How It Feels To Be A Debut Novelist In 2021

Being a debut novelist always has its own sets of challenges and high points, but in 2021, the experience is indelibly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, when authors with books coming out in the near future aren’t doing readings in bookstores or having book parties. Many debut authors whose original publication dates fell in 2020 had them pushed to 2021. Authors are working hard to reach readers virtually and make a name for themselves among all the other competing titles releasing at the same time.

To find out what it’s like to have a debut novel published in 2021, I asked Aggie Blum Thompson, author of thriller I Don’t Forgive You (Forge, June 8) and creator of the website 2021 Debuts, an offshoot of the private Facebook group of the same, about her experience. The authors who are part of 2021 Debuts also post updates on Instagram and Twitter about their new and upcoming releases.

Thompson also passed on five names of other debut novelists active on the site in varying genres for me to interview: Denny S. Bryce, author of historical novel Wild Women and the Blues (March 30, Kensington), Lin Liau Butler, author of women’s fiction novel The Tiger Mom’s Tale (Berkley, July 6), Devon Daniels, author of contemporary romance Meet You in the Middle (Berkley, February 2), Nicolas DiDomizio, author of contemporary fiction novel Burn It All Down (Little, Brown and Company, May 25), and Mia Manansala, author of cozy mystery Arsenic and Adobo (Berkley, May 4).

Below are condensed versions of our email interviews about the challenges of having a book release during a pandemic, changing publication dates, participating in the 2021 Debuts website, forming community, getting support from fellow authors and advice for debut authors.

Aggie Blum Thompson set up the website, which she calls a “labor of love,” on her own, after joining the Facebook group, which was started by debut authors Genevieve Gornichec, Mallory Kuhn, and Hannah Wiegand. Thompson said the site “is a way to have camaraderie and celebrate each other’s successes while promoting our books at the same time…It’s difficult for debut authors to generate a lot of publicity and press, not because of the quality of their work, but just because that’s the way the publishing world works. We hope the site helps shine a light on these writers, who may not enjoy as much exposure otherwise.”

Thompson said that while 2021 debut authors are adjusting to not being able to participate in classic milestones, such as in-person readings, “the virtual book-world is on fire with events and readings. The support has been unbelievable across the board, from publishers to librarians to independent bookstores to all the wonderful readers who make it all possible.”

Authors have various reasons for wanting to be involved with 2021 Debuts. Denny S. Bryce, whose novel Wild Women and the Blues was originally scheduled to be published in September 2020, which got moved first to December, and then March 2021, was originally part of the 2020 Debuts group, but switched along with her publication date.

For Bryce, the group has been invaluable for fostering connections with fellow first-time author peers. “There’s nothing like having a team you can count on,” said Bryce. “Of course, we have our publishers and publishing team, agents, critique partners, beta readers, family, and friends, but publishing is a business. And questions arise that debut authors, for the most part, haven’t been exposed to.”

Prior to signing his book deal, Nicolas DiDomizio had been in an online group for authors on submission. Once his novel Burn It All Down sold, he found that he missed having the opportunity to connect frankly with fellow authors, so he searched for a similar group and found 2021 Debuts. “I’m able to relate to the 2021 Debuts members in very specific ways that I can’t with anyone else in my life,” DiDomizio said. “If you express debut anxiety to a non-writer in your life, or a writer who’s at an earlier stage of the journey, the reaction can often be, ‘What could you possibly be stressed about? You have the book deal you’ve always wanted!’ Whereas a fellow 2021 debut can understand that it’s possible to simultaneously be both grateful for your book deal and cripplingly anxious about all the uncontrollable elements that are needed to make up a successful launch.”

DiDomizio said that having a May 2021 release date means there’s a lot of uncertainty as to “just how traditional my release will get to be” in terms of in-person events. Getting support from and sharing information with authors with releases close to his has been helpful. Of the group’s impact on his upcoming book release, he said, “The biggest benefit has been the confidence the group has given me when it comes to promoting my own work and boosting the promotion of other members. Prior to this group, I was always apprehensive about talking too much about my writing journey and my book’s publication on social media, but being a part of this group has taught me that self-promotion can be fun and is nothing to be ashamed of.”

Devon Daniels, whose novel Meet You in the Middle was originally scheduled to be published in September 2020 but was pushed to February 2021, said one of the biggest challenges she and fellow authors have faced to releasing a book during the COVID-19 pandemic “has been psychological.” Daniels had originally envisioned a “big launch party” and had been invited to speak at 2020’s BookExpo, which was initially postponed, and then canceled in favor of a virtual event; organizer ReedPop announced late last year that there will not be a 2021 BookExpo.

Of the disappointment of not being able to fulfill her plans as a debut author, Daniels said, “You’ve worked long hours—in many cases, for years—in near-total isolation on something that’s both a career and a life milestone, and the events leading up to a book’s release are really the only opportunity you have to meet and connect with readers and celebrate your (very hard) work. Without those events or even a bookstore to walk into and see your novel on the shelf, it can feel like—What was the point? The letdown is very real.

Being part of the group has provided practical advice for Daniels from fellow authors on everything from interacting with editors and agents and deciphering contracts to marketing and PR, commiserating over bad reviews and “even threads about which pens work best to sign books.”

For Mia P. Manansala, being part of the 2021 debuts has helped demystify the publishing process for her novel Arsenic and Adobo. “Publishing is so opaque—contracts, payment schedules, timelines, terminology, blurbs, ARCs, even the general process of being edited—nobody tells you about these things ahead of time,” said Manasala. “You only know about it if you’re already friends with published authors or do lots of research. But you don’t know what you don’t know. Once you have a book deal, nobody hands you a Publishing 101 manual explaining all these things. You’re stuck figuring them out on your own.”

The biggest positive of the group for Manansala has been connecting with authors who are also being published by Berkley, an imprint of Penguin Random House. “Because we’re all at the same publisher and many of us share editors and/or members of our marketing teams, it helps when figuring out timelines, how a particular person works or what their tastes are, [and] the general publishing process. Some members have been published before, but in YA or self-publishing, so they can share their expertise from those worlds and help us when navigating this very new one. We’ve done newsletter swaps, giveaways, interviews and features for each other’s books, and also help each other brainstorm content.”

For Lin Liao Butler, another Berkley author, whose novel The Tiger Mom’s Tale was moved from April 2021 to August 2021 before finalizing a July release date, the group is an opportunity to talk about things she wouldn’t want to bring to her editor and agent, despite having a good working relationship with them. “Sometimes, there are questions that I don’t want to bother them with, or if something happens and I feel down about it, I can talk to my fellow debuts instead,” said Butler.

The challenges of releasing a book during the COVID-19 pandemic

While debut authors banding together isn’t a new concept (website The Debutante Ball began in 2007), the specifics of being a debut author during the COVID-19 pandemic do pose additional atypical challenges. Daniels said that the lack of physical advance review copies (ARCs) of her book to send out to reviewers and bookstagrammers “has been a big blow to early marketing and PR efforts…Without those early copies to distribute, the opportunity for advanced buzz is drastically reduced.”

Manansala shares Daniels’ disappointment but sees an upside to the switch to electronic ARCs. “The lack of physical ARCs stings a bit because I’ve seen so many photos and unboxing videos of authors opening up their ARCs for the first time, and of course I wanted to experience that too. However, I’m now okay with it. I like that we’re using fewer resources to print those physical copies, and more e-ARCs means wider distribution. I know it’s tough on international readers to get their hands on ARCs, and I hope this gives them an equal opportunity to read and review more books.”

Bryce said the group has helped share news about her book at a time when word-of-mouth marketing is especially crucial for authors right now. “We don’t have the conferences, the in-store book signings, the book festivals where we can meet-and-greet and talk up our book. When I’ve had good news to share, like a book giveaway, making a list, and other announcements, the #2021Debuts signal boost makes a difference in who sees my news, promos, and giveaways,” said Bryce.

Emotionally, not being able to realize a dream from childhood has been an adjustment for authors such as Manansala, who said she’s “been dreaming about what my launch party would be like since I started writing my first book… I know I can always have the party once it’s safe to congregate in public again, but it’s not the same.” Similarly, she’s dutifully attended crime fiction conventions such as Malice Domestic and Bouchercon. “I’ve enjoyed so many debut author panels, and I thought it would finally be my turn to be up there. Being part of the 2021 Debuts helps because it gives us a safe space to vent. It also gives us a chance to network, brainstorm, and be more creative with our promo and events,” she said.

Advice for debut authors

When asked for advice for debut authors interested in joining similar groups, DiDomizio said, “If you remain isolated in a solitary writer-bubble, you may be prone to viewing every other book and author coming out the same time as you as anonymous competition, which is just a miserable (and false!) mindset to be in. Once you get to know the peers you’ll be debuting with, you’ll realize that they’re quite the opposite of competition: a support system and a community.”

Manansala’s advice? “Only take on what you can handle, but don’t be afraid of putting yourself out there. Even if you only meet one other person you click with, that person will be your lifeline throughout the whole process.”

Butler said she’s learned both what to do and what not to do as a debut author from her fellow authors. “There is always someone who has gotten a bigger deal or more exciting news and it’s nice to have people remind you that every journey is different,” she said. “My friends in real life don’t understand the angst of the publishing world, so while they are beyond supportive, it’s been so wonderful to have a group who are going through the same things I am, who can guide, support and encourage because they understand the challenges and triumphs.”


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