Words and Pictures with Grace Olson
On discovering new skills for self-promotion, top tips for self-publication and the importance of a good editor
This week we spoke to author Grace Olson about why she chose to self-publish her books, what she learned along the way and her top tips for anyone else considering that path to publication.
Grace Olson can’t quite believe how much her life has radically changed since she began posting a little blog about her horse on Facebook during lockdown. The blog became an Amazon number 1 best-seller on the first day of publication and there followed a few more equally as successful books, with more in the pipeline.
Fate hadn’t finished surprising her. She randomly found herself the accidental owner of a flock of pet sheep who captured the attention of the popular Channel 5 series, The Yorkshire Vet, and has since become a regular on the show.
Grace’s big goal in life is to use the income from book sales so that she can treat terminally ill people for free with her therapy sheep and horses.
Her tragicomic memoirs are heart-warming, hilarious yet also deeply moving. Her children’s books are beautifully illustrated with water-colour paintings.
Why are words and pictures important to you?
Words have so much power - they can lift people out of the darkest of places and inspire them to be the best version of themselves.
I kept this in mind throughout the process of writing my stories because I want them to make a lasting, positive impression on young minds so that they can grow into confident teens and happy, considerate adults able to fulfil their life goals.
Pictures are equally as powerful. I have always remembered my favourite childhood books and how mesmerised I was by the illustrations – most notably the Beatrix Potter stories. The pictures brought the books to life and lifted my heart.
I wanted to create the same emotive experience within my own books and I am forever grateful to have found such a talented illustrator who captured the essence of the stories within the style of classic watercolour imagery.
These beautiful illustrations have added an extra dimension to my books, allowing parents to use them to make up simpler versions of the stories to tell to younger children.
Did you always want to be an author?
I always loved creative writing and I remember dreaming about writing books when I was younger but self-doubt was strong! I didn’t ever believe I could become an author. It would never have happened had it not been for having so much time on my hands during lockdown.
How many books have you now had published? What has the reaction to them been like?
I am very happily stunned to be able to say that I now have 6 published books – 2 tragicomic memoirs about how horses healed my mental health issues and 4 sheep themed children’s books.
I am very humbled that the reactions and book sales have been beyond expectations. I gathered a very supportive network of readers on Facebook before I published the first book and they have loved all the books. Even adults are buying my children’s books for themselves!
Why did you decide to self-publish your books?
I dreamed of getting an agent and becoming a traditionally published author. However, I got rejection after rejection and it was so depressing. I almost gave up but my wonderful supporters on Facebook refused to let me give in. They insisted I self-published so I did!
Can you tell us about the process of self-publishing? How did you go about it? What did you learn along the way?
Self-publishing is a tricky thing to navigate. There are SO many dodgy companies who don’t care about your work, they just want your money. So, the first step was to find a reputable company and I was very lucky to get a recommendation from a trusted source.
I could have self-published with Amazon’s ‘print on demand’ service but I wanted my books to be produced professionally. I wanted them edited, proof-read, laid out correctly and I wanted an eye-catching book cover. These are all things that I can’t do myself.
I also wanted my books to be available from all UK bookshops and I wanted them to be printed on good quality paper so that the experience of owning and reading them would be a pleasure.
The company who I published with did all the nitty gritty things so all I had to do was check it all and approve it. Being self-published opened my eyes to how much goes on in order to produce and distribute books. There’s so much more to consider than just writing a good story.
What was the hardest part about self-publishing?
The hardest part about self-publishing was getting independent book shops to take me seriously as an author. I also found it daunting to do all my own PR and marketing. It was terrifying!
And what is the best bit?
But the best bit was that the hardest bits became the things I enjoyed the most and grew me as a person. I found hidden skills I had no idea were there. Who knew PR could be so fun and a source of creativity?
I don’t know what happened to me but from a place of fear, I rose to the challenge and I am amazed to be able to say that I have been featured in loads of magazines, newspapers, podcasts, radio and TV.
I look at my media portfolio and it blows my mind to think that I did this just by having the nerve to do it. And due to this success, I now receive requests from radios, tv and magazines etc and that’s even more exciting.
It's very satisfying to have achieved this – as a person who had low self-esteem and crippling self-doubts. I wouldn’t have got as much out of being an author had I been picked up by an agent and catapulted into ‘best-seller’.
My books reached number 1 in various Amazon categories because of my own focus and determination and relentless daily effort. I have literally not had one day off marketing and PR since I started in 2020.
What is your day job and has it helped you with your writing in any way?
My day job is the most wonderful thing. I am fortunate to be a therapist – massage, energy healing, ILM coach. I also have a team of therapy animals including a flock of sheep and a herd of horses.
All of this has enriched me as a person and has helped me to remain grounded and remember what matters in life. My horses inspired my novels and my sheep inspired my children’s books.
Do you have any plans for more books?
I’d love to write a book aimed at 12-14 year olds and I will be writing two more in my series of memoirs. Then I want to write a handbook for the dying – a guide to have a better death. My therapy work has shown me that Western people really need this.
Where can people buy your books?
My books are available from all UK book shops, Amazon and worldwide from Brown Dog Books (and also print on demand on Amazon).
How do you promote your books?
Promotion – there are so many ways of doing this and I realised there’s only so much I can do as a ‘one man band’. I have found that Facebook ads have worked well for me so I’ve literally limited myself to that. Otherwise, I would go mad!
But I also promote myself indirectly by being in as many media outlets as possible. Interviews and self-written articles in newspapers and magazines helps to grow you as an entity in the minds of the public.
They don’t necessarily lead to immediate book sales but eventually they do. I had the extra incredible good luck when I was picked up by channel 5’s The Yorkshire Vet. This has led to tons of other types of media exposure and I was fortunate to have a book launch included in one of the Yorkshire Vet episodes.
What advice do you have for anyone else considering self-publishing a book?
The most vital piece of advice I could give to anyone considering self-publishing is bizarrely the thing that people ignore the most. The secret to success is this ….. get your work edited by a professional.
I will be forever grateful that I found Naomi because the fact is that my first children’s book would have been a flop were it not for her input. It’s amazing how foolish so many writers are – they honestly believe that their writing is good enough to be published with just a proofread. No, it is not and will never be good enough no matter who you are! Successful authors all have editors. Do not miss this stage out!
Naomi helped me to see all the things my ego couldn’t see was wrong in my manuscript. Yes, it was painful, it crushed me! But it grew me. Naomi taught me so much about what a good story needs. It was well worth the pain! I worked with Naomi on all my subsequent children’s books and thanks to her, they are books worth buying.
Thanks so much to Grace for answering all of our questions. You can find out more about her on her website, Facebook or instagram.
Work with Naomi
If you’re looking for editorial help or want to create a strong submission package, Naomi has a few slots free to work with children’s picture book and fiction writers this summer.
Hit reply to this email or drop her a message in the comments to find out more.
‘Working with Naomi as a mentor has been such a joy. Her thoughtful feedback brought fresh perspective and new energy to my manuscript, and her encouragement gave me the confidence to push it further than I thought possible.’
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