Reflections on the Publishing Industry’s Challenges in 2025

It’s safe to say that 2025 wasn’t exactly the ideal moment to release a new book. The year felt dispiriting for the arts overall—major funding cuts hit the NEA, the Librarian of Congress was dismissed, and the tech industry seemed intent on sidelining human creativity and critical thought with AI. And that’s just the beginning. Many moments felt discouraging: book promotion was especially tough, with media outlets shrinking literary coverage, and social media growing fragmented and frustrating, making connecting with readers far less effective.

Even so, I don’t have major complaints about my July book launch or the promotional efforts that followed—mostly because I entered the year with grounded, realistic expectations. Despite the obstacles, the experience turned out to be surprisingly fulfilling. For the sake of openness, here’s a look at the highs and lows of being “on the other side” of the publishing process.

Pleasant Surprises

I’ve still avoided checking my Goodreads and StoryGraph reviews.

This is perhaps my biggest achievement. I truly thought I’d eventually give in during a moment of weakness, so I’m proud of myself for staying focused and protecting my peace.

My book tour actually happened—and it was rejuvenating.

I know I’m lucky to have had a full book tour, but I was anxious beforehand. Travel isn’t my strong suit, especially now with constant flight delays and the increasingly undignified experience of flying economy. I worried I’d be exhausted before even arriving at events.

But every destination made the effort worthwhile. Visiting indie bookstores, meeting readers, and even hosting events with rooms full of friends brought unexpected joy. Even the sparsely attended events held their own kind of warmth. After spending so much time alone writing, talking to readers felt wonderfully energizing.

Recording my audiobook was unexpectedly enjoyable.

As someone who loves audiobooks, I know how hard it is to produce a good one. The narrator needs skill, and the producer must catch every mispronunciation and tonal mismatch. Thankfully, I worked with a fantastic team. It was more physically draining than expected—I ended each day sweaty and exhausted—but incredibly rewarding.

Get Professional Book Publishing Support from Writer Cosmos

Unpleasant Surprises

The emotional fallout.

Not everyone appreciated how they were portrayed in the book. That reality weighs on me daily, even though I still stand by every word.

Hollywood showed zero interest.

My dreams of turning one essay into a limited series? Pure fantasy. I had imagined taking a few meetings, getting my hopes up, watching them fizzle, and then joking about how I knew it was never going to happen anyway. Maybe next time.

I noticed every list I didn’t make and every outlet that didn’t cover my book.

Which is absurd because I actually got some fantastic coverage. Learning to value what I have—rather than mourn what didn’t happen—is clearly a lifelong project.

My handwriting is awful.

Signing books was humbling. Half the time, even I couldn’t read my own signature. And trying to find a Sharpie that wasn’t running out of ink? Nearly impossible.

What I Never Saw Coming

An avalanche of scam emails.

It’s become a full-blown epidemic. Almost every recent author has been flooded with poorly written—but strangely flattering—emails from scammers claiming they can “boost” book marketing, especially on Amazon. Victoria Strauss has an excellent breakdown of how these scams operate.

As long as you NEVER PAY THEM, the scam messages can be unintentionally hilarious. Here’s my favorite line—proof that AI-written pitches still badly miss the mark:
“Do we let your book keep simmering in obscurity, or do we toss it to my reviewer pit and turn it into a visibility inferno?”

And Finally… I Want to Do It Again.

As a reader, I know there are already more books than anyone could consume. I know how much heart, effort, and hope authors pour into their work—and how many books never get the recognition they deserve. I also know how grueling it is to write one, let alone the next. But even with all the challenges, the joy of publishing outweighed the struggles this time.

Get Your Free Writer Cosmos Book Consultation Today