Why My Books Bombed Pretty Hard

Let's talk about how I wrote two books and they bombed hard. It's okay to admit it. I've done it, and I don't regret it, though fat commission checks would be nice. Anyway, let's break it down.

In 2019, I embarked on a journey to write my first book, "Cannabis Jobs," followed by "The Art of Marijuana Etiquette" in 2021. I poured my heart and soul into these projects, but despite my efforts, they came and went, generating little sales and buzz. There's no shame in it. Like Daniel Radcliffe once said:

Totally a healthy approach

So, why did my books bomb? Let's break it down.

1. Lack of Marketing Support

One of the significant hurdles I faced with my books was the lack of marketing support from my publisher. They didn’t do much, which is apparently the norm there. I didn’t do enough research to confirm the plan, leaving me to do most of the work with no bandwidth after my daily work was over. In 2019, I was fortunate to receive assistance from Evan Nison and NisonCo PR, SEO and Content Marketing, who played a pivotal role in promoting Cannabis Jobs. Additionally, I am grateful to Javier Hasse and Benzinga Cannabis for their coverage, which helped generate some much-needed buzz around my projects. 

But by 2021, that wasn’t the case. I thought I’d gotten confirmation that more would be done to promote Marijuana Etiquette, but turns out it was more of the same. I could blame the publisher but the fault lies on me for not asking the right questions to ensure I had what I wanted to get out of this.

Despite coming up short here, many people shared and supported the book with reviews, social shares and purchasing the book. While it came up short in my eyes, the support from my community was amazing. I appreciate you all.

Lesson learned: Always clarify plans beforehand and be prepared to take matters into your own hands if necessary. Surround yourself with supportive professionals who can help elevate you and your work. 

2. Undefined Voice in the Second Book

In my second book, I attempted to adopt a writing style that editors had suggested, a posh etiquette teacher to drive home the comedic effect. I tried for months but it never felt authentic to the message I wanted to convey. Trying to fit into a mold that didn’t align with my voice compromised the integrity of my work. So I told editors I was doing it in my voice.

I bet their voice would’ve worked but it wasn’t one that I ever grasped–and I take pride in being able to adapt to brand voices more often than not. I wonder if I was the right person for the book they wanted. But ultimately, I wrote how I felt best represented the plant and its community. 

Lesson learned: Don’t compromise your authenticity. Stay true to your voice and style, even if it means going against editorial advice. Readers appreciate sincerity and genuine expression.

3. Competition from a More Well-Known Name

Shortly after completing the first draft of my second book, I discovered that a well-known personality from an etiquette lineage was working on a similar project. Upon learning this, I thought we should bin my book, as the other had come out and came from a more reputable name. Publishers felt differently. So, I pushed on doing my best to create a book that was different in tone and information. Thankfully, this wasn’t too difficult of a task, as I felt the two books differed quite a bit from the beginning. 

Lesson learned: Be aware of the competition and be prepared to pivot if necessary. Sometimes, timing and market saturation can influence the success of your project.

Closing Thoughts

Despite the challenges and disappointments, I don’t regret the time I spent writing these books. I cherish the connections I made and the invaluable lessons I learned along the way. Speaking of which, I owe a debt of gratitude to Lulu Tsui, who introduced me to dozens of incredible sources while I was writing "Cannabis Jobs." Her support was invaluable and immensely enriched the content of my book.

While my foray into non-fiction didn’t go as planned, I’m not giving up. Looking forward, my childhood dream of publishing fiction works burns brighter than ever. I aspire to create stories that captivate readers and, who knows, maybe even see them come to life on the big screen one day. While I’m open to exploring more non-fiction opportunities, diving into the world of fiction provides a much-needed escape from my day-to-day work. I have three horror books in early production, and I'm determined to finish the first one soon.

Even if my book dreams have already ended, the journey continues. I remain optimistic about the future as long as I can learn from the present and past. 

In my next post, I’ll share the unconventional story of how I got my book deals and offer insights into what aspiring authors should consider before signing on the dotted line of similar deals. 

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