Not Too Precious: The Journey to Publishing My Debut Novel
By Sarah E. Pearshall
The Long Road to “The Summer Knows”
I am one of those oddballs who knew I wanted to be a writer at age seven. By the time I reached my MFA program at Florida International University, it was clear that I wasn’t a short story writer; every narrative I touched morphed into something long and deep.
My debut novel, The Summer Knows, actually began when I was fourteen. I slowly plucked out the original 150 pages on my mother’s electric typewriter, inspired by my childhood bond with two brothers who visited Florida every summer. Our friendship weathered the storms of adolescence and loss, eventually proving more crucial than many family bonds.
I took a leap of faith and turned that teenage manuscript into my graduate thesis. It took five years to get it into shape for my defense, and even then, the feedback was extensive. I spent the next ten years revising.
Those years were a blur of “trench writing.” I worked on the book in parked cars, doctor’s waiting rooms, and on playground benches while my two sons—one of whom is on the autism spectrum—played. I cobbled together a salary as an adjunct professor and refined my craft at conferences with authors like Meg Wolitzer and Laura Lippman.
Killing My Darlings
The manuscript faced 80 rejections before finding a home at Koehler Books. The turning point came when I embraced a piece of advice from author Ana Menéndez: “You cannot treat your writing as precious.”
While a first draft should be a “precious” outpouring of emotion, the path to publication requires a business mindset. I had to “murder my darlings,” stripping away sentimental sections that didn’t serve the plot. This epiphany—shifting from a protective creator to a ruthless editor—is what finally made my work marketable.
The Business of Marketing
A small press or indie contract is a victory, but it is also the start of a new mountain of work. Small press titles average about 250 sales in their lifetime. By treating my launch as a business, The Summer Knows has sold over 3,000 copies in its first six months.
Because small houses often have limited budgets, the marketing is up to the author. Here is the strategy I used to beat the odds:
Pre-Launch Essentials
- Build an Online Home: I used Squarespace to create a simple website. It’s the central hub where readers can find my blog and contact info.
- The Power of the Blog: I post weekly about writing, food, and life. Regular updates improve your SEO, helping you appear at the top of Google searches.
- Prioritize ARCs: Advance Review Copies (ARCs) are vital. Major outlets like The Washington Post or Kirkus require submissions 3–6 months before launch. Don’t wait for your release date to seek reviews.
High-Impact Strategies
- Kirkus Reviews: I missed the window for a traditional review, so I opted for their paid “Kirkus Indie” program. While expensive and not guaranteed to be positive, it paid off: The Summer Knows earned a “Starred Review”, a feature in the October 2025 issue, and was named one of their Best Books of 2025.
- BookBub & Promo Sites: Landing a BookBub Featured Deal is a “holy grail” for sales. While the US market is competitive, I scored international features in the UK and Canada that moved 600 copies in a single weekend.
- Social Media Consistency: I post weekly on Instagram and Facebook, and I’ve grown my TikTok to 3,000 followers by posting frequently and engaging with the #BookTok community.
- Libraries & Local Events: I reached out to libraries with a professional pitch sheet. I’ve held signings at bookstores, but also at breweries, community centers, and coffee shops. Be vocal and don’t be afraid to ask.
The Bottom Line
The draft is a labor of love, but publishing is a labor of persistence. To move from “aspiring” to “published,” you must be proactive, creative, and—most importantly—willing to put the sentimentality aside to treat your book like the professional product it is.
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Sarah is the award-winning author of The Summer Knows..She is an Assistant Professor of Writing at Michigan State University. She has sixteen years of teaching excellence in higher education. Sarah has served as the summer interdisciplinary creative writing instructor at the world-renowned Interlochen Center for the Arts for the past ten years.
She received her MFA in Creative Writing from Florida International University. She is the former food columnist for Around Wellington Magazine. She had been published in Sliver of Stone Literary Magazine, Tampa Bay Parenting, Macaroni Kids, and John Dufresne.
THE SUMMER KNOWS
“A delightful and exhilarating novel that will remind you of why you started reading in the first place-to be enchanted.” -John Dufresne, author of My Darling Boy
“Perfect for fans of Elin Hilderbrand and the Gilmore Girls.”-Jami Denison, reviewer, Chick Lit Central
Slinging fried clams at a dumpy tourist trap in Florida’s panhandle at thirty-one and being a single mom was not the future Adrienne Harris envisioned. As a girl in Harbor Point, she dreamed of becoming a chef and spending her life with Quinn Merrit, the rich and handsome boy next door. But her dreams crumbled the summer she turned seventeen, ending with her running away pregnant, heartbroken, and notorious.
Adrienne’s world is upended again when she gets the call that her eccentric grandmother has nearly burned down the family cottage. Adrienne has no choice but to return, and the town wastes no time in thrusting her back into the harsh limelight. When local fishmonger Christopher Crane offers Adrienne a chance to be the chef at the fish market her grandfather once owned, Adrienne might just figure out how to face the past and forge a new future.
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