When Michelle Dickinson first hired me to be her writing coach, it was clear from her pages that she had the makings of a very compelling memoir. Having grown up with a bipolar mother, she led a very different life than most. I was sure the lessons she had learned along the way would help people. 

The challenge was to turn what read like a collection of autobiographical notes with a self-help slant into a book that allowed readers to vicariously experience Michelle’s story. Telling them what she wanted them to learn wasn’t going to do the job. She had to show them.

Michelle had to dive not only into the past but into herself during the revision of her book, which she wound up calling Breaking Into My Life: Growing Up with a Bipolar Parent and the Battle to Reclaim Myself. The writing played a significant part in that reclamation process. 

Of course, Michelle’s book wasn’t just an exercise in catharsis. In addition to providing a revealing and moving window into what life with a bipolar parent is like, it also touched on how our country’s approach to mental health needs to change. 

When Michelle was finally ready to self-publish her book, like most of my other writing coach clients, she had absolutely no idea of what to do next. So, I told her I had just started up a self-publishing company called Incubation Press that was designed to simplify the process, provide a team approach and accommodate a range of budgets.

Breaking Into My Life was the very first book we published. In addition to providing editing, design and book production services, we designed and built her author website, and uploaded her book to the various distribution channels. She didn’t have to hire us to do it all, but it was a whole lot easier for her that way. 

In the subsequent three years, Incubation Press has worked with a number of other authors (including me). Our goal remains the same: to offer highly personalized services and a team approach. My ridiculously talented crew and I will walk you through seven simple self-publishing steps that cover everything from design to production and distribution. We can even create an online marketing campaign for you that works in conjunction with your book in terms of look, feel and message.

With us you actually get to communicate in person, or at least over the phone, with an editor-and-design team of humans rather than a dashboard. And I’ll be there as your personal project manager and advocate every step of the way.

Whether you’ve finished your manuscript or just beginning to think about writing a book, we want IncubationPress.com to shed some light on what to expect when you self-publish your book. That’s why the end of each of our seven simple self-publishing steps includes not-to-be-missed tips. Whether you decide to work with us or not, the scads of information at Incubation Press will help guide you through the process when you’re ready to self-publish. You’ll not only find out what to do, but when to do it as well.

So, check it out. And if we can help on the publishing—or the writing—front, just give us a holler. The easiest way is to email me: linden@IncubationPress.com (or linden@OneStopWritingShop.com).

Happy writing and happy publishing!

Barbara Hinske never expected to be able to quit her full-time job as an attorney and write. But her initial novel, Coming to Rosemont, has mushroomed into a bestselling series. 

“Look what we’ve done—and we’ve had a blast doing it!” reads the inscription to me in her seventh Rosemont novel Restoring What Was Lost, which was published this fall. “I’m so grateful. Feel a big hug.” 

Ironically, Barbara thought she was done with her debut novel when she reached out to me that first time. She just needed a copy edit, she figured. However, the novel hadn’t been professionally line-edited, and my copy editor wanted nothing to do with it. So, I took a look. 

I was quickly drawn to a minor, undeveloped character in the novel—a bad guy with a penchant for rescuing dogs. Weaving in a subplot geared around this multi-faceted character could make a lot of sense, I suggested. It would add tension to her romance novel while playing up the corruption and fraud that had only been hinted at. 

Barbara Hinske, at the time an attorney who dreamed of being a writer, agreed to delay the copy edit and, with my help, to revise her draft. The effort proved more worthwhile than either of us could have anticipated. In 2014, when readers wound up rating Coming to Rosemont #4 in women’s fiction, BookBub™ wrote: 

In a category that doesn’t often feature felonious crimes as a main plot point, it’s somewhat surprising to see this title … in a list of top performers. But with enough twists and turns to hook any reader’s attention … Coming to Rosemont delivered more than enough firepower to win over our readers! 

Eight years after writing that initial manuscript and less than a year after quitting her job as an attorney to write fulltime, Barb has self-published her eighth book. Having cultivated a fan base for both her romance series and a Christmas novella that Hallmark turned into a holiday movie, she wasn’t sure how this murder mystery would be received.

A week after Deadly Parcel was available on Amazon and just a day after the official launch, it had climbed to #18 in the Women’s Detective Fiction category, #23 in Psychological Literary Fiction and #12 in Vigilante Justice. While Amazon rankings rise and fall, in part due to author promotions, reviews are forever. Barb’s put to rest any doubts about whether her fan base would accept one of their favorite authors shifting gears: 

“Author Barbara Hinske has penned one of the most superb suspense stories of 2020! This is a story that will have readers turning pages all night long.”   

“Barbara Hinske has done it again! Deadly Parcels delivers on intriguing mystery and blooming romance”. 

“Well, well, well………… our dear, sweet Ms. Hinske just showed her ability to switch genres with her newest gripping psycho-thriller crime novel. Just enough detail to pull me in and keep turning pages, but not so much that I couldn’t sleep at night, but I did think of Stephen King off and on!” 

The story doesn’t end here. Barb just completed a first draft of the seventh book in her Rosemont series. She has another murder mystery, which we worked on a couple of years ago, in the wings. And she’s about to debut what is sure to be her next series. Guiding Emily stars a young woman who loses her sight on her honeymoon as well as an articulate puppy with a fondness for Crunchy Cheetos. 

Barbara Hinske is a force to be reckoned with. She’s my inspiration for what is possible on both the book writing and book marketing fronts. I have been honored to participate in the creation of her books. Here’s to many more!