The Journey to Publishing Zero’s Solace

Bringing Zero’s Solace into the world has been one of the most intense, exhilarating, and rewarding experiences of my career as an indie author. From the moment the idea sparked in my mind to holding the final book in my hands, the process has been filled with late nights, endless revisions, and more than a few cups of tea (or maybe something stronger). So, I wanted to take a moment to share a little behind-the-scenes look at what it took to get this book out into the world.

The Initial Spark

Zero’s Solace was born out of the love readers developed for a character who wasn’t even meant to have his own book. Through books two and three, they latched onto him. His pain, his struggle, his quiet resilience (and, let’s be honest, his relentless ability to deflect with sarcasm). His journey of loss and trauma, to the point where he forgot who he was, resonated deeply. While he is healing, he is still trying to find himself, and he’s doing it the only way he knows how... One morbid joke at a time. That journey inspired me to tell his story. I knew Zero’s Solace would be dark, emotional, and full of morally complex themes, and I was all in.

Drafting and Revisions: The Chaos Zone

The first draft of Zero’s Solace was a glorious mess. Like all good first drafts should be. I poured everything onto the page, letting Zero lead me while knowing I’d come back later to clean up the wreckage. And oh, was there wreckage.

These test reads and revisions were where the real magic happened. With each pass, I homed the emotional depth, sharpened the conflicts, and made sure the pacing kept readers on edge. I also had an incredible group of beta readers who tore into the manuscript (lovingly, of course) and helped me see what needed to change. This was the first book in the series that went through more than two rounds of testing, and the readers in that group were very hands on with where the story went and how much was told.

The Business Side: Editing, Cover Design, and Formatting

Once I had a solid draft, it was time for the crucial steps that would turn Zero’s Solace from a manuscript into a book. For this book I pushed myself to dig deeper, to cut where necessary, and to make every word count. Then came the cover. Probably one of my favorite parts of the process. Seeing my vision brought to life in a single, stunning image was surreal. And that was all thanks to the new series artist Kieran Mikolajova.

Formatting was the final piece of the puzzle, making sure everything looked as polished as any traditionally published book.

The Pre-Launch Hustle

Once everything was ready, it was time to switch gears into marketing mode. I lined up social media teasers, reached out to my amazing reader community, and prepped for convention season. Balancing the creative and business sides of being an indie author isn’t easy, especially while managing a chronic illness, but I refuse to let that hold me back. I like to see it as a challenge. Like going into a level of a game with 1HP and no potion bottles. Somehow I made it through.

Release Day and Beyond

Now, Zero’s Solace is out in the world, and I couldn’t be prouder. Seeing readers connect with the story, the characters, and the emotions I poured into the pages makes every challenge along the way worth it. If you’ve picked up a copy, thank you. If you haven’t yet, I hope you do! And that you find yourself swept away in a world of magic, rebellion, and difficult choices.

This is just the beginning. There’s so much more to come, and I can’t wait to share it with you.

Stay magical,

Jess L. M. Anderson