Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kim C. Lee. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Kim, appreciate you joining us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

My first lessons on book publishing came from a friend who had previously self-published her own books. She shared resources and introduced me to other individuals who provided publishing related services. We also had several conversations where I asked a lot of questions related to the cost of publishing a book. As an independent author, all expenses are paid out of your own pocket and I needed to know that I was spending my money wisely. I needed to know the ins and out of this process so that I could determine whether some of the costs could be reduced. I researched editing, contracts, illustrations, book marketing and promotion, social media engagement and more. I did not learn all that I needed to know or significantly reduce my costs before my first book, The Night Owl, was published – but I did learn a lot.

I have since independently published two additional books, Meet Frankie Jordan and GRAND JOY, and a few coloring and activity books. My appetite for learning continues to grow. Considering where I am now knowledge-wise and where I was in the beginning, I believe that my author journey could have been expedited by doing more independent research on book publishing, networking, and investing more time in planning the book release. The skills that I have found to be essential for an independent author are social media marketing, technological savviness, creativity, and effective communication. Oh, yeah – you also need to know how to write! For me, lack of time is the only obstacle that stands in the way of learning more and moving faster.

Kim, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Kim C. Lee and I am a children’s book author, content creator, and creative coach. I have published three picture books and also provide creative assistance to others in the form of Canva graphic-design workshops, website creation, visual branding guidance, and accountability partnering. While I engage with people from different business backgrounds, my main client base is independent authors. Through my work, I advocate for independent authors to understand all of the processes involved with self-publishing and hope that an increase in awareness will lead to better business decisions and increased visibility.

My stories feature African American protagonists and highlight their perspectives and experiences. As an author, I am proud of the fact that I am writing stories that make African American children, including my son, feel seen. This does not mean that my stories are only meant to be read by African Americans. In fact, I have found that adults and children from all backgrounds and ages find my stories to be relatable in one way or another. As a creative, I am proud of the fact that my peers trust me in a way that encourages requests for creative guidance and assistance.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Prior to becoming an author, I had just about abandoned social media due to frustration with constant changes to privacy controls. When I returned for purposes of promoting my books, I was very much out of the loop on how things worked so I just started slow. I listened as others talked about algorithms, not overselling, and posting frequency – and then tried to adapt. It was challenging, but I just kept trying different things until I found a groove. I continue to try different things because the platforms are always changing – you must remain agile.

For those who are just starting to build an audience on a social media platform, I recommend gaining a full understanding of your brand, creating goals, and consistent engagement. An understanding of social media marketing will also be very helpful. While followers are relevant, they are not the sole thing that you need to find success. I have found that followers that engage and people who share your existence outside of social media are most impactful. You should also network and collaborate. I have met many authors that have turned into friends and/or great collaboration partners.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

I have found that the greatest interest in what I do is generated through word of mouth or an elevator pitch.

For word of mouth – people read my books and share those books with others that they believe will enjoy them. The same is true for my creative work – if someone works with me and perceives the deliverables to be of good quality, or information shared to be insightful – they share that information with someone else. The elevator pitch comes into play when I am in front of someone I don’t know and an opportunity presents itself for me to share my books or creative work. These situations are planned and unplanned, but I find the key is to know what you can offer and have confidence when talking about those things.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kimclee.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/kimcleewrites
• Facebook: thekimcleewrites
• Other: Find my books on Amazon!