The Stargazer Society
Okay, so I kind of have a lot to catch you up on…
Where do I even begin? This is kind of like when you’re trying to start a first draft and there’s all these ideas floating about and you kind of just have to reach out and grab whatever is in front of you; that is my meandering way of saying, if this blog meanders… sorry. My thoughts don’t happen in an organized way, so why would any writing I do without outlining first be any different?
Let’s go back just a few years, and I promise this will be brief. At the end of 2023, I was still working as a seamstress and embroidery machine operator at Star Cadet when one of the owners—Olan Rogers (well known for his TV show Final Space)—asked me who I was publishing my book through. I told him that I’d been planning to self publish and distribute through Ingram Spark, and he told me, “Let me get you in touch with a buddy of mine. He’s just started an indie press and he’s who’s publishing my book [Forward As Always].” Perfect. He introduced me to Matthew Medney (former Heavy Metal CEO and now founder and publisher of Gungnir Books) and we got to chatting about my book. The back and forth was rather slow for a while—Matthew is incredibly busy—but after explaining the plot and sending over a draft, he was interested in discussing a contract.
Hi, wtf do you mean we’re gonna talk about contracts already? And like, it’s this easy? I don’t have to query and get my heart broken for years before someone finally decides to throw me a bone?
I cannot overstate my luck and privilege in all of this. Although I have worked incredibly hard and put countless hours into crafting my book, the ease with which I have been able to move into the publishing phase is something that was made possible only by a few random, lucky moves on my part and a few generous moves on the part of others. From Amberle and Hannah agreeing to work with me (pro bono, mind you) on the project as we sought to self-publish, to Olan connecting me with Matthew, to Matthew believing in my story enough to offer me a publishing contract… I want to stress that publication is not often this… easy. Not unless you already have connections in the industry or are already established in the public eye with people who want more content from you. Most people slog through years of rewrites and rejections from agents and then rewrites with agents and then rejections from publishers and then rewrites with publishers and—you get the point. I am incredibly fortunate to have been offered this opportunity. And I think it was offered to me because of how much I believe in my book.
So, I signed my contract with Gungnir Books on August 8th, 2025. And honestly… there’s still a lot of this process that I haven’t, well, processed yet. I’ve gotten back into therapy because of it; long story short, a lot of experiences from my past have ingrained in me this sense of needing to hold my breath when I get a good thing. I can’t celebrate too early. I can’t share it with people. I can’t express my excitement or it will be ripped away from me. To this day? Four years into working on this book? I still haven’t told my parents what I’ve been working on. And I won’t, until I have something *concrete* to show for it.
Yeah, I’m working on it… because when I really think about it, little me who dreamed of being an author would be kicking and screaming and crying and throwing up to see what I’ve achieved. I want to be present, I want to be excited. And I am, when I sit down and think really hard about it. And honestly, I think when I physically hold the book in my hands, I’m going to be that little girl, kicking and screaming and crying and throwing up.
So now? The timeline is pretty crazy, pretty tight. I’m working to get my final manuscript polished so it can be sent for typesetting. Then it’s off to test printing. Crazy! There’s only a little more than six months before pub day! In the coming days, weeks, and months, I’m so excited to share more with you all, about myself, about my process, and most excitingly, about my story and my characters!
Thank you so much for your support and for being here. :)
The cover of The Stargazer Society by E.L.K.