"Jackson" Rises to #1 on Kindle in Canada. What is Happening Behind the Scenes to Make This Possible?

It was almost one year ago when I began working with FriesenPress by receiving an Editor’s Manuscript Evaluation. After several conversations with my representative for many reasons, I chose this publishing option, but specifically because of its worldwide distribution network.

We select our launch path based on choices and what we need as an author. Jackson had two rounds of formal content editing, custom interior layout with revision rounds, and premium book cover design, all with experts in their field. After three cycles back and forth, the cover became an outstanding portrayal of the main character, better than I envisioned it ever would. The bottom line has to be quality. As an author, you are driven to offer the best possible content and overall “package” to your readers.

I’ve been working with writers who have chosen different paths to publish. There are many options today. Each one has its pros and cons. Regardless of which way you go, marketing and promotion are going to fall on your lap. You have the option of hiring a publicist should you wish. I chose to take it on myself and shared our “Time to Publish” plan on my YouTube channel for 9 weeks before our launch party. Step by step, with the help of the remarkable people on the launch team and hours of dedication, we made it happen. Trust me, we had our surprises, especially when I discovered that Jackson could to not be made available for pre-release sales. One step back, two steps forward, as they say.

Every author wants their books to become bestsellers. It means countless people worldwide are reading your work, and you hope your writing is having an impact. If Jackson drives conversations about mental illness within families and between friends, my goal will come to fruition. We need each other now more than ever before.

Jackson did not become a best seller because of its content. I would love to believe it did but would be naïve in doing so. It resulted from strategic, step-by-step actions taken over months and many people's involvement along the way.

Thank you Colleen Gascoigne, Melissa Lyons, Jenn Sadai, Chelsea Stephens and Gianna Romano. This launch team certainly found ways to think outside of the box and develop a plan that could work in the midst of a pandemic. To my family and friends, I am blessed to have you in my life and never take that for granted. Finally, to each of you who are reading this, much appreciation for your support. To Yvonne Marrs, the character of Jackson could not have been possible without your insights and personal experiences. Your honesty, vulnerabilty and willingness to share what it is like to struggle with anxiety made this book possible.

Now comes the time that authors look forward to - the responses and reviews of readers. There are scenes in Jackson where you will agree or disagree with the decisions made or action taken. That’s the point. We each have our own experiences to draw upon. Let’s engage in that conversation without hesitation or fear of what others might think. Let’s listen, seek to understand, and knock down the stigma of this disease.

We must change the way we see and treat this mental health crisis in our world.

Mental illness has become a crisis in Canada and around the world. 13% of us are currently struggling with some type of mental illness. The impact on the lives of those affected is overwhelming. After almost a year of research, interviews and consultations with many who have been personally affected, Jackson is now being released. Fellow author, Yvonne Marrs shared personal and powerful insights with vulnerability and honesty to help form the character of Jackson.

A powerful new book based on true stories, Jackson’s battle to take control over his own mind and life portrays what millions of people are fighting with around the world – mental illness. His mother, desperate to free him from his demons and desperation, faces her own turmoil and anguish, doing anything possible to save her son, through love and hope. How many emotional, heartbreaking and even triumphant moments will they face? How do they move on after each? How do June and Jackson move from denial to a place of acceptance and understanding?

As written in the book’s introduction by Alan Goyette (MSW, RSW Clinical Social Worker), “For those of you who have lived this experience, that face will be all too familiar. For those of you who have not, that face will aid you in developing a greater understanding of and compassion for those who demand your support.”

Co-hosted by authors Jenn Sadai and Melissa Lyons, join us for 45 minutes at the virtual book launch party for Jackson using the Zoom platform on Wednesday, October 21st beginning at 7 pm EST.

Enjoy the book trailer created by Francis Yap of Mission Informatics and please register using the link on the top right corner of the page. Let’s continue to take action and change the conversation about how we see and treat mental illness.

Pick up the phone. Drop by for a visit. It could be the moment you save someone's life.

The facts are staggering. The Canadian Mental Health Association states that…in any given year, one in five people in Canada will personally experience a mental health problem or illness. By age forty, about fifty percent of the population will have or have had a mental illness.

Almost one half (forty-nine percent) of those who feel they have suffered from depression or anxiety have never gone to see a doctor about this problem and only one in five children with mental-health problems receive mental health services.

Some of our barriers seem almost insurmountable: People who don’t accept they need help, believing they can deal with it on their own; those who know they are not well but won’t get support because of the perceived stigma attached; people who desperately want assistance but are put on wait lists; or those who reside in communities where services are slim.

The extreme pressures that this pandemic has placed on us drives the need for even more services than ever before. A bureaucratic system delivers and administers health-care services through provincial and territorial governments. We have primary, secondary, and supplementary services that are often fragmented and certainly not a “wrap around” model. It’s so complex that private organizations are offering “health-care advocates” to help us navigate the system.

The impact on the lives of those affected cannot be overstated. Through countless experiences as an educator, a friend, family member and parent, I’m sharing the story of “Jackson” (to be released in October of this year).

Jackson’s battle to take control over his own mind and life portrays what millions of people are fighting with around the world – mental illness. His mother, desperate to free him from his demons and desperation, faces her own turmoil and anguish, doing anything possible to save her son, through love and hope. After countless emotional, heartbreaking and triumphant moments, June and her son must both accept that only Jackson can save himself. Though Jackson leaves us with hope and a promise of a healthy future after years of suffering, the reality is that not every young person has that outcome. Suicide accounts for twenty-four percent of all deaths among fifteen to twenty-four-year-olds in Canada (four times more likely for men). Twenty-four percent!

June and Craig’s characters are of typical parents who desperately find their way through each crisis with their son, questioning themselves and carrying regrets. No one is prepared for what is thrown at them when their child can’t find their way out of bed or doesn’t believe there is a reason for being. But families need not struggle alone.

We have been far too slow to change in response to this growing crisis. But there is a movement that is gaining traction. There is no “one” magic bullet. But without taking the first step, the person suffering will never know what intervention could make the difference.

What can we do as individuals? Plenty! I hope that this book empowers each of us to act in support of ourselves, a loved one, or anyone showing the symptoms of mental illness.

We are much more aware than we have ever been in the past. Knowledge is power. We can’t walk away, avoid contacting someone because we don’t know what to say. Be there. Pick up the phone, drop in for a visit. It could be the moment you save someone’s life.

Eight Weeks Before Your Book Launch ... There's So Much To Do!

You want a day of celebration like no other. You've been writing for weeks, maybe even years and it’s time to bring your dream to fruition. How will your book find it’s way into the hands of as many readers as possible around the world? It’s your story! It’s time to plan all of the details leading to the day that you have dreamt about.

Planning for your book launch actually starts at least three months ahead of time. Some authors and publishers begin six months in advance! Through my own experience, collaboration with other authors, and hundreds of hours of research, I’m sharing proven strategies on how I am preparing for the launch of my next book, “Jackson” which is very different than what I have written in the past. I know it is going to change the lives of many. It already has!

Writing a book description has a strategy in itself. What do you think of this one? I’d love your input!

Jackson’s battle to take control over his own mind and life portrays what millions of people are fighting with around the world – mental illness. His mother, desperate to free him from his demons and desperation, faces her own turmoil and anguish, doing anything possible to save her son, through love and hope. After countless emotional and heartbreaking moments, June and her son must both accept that only Jackson can save himself.

For the next eight weeks, follow me on my YouTube page for an update every Friday. Each week I have action items, some of them very large and time consuming. Have you chosen your keywords and categories? Is your website ready to go? Who will be on your launch team?

You won’t believe how many ways a book launch can happen, even virtually! I’m exploring any and all options because too many people are struggling to be mentally well, more so than ever during this pandemic. “Jackson” will make a powerful impact on parents, those fighting mental illness themselves and those who are seeking to understand.

There is so much to do I can’t sleep at night!

Aspiring Author? Unsure of Your Next Step? It’s Time to Publish!

Are you a writer and hoping to publish but you have no idea where to start? My writing sat on a shelf for almost two years. When I knew I wanted to publish and started to look at options, complicated is the adjective that comes to mind! As a new author in 2017, I was taken aback about how much I did not know. Write, edit and publish a book - shouldn’t it have been that easy? How naive I was!

Four publishing options? How do we decide which one to take? That momentous decision is only one step as we continue to write. I chose to follow the Indie route and hired a consulting company for my first book. It was one of the best decisions I made. Experts were made available to me at each phase of the process, from editing to cover design and publication. Their knowledge and experience guided me as I learned how to navigate this new world. Did I make mistakes? Most certainly, but isn’t that how we all learn?

For my current book, I’ve selected a form of hybrid publishing (there are many different options within this publishing path alone). Beta readers are giving me honest feedback for the final formal edit. The public cover reveal of “Jackson” is on the horizon. It’s a very exciting time for authors - our launch day is within reach! But getting there doesn’t happen overnight. It’ a process.

It’s time to start planning the pre-sale, launch and book signing events. but what does that look like in a pandemic? There are countless options, some quite unique. We’ve all had to find solutions to problems we never imagined possible a few months ago.

There are many tricks of the trade leading to publishing, distribution and promotion. What I offer to aspiring authors is second to none. Time To Publish is a four part series and most importantly, personal and interactive which is why I limit each session to no more than 5 people. It’s driven by your goals, not mine. Save money and time while gaining knowledge and tools. Time to Publish also includes the complete course presentation slides with links to resources, access to Lynn between sessions, a Certificate of Completion as well as a Freedom Writer’s Pledge badge for social media sites. Immediately following the last module, you will be invited to join our exclusive, private Facebook group, a community of writers. Contact me for a free consultation. The next series begins Wednesday, August 12th! You won’t regret it.