Choosing Indie Publishing as a Debut Author (Self-Publishing Without Gatekeeping) with Alyssa K. Burns

In this episode of Margs & Manuscripts, we’re joined by Alyssa K. Burns—journalist, author, MBA, elder emo, and one of the most supportive humans in the writing community. Alyssa’s debut novel releases April 1, and she’s sharing the real story behind how she got here… including the moment she decided she was done waiting for permission and went all-in on indie publishing.

We talk through the decisions debut authors actually face (trad vs indie, money vs time, ego vs autonomy), plus the behind-the-scenes logistics that nobody explains until you’re already stressed.

What we cover:

• The mindset shift: “I’m done with people telling me no” and choosing indie publishing
• Why indie publishing isn’t a “last resort” (and why readers often don’t care)
  The indie publishing checklist Alyssa built (because of course she did—MBA behavior)
• Beta readers vs developmental edits
• ARC readers: how many she aimed for, why, and what reviews do for a debut
• Hiring help: what Alyssa outsourced (and why it saved her sanity)
• Cover design: what went wrong, what she learned, and how to advocate for what you want
• Launch planning: making your book launch a real milestone (yes, like a mini wedding)

Connect with Alyssa:

• 🔗 Alyssa’s Website: https://www.alyssakburns.com/ 
•  📸 Alyssa on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alyssakburns/ 

Connect with us:

• Follow Margs & Manuscripts on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margsandmanuscripts/ 
• Subscribe for more real-talk conversations about writing, publishing, and building a bookish life with zero gatekeeping.

If you loved this episode, leave a quick rating + review—it helps more writers find the show.

Transcript

Alyssa (00:00)
And once I was not selected for that, I was like, all right, I'm done. I'm done with other people telling me no. I'm gonna tell myself yes. And so that's when I went all in.

Cait (00:13)
So if you are on Instagram and you are a writer at all or you're publishing or anything, I guarantee that you have interacted with Alyssa Burns because she is like the most supportive, wonderful human on Instagram and she's super active in the community, which is how we found her. We are really excited to have her on Margs and Manuscripts today. But just in case you didn't know, Alyssa Burns is a journalist and an author. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communications from California State University, East Bay.

and her Masters of Business Administration, I didn't know you had an MBA too, my gosh, from California State University, an elder emo, ice coffee enthusiast, and wife and mother, Alyssa enjoys dancing in the kitchen and creating messy fiction, just like the rest of us. So we are so pumped to have you here, Alyssa. Thank you for being here. You're a hero, with my margarita can. Welcome.

Alyssa (01:02)
Thanks.

Jenna G Judith (01:03)
Yay! Cheers!

Mm-hmm.

Cait (01:08)
So we wanted to bring Alyssa on today specifically because she is publishing a book herself. It comes out April 1st. Obsessed. The cover's everywhere now.

And you're doing such a great job at marketing it and getting it out there that I have so many questions.

Jenna G Judith (01:22)
Mm-hmm.

Cait (01:28)
First of all, what was your path here? How did you ultimately decide this was going to be it?

Alyssa (01:34)
So decided that I wanted to write a book. It's been a lifelong dream, but in October of 2024 I was like I was deep into kids I think they were like one and two at that point and I was like, okay I love them but they cannot be my whole world Like what else is my dream and a book was my dream and I was like, okay I have to do this for me like even though we don't know how even though I know absolutely nothing like this has always been my dream I'm gonna make it happen. So I went ahead and I started writing the book. There's no structure that I didn't have a

I was just like here's my ideas I'm gonna put them on paper and just see and if I publish this and put it on my own bookshelf and nobody sees it But me at least I've achieved my goal in life. So

Jenna G Judith (02:15)
Why, why is there like so

much in similarities between you and I in that regard? Because mine was the same reaction of, I have two children, I have nothing that is my own, including my body, what shall I do next? And that's just-

Alyssa (02:24)
now.

No, it's so important

Cait (02:32)
It's true.

Alyssa (02:32)
to like remember who you are because I definitely lost who I was because I can't focus on what I want. I'm focused on what they want.

Jenna G Judith (02:35)
Yes!

Exactly! Like, snacks! Diaper changes! Yes!

Alyssa (02:43)
my gosh, getting up all throughout the night, all the things that motherhood

demands of you and I'm happy to give it, but I just felt like I had no spark left and I'm a sparky person. So, I had to do it.

Cait (02:54)
That's such

a nice way to put it. That's such a nice way to put it. Yeah, and I think we talked about this on a previous episode too, where it's so nice to think that even when the kids are gone on the opposite side of this whole experience, right? Like our kids are so young now and this is what we have to do for us. But one day they're gonna be gone and then it's just gonna be us alone again and thinking that I'm still going to be doing this thing. Probably more.

Jenna G Judith (02:55)
I'm a sparky person. Yes.

Alyssa (03:23)
But I also don't

want to wait. I don't want to wait till my kids are in high school to like follow my dreams too. And my daughter this morning was like, mommy, I wrote a book and she did show me like I saw a cat and I'm like the fact that I can motivate you. Like that's why we're doing this. I'm not like I'm doing this for my kids as much as I'm doing it for myself.

Cait (03:25)
Yeah. Yeah.

Rope.

and for them to see you doing it.

Alyssa (03:44)
Mm-hmm.

Cait (03:45)
Was there ever a point where you were like, I'm going to query or I'm going to or from the get-go, or you're like, I'm going to self-publish?

Alyssa (03:52)
No,

I definitely

I did query. thought that that was the path. Again, like I came in knowing nothing about all the different ways to do things. So I thought like you go and you query and get an agent and then you get a book deal and life's great, you know, like obviously. So that's what I did. And then Alyssa Adaira-Gada started this group called Hot Girls Who Write and she was an indie publisher with her debut, Call It What You Want, and then got picked up and went trad. And so having her as an example of somebody, not that my goal is to now go trad, but to have an example of somebody who's wildly successful

Jenna G Judith (04:04)
Wait.

Alyssa (04:24)
successful as an indie author, I was like, oh wait, like this is feasible, like maybe this is something that I want to do. And then I queried for a while, I did not get any responses, I got form rejections, and then I altered my letter, there's so much involved in the query process, like I'm stalking agents, I'm learning what they like, I'm tailoring, like I'm putting so much work into it to get absolutely nothing back, and that's just like part of the nature of the game. And then I took a step back and I was like, okay, why do I want to be traditionally published? And for me,

It was solely ego like I want to be traditionally published like that's what the good writers do and I was like, okay What if I didn't let my ego get in the way if that wasn't a factor? What would I want to do? And to me it was indie like I've got an MBA. I love Everything I've learned about this process so far could put it out what I want. I could do what I want I'm not beholden to anybody else like I'm a control freak and I kind of love the option of doing exactly what I want to do

So I made that decision, oh my gosh, over the summer. And then it's amazing how fast it spiraled into like now I'm debuting the last special thing, April 1st.

Cait (05:31)
So amazing. I love that because yeah, so much of our conversations do revolve around, okay, what is the core of why I'm even doing this? What is the, I know I love writing, or I know I'm gonna sit down, I'm gonna write this book, it's for me, but what is the end goal here? And I feel like a lot of people don't see indie as a path.

Jenna G Judith (05:34)
Wow.

Cait (05:55)
They see it as like the last resort. It's not like a viable option at first. And there's so many. So it's it's fascinating to hear. And I feel like the more voices we get out like yours, like you said, you had this woman in Hot Girls who write that you could look at as an example and say, well, she's doing it and she saw it this way.

Alyssa (05:57)
Mm-hmm.

Cait (06:14)
And so that's like, the more voices we get out there as good examples of people who did it the way they wanted to is I feel like we will get more people on board with like not thinking it's like the worst path or something.

Alyssa (06:28)
And I highly

recommend joining a writing group. the hot girls who write I'm in they have traditional they have traditional authors They've got indie published. They've got people who've actually done both and continue to do both So the more examples you see like you were saying the better it is. I know novel band is another great author group that you can join. I just

Once you stop being alone in the process, your whole world is open to all the different ways you can do it and how to do it. Like again, when I decided any publisher, was like, okay, cover design, ISB, I'm like, I'm overwhelmed by all these things. So having a community of different people to be like, this is how you do this, this is how you do this. Here's the timeline. By the way, the timeline looks different for everybody. That's crazy. I'm in another group, I think six of us who are all releasing their debuts within like a three month period. And we're all on different stages, which is super fun to see. Like, you don't have your cover yet, but you're already planning your launch party.

Jenna G Judith (07:17)
Cool.

Alyssa (07:19)
but you've already got it on Amazon. Like how do do that? So again community is huge. That's my biggest recommendation is find a community

Jenna G Judith (07:28)
So when you were going through

the steps, what was the point where you were like all in? Not just a, like you said, it was kind of like not a last resort, but it was a, what do do now? Like, when was it where you're like, wow, this is what I should have done the entire time.

Alyssa (07:48)
So my turning point was I applied for the Smooch Pit Mentorship Program. And that sounded really amazing. I actually pitched my second book, which is a situationship. And I'm like, I know it's not true romance, but it's definitely romantic. Like, I think this could be good.

Jenna G Judith (07:53)
Yes!

Alyssa (08:04)
And once I was not selected for that, I was like, all right, I'm done. I'm done with other people telling me no. I'm gonna tell myself yes. And so that's when I went all in.

Cait (08:14)
Literally. I know.

Jenna G Judith (08:15)
that so much that's

like quotable.

Alyssa (08:17)
Don't take a note.

Cait (08:19)
Yeah,

I mean that's what I was like at one point. It's like you're just like the only one telling the only people What was it? I said where I had the realization where it was like the only people telling me that I can't do this So the people telling me I can't do this

Jenna G Judith (08:35)
when you mentioned, Cait how you wished more people didn't see India as like a last resort or like less than or anything like that.

Do you think the only people that have that opinion are the people in the book world itself and not the readers?

Alyssa (08:49)
We know that.

I personally think so because I've found so many indie authors that I have no idea if they're trad or indie. Nobody's got a stamp on your book that says traditionally published. And there's so many like of the hybrid publishers too. And it's like, okay, where do they fall? But it's not a hierarchy. Like I love good books and I hate bad books and they're all over the place.

Jenna G Judith (08:59)
Right!

Cait (08:59)
Yeah, I really do get confused sometimes. Yeah.

Jenna G Judith (09:14)
Right!

Are you well written? Yes? Neat!

Alyssa (09:17)
Right, right.

Cait (09:19)
I want to get into logistics about indie publishing here. What was your first step? You're saying like people do it all different times, which I totally get, but what are the steps involved in this, literally?

Alyssa (09:21)
Yeah.

Mm-hmm.

Alright, I'm gonna pull up my cute little Excel workbook real fast. So...

Jenna G Judith (09:39)
Because who

doesn't love a spreadsheet?

Alyssa (09:41)
I love a spreadsheet. love a spreadsheet. Okay. Here are the list of 14 things that I'm considering for myself for I did on this a website invested in Grammarly. I joined a writing group. have developmental editing. I had to get an SBN. I had to get a barcode separate. I've got to do cover design. I elected to do PR. I have a launch event coming up. I had to do interior formatting, which I've got thoughts on.

Cait (09:43)
She's an MBA.

Alyssa (10:08)
as well. Swag. And then I've got character art with a big fat question mark because I haven't done that but that is still something to consider.

Cait (10:14)
Damn.

Alyssa (10:16)
So.

Jenna G Judith (10:16)
That was like

a checklist that we need in a ⁓ PDF format that we're like, here you go. Like no more gatekeeping.

Cait (10:29)
The dev edit is like if you've ever just gone to lunch with a group of writers, I guarantee the question has come up. Should I get a dev edit? Whatever, if you're going trad, if you're not going trad, everyone wants to know. Did you get a dev edit? I don't know, should I get a dev edit? I don't know if I should get one, I don't know. So let's talk about the dev edit.

Alyssa (10:49)
Before you do a dev edit

you need to get beta readers You need to get beta readers because they'll tell you if your story is moving in the right direction And then you'll have many points of view not just a singular Dev edit like that person is not the queen of your book You need all the feedback to make it as strong as possible before you submit to the vet at Devett developmental editor

Get the beta-raders, take it to the developmental editor. If that was the one thing that I had money to spend on, that's how I'm spending it. You mentioned earlier in this episode, Meg Rosenthal, she's amazing. She's my developmental editor. I'm using her again for my next project. Once you find a good editor too, and you're in sync with them, like you need somebody who's gonna hype you up, while also hold your hand and tell you what's not working. Like, you don't want just a yes-man. You want somebody who's going to push you, but not crush your spirit while they do it. Yeah, exactly.

Jenna G Judith (11:32)
⁓

Alyssa (11:39)
No, and I

Jenna G Judith (11:39)
You don't want to get kicked in the teeth and have just say, okay, do it again.

Alyssa (11:44)
And so then for ARC readers, my goal was 50 and I hit 50 I got that announcement today. So super excited at 50 ARC readers ⁓ And there are people who have like hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of sign up and good for them This is my debut. So I felt like 50 was good. I also really want the reviews Like if I give you the free book, that's great. I I really like the review back So my goal there is 30 reviews So again instead of setting up 800 ARCs and getting 10 reviews back like let's make it really quality ARCs

Jenna G Judith (12:06)
Yes, please.

Cait (12:14)
Great. And so that's why you're sending an ARC, right? It's just to get the review. That's the whole point of the ARC is to get, and you want the reviews before you go.

Alyssa (12:19)
to get the reviews. ⁓

before it's published

that way when somebody goes on Amazon and they're like, do I want this book? They're like, well, it already has 15 good reviews. So it's really big to build credibility.

Jenna G Judith (12:33)
I think we just broke our own rule of we're semi educational in this episode.

Alyssa (12:35)
world

Cait (12:40)
No, and this is honestly, we are educational in this episode because I wanna know.

Alyssa (12:48)
but we're having fun! Yeah. Yeah.

Jenna G Judith (12:48)
Okay, this is like personal gain.

Cait (12:50)
Yeah,

this is like following my personal journey at the moment into like diving into this because I think it's, you can go to eight million places and probably hear all the things you need to do or indie like to go indie and whatever, but like I need an honest take on what you feel like you need and what you feel like you don't and like getting 50 arc readers like because I feel like.

Alyssa (12:54)
I'm just your big sister sharing.

Yeah.

Cait (13:17)
Everybody else is saying you need 500 and then I'm like, well, who's going to buy my book?

Alyssa (13:19)
Yeah.

Right,

But I did pay for the PR firm, which has been so good for my mental health that I'm not constantly checking every day to see how many people signed up. Like she let me know today it was $50. I was like, great, I can throw a party and then I'm to move along. She's doing graphics for me. She's going to be the one who makes sure that people who are rating one stars are not the ones reading my books. She's going to follow up, generally saying, hey, did you review this yet? So having that person in

my corner has been huge for me and that is something I'd recommend again.

Cait (13:49)
That's such a good point. That's really cool. Tell me about the launch party, though. I want to know about that.

Alyssa (13:55)
my gosh, I'm so excited. It's in my hometown of Coronado, California. So I'm flying back home to it. That's where I've got a lot of supporters. So yes, it's going to be at a tasting room. There's whiskey, there's wine. I'm going to go and have a conversation with a friend. I'll do the book signings and I'm, I'm really excited. I'm nervous. But again, this is my lifelong dream. So let's make it a big deal. It's like you got your wedding, your baby shower. This is my book launch.

Jenna G Judith (13:55)
Yes.

I was literally going to ask. I'm like, it's a mini wedding.

Alyssa (14:24)
Yeah,

Cait (14:24)
That is so cool. I love that. I was so curious about the PR firm because it's something I would never consider really doing, but it sounds like it's been really helpful for you.

Alyssa (14:35)
And again for my debut like You know me because I'm singing in my kitchen on Instagram like I've got zero credibility with anybody yet Like I've got a couple people who have like gotten the early edition of my books Mike you're actually good and I'm like, yeah, nobody else knows that yet. like you're just blindly trusting me right now So for the debut I wanted to get all the publicity I have because I assume for the second book now, you know me for my first I've built that trust if you like the style you're gonna keep reading but for the first one nobody knows me

Cait (15:04)
Yeah, I yeah, the funniest thing and what I love being about it like being part of these writing community is communities. my god, I can't talk. Is that ⁓ you do make all these friends and you meet all these people but like you've never read their books. like you and Jenna and I still have not read each other's books. And so I'm

Alyssa (15:19)
No.

Jenna G Judith (15:20)
No.

Alyssa (15:23)
That's so funny. Wow. ⁓

Jenna G Judith (15:24)
No.

Cait (15:26)
That is my favorite, one of my favorite things about being in a community of writers is that like you make these friendships and you get to know people but then you read their books and you're just like, holy shit, you can do this. ⁓ It's so awesome, it's so nice, it's like really nice. It's a really nice part about having friends that do this.

Alyssa (15:31)
and

right it's exciting

Jenna G Judith (15:48)
It's the warmest hug that matters the most when you have like a fellow writer read it and you're like, wow, great work. like, that's all you want. You just want like a little gold star from the person next to you.

Alyssa (15:54)
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Right.

Cait (15:57)
you

Jenna G Judith (16:03)
Let's talk about your cover journey.

Alyssa (16:05)
So cover cover was a shit show if we're gonna be honest,

so I booked my cover designer and she was supposed to start like December and like again, this was talked about in advance. I did not pay money I did not have a contract. She didn't do either of those things But like I looked her up on Instagram. She have a ton of followers She had a ton of tags like everything looked great And so then it came for like the first deadline and I was like, hey just checking in she's like, I got you girl. Don't worry. I was like, okay

Sounds good and like a few days passed and I was like, okay, just checking in on that deadline and she's like, yeah girl I totally got you and I was like Okay, and like a week passed and I was like are are we good and she's like, yeah What she's like, I'm gonna have two options for you and I was like awesome

Jenna G Judith (16:48)
Where is it?

Alyssa (16:52)
And again, like I'm trying not to like poke her every day, but I'm like, are we doing? Because I do need a cover for the book. I, like that's a necessity. So finally, at one point I had to say like, hey, I've got to find somebody else because you're not giving me anything. Like I never saw a draft, I never saw anything. And so then I like panicked and I went on threads one morning, the Instagram threads and I was like, I need a cover designer.

I did get several good responses from the threads and then one of the person, one of the people who reached out to me, ⁓ somebody in my hot girls who write group also use them. So was like, okay, a personal recommendation that way don't have to be scaredy anymore. I gave her the deposit. She had a draft back to me in a week.

We went back and forth a few times. And I super loved the cover. I'm not an artistic person, so I was never gonna design a cover by myself.

Cait (17:44)
But I was like, I did not think that was gonna be part of the process. I was like, I'm just not, I'm just gonna get a cover and I'm gonna love it it's gonna be so great. But it's, I'm just telling myself like it's totally normal and Jenna had to like pep talk me and be like, here's what you say. And that it's normal to go back and forth with them and they expect like to kind of have something like, so dialogue. ⁓ That's been like the hardest part for me, honestly. So it's like on it, it's really nice to hear somebody talk about it who's like.

Alyssa (17:51)
Yeah.

Good job, Joe.

it is.

Jenna G Judith (18:06)
you

Really?

Cait (18:12)
A boss bitch, like, fuck, here's what I want. Yeah.

Alyssa (18:13)
You have to be because you especially

as an indie author you are the boss You are the boss of everything and I think of all the men bosses I've had and I'm like with like there's so on my ass like You're allowed to do that to other people to be like this is exactly what I want. Make it happen with a smile

Cait (18:19)
Yeah, maybe.

Jenna G Judith (18:30)
You're so up my ass, and right

now I'm gonna be so up your ass.

Cait (18:35)
It's

Alyssa (18:35)
You're like really this is such a minor change why do you care? they're not afraid to tell people that they want a minor change So why should you be and again the cover designers not gonna like lose sleep over it. They're like, okay, whatever

Jenna G Judith (18:45)
I will say though

Cait (18:45)
And here I am

thinking like, my god, I hope this doesn't like hurt their feelings.

Jenna G Judith (18:46)
that.

No, feelings. Never, never. We do have fragile egos as designers though, and that we love to be praised. We love a little good girl moment.

Alyssa (18:50)
They don't care that much about you.

That's what you do, right? I

love this. Can we just tweak this? Like there's always such a nice way to go about it. Yes.

Jenna G Judith (19:04)
Yes! Compliment sandwich.

Cait (19:06)
Yeah,

Alyssa (19:08)
being a debut author, doing this all the first time is the hardest part. It's like once you find a good editor, you stick with them. Once you find a good cover designer, you stick with them. But at the beginning when it's like, I've got to try all these things and learn brand new for every single one, it's hard.

Cait (19:14)
That's it.

Jenna G Judith (19:22)
Especially when you call yourself the boss and you are in charge. It's either you rise to the occasion and you like take it on or you're or you're just gonna be scared. And I think about it of like assembling like the dream team of wait I get to pick the people? I get to pick? I get to do the things that I want to do. Hell yeah. Sign me up. Like I want you. You're joining my team. It's like the

Alyssa (19:25)
Okay.

Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

Jenna G Judith (19:51)
best part of dodgeball as an elementary kid. And there's money involved. Cool.

Alyssa (19:58)
That's how I felt about picking my beta readers. I was like, I want you and you and you and you and you're the elite group. And I was so excited when they all said yes. I was like, assemble, unite, whatever that is. Yes.

Cait (19:59)
I think

Jenna G Judith (20:03)
Yes! Yes!

We need badges, yes.

Cait (20:11)
And

that's the first time you're kind of like come out as something, right? Like when you get your beta readers, it's the first time you have to take control and treat it like a business almost. And I, for sure, I felt that. I think that the imposter syndrome just comes in so super hard when you're an indie author, because you're putting yourself in that place. Our whole lives, we're so used to people telling us it's time for us to be a leader, right? Like you're getting a promotion or you, like you're

Jenna G Judith (20:11)
⁓

Alyssa (20:21)
Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

Cait (20:40)
it's other people telling you like, okay, it's your time now. At this, we are like literally deciding one day, okay, it's my time, I'm the leader now, I take, I'm in charge now and it doesn't feel comfortable for a lot of people, feel like immediately, it's like a thing that we kind of have

Alyssa (20:56)
I think my biggest struggle is not taking the foot off the gas, especially when I'm so close. It's like, all right, I've posted on Instagram every day for six months. Can I just take a nap now? And it's like, no, this is when I need to keep ramping up. Like I met my goal of 50 arcs. I think I've still got two more weeks. Like, can I get 75? And it's continuing to push myself even when like I feel like I'm like, okay, are we good now? Are we done yet? And it's like, no, you stay strong till the end.

Cait (21:05)
Let's go.

Jenna G Judith (21:23)
tell me about what part really like surprised you in terms of what you enjoyed the most in your journey.

Alyssa (21:29)
my gosh,

I'm having so much fun. Like this whole guy.

Jenna G Judith (21:35)
Yay! ⁓

Alyssa (21:36)
I would not go query again. Like if somebody knocked on my door, I'm always gonna have a conversation. But like I'm having so much fun being an indie author.

I'm loving seeing him singing in my kitchen and just being my most authentic self and hopefully making out of it. So like, and again, I think a lot of this comes back to motherhood too, that like you do so much to be a mom, to be the best mom you can, that this is really my creative outlet that I just get to be totally myself, unbeholden to anybody else.

Jenna G Judith (21:50)
Yay!

Cait (22:06)
I love that.

Jenna G Judith (22:08)
Just hearts, hearts all around on that.

Cait (22:09)
That's the question. That

has to be the closing. Wherever we go from here, that's going to be the close because that was so sweet.

Jenna G Judith (22:15)
Yeah, this

will be like, like right there. ⁓

Cait (22:19)
I feel

like I need a cigarette after that.

Alyssa (22:21)
Hahaha!

Jenna G Judith (22:22)
Don't even smoke. Yes.

Cait (22:23)
I would start again.

Jenna G Judith (22:26)
I think the only thing that I'm I am missing is Alyssa, pitch your book. what's it about? Who is it for? And then we're going to drop all the deets in the in the description.

Alyssa (22:39)
Alright, the last special thing is a cautionary tale about drug experimentation and it follows 18 year old Amelia. I know not everybody loves 18 year old protagonist Jenna, but it is a Ganga girl book and it's about a girl who mistakes. It does, it's just not fighting dragons. And she for a guy, they fall in love and...

Jenna G Judith (22:50)
This makes sense. This makes sense though.

Cait (22:55)
She has to be 18.

Jenna G Judith (23:00)
we go.

Alyssa (23:04)
She has to learn that it's not about the drugs or the guy or the thrill that makes her special. She's the special one all along. So we're going for high school, college age, but I think everybody would enjoy the book.

Cait (23:13)
It's a hard lesson. ⁓

Jenna G Judith (23:18)
And when is the official launch date and where they where can they get your book to?

Alyssa (23:23)
So

they can get my book now on my website. They're signed editions. So it will be coming to Amazon too. In the next couple weeks it should be available on Amazon. But April 1st, it is not a joke, April 1st is the official release date.

Cait (23:35)
It's not a joke, you prefer it.

Alyssa (23:37)
See, that's gonna make you remember it. April 1st, you're gonna be like, what's not a joke today? The last special thing is not a joke.

Cait (23:44)
It doesn't sound like a joke.

Jenna G Judith (23:44)
Yeah, absolutely not. No, we

Alyssa (23:45)
you

Jenna G Judith (23:47)
don't turn around. ⁓ my goodness. And just a little nod to Amy Poehler, who is like my idol when it comes to podcasting land. What are you reading? What are you doing these days that are bringing you joy in the reading and writing world?

Alyssa (24:06)
So I'm currently reading Dear Future Husband by Taryn Christine. It's about a girl who gets amnesia and she loses her brother and her...

Is it her whole family in the crocs minute? I'm not too far along but she's an indie author and I read her other book dear me and she's such an emotional writer like she's the kind of person will take two paragraphs to describe how you're feeling and I'm just so jealous of somebody who like put you in their heart like that I'm very much more a plot person. So yes, your future husband by Taryn Christine

Jenna G Judith (24:39)
I love how you just like had that ready in your back pocket because I'm like, I don't know what the hell I'm reading right now, but yeah

Alyssa (24:45)
I'm reading