print”. This ended in a discussion about:

Changes on my main website:

I won’t lie - I knew I will have to make a lot of changes on my main website. At its current state it is mostly serving as a portfolio for an influencer business. But… I have another webpage that can serve for that. Let’s just say “simplicity is the key”.

This means that I will spend the next… some time making changes on my main website and the newsletter connected with it.

Changes on Social Media:

Ok, I have a lot of social media accounts. YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Threads, Substack, Patreon, Twitch, etc… Some of them are even doubled.

Yet… none of them is/was purely bookish.

So, I will use my socials that are called lexie.janson (including YouTube , Instagram , TikTok , Substack, Facebook , and threads) into more bookish socials.

Here’s why:

I am a fantasy reader and I love fantasy as a genre. By making Fantasy content about books I read I can interest people, who like fantasy NOW, to buy my fantasy book LATER.

I can use those accounts for sneak peaks of my book knowing that people following me there follow me for… Bookish content.

I can build a community centered account that will ensure people will get involved into the story of my publishing.

This is the best way to market my work before I have any pre-sales and links to share. Plus it will give me experience in sharing stories, books, and keep me focused on the main goal.

This is something I have actually anticipated and planned for anyway, so we are all good here. No surprises.

Changes aside: what else?

Obviously, my publisher will take care of some of the marketing. The publisher takes care of all the “official and necessary stuff”. This means adding the books to “The British Library” as well as “The Library of Congress”. They will send my books to some of the reviewers, create graphics for socials, share my book in their networks and newsletters, and more.

They will also help me out with in-person interviews and other events I may want to attend. Some of it I could probably do alone, but they obviously have a better reach.

What I will do:

Create a list of influencers and authors I’d like to send my book to for a review. Why? I want to collect the “praise for Crown Of Shadows”. Plus I may be stalking some of my favorite authors.

Make a list of podcasts I would like to be a guest at and try to reach out.

Set up my own accounts on some of the most important pages for authors (goodreads etc.)

Research bookish events and talk to the bookstores once I have my tip sheet on the book.

What’s next?

Next off - I am building up my bookish content on socials I am also building up the newsletter and substack (hello!). The current plan is to share the process behind writing a fantasy novel and publishing it (1 post a week) + book club (writing about my current reads (1 post a week).

My editor will contact me around June, that means I am free to keep working on book 2 and tell you everything about world building and different aspects of creating the world I made for The Crown Of Shadows.

Starts to feel like a lot? Nah…

Release date? Halloween 2025. Pre-sale? Beginning of August. Goal? 2.000 books sold within the pre-sale. Can I do it? Probably!

I’m happy to take you along for this journey!

Let me know what interests you the most, so I can cater to your needs!

xoxo Lexie

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(and what I learned)

Today I had a pleasure (and a panic attack) to experience my first call with the publisher. We already have a contract signed and agreed on the Pub Date (Halloween 2025).

If you are interested in what to look out for in publishing contracts - I already made a post about that.

I won’t lie - I didn’t know what to expect out of the call. I was nervous, because this is my first novel, and I don’t really know the process. But this call was made exactly for that reason. So, if you want to know everything about the book publishing process… Here’s my experience with the first call:

Introduction

I already discussed some details with the publisher beforehand. My person is called John and he is HILARIOUS. At the beginning of the call he explained to me that this particular call is to inform me about the processes behind my book publishing. It is also a good moment to ask all the questions. I was also informed that during the second call we will be discussing Marketing… so stay tuned for that one.

So… During the first call John has shown me the overview of the books they are publishing this year. I got to know that most of the publishing houses are “theoretically 2 months ahead at work”, so at this point (31st January) they have everything ready for the books that are supposed to be published by 31st of March. They are now working on April ones (or… finishing the work on those).

My book is scheduled to be published on (oh, so glorious date of) 31st of October 2025. This means that I will be contacted by my editor somewhere in June, and we’ll spend 2 months working hard not only on grammar, typos, etc. But also developmental stuff and plot holes.

Somewhere in late June/early July a designer will contact me regarding the cover design. Later I will work with another designer to set up my “page layout” and interior design of the book. My brother works hard on small graphics that will be included as well. He got a deadline of “by the end of March”.

All of which should be ready by 31st of July, when we are supposed to start the pre-orders. I will also get my digital ARC (Author’s Review Copy), as well as some printed copies that I will be able to distribute to people I want to get endorsements and reviews from.

After this we may still find some errors, and therefore I will have time until September 23rd to make the final changes (and add those endorsements to the cover and inside of the book!).

After 23rd of September - it is over. No more changes. Books get printed, sent to the interested bookstores, etc. Ready for a pub date.

My current goal? Sell 2.000 books during pre-sale.

What will I do until editor messages me though? June is far away!

So, during the next months I will be working on setting up all the social media platforms, Substack, website, etc. to fit the topic of my book. I like to keep things clean so I will separate my social media from the book-only things.

I will work on bookstagram/booktok content, create a ton of pictures, videos, and sneak peaks… There will be a separate playlist on Spotify, Pinterest for mood boards, extra chapters for those, who sign up for a newsletter, etc.

I’m generally planning on using all of my social media and marketing knowledge to make this book a HIT.

I will also keep working on the part 2 of the series. I am about halfway there. Why? Because the moment I sell 2.000 copies - my publisher wants to start working on book 2. To get it out faster than the first one. Which will probably make my readers happy considering how my beta-readers look at me awaiting the next chapters.

What’s next?

Next I am going to have the marketing call during which we will be discussing the best practices and brainstorm what I am planning on doing. While I made myself *checks notes* 3 pages of to-do list followed by *checks again* 4 pages of my marketing plan…

This starts to look overwhelming…

Where was I? Ah, yes. Marketing call.

We will discuss what makes the most sense for me, my existing (and new) audience as well as the next steps on our journey. This will be happening next week, just to make things clear.

I will probably make a more detailed to-do list after that call and share all of the things I have done (as well as how I have set them up, and why like that) here on Substack :)

I’m excited to see you follow along.

If you have any questions, comments, or just wanna say hi - please leave a comment! They are much appreciated!

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