I’ve been asked a lot how I do it all. Write my books, market them, have a day job, and be a mom/wife. Simply put, I have to have priorities and a schedule. And there has to be some kind of give or take.
I had been trying to do it all when I first became published. Creating a ton of author events, marketing my debut book, editing my second book, and writing my third book, while having a child under the age of one, and a full-time job. Shock to no one, I got burnt out, majorly. I still remember on my long drive home after a lackluster author event where two people showed up, tears threatening to spill from my eyes. Of course I was happy two people came out but it wasn’t just that event that made me upset. It was the eleven in person events I had done in the span of five months where for most of them, only a few people showed up. This was NOT what I was expecting being a published author; being overbooked with not many in person sales and no time to actually write, relax, or be with my family.
So I took a step back and scaled back my in person author commitments. Now I only commit to 3-5 in person events a year; ones that seem like they are going to be worthwhile with a lot of foot traffic and a return on my investment. I especially now steer clear of the ones where I would have to get a hotel room and have many travel expenses because I have to foot the bill for all of my book events.
Because I am becoming more selective on the events I attend, that means there is something else that goes along with it, rejection. I’m no stranger to rejections, being in the querying trenches for many years, but it’s still not fun getting rejected or being put on a waitlist for a book event, especially when your author friends are going to be there. If I am trying to get into these larger, more well-trafficked events of course there is going to be competition, but I hadn’t realized how difficult it might be.
But I did get into two book festivals happening soon! The first one is a local author book festival in Skippack Pennsylvania on April 12, 2025, 11-4 pm ET at the Victorian Carriage Shops. There are going to be over 50 authors in attendance with books in a variety of genres. I’m really looking forward to this event and meeting the other authors. I also was invited to return to Lavender Con, an LGBTQ+ book festival happening in D.C., June 14-15, 2025. There are going to be a lot of panels plus authors selling/signing their books. I had such a great time last year that I can’t wait to go again.
I’ve also been participating in more virtual events and podcasts. This has worked well for my schedule since I don’t have to leave my house and a lot of times I can schedule them around my lunch hour. I was lucky enough to be invited to do a virtual reading for the group Strong Women Strange Worlds on April 4, 2025, 12 pm ET. I’ll be reading an excerpt from my YA superhero book SUPERFICIAL, alongside other fantasy, sci-fi, and horror women and non-binary authors. It should be a great time and if you happen to be available then, registration can be found here; it’s free to attend and there will be some great giveaways.
On the weekends when I don’t have an author event, I try and be present with my family and also read for fun when my son is napping, rather than write. I have to make sure I give myself a break so I don’t get burnt out again.
Diane Billas 