We were lucky to catch up with Danielle Marietta recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Danielle, thanks for joining us today. Alright – so having the idea is one thing, but going from idea to execution is where countless people drop the ball. Can you talk to us about your journey from idea to execution?

When I finally wrapped my head around the idea of self publishing a book, I wanted to make sure I did it right. And by that I mean, I wanted my book to be able to stand on the shelf of big bookstores next to traditionally published books. The first thing I learned was that I needed to look at this entire project as an investment. What could I do to make it succeed? Through thorough research, I started to learn more about publishing and becoming a publisher. The key element that stood out to me, was that I knew I had more than one book coming out. I had three that were in the works with new ideas constantly coming to mind. Weighing the cost of starting a business and officially getting an LLC, three books seemed like it would be worth it. All books would branded the same, and if I continued to make more, I’d have the LLC to fall back on. I quickly learned that as I grew, I could do so much more being a publisher than just publishing my own books. Now I have a platform to help other indie authors through their process and will be publishing diverse books to help tighten the gap on racial demographics in children’s books.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I have always enjoyed writing and and when picking a major at Howard University, journalism was an easy choice. I have done print journalism, radio shows and radio news and TV through PBS, Trinity Broadcasting Network and interned for B.E.T. News. In the past few years, I have moved from a news and fact focused writing style to creative. I love that through reading a book, you can go anywhere and kids have the best imaginations. I have now self published 2 children’s book with a third coming out in June. They all focus on Black joy and imagination. Now I’m at a point in my career where I offer my knowledge to any aspiring indie authors through: -Self publishing coaching sessions
-Planning and organizing book launches and relaunches
-Social media marketing for authors
-Copy, print, and editorial editing services
I take every consultation seriously, and love seeing my clients use the suggestions I’ve given and growing their brand. I will continue to learn and share that knowledge because I want Books & Things Publishing to become a big name in the book industry. More than that, I want to see more diversity in the world of books.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Self publishing a book isn’t cheap. There are certainly ways to do it and make it affordable, but it can add up quickly. I have learned to do my research when finding an illustrator and not to pay someone too soon. I’ve learned that although doing a launch team can help promote your book, it can also take thousands of dollars. Now I know what to look for and what contracts should include. I know ways to do a launch team without breaking the bank. In all things, sometimes trial and error is the best way to learn, and boy have I done that!

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

The most effective strategy for growing my clientele is through consistency. Social media can be draining, but it can also be very rewarding. It is not something that will help you grow overnight, but any good business takes time. You want to connect with people, and you want to connect for the right reasons. Once you’ve build that trust, the customers will stay. They will become repeat customers and then they will refer you and your business. That is the basis of brand loyalty! The only way to get there is to be consistent.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.daniellemariettabooks.com; https://booksandthingspublishing.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daniellemariettabooks.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-marietta/
• Other: Schedule a consultation with Danielle https://calendly.com/daniellemariettabooks

Image Credits
IngramSpark Barnes & Noble Manassas