Author Spotlight: My Experience with Writing and Publishing

By Stephanie Flood, Author

I am an experienced Labor & Delivery nurse, and in 2015, I decided to start documenting the birth stories that came so easily to mind. From the beginning, I knew my goal was to tell the truth. Birth is beautiful, yes, but it is also unpredictable, complicated and sometimes heartbreaking. It is a space where life and death, hope and fear, certainty and confusion often coexist. To show only the beauty would be dishonest. I wanted to honor the fullness of what really happens in the Labor and Delivery unit, not just the polished and celebratory moments, but the quiet moral struggles, the unanswered questions and the deeply human decisions that nurses, doctors and midwives face every day.

I spent eight years writing these short stories as the memories came to me. I did not write them in any specific order, but they are arranged chronologically in the book. I chose to do this so readers could follow my personal and professional development throughout my life and career. Each chapter also includes a personal reflection, which appears in italics at the end of the story, offering a glimpse into how the experience shaped me as both a nurse and a person. During this writing time, I hired a writing coach who helped me create a book proposal and taught me how to build an author platform. I also had help developing my author website, which gave the project a more solid foundation.

After completing the first draft, I shared the manuscript with 26 early readers including friends, family members and colleagues and asked for honest feedback. I reviewed each of their responses carefully and incorporated suggestions that made sense. After that, a copy editor helped improve the flow of the stories and corrected grammar issues. My final editor was a retired OB-GYN who had also been an English major. She helped fine-tune the medical accuracy and gave the manuscript a final review.

Once the editing was complete, I began searching for a publisher. I knew I did not want to self-publish, but as a debut author without much of a platform, I also knew I was unlikely to attract a literary agent. Over the course of one year, I submitted queries to about 30 publishers. Each one had different requirements, and it was important to follow them exactly. Most of the time, if you cannot follow their basic instructions, they will not consider your submission. I received four rejection emails and never heard back from the rest. This is common due to the high volume of submissions they each receive.

Austin Macauley Publishers was the first to accept my submission. They offered me a hybrid contract, which I accepted. This meant I paid them to handle formatting, editing, proofreading, cover design, ISBN registration, pricing, category listing and distributor outreach. They also provided press releases and marketing support. I chose the package that included Hardcover, Paperback, eBook and Audiobook.

Once the release date was set, I did a big marketing push through social media. I hosted a large book signing event at a local brewery and at Schuler Books. 

The process of writing and publishing has been long and challenging but also deeply meaningful. I wrote this book to give voice to nurses, especially those of us in Labor and Delivery, whose work is often overlooked. I wanted to offer an honest look inside the delivery room and honor the people who show up in that space every day.

Author Bio: Stephanie Flood is an experienced Labor & Delivery nurse and author of When There Are Two Patients in One Body.

*** If Stephanie's post inspires you to start writing, consider entering KDL's Write Michigan Short Story Contest. Learn more at writemichigan.org.