Spoiler: I had no idea what I was doing, and it still went global.
A few months ago, I hit “publish” on From Tapas to Towers: my first book. No marketing team, no PR agency, no fancy publisher holding my hand. Just me, my laptop, and an Instagram page I created out of pure hope (and maybe a bit of delusion).
Originally, I did have a publisher. You know, the kind of people who are supposed to take care of everything: uploading, designing, promoting, making sure your dream doesn’t turn into a migraine. But it turned out I was the one chasing them. Constantly. They didn’t get my vision or respect deadlines, and worse, they gaslighted me when things went wrong. Calls went unanswered, emails ignored. I reached a point where I realized that if I wanted my book to come to life, I’d have to take back control. So I fired them.
And then it hit me: Now what?
The Self-Publishing Jungle
I had absolutely no clue what to do next. I had hired a publisher in the first place so I wouldn’t have to think about ISBN numbers, distribution platforms, or how to format a book for print. Suddenly, I had to figure it all out, from scratch. The only thing I had was my determination, this website, and the tiny Instagram page I had just started for the book. I started searching for designers, layout artists, and anyone who could help me upload the files properly. Every step felt like a mix of excitement and mild panic, but somehow, piece by piece, it came together. I read the manuscript over and over again until I could practically recite it in my sleep. Even after passing through two editors, I still spotted little mistakes (and realized I’d apparently fallen deeply in love with certain words). Writing in English (when it’s not your first language) is humbling, to say the least. Luckily, platforms like Amazon and IngramSpark let you update your manuscript later on. That discovery felt like a miracle.
And Then… It Happened
Fast forward a few months. I’m sipping coffee one morning, casually Googling my book (as one does), and suddenly I see it: From Tapas to Towers was listed on some of the world’s biggest bookstore websites. Not just Amazon. We’re talking Barnes & Noble, Waterstones, Foyles, Hatchards, Blackwell’s, and even… Harvard. Yes. HARVARD. And I kept scrolling: the biggest bookstores in The Netherlands, Australia, South Korea, Scandinavia, South Africa, New Zealand… the countries just kept popping up. Me, sitting there in my pajamas, scrolling with a mix of disbelief and pride, whispering “Wait… they’re selling my book at Harvard?”
The Lesson
If there’s one thing this journey taught me, it’s this: You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to start. You can fire the wrong people, trust your gut, learn on the go, and still end up with something that reaches the world. Because passion, persistence, and a pinch of chaos can take you further than you’d ever imagine. I’ve always dreamed of publishing a book, and I’m so happy I did it, even though there were moments I doubted if anyone would ever actually read it. This story started as a dream and turned into something much bigger than I expected.
My next dream? A cookbook. But that’s a whole other level; not just sitting down to write, but creating, tasting, styling, and capturing perfection on a plate. One day, it will happen. And if From Tapas to Towers taught me anything, it’s that dreams really do grow legs once you take the first step.
Still haven’t read it? Ouch, you’re seriously missing out. 😉 Get it HERE.
