Samantha Young is a New York Times-, USA Today-, Wall Street Journal-, #1 Amazon-bestselling author, and a Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee. Her newest release, Hart Street Lane, is a steamy fake engagement romance and the third installment in her Return to Dublin Street series.  

Though the dream of seeing your self-published book on the New York Times-bestseller list may feel out of reach, it's a goal that's actually more attainable than you might think. You don't necessarily have to have the backing of a major publishing house and a massive marketing budget. Though there's no proven path to getting there, it's possible with a bit of hard work, strategy, persistence, and maybe a little luck. 

Standing out in today’s book marketplace can be challenging, especially if you’re a self-published author managing your own marketing. One creative option you may not have tried yet is offering bonus content that gives readers a little something extra. This type of content can serve more than one purpose: while it offers added value to your loyal fans, it can also be a powerful incentive to attract new readers. Whether you’re expanding on the world you’ve built or teasing what’s coming next, thoughtful bonus material can help your book shine without taking away from the main story you’re selling.

Adam Skolnick is an author and journalist who covers travel, adventure and endurance sports, and the environment. His fiction debut, American Tiger, is a riveting blend of adventure, mystery, and coming-of-age with a touching father-daughter relationship at its core.  

Are you considering submitting your work to contests and award programs this year? Whether you’re aiming for a major prize, recognition within a specific genre, or simply increased visibility for your book, these accolades can be powerful tools for strengthening your credibility as an author. It takes courage to share your work in this way, and the time and care you’ve invested in your manuscript merit that opportunity.

Greg Cope White is a former sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps, an author, and a film and TV writer and producer. His memoir, The Pink Marine, has been adapted into a Netflix series (Boots, with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 90%), for which White serves as a writer and Executive Producer.

Claire Kingsley is a USA Today-bestselling author of sexy, heartwarming contemporary romance, romantic comedies, and small-town romantic suspense. Her newest release, Sleigh Bells and Snowstorms, is a festive small-town romantic suspense perfect for the holiday season! 

Jacquelyn Benson writes smart historical fantasy in which strong women confront the stranger things that occupy the borders of our world. Her newest release, Arrow of Fortune, is the third installment of her Raiders of the Arcana historical fantasy adventure series.  

Authors can revise their books at any time—and sometimes should. Revising a published book doesn’t mean something was “wrong.” For indie authors, it’s a strategic advantage. Of course, you'll want to make copy edits as needed, but there are many other instances when making revisions to a book can improve reader satisfaction, attract a new audience, support a relaunch, or even capitalize on awards and cultural trends. 

Kristina Ten is the author of Tell Me Yours, I'll Tell You Mine (2025, Stillhouse Press). Populated by living paper dolls, summer camp legends, and trivia nights gone terribly wrong, the 12 genre-crossing tales in her debut collection wrestle with themes of memory, disobedience, alienation, belonging, and the horrors of inhabiting a body others seek to control.