If you write words that speak to others and write with love, people will believe in your work. It doesn’t matter how small the press, how little you are supported by the publishing world through reviews, publisher giveaways, publicists, marketing, placement in bookstores, 1/

inclusion on pre-publication ‘anticipated book’ lists etc. Your words are threads that connect lives regardless of these things. My little book was placed on lists such as the Texas Library Association’s TAYSHAS list, Texas Monthly’s Author Favorites, Christianity Today’s Book 2/

Of Merit and won the Texas Institute of Letters YA book award. My small press book had no marketing budget, no Kirkus, PW, SLJ, or other big reviewers. What I had was people who cared about me, cared about my book and what it meant to them. Any success this book has had is 3/

because of love. So put good words out there. Be an advocate and champion others’ books more than your own. And most of all, love others and their words and when you do let the world know about it. And hustle hard for that mighty dedicated publisher who believed in you. 4/

Get out there as much as you can and celebrate them. Thank you Gregory Wolfe at @SlantBooks for this gift and for believing in me. 5/5