Special editions are expensive—and in a publishing market that doesn't typically show returns for a lot of authors, they're often just another expense. So when is it actually worth it? We're breaking it down by budget, bandwidth, and the one question you need to ask yourself first.

Truth be told, there's a lot that goes into brand development—blood, sweat, tears, research, logo drafts, color palette swatches, hours of keyword and tagline research and testing. So, I'm going to break this down into its core moving parts so you can take the first step on your brand journey.

Branding is your identity—it's what makes you recognizable, relatable, and most importantly, marketable. It's the difference between being known for something or getting lost in the sauce. As an author, your branding isn't just about products or ad campaigns. It's about you as a person and the stories you write.

Branding can be broken down into three core categories: your Foundation (Mission/Vision, Values, and Unique Value Proposition), your Audience, and your Identity (Voice, Story, Tagline, and Visual Identity).

The aesthetics are only a small portion of it. It doesn't matter if you shell out nearly a grand for a graphic designer to make your branding flawless if you haven't laid the foundation and don't know your market.

Want the full breakdown—including how we built Hawthorn & Aster's brand from the ground up? This one's for Author Circle members.

Indie publishing is the wild west—and everyone's handing out conflicting maps. Great-Auntie-Greta is here to cut through the noise and walk you through the five most common mistakes debut authors make, from cover design and editing to ISBNs and the perfection trap. Pull up a chair. We need to talk.

If you're an indie or self-published romance author wondering whether hiring a book marketing company is worth it—you've come to the right place. In this guide, we're breaking down exactly what to expect from a romance book marketing company, what red flags to watch for, and how to find the right fit for your book. Whether you're planning your debut launch or your fifth release, understanding how ethical book marketing actually works could be the difference between a campaign that flops and one that gets your story into the hands of readers who will love it.

So you want to publish a book—but no one told you about editing stages, cover timelines, or why marketing matters before launch. Let Hawthorn & Aster’s resident gay bookish auntie walk you through the process with clarity, humor, and real-world advice.