Episode 105: Ariel Slick on Self-Publishing Her New Southern Gothic Novel, The Devil Take The Blues

After spending four years crafting her novel and a full year querying agents only to hear "great writing, no market vision," Ariel Slick made the bold decision to self-publish her novel, The Devil Take The Blues, a Southern Gothic tale set in 1920s Louisiana. The result? Her book now sits in 15 bookstores and has garnered stellar reviews.

In this episode, Ariel shares her research-intensive writing process, the emotional journey of writing about complicated family relationships, her deep dive into blues music and Southern folklore, and, most importantly—the exact steps she took to successfully self-publish, from finding the right editor to getting that crucial Kirkus review that opened bookstore doors.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

•    How to transition from "aspiring writer" to published author without waiting for traditional publishing gatekeepers

•    The step-by-step self-publishing process: editing, cover design, launch strategy, and the tools that actually work

•    How to get your self-published book into bookstores and libraries using editorial reviews and personalized outreach

•    Why you should skip Facebook ads when starting out (and what free marketing to focus on instead)

•    How to conduct deep research for historical fiction using databases, expert interviews, and library resources

•    The outlining method that syncs character development with plot (Story Genius by Lisa Cron)

•    Why Kirkus Reviews matter and how to leverage them to gain credibility with bookstores

•    How to overcome the stigma of self-publishing (spoiler: quality writing trumps everything)