Publishing a Book

Congratulations to author Jennifer Lauer on the publication of her novel, The Girl in the Zoo! Jennifer worked with Author Accelerator certified book coach Savannah Gilbo on the project and shares more about her experience below. If you’re interested, you can follow Jennifer on Goodreads and learn more about her upcoming works on her website. You can also purchase The Girl in the Zoo on Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, and through other vendors.

What moment are you most looking forward to in the publication process?

I was most looking forward to being available in the library and at a bookstore! These dreams are coming true, as my book is available through the Los Angeles Public Library (Libby, etc) and my local Barnes & Noble is going to have me sign ordered copies when they come in.

Which publishing route was taken for this project?

Self-publishing.

What are you most proud of in terms of this book’s journey?

The thing I'm most proud of is completing the journey of writing the book and getting it to publication. It had to go through many revisions, and trials to get to this point.

Was there ever a moment of doubt about the book?

There were a few - the first big moment of doubt was when I realized the tense (third person) wasn't working, and the challenge of changing the entire work to first person seemed too difficult. Then another, when I realized my antagonist was weak and I had to add a whole new character. The challenge was tough, but I'm so much happier with the story after those changes. It was well worth the time and effort.

What did you do to celebrate publication?

There is a book release party coming up. Unfortunately, I was sick with COVID for the launch date, but it’s never too late to celebrate.

What’s next for the book?

There will be a booth at the LA Festival of Books in April 2023 and stay tuned for book tour dates.

What are the next steps in your career?

More books! I have a supernatural detective series in the works called THE STRANGE CHRONICLES. My next standalone novel is an another emotional AI story, and I have a few tv scripts I'll be pitching. And because I always overcommit - season two of my fiction podcast in the fall!

Why would you recommend book coaching to get to this point in the writing journey?

On my own, my first novel took ten years and will forever live in a drawer, and with a coach it was two years from draft one to publication. I see my time line getting even tighter going forward. Besides, I believe all creative work is improved with collaboration.

Savannah Gilbo is a force - she is super organized and meticulous. Her enthusiasm for story is unrivaled, and if you write in the fantasy or sci-fi genre, she will only make your work better. Savannah found things in my story, weaknesses and strengths I was unable to see on my own, and I trust her implicitly. She is professional and kind and I'm lucky to now call her a friend.

What is your favorite passage from the book?

She decimated humanity for her own chance at living it.

When I look down at Maria, I understand that feeling. It is a love that says I would do anything for her, I would destroy it all for her. And I look at Hart’s face, her sad eyebrows, understanding her for the first time. She was loving me, trying to protect me from the cruel world Draven showed her. The way that she understood humanity.

I have hated her for her ignorance, for her mechanical nature, for her heartlessness. But in the end, she did what we all do: she tried her best with the tools she had.