Coffee with an Author (Episode 2)

Author and Writing Bestie: Sharlrita Deloatch

Welcome back to another episode of Coffee with an Author!

I am excited to introduce you to one of my favorite authors who has been rocking the self-publishing scene this year,

Sharlrita DeLoatch

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Sharlrita is a wife, mom, and digital publisher. She teaches women how to monetize their skills and build a soft-life digital publishing business by sharing effective strategies for publishing, digital marketing, and leveraging SEO platforms.

And today, I cannot wait to share her knowledge about writing and self-publishing!

What inspired you to pursue self-publishing, and how did you get started?

I’ve always loved to read books as a child and grew really interested in writing in my 20’s. After making a terrible mistake and having trouble finding a job I was thrown into entrepreneurship in 2016. I learned about getting paid to speak and later started coaching and naturally writing a book became the next big thing to do. I wrote my first book in 2017. I was a part of a Book Anthology and wrote a chapter. I love it and I’ve been writing ever since. 

What challenges did you face during the self-publishing process, and how did you overcome them?

Being a part of the book anthology allowed me to learn the publishing process as an author but once I got behind the scenes and put on the hat of a publisher that was a different story. The Challenges faced in the beginning were understanding the publishing lingo. For example, for a long time, I didn’t fully understand the different types of editing and how long it can take. I know now but in my mind, I thought I was supposed to write and the editor would just fix what they thought I was trying to convey in my message. I learned early you have to be clear on the direction you want your book to go from the very beginning. 

How long was it from the time you decided to write and publish a book to the time that you actually did it?

The first full book I wrote myself took me about 7 days to write. Granted I was put on a deadline. I naturally will get things done. It doesn’t take me years to write a book.  

What platforms did you use to publish your book, and why did you choose them?

I used Create Space, haha Well it’s amazon kdp now. I used them because it’s easy to use and the one I am used to. I have since migrated to also using draft to digital for the expansion of my book. 

How do you build and engage your audience as an independent author?

I’ve been building my audience for years even through all my business changes and I’ve always used video as the one want to market and I’ve always been consistent with it. 2023 is when I really got serious with email but it’s always been video for me and being a guest on other people’s platforms. 

What marketing strategies have worked best for promoting your book?

I love paying for marketing. I use paid ads from companies such as The Fussy Librian and also leveraged Amazon’s ads too. I pay to get featured in newsletters and of course, create videos on YouTube.  

How do you handle editing, cover design, and formatting without the support of a traditional publisher?

I self-edit.  With my books I use content I already have such as videos and old blog posts. I have my videos transcribed and I try to clean it up as much as I can. If I am short on time I have an editor I’ve used for years and she is helpful. My covers are designed by a designer on Fivver. He knows my brand and I just use that one person and of course I outsource formatting too.  I have never tried to format my own book at all. 

What advice would you give to someone considering self-publishing for the first time?

My advice is to do it scary and do it messy. Start with a low-content book like a journal or planner and work your way to a higher-content book.  I’ve worked with so many authors and so many try to be perfect. The goal is to publish more than one book so that you can get better and better. If you read my 2016 book vs my 2024 books you can see the growth. That’s because I keep writing and getting better.  Be okay with not being perfect. Even if you outsource you are still working with humans. 

How do you balance writing with the demands of self-publishing and promoting your work?

Can I be honest it’s hard. I’ve been challenging myself to write more and if I don’t I don’t beat myself up I try again the next month. I always ask myself “Do you really want to write this book” Your activity will always tell the story. I will always promote my work even if I have to pay for it. 

What’s one thing you wish you knew before starting your self-publishing journey?

I wish I had known about writing shorter books. For a long time, I always thought when writing a book it needs to be at least 200 pages. If I had known I could write short I would have released more books. 

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Check out Sharlrita’s Books!

I want to thank Sharlrita for spending some time with us and encourage you to subscribe to her publication here on Substack. Most of all, check out her books on Amazon to support her work and learn more about writing and self-publishing!

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My name is J.R. Heimbigner and I am a #1 Bestselling Author on Amazon with 15 self-published books. I have two things I want to share with you:

1. A short book to help you write books with your Substack posts called Substack Books.

2. The New Writer School on my Gumroad Store. You will find a free checklist for daily engagement, my Writer’s Starter Pack, and a sign up to have a one-hour call with me to discuss writing or self-publishing.

Also, this post may contain sales or affiliate links, so I might get a little kickback if you purchase anything. Thank you in advance!