It's All About Context
Yesterday, I uploaded an Instagram reel of me unboxing paperback ARCs (Advanced Reader Copies) of my debut novel, Tapeworm. The reel was about thirty seconds long and ends with me holding my debut novel in my hands for the very first time.
When I filmed the footage weeks ago, it felt like a task on a check list. It was too abstract an activity for me to feel anything other than ‘this is what I am supposed to be doing.’ I’ve been on Bookstagram for years, after all, and have watched dozens of authors unbox their books.
With the release of yesterday’s reel and the subsequent outpouring of support, the unboxing became something else.
What, exactly, I’m not sure, but I suspect the disconnect is tied to my recent Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis. Whatever the case, however, giving my unboxing the context of an audience—much like giving my writing the context of an audience—made the milestone real for me.
If a writer falls in the woods and no one is around to read them…
I would like to share more behind-the-scenes content as my release date (08/18/26) approaches. There’s so much about my publishing journey that I haven’t been able to talk about. I hope I’ll be able to demystify traditional publishing, but I also hope that my sharing with you will contextualize the journey for me.
With that in mind, I am excited to share a few extra pictures and the unedited footage of my unboxing to you as one of my Substack readers. Here is the stack of paperback ARCs that Evil Twin, Zando’s new horror imprint, sent me:
And here’s the raw footage of the unboxing, knife fumble included:
Thank you for being a part of my journey. I can’t wait to share more about my publishing experience so far. Also, stay tuned, as I’ll be doing an ARC giveaway in the near future!
As always…
Be well, stay safe, and love each other.
