Ashante Thomas's Blog

Freelancer ▪ Acquisitions Editor

August 18, 2026

Building a Business Before the Book Deal

Having a massive social media following is great, but let’s get real: does it actually translate into a business? The answer is no, and traditional publishers know it. Publishers are smarter than ever. We aren’t just looking for vanity metrics or a viral moment that lands you ten thousand new followers overnight. We vetting authors… Continue reading

Publishing Tips

#ashantethomas, #booklaunch, #bookproposal, #booktok
August 2, 2026

Powering Your Way into a Strong Launch: 3 Tips

You’ll hear it a million times from editors, publicists, and marketing specialists, and you can consider me adding 1,000,001 times: Waiting until launch week to start marketing your book is a mistake. By the time your book drops, you should already have at least six months of momentum behind you. Smart strategy isn’t launching a… Continue reading

Publishing Tips

#authortips, #booklaunch, #booktok, #writers
July 22, 2026

Preparing for Your Pitch: Timing and Costs

I have acquired across subjects: education, health and fitness, self-help, to name a few. Two questions pop up almost regularly (including this week) are, “When is the right time to write a book? How much will this cost me out of pocket?” Let’s tackle timing first. The right time isn’t just when you have a… Continue reading

Publishing Tips

#ashantethomas, #authortips, #booklaunch, #nonfictionauthors, #traditionalpublishing
July 17, 2026

Finding a Home for Your Scholarly Monograph

I ran into some old scholarly publishing friends and felt a post to that community was warranted. The following are tips for scholars looking to get that first monograph signed. If you’re a scholar looking to turn your dissertation into your first monograph, here is the cold, hard truth: The book is the business of… Continue reading

Publishing Tips, Uncategorized

#ashantethomas, #authortips, #booklaunch, #bookproposal, #facultyboard, #scholarlypublishing
July 6, 2026

Securing Your Book’s Long-Term Success: 6 Tips

I’ve given advice on everything from preorder incentives to finding a press. But what about the journey itself? To stay on track, I’m sharing the following six tips to for your toolkit: Stay committed, keep organized! Continue reading

Publishing Tips

#ashantethomas, #authorcoaching, #authortips, #booklaunch, #bookproposal, #booktok
June 21, 2026

Untangling Success From Bestseller Status

I typically post 1-2 times each month, but this topic really hit me. Recently, I’ve heard two authors (including one of them mine) share that she felt like a failure because the book didn’t hit a bestseller list and she didn’t land an interview on a major podcast. I’ll tell any aspiring or published author… Continue reading

Publishing Tips

#ashantethomas, #authorplatform, #booklaunch, #bookproposal, #booktok
June 20, 2026

Building Early Buzz with a Small Budget

Nonfiction authors don’t need a full-scale PR machine to start getting their books into readers’ hands. A few small moves can create real momentum long before launch day. Start by refreshing your online presence. Updating your socials with a clear announcement that your book is available for preorder signals to your audience that something exciting… Continue reading

Publishing Tips

#ashantethomas, #authortips, #bookcoaching, #booklaunch, #booktok
June 2, 2026

Debunking the “Experts”: Why Aspiring Authors Need to Question Online Voices

The internet is packed with publishing “rules” passed down like gospel. But if you’re an aspiring author, it’s time to start interrogating the advice on your feed. A lot of it lacks crucial nuance or is flat-out wrong. Take a LinkedIn post I saw recently claiming authors must “fight for a cover design they love.”… Continue reading

Publishing Tips

#authorqueries, #authortips, #bookcoaching, #Bookpublishing
May 25, 2026

Mourning the Tandoori Chicken I Left 200 Miles Away

Stepping into a new press can feel a bit like diving into a new novel without reading the jacket copy: you’re trying to learn the lore, memorize the characters, and figure out where you fit in the universe. Happily, our recent all-staff retreat provided the ultimate crash course. While our daytime agenda was packed with… Continue reading

Publishing Tips

#Bookpublishing, #editorlife, #nonfiction, #TeamBuilding
May 19, 2026

Owning the Sales Driver’s Seat

Let’s get real for a moment about what a publisher actually does and what they can’t do. A publisher is your ultimate strategy partner. They will take your manuscript and polish it to a brilliant sheen with professional editing, typesetting, and cover design. They’ll plug it into distribution channels, put it in front of libraries,… Continue reading

Publishing Tips

#ashantethomas, #authortips, #booklaunch, #booksales, #editorlife, #nonfictionauthors

About Me

Rooted in the rhythms of Motown and most at home on Midwest hiking trails, I am an editor with a career that bridges trade and scholarly publishing. Whether working in continental philosophy, Holocaust studies, or my current focus on health and fitness, I respect the creative process and the dedication it takes to bring a book to life. When I am not tending to my backyard patch of cabbage, I use this space to clear my mind and share practical insights. My goal = help nonfiction authors demystify the publishing journey and enjoy a much richer experience from manuscript to marketplace.