K. D. Capener's Blog

It’s funny when I talk with someone unfamiliar with the publishing industry. Some of them don’t realize there are different types of publishing. So, let’s pretend we’re all new to this and hopefully answer some of the most asked questions about the differences between self-publishing and traditional publishing. And I’ll explain my journey to publication.

Self-Publishing

Someone once asked if self-publishing meant I did everything myself. And I had to say, “Yep, pretty much!” And even if it doesn’t mean I did all the work myself, like my cover for instance, it certainly does mean that I am the one in charge of all the decision making for my work. I run the show. That can be daunting, especially when you are inexperienced or just learning. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of self publishing.

Pros: 1. You are in charge! That means you get to decide what you write. If it’s really important to you to not have any of you story left out, you’ll probably like this aspect of self-publishing. You also get to choose who will edit your book, proofread your book, and design the cover. You can choose where and how you will publish. For example, do you only want ebooks, or do you want physical books too? Making that decision will help you narrow down which platform you’ll use for publishing. Some of the most common are KDP (Amazon), IngramSpark, Draft2Digital and Barnes and Noble Press.

2. You’ll save time. Self-publishing will get your book out to your readers so much faster than traditional publishing will. Most of your timeline with self-publishing is in your control: how fast you write, edit, design, format, and hit publish. We’re talking about years of time you aren’t querying to find an agent, then waiting for said agent to sell your book. Once a traditional publisher agrees to publish, your book will be placed in a long line behind all the other books they need to publish first.

3. You’ll receive higher royalty rates than traditionally published authors. Now don’t get too excited. It’s not THAT much more. As a self-published author, you have to pay for any printing costs too, so it narrows the gap a bit.

4. You will always have the rights to your work. In the traditional publishing industry, your rights can be sold to the publisher to do what they’d like with your book. Use a purchased ISBN and you will be your own publisher.

Cons: 1. You will pay for everything! And I do mean everything. Need a content editor? What about a copy editor? How about a formatter or cover designer? Those things cost money, sometimes a lot of money, and it all comes out of your own pocket. If you’d rather purchase software to help with formatting, for instance, that too will cost you. Running any kind of advertising also adds up quickly. Just be prepared for this by saving your money for publishing like you’d do for any other large purchase you would make. If you are traditionally published, the publisher covers these costs for you.

2. You are your own marketer. Marketing is a huge deal, and probably the one area where writers struggle the most. All social media marketing and content creation is on you unless you hire someone, but then you’re back to con #1. Knowing where to market and how much to spend on advertising is a learning process. You just have to try things and see what works. Marketing yourself can be scary. Most authors would much rather just write, but marketing is a necessity if you want people to know about your book. A traditional publisher has more money to put towards marketing, but they still expect you to do much of the work yourself.

3. It may take a long time to be recognized for your work. Because you are only one person trying to do it all and not a large corporation with resources to help your book become visible to the world, you will likely struggle with fluctuating sales. It will take time to be noticed. You will likely have to exert much effort into placing your books in stores. Traditional publishers can place your books in any store worldwide. To me, that’s the biggest advantage of going with a traditional publisher.

My Story

As a newbie author, my biggest fear has been the marketing aspect. I specifically struggle with promoting myself or my work on social media. It’s been a learning curve for sure, and I’m still learning, but I’m more comfortable with it now. I originally hoped to be traditionally published, but the querying process to find an agent was so long and I wanted to get my book out now, not five years from now. Once I made the decision to stop querying and go with self-publishing, I had a lot to learn. And I still do. One suggestion would be to find some author friends who can answer questions and provide some guidance. I have also found the author community to be very supportive and motivating for each other. Use resources on the internet to help teach you. There are plenty of classes/webinars you can participate in.

Ultimately, the decision is yours. I hope by using the information provided here, it will help make that decision easier for you. Go with your instincts. Follow your heart. I wish you the best of luck!

K. D. C.

Since publishing Hidden by These Walls in October, I’ve had several compliments on the cover. I was even interviewed for Pressing Matters podcast, discussing the creation of the cover. If you haven’t listened to that interview, you definitely should (Nov 21 episode on Spotify or YouTube!)

Take a look at the cover of Hidden by These Walls. It’s dark and moody with realistic characters, a full moon, the woods, and an old gray house, all elements important to the story. Today I want to give you some tips to consider as you prepare to create your own eye-catching book covers.

Pay attention to the genre. Rom-coms are clearly identifiable by their illustrated characters and bright, cheerful colors. Fantasy books typically have a calligraphic font and monsters, swords, crowns and magical elements. Now if it’s romantasy, they typically include a couple on the cover as well. It’s pretty obvious that horror or thrillers have a bold font and spooky elements like ghosts, haunted houses, blood, etc.Consider your use of color. Color reflects mood, so think about the tone or feel of your story. You want to use a color that best represents that feeling.

Red can represent boldness, anger, danger, passion or power. I often see it on thriller or horror books because they scream of all the descriptors above. Sometimes red can give a feeling of foreboding and that’s why those genres use it. Since red is also a Christmas color, so you’ll see it as a prevalent color on holiday stories too.

 Blue can be a calm color or a deep, mysterious color depending on the shade. Blue seems to be a very common choice for every genre of book from romance to sci-fi. Most books I’ve seen have some element of blue on the cover.

Green reflects nature, magical elements, peace and refreshment. Several fantasy books have green covers for this reason. Green is, not surprisingly, showcased on holiday fiction

Purple reflects royalty, magic, and power. Deep purples are great for fantasy books or fairy-tale retellings. Purple creates a mystical feeling and a sense of wonder.

Yellow=happiness and sunshine. Pink=love and fun. Orange=warmth and energy. Think Fall and Halloween too.

3. What about the font? Does it really make a difference what your title and author name look like on the cover? Most definitely! Some books have large, bold lettering that takes up most of the cover with minimal design. If that is what you like, go for it, but as a reader, I like to have some indication of what’s actually in the book. A smaller font allows other elements of the story to be showcased as well. Do you want your title in all caps? Or do you want a softer, swirly font for a lighter read?

Think about what type of book you’ve written and make choices that relate. The font for Hidden by These Walls has little fracture lines embedded in it, so it’s perfect for my story. My favorite part of the title is the little BY hiding in the word HIDDEN. It is a creative way to show the story is about secrets just by hiding that little word.

4. Consider the most important aspects or scenes of your book. Would it give too much away if you showcase one of them on the cover or would it create a sense of intrigue or wonder in the reader? We all know that we shouldn’t be judging a book by its cover, but everyone I know does, including myself. If the cover images spark my curiosity, chances are I will pick up the book to read the blurb.

5. Decide who will design your cover. Are you gifted in graphic design? It’s possible you could create your own cover, but if you’re like me, that’s not happening. Look for reputable companies or individuals to work with you. I was worried about finding someone who wouldn’t take my money and run or someone who would be able to take my vision and convert it into something that looked professional without breaking the bank.

I didn’t have a huge budget to work with and when I found Getcovers.com, I wasn’t sure about them because the cost seemed so inexpensive. I decided to give them a try, thinking that if the cover came back and I didn’t like it, I wouldn’t be out much money. Turns out, they did an excellent job. I was pleased with most elements of the cover from the get-go, and with a couple minor tweaks I had my cover in a short amount of time.

6.What kind of finish do you want? Shiny or matte?

Shiny finishes allow darker colors to stand out more. They are reflective and will have glare. They also will show fingerprints.

Matte finishes are more sophisticated and have a soft feel. They tend to mute bright colors and can look dirty from handling. My advice is to take a trip to the bookstore. Hold and feel books with shiny and matte covers, so you know what you like and what is more appropriate for your work.

7. Have fun with the process! Your book is the packaging for your words, so enjoy making it exactly what you want it to be.

I hope these ideas will spark your imagination on your journey to creating an eye-catching book cover!

It has finally happened! The book I’ve been working on since 2023 has been published! You might ask how it feels to have Hidden by These Walls in the hands of readers. And I can honestly say it feels amazing, thrilling and deeply satisfying. Like all the toil and labor I’ve been through to get here is so worth it. When I hear how much the book touched someone, how they couldn’t put it down, or that this book needs to be read by everyone, I feel completely validated.

And yet, along with the highs, there are also the lows. It is so scary to hand your work over to someone and wait anxiously to see if they enjoy it. So far, the feedback has been positive, so I haven’t felt like I’m going to throw up, but that anxiety lingers.

One of the lows for me is that marketing the book now takes up the majority of my time. As an indie author, the marketing burden falls to me. I am my own promoter (which I hate), and I am always making content for social media or searching for the best promos in which to include my book. It’s exhausting and doesn’t leave much time to enjoy my other hobbies. I am struggling to even find time to keep working on my next book. I did not realize how time-consuming and stressful marketing would be before I actually started doing it.

Another low is worrying about sales. Not because I want Hidden by These Walls to become a best  seller (not saying THAT wouldn’t be fantastic!), but because I want to feel like it was worth my time to write it. Indie authors take on quite a bit of debt when publishing. Paying for editors, proofreaders, and a professionally made cover is expensive and I’d love to get enough sales to pay for what I put into it.

Why would anyone want to publish a book then, you ask? I’ll give you a few reasons. Number one. I feel like I have something important to say. The entire premise of Hidden by These Walls is based on the secrecy of abuse and how it traps those who are victims of it. I want this book to bring awareness and hopefully help someone, anyone, who feels like my main character, Libby. I want readers to realize that there’s always hope, and that sometimes the very thing we MUST do may take all the courage we’ve got.

The second reason I wanted to publish a book is because I set a goal and needed to see if I could accomplish it. Now that we’re on the other side of Launch Day, I feel proud of the fact that I did it! I started with very little know-how, and I spent hours learning about writing, the publishing industry, and marketing. And I’ve enjoyed reaching the goal. That’s why I feel like I can do it again.

The community of writers and readers I’ve found is the third reason publishing a book has been a terrific experience. Who knew that my efforts on social media would pay off like it has? I was lucky to find several reliable and intuitive people to read my advanced copies of the book in order to facilitate early feedback and create an early buzz about the book.

If reading this has inspired you to write a book yourself, just know I’m here if you have questions. I could not have done it with that community support, so I’m happy to be a cheerleader for you too.

Hidden by These Walls has been a joy and struggle to finally get into your hands, but it’s performing very well so far. It’s the number one new release in two categories on Amazon and has great ratings. But more importantly, the book is resonating with readers. And that’s the best reason of all.

Hidden by These Walls will officially launch on Tuesday, October 28. The ebook is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and several other retailers. The paperback is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Walmart and many other retailers.

Early reviews on Goodreads (17 reviews as of this writing) have rated the book at 4.59 stars. Reviewers have described the book as gritty, emotional, and unputdownable (is that a word?).

If you would like to read, but cannot purchase, you can request the book at your local library and they can get in for you. In fact, if EVERYONE would do this, Hidden by These Walls could find a much larger audience across the country.

Please remember to leave reviews on Goodreads and Amazon (or wherever you’ve purchased your book). Reviews are what drive visibility.

I’ve had some amazing support, so to thank you, I’ll be hosting a giveaway soon on my social media. You can find me on Instagram, Facebook and Goodreads at the links on my website. I’m also going to start a Reader Spotlight here, so watch for it. You may be the lucky one who gets to be spotlighted!

Thank you for all you do and have done to make this launch a success!

I have always been the travel planner in my family. Every vacation we go on, whether it’s just me and my hubby, or includes our kids, is planned by me. I research each location we decide upon, finding all the fun, and usually more affordable, activities and not-to-be-missed experiences offered in each place. And let me tell you, it can be exhausting and stressful.

Then comes the packing, the transportation, and planning for contingencies. If you’re like me, then you know it can be a lot! I can’t tell you how many times we’ve sprinted through the airport because our flight changed gates at the last minute or because we boarded, then because of a mechanical issue we were rebooked on another flight. Or how about tight connections, flight delays or cancellations? All super stressful!

We’ve traveled around much of the United States, visiting National Parks, amusement parks like Disneyland and Disney World and Dollywood, mountains, deserts, oceans, lakes and large cities. We’ve gone to Mexico, Canada, Jamaica, the Virgin Islands and England. It makes sense then, that we discuss travel quite often at home.

My husband has had a long-time wish to travel to Japan, to revisit some of the places he became familiar with when he lived there years ago but ticket prices have always been too high. Until last winter. I saw a few fares pop up in a travel email that were reasonable, and I told him if he was serious about going, we should hop right on the good deals. We took a look at the calendar, chose September 2025, and purchased tickets.

Here’s where the narrative shifted. Since Hubby had lived in Japan before and I knew nothing about traveling there, I told him he was doing the planning this time around. Was I worried about handing over the reins? You bet! Oftentimes, as the date inched closer, I had to remind him that we couldn’t go without some idea of what we were going to do there. So, with input from me about things I’d like to do (like visit the sacred deer in Nara and take a Kintsugi class), an itinerary was made. And let me tell you, being the one along for the ride and letting Hubby handle the schedule, transportation, etc. turned out to be a dream come true. Maybe that’s why I enjoyed Japan so much?!

Or maybe it was the smiling, helpful people. The beautiful countryside (think Mt. Fuji and waterfalls). The delicious food, like katsu curry, ramen, and okonomiyaki. The temples and shrines that are literally everywhere. The markets and shopping. The opportunity to stay in a ryokan for a couple of days experiencing tatami mat floors and futons for sleeping. I really could go on and on.

I guess what I learned from this experience was that it’s okay to branch out and try something new. I ended up loving Japan much more than I thought I would. I learned it’s okay to just go along for the ride. Lucky for us, we only had one short flight delay, and only got on the wrong train three times, which was easily corrected. But what a fascinating country I’d happily visit again! So, when the opportunity arises, make those travel plans. And as for planning, maybe do it together to lighten everyone’s load!

Ah! The comfort zone. It’s the place we stay because it’s the easiest thing to do, the place we crave when we aren’t there, the place people are always telling us to leave. Why? Because “it will be good for you!” Ugh. While I agree that stepping outside of our comfort zones can and often does open up more opportunities, that doesn’t mean it’s easy.

I was such a shy kid, preferring to listen to conversations going on around me rather than engage in them. Better than that was hiding away with my nose in a book, so I wouldn’t have to talk. Especially to adults. I just didn’t like to be the focus of attention. If I could have made myself blend into the wallpaper, I would have. But at some point, learning to relate to people becomes very important, hence the need to step out of our comfort zones.

Beyond preferring to listen rather than talk, I had a difficult time being the center of attention for other things too. Piano recitals and public speaking were the worst. Book report or class presentation days had my stomach tied in knots from the get-go. I flat-out dreaded the spotlight. That was more for my siblings, who seemed to thrive in it. But as a teenager, when my parents said, “You need to get a summer job,” those knots in my gut returned, twisting their way into every part of me.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I didn’t mind the work. I was definitely a hard worker. I’d had babysitting jobs for years and enjoyed it. I even did a summer of volunteer work, but the idea of being behind a counter addressing customers, taking orders, making sure I got the order and money transaction correct was a HUGE step out of my comfort zone. Working in fast food was pretty much a rite of passage back then because there weren’t that many jobs available to teens. So, I got a job at the most famous of them all, the one with the golden arches. I can say now, that despite the burn scars on my arms from the fryer, I’m glad I did it because it helped me gain confidence in myself. I realized most people were more patient and kind than mean and nasty. And they certainly weren’t overly concerned about me. Maybe it was just a baby step, but I did it and it gave me courage to take on the next big thing.

Fast forward a few decades. I feel like my teen self again. Well, let me clarify, because I WISH I was talking about my joints. I’m talking about how I feel taking on this new endeavor of writing and marketing myself. That is WAY outside my comfort zone. Like 20 miles outside of it! It feels like I’m putting myself behind that counter again. I just want to write, but in this era we live in, everyone who wants to call attention to their work, whether it be writing, art, music or business, has to promote it themselves. So, here I sit, spending more time on marketing efforts these days than finishing the second novel I’m writing because my book won’t sell itself. And it is terrifying to open myself up like that.

I always hear, “Your book could be really good, but if no one knows about it, it will just sit there.” Double ugh! My proofreader told me just the other day that I “have 100% written a page-turner” with Hidden by These Walls. So, that gives me confidence that it’s not just me who likes the book! Now I just have to get into the hands of readers through marketing. I’ll cross my fingers that it’s working. Meanwhile, I’ll keep plugging away and hope the twisted knots in my stomach will decide to take a vacation.

Have an awesome September!

I hope you are as excited as I am about the cover for my new book! I had Getcovers.com make this amazing cover for me and it exceeded my expectations. I especially love the word “by” hidden in the letter “d” of Hidden. See what I did there? What comes to mind when you look at it? Does it make you wonder what’s going on in that house? Or the woods? I’ve heard it looks intriguing, and I’d have to agree. I hope it makes YOU intrigued enough to purchase your own copy at the end of October.

Notice the title? What’s the first thing that pops into your head when you read it?

No, really. Think about it. Is it that ‘dream big’ is just a cliche, something people say to motivate you out of your comfort zone? Or does it mean letting your imagination run wild? Or does it remind you that if you have dreams, maybe it really is time to finally pursue them? And does that thought send you into fits of anxiety?

Do you know how long I ignored my dream of writing a book (or two or three)? Well, considering I’m in my early fifties, it’s been a very long time. I don’t remember how old I was when the idea came to me, but I know it was in my mind before I finished my college education.  Then I married and became a mom and spent my days changing diapers, kissing boo-boos, and nurturing my children. Writing became less important than another dream, which was to be a stay-at-home mother. And since life during those years was chaotic, my writing dream fizzled down to a tiny spark, only to begin burning with more intensity as my kids grew up.

But what did I do? I ignored the dream again.

Why would I keep trying to tamp out that yearning? The answer to that is complicated but mostly comes down to the fact that I am an introvert. As a young child, I was extremely shy. Thank goodness my shyness isn’t quite that bad anymore, but it’s still there. Maybe you’re asking yourself what being introverted has to do with writing? I mean, I can write words whenever I want and no one else has to be involved, right? UNLESS, I actually want to publish that book (or two or three). Publishing involves publicity and that is HARD for an introvert.

I’ve had the writing of my first book, Hidden by These Walls, finished since December 2024. It’s taken me months to announce to the world that I WROTE A BOOK! As excited as I am about it, it’s the publicizing that scares me. Social media platforms, websites, interacting with strangers. Whew! It’s overwhelming.  Putting my work out to the world for others to read, well that’s SUPER scary. Every author hopes their words will be liked, no, LOVED by the world. In my mind, I know that won’t necessarily be the case because we all are drawn to different types of stories. But the heart still hopes.

So, my point? When you hear ‘dream big,’ instead of going straight to those anxious feelings, take a minute to calmly think about your dream. First, Is it realistic? I mean, if your dream is to live at Hogwarts as one of Harry Potter’s friends, that’s not happening. So, make sure your dream is one that could actually happen. Is the dream something you can work towards slowly? A baby step at a time? Maybe you’ll have some kind of motivator to push you along, whether that’s a person or like me, having a major birthday that made me say, “Who knows how much time I have left? I’d better get to work!”

Dream big, my friends! Don’t wait as long as I did to get going on your dream. Life is too short to regret not beginning sooner. I’ll see you next month!

In case you missed it, because my original title was already taken, I asked for your votes for a new title. And you came through, so thank you!
The title of the book will be Hidden by These Walls and will debut this fall. Stay tuned for the cover reveal next!

I am currently trying to finalize the title of the book. Check Facebook if you would like to vote for the title you like best. After that comes the cover! Woo-hoo!