From Pen to Print: Nicki Pary

The Book: From Pen to Print

What was the genesis of this book? Where did you get the idea from? 

When I was bedridden due to a long-time chronic illness, imagining escaping into another world became a therapeutic exercise. Maladaptive daydreaming became a coping mechanism and after encouragement, I began to write details down in order to not forget. Then it developed into a full story from there. 

How many drafts did you go through before you felt it was ready to query? How long did that take you? 

5-6 drafts over the course of two and a half years, then I forced myself to stop. 

Did you work with beta and/or sensitivity readers? How did you find them? How did you incorporate their feedback? 

I joined a local writing group in my community and managed to find a few kind people willing to offer their constructive feedback. They helped me see plot holes that the exhaustion of drafting over and over had left me blind to. 

What was your querying process like? How long did it take? 

I researched and compiled a spreadsheet of every publisher I could find online and checked off each box as I went. I submitted to 150+ publishers—then, maybe five months later, my work was lucky enough to find someone who thought it was worth a chance. 

Once it was in the hands of your publisher, what was the process to get it ready for release? 

I coordinated with Carolina, my production controller, who was so kind and explained how the process of publishing was going to go, arranged for it to be proofed and formatted for print, frequently sending me updated copies for me to check. She worked with me to make the book cover design, and got me in touch with my publicist Emily who also kept me in the loop of the marketing plan for my book. 

And now your book is unleashed on the world! How are you feeling? 

Honestly, as giddy as I was when I first got the news. As if I’m still waiting for the other shoe to drop and for this all to fall through. As if it still isn’t completely real. Yet every day it sinks in a little more that it is really happening and I want to cry from joy. 

Your Writing Process 

Are you a plotter or pantser or somewhere in between? How do you do your first draft? 

An obsessive plotter—I need a precise timeline, even continuity notes, then I keep jumping back and forth between sections because I randomly thought of a passage to write. 

How do you approach writing? Are you the type of writer who needs to treat it like a job? Is there a particular time of day you find best for you to write? 

I do not need a particular time of day but I feel uncomfortable sitting down to write if I know I’ll only have a short amount of time in which to do it. Most of my writing happens when I furiously scribble down heaps of notes on my phone or an actual notebook and then try to organise it later in the actual document. 

Where do you work? Do you have a comfy, creative space at home or are you someone who has to grab the moment wherever it comes? 

If I really need quiet then I use my own bedroom where I have a nice laptop tray and copious amounts of pillows to support me, as well as an endless supply of pens and notebooks. Otherwise I just jot down whatever I can, whenever I can. 

What’s your writing soundtrack? 

I ended up making a playlist for my book on my YouTube channel (linked below) based on the songs I gravitated towards during my writing and that I feel fit my book.

Do you have a writing ritual? 

Scramble, scribble, sort and sigh.

Where can we follow you / find out more about your work? 

I have an X account, a TikTok and a YouTube channel where I post about my book, writing and my other geeky, fantasy obsessed interests. 

A Teller’s Tale is out now through The Book Guild.