Breaking Free
When you pour your heart, soul, and countless hours into writing a novel—especially one as deeply personal as The Kill of the Hunt—you make a lot of decisions along the way. You agonize over plot holes, spar with your inner critic, and sweat the small details of character arcs. But some of the biggest business decisions happen after the manuscript is finished.
For a long time, the indie publishing path felt like a one-way street paved by Amazon. If you wanted visibility, algorithms rewarded exclusivity. It was easy, streamlined, and heavily incentivized. But convenience often comes at a cost to the reader, and as an author, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about what kind of publishing ecosystem I want to support.
That is why I’ve made a deliberate decision: I am dropping Amazon’s exclusivity for The Kill of the Hunt, introducing a stunning new hardcover edition alongside the audiobook, and making the book widely available through independent bookstores, public libraries, and alternative online platforms.
Here is why I made this shift, why it’s a win for readers everywhere, and how it’s setting the stage for my upcoming release, The Trials of the Hunt.
Why Drop Exclusivity? (Putting Readers Back in the Driver’s Seat)
Let’s be honest: platform exclusivity creates walls. When a book is locked into a single retail ecosystem, it shuts out readers who prefer shopping at Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books, or supporting their local independent bookstore. Even worse, it erects massive barriers for public libraries.
Libraries are the lifeblood of the literary community. They provide free, equitable access to books for readers of all backgrounds. Under exclusive constraints, getting physical library distribution or offering digital lending through platforms like OverDrive and Hoopla can range from difficult to impossible.
By going "wide," I am removing those walls. Whether you prefer to order a hardcover from your favorite local bookseller, borrow the ebook or audiobook from your county library, or purchase a digital copy from an independent online retailer, The Kill of the Hunt will finally be there waiting for you.
The Magic of Formats: Hardcovers and Audiobooks
When The Kill of the Hunt first launched, bringing Grady Gallagher, Elena Verity, and Sinjin Ravenshire, and the high-stakes drama of Virginia Hunt Country to life was an incredible milestone. But a novel as atmospheric and rich in setting deserves to be experienced in multiple ways.
The Audiobook: The world of audio is booming, and listening to a story brings an entirely new dimension to the page—especially with a mystery. Hearing the dry, self-aware cadence of Grady’s D.C. humor columnist voice contrasted against Sinjin’s crisp, disciplined British delivery makes the "Midsomer Murders meets American Hunt Country" vibe sing.
The Hardcover: There is nothing quite like the tactile feel of a physical book. For collectors, superfans, and anyone who loves a gorgeous edition sitting on their bookshelf, creating a premium hardcover version was a must. By utilizing print-on-demand and global trade distribution networks, these hardcovers can be ordered directly by bookstores and libraries worldwide without sitting in a dusty warehouse.
How This Fuels The Trials of the Hunt
As an indie author, every book launch is a stepping stone toward building a sustainable, long-term series.
When you rely entirely on a single retailer's ecosystem, you are renting your audience—if the algorithm changes or the rules shift, your reach can vanish overnight. By breaking away from exclusivity and building direct connections with readers, bookstores, and libraries, I am laying a robust foundation for my upcoming release, The Trials of the Hunt.
When The Trials of the Hunt arrives, readers won't have to wonder if it's available on their preferred platform or at their local library. They’ll already know that my books are accessible everywhere stories are sold and borrowed. Furthermore, building relationships with libraries and indie bookstores creates a vital word-of-mouth engine that algorithms simply cannot replicate.
Join the Hunt
This pivot isn't just a business decision—it's a commitment to the readers who have supported this journey from the very beginning. Publishing wide means putting art over algorithms and ensuring that everyone, no matter how or where they read or listen, has access to the mysteries of Virginia Hunt Country.
The Hardcover will be available later in October 2026, and the deeply discounted eBook and Audiobook Whispersync bundle is available now.
