top of page
Search


Illustrating with Kyla (3 of 3): Publicity & Marketing, a Collaboration Bonus
Illustrators need authors and authors need illustrators, not just to make the pictures, but to promote the work. This is not something we...

Colleen McCubbin
Oct 201 min read


Illustrating with Kyla (2 of 3): An Advent Journey
We loved working with Kyla Wiebe so much, and we knew that she had experience with cross-cultural illustration, so it seemed natural to...

Colleen McCubbin
Oct 131 min read


Illustrating with Kyla (1 of 3): Picturing Merrigold
Finding Kyla was an answer to prayer for Marica Lee Laycock. She had this charming story about a prodigal child who went in search of her...

Colleen McCubbin
Oct 61 min read


How I helped Kathleen Templeton publish an award-winning book
Kathleen Templeton was a first-time author with a story idea about grief to help children and those who love and work with them work through the loss of a parent. Her fictional chapter book is deeply personal, rooted in her own experience of losing her mother suddenly when Kathleen was nine. Kathleen came to Siretona with a sense of urgency to get the book out into the world. We slowed her down and helped her make a strong launch plan. We edited her book to excellence. We en

Colleen McCubbin
Aug 272 min read


How we knew Rebekah was the one
When Kathleen McMillan and I started looking for an illustrator for BlueBeary and the Open Eyes book series , this is the first picture...

Colleen McCubbin
Jul 272 min read


🍀What's your lucky number?
🏆 Nicola won $500 in a writing contest. She wanted to use it towards a small print run for the second book in her scifi-fantasy series:...

Colleen McCubbin
Jul 72 min read


7 Ways to Conquer Book Marketing Anxiety
Marketing your book can feel like walking onto a stage for the first time. The thrill of sharing your creation often mingles with...
Molly L.
Jun 203 min read


Why Quality Beats Quantity for Authors on Social Media
For many modern indie authors, social media is a key part of their marketing strategy. Posting on websites like Instagram, Facebook,...
Molly L.
May 233 min read


Why Human Connection Improves Your Book
Having a great writing team can help you feel like a winner. Human connection makes all the difference, especially when you’re looking...
Molly L.
May 64 min read


What do we owe our readers?
Discovering what we owe our readers can be as freeing as watching a plant grow or as tricky as crunching numbers. In the publishing...
Molly L.
Apr 252 min read


Your Book isn't an Easter Egg, and That's a Good Thing
When you go into a bookstore, it can feel like going on an Easter Egg hunt. You're surrounded by small, colourful objects that surprise...
Molly L.
Apr 92 min read


We're Made Out of Meat
This will be an unusual blog post. Most weeks, I post something about writing, editing, publishing, or marketing your book. Today, I want...
Molly L.
Mar 272 min read


Top 5 Easy Ways to Market a Book Before You Have One
If an author publishes a book and nobody is there to read it, does it make an impact? Many authors complain about marketing. It feels so...
Molly L.
Mar 123 min read


Writing a book when you're "not a writer yet"
If I had a nickel for every time someone said "I'd love to write a book, but I'm not a writer," I'd have enough money for a secret...
Molly L.
Feb 173 min read


Why do people hire ghostwriters or co-writers?
Ghostwriting and cowriting programs can help you solve writing puzzles. Imagine this: you've decided to write that book you've been...
Molly L.
Feb 84 min read


Should you write to market? A debut authors' guide
Writing to market can provide financial gain, but is it worth it? If you spend enough time on book publishing forums, you will encounter...
Molly L.
Jan 314 min read


Humanity: The number one thing that actually sells books
In the indie publishing world, humanity means everything. Humanity is the number one thing that sells books. Numbers don't buy books.
Molly L.
Jan 223 min read


How to build a body of work to support your book
Introduction When I talk to authors at conferences or on calls, many say they are working on long projects. They mention novels,...
Molly L.
Jan 154 min read


What makes a book a bestseller?
What makes a book a bestseller? "Bestselling Author." Those words sound like a dream come true. They tell the world that your book is...
Molly L.
Jan 84 min read


Plan your writing life in 2025 with 5 simple questions
The start of a new year is always an exciting time. At Siretona Creative, Colleen is preparing her team for a busy and fulfilling year....
Molly L.
Jan 23 min read
bottom of page
