From Blogger to Brand: My Hard Lessons in Self-Publishing

 

I posted my blog last Wednesday and for the first time, I didn't really know what to write. If you read it, you know I mentioned using Pinterest to help drive traffic. While on the platform, I came across a few other blog posts giving tips on how to do exactly what I wanted: get people to read my posts.

The Move to My Website 💻

The post that helped me figure things out was an old one from 2020, but it felt still relevant today. After reading it, I went on the search for other tips and decided if I was going to make my brand a success, I needed to centralise everything. I spent a lot of hours transferring all my old posts onto my own website, moving away from Blogger. It was time-consuming, but I hope in the long run it proves to be the best idea to make my blog more professional.

Swimming Upstream 🌊

Why did you chose blogger in the first place?

This is a good question and no different from anyone starting out in any business. I chose Blogger because I thought people would find my posts easier; it seemed to have tools my website didn't have. At least, that's what I was led to believe at the time. I didn't think having my blog on my website would look professional, but I now see I was wrong.

​I love writing, and I love writing blogs. I hope you enjoy reading what I write, as it is just the everyday life of what I get up to regarding my book, with a little bit of family life mixed in. I decided that if I was to move my blog to my website, I needed a name that was more branded to me. My name should be the brand, not just the series, and that's when I thought a play on words would be good. With the surname of Salmon, there were plenty of things I could use, but Swimming Upstream seemed like an obvious option. This is what being an indie author feels like: it's not smooth sailing, it's choppy, it's hard going, and some weeks it's draining. So here we are, welcome to Swimming Upstream.

The Long Wait ⏳

A few weeks ago, I said I was going wide with my book, trying to get it on other sites. Well, that is still the plan, but I am still waiting for D2D to distribute it to all the sites. It feels like it is taking forever. All my dashboard reads is "publishing," which has been going on for weeks now. I'm just going to leave it and hope that before long you will find it on more ebook sites.

Just as I was about to wrap up this post, a curveball came in my inbox. An email arrived from Draft2Digital's tax partner stating that because I hadn't completed a Know Your Customer and tax information request, my payments would be put on hold. It was a bit of a shock, especially since I'd thought everything was in order! I had to go through the entire tax interview process again. I'm not sure if the system somehow flagged me as a U.S. resident, but I'm hoping this recent complication isn't contributing to the delay in getting the book published.

The Book Cover Crisis 🎨

A few days ago, a book cover company sent me the first draft of the redesign for An Irish Mystery. To say I was disappointed would be an understatement. I asked for an adventure thriller-type book, similar to authors like Clive Cussler or James Rollins. Instead, I got a cover that looked like Treasure Island. The cover was visually cluttered and used too many tropes, like a map scroll and a treasure chest. The jewel on the necklace was also incorrect for the Irish Crown Jewels. The cover lacked a sense of modern action and suspense. I've been looking through the messages I sent them to make sure I gave them the correct information, and I still cannot see how they got it so wrong.

Looking Forward 🚀

So, that's where I am. My book is still only available on Amazon and has the same front and back cover with the old blurb on. It still sells, but not enough to make money. But my blog has a new home here. If you want to be part of this adventure, then join me weekly here on Swimming Upstream.

​What are your thoughts on the new structure and the title options?

What am I Reading 📖

​I recently finished reading Next House by Kate Bold—you can find my full review on Goodreads. I'm now diving into a book from the Bookouture family, The Berlin Wife by Marion Kummerow. This captivating novel is set in pre-WWII Germany, where beautiful Edith falls for Julius, a Jewish man who sweeps her into the glamorous world of Berlin’s elite. But as the Nazi party's power grows, her perfect world begins to shatter. With new laws stripping Jews of their freedom and frightening rumors of camps and disappearances spreading, the story promises to be a powerful and emotional read.

I’m about 17% of the way through and, if you've been following my reading updates, you know I'm not the fastest reader. This one will probably take me a little while, but I'll be sure to update you next week on my progress! So far, I’m really enjoying how the author is building the story, and I'm sure it will become one of those books I can't put down as I get further in. I love books with WWI and WWII themes and the opportunity to learn new things. It's not often you read a pre-war novel that references the Nazi party, so this has already piqued my interest.

​What are you reading at the moment? Let me know in the comments!

📬 Want to follow the journey?

I send occasional emails about writing, publishing, and the stories behind The Newman Adventures.

Newsletter subscribers also get an exclusive sneak peek of Book 2, An American Treasure.

👉 Join here: The Newman Chronicle 

📖 Enjoyed this post?

An Irish Mystery is a fast-paced historical adventure about stolen treasures, hidden histories, and the cost of obsession.

Ebook, Kindle Unlimited, Paperback & hardcover

👉 Available on Amazon: An Irish Mystery

You can also find me on Instagram / Bluesky / X / Facbook, where I share writing updates and behind-the-scenes moments.

🌍 www.dcsalmonbooks.com