Who do I think I am?

My name is Amy. I’m a true hybrid author, published under three pen names. I’ve been writing since junior high, but began “very” seriously pursuing publication about ten years ago with varying degrees of success.

I’ve had to switch my approach multiple times and improve my storytelling ability. Shifting within the ever-changing marketplace is something I’ve learned to do through the years. I’ve achieved several of my publishing goals since 2020.

Number one: land a literary agent. I’m represented by Eva Scalzo of Speilburg Literary, and yes, she is a boss, and I love her. An absolute advocate and a gem of a human. 10 out of 10, would recommend. She’s got great taste ;)

Number Two: Sell a book. Very quickly after signing with Eva, she sold the book I queried her to a small, independent press (Tule) who ultimately published three of my books in 2021 (interconnected standalones; steamy contemporary romance). I worked with a lovely editor there, but ultimately small press publishing was not for me. There was not enough return on investment, let’s say. However, I did learn how to publish a book by going through the publication process, which ultimately gave me the confidence to self-publish. More on that later. My Tule books are published under Amy Kathryn Jones, my legal name.

Number Three: Having sold a series to a small press, my next goal inevitably became a large press—I wanted my book on B&N shelves. This dream came true with a book I wrote during the pandemic. The Stage Kiss sold to Alcove Press in 2022 and published on December 12, 2023. This deal came with a small advance, an amazing editor, and some subrights sales! I got a UK/Commonwealth deal, and an audiobook deal with Tantor. This experience has been amazing and I’ve learned a lot, especially about how all book deals are NOT created equal, but I hope I’m able to continue writing books that will sell in the trad marketplace. There’s a trick to this, and if we work together, I’ll tell you everything I know about how to make it happen for your book. The Stage Kiss (Enemies to Lovers in UK) is published under Amelia Jones.

Number Four: Make enough money from writing to be able to go part time at my day job. I am still working on this one, but 2024 is looking good. I have high hopes. But the way I chose to tackle this goal was via self-publishing. In 2022, I dipped my toe into self-pub with a queer erotic trilogy under the pen name August Jones. Limited success there. I knew enough to get the books up on KU, but my marketing skills were pitiful, and truthfully, the books are very niche—too niche, really. But then I got a better idea. I am a huge reader of MM romance. So I wrote an MM called The Handler using everything I’d learned from small press and previous self-pub, but this book was MUCH easier to market. And this I feel is key to publishing success. Tropes, trends, great stories, good writing and READERS. If you would like to pursue self-publishing, I’m all for it, and I can tell you everything I’ve learned from this journey, which I’m still on. Series are key, and relationships with readers will put your book on lists you didn’t even know existed. And then, there’s the money! But the most important thing is to know the market and target your story to that market. It will make finding your audience and selling your books SO much easier. I will publish my fourth MM (erotic romance) in the Manhandled series in February, also under my pen name August Jones.

So those were my goals, and I’m sure some are similar to yours. The truth is, I’ve achieved some things I never even thought to want. Glowing trade reviews, ARC and promo teams, the freedom to take my writing any direction I want, and I have a PA! It’s a thankless, unpaid position, but August Jones would be nothing without her. More importantly I have readers now. Rabid fans salivating for my next release, and I never knew how fun that would be. My readers make everythingI’ve put into this career worth it.

In other news, I am a labor and delivery nurse (I work three 12-hour shifts a week—would love for that number to be two, lol). I’m a solid Gen X-er with two teenagers and a long-haired husband who still plays in his high school rock and roll band. But mainly he’s a teacher and college professor and a die-hard fan of me as a person. I live in North Texas, but I was born in Austin. I was a shy theater kid growing up and am an Enneagram Four (ugh, I know). INFP. Redhead. I identify as bi. My pronouns are she/her.

For what you can expect from working with me, see the post entitlted “What it’s like to work with me” haha. I was a Pitch Wars mentee in 2017, and a Kiss Pitch Mentor for two mentees in the inagural year. I love helping other writers reach their goals and make their manuscripts the best they can possibly be. I also know what it’s like from the mentee side of things. Like most writers, I have failed far more often than I have succeeded, and I’ve learned from every step of the way.

My Wish List will never be all-inclusive. I can say I want particular things, but there are other things that pique my interest in this process. So if you think I have some qualities you'd be interested in tapping, but your manuscript is not an exact match to my wish list, don’t hesitate to send it my way. If I feel like I can work with it, I will. I won’t be the best match for everything, and truthfully, some books need too much work, and others need none that I can see, which is not to say someone else won’t have a vision for it.

But know, if I ask to work with you, it will be because I think your book has great potential, and that my own perceived skill set is suited to bring it up a notch. If this sounds good, check out my Wish List, and what it’s like to work with me!