Angie’s love for reading and writing began at a young age when she first read “Mama” by best-selling author, Terry McMillan. She was only in sixth grade at the time and even though her mother made it painfully clear not to read her novels as she deemed they were “too old” for her, Angie’s curiosity got the better of her as she would sneak her mother’s novels in her backpack and read them at school. Angie’s amazement with the woman’s experience was intriguing to her. “These women made you think, escape, cry, get angry, take action and even accept the inevitable. This began my love affair with women’s fiction and I never looked back.” As an adult, Angie has yearned for a wider representation of women’s literature that transcends the simplistic view of the female experience while diving more into its complexities.
Angie was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. She attended Illinois State University and the University of Illinois at Chicago where she graduated with a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Social Work. When Angie is not writing, you can definitely find her curled up with a good book, getting a massage, shopping for the best incense, black soap and/or shea butter, listening to live music or hitting up the roller rinks. Angie lives with her husband Reggie, daughter, Ramiyah and son, Reggie Jr. in Chicago where an impromptu trip to the jerk chicken shack and/or frequenting comedy sets is a way of life for her.
Tell us a little bit about your background and how you ended up writing a book?
Funny story, I’ve always enjoyed reading and writing but the last women’s fiction book I read before I wrote my first novel, Discovering Lita was quite boring and it just didn’t seem relatable to the modern woman. Immediately the quote by Toni Morrison popped up in my head, “If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” That quote stuck out to me so much that I couldn’t deny that I had to be the one to write the wanted to read.
What do you hope your readers take away from this book?
What I always want people to take away from my books, like Something New is to feel every part of the story. I want readers to feel like they are literally in the mind of the protagonist. I want them to feel what she feels, see what she sees, be in the atmospheres of where the stories are taking place and even be able to smell the scent of a character’s perfume or the aroma of the food being served at a restaurant. Something New truly takes you on an adventure. This particular book explores the topic of polyamorous relationships which is still considered a taboo subject in western society. I wanted to dive into this subject matter because I always want to expose my readers to various lifestyles and in my own way, create a sense of empathy even if they have never personally experienced certain things themselves.
What are the top three tools you are currently using to write, publish, and promote your books?
Typically, when I’m writing, I’m always jotting down notes on my computer. I’m looking to purchase a typewriter, though. Here in Chicago, there’s an amazing place called the Writer’s Museum that I frequented prior to the pandemic. I would get my typewriting fix as there were typewriters available to the public to type on at their leisure. There’s something about hearing the sound of the keys and having to really take my time because clearly, there’s no backspace button. I can truly appreciate technology, but I’m still very old school in a lot of ways.
With regards to publishing, I knew that when I started writing I would want to self-publish. There was no doubt in my mind because I’ve owned businesses before and I just felt more comfortable being in control and owning the rights to everything I create. I started my own publishing company shortly after I started writing my first novel. It’s called Ellis & Heath Publishing and it’s named after the streets that both my husband and I grew up on as kids. We’re all about legacy and keeping things in the family and we’re such Chicagoans at heart so Ellis & Heath was the perfect name for my publishing company.
When it comes to promotions, I try not to leave any stones unturned. I am on quite a few social media platforms but when it comes to business, I try not to overwhelm myself and I try to mainly focus on two platforms and give it my all. Those two platforms for me are Facebook and Instagram. So many of my followers have found out about my work through Facebook, especially because I run ads on a monthly basis. Instagram is all about the images so I try to focus on posting things that are visually appealing for my Instagram audience. I also maintain a mailing list that increases by at least 100 people per month so that’s been extremely helpful. I also have an author profile on Amazon, Goodreads, and Bookbub. I’m all about focusing on my target market so I try to position myself in the midst of people who enjoy reading, specifically those who enjoy reading my style of writing.
What were the top three mistakes you made publishing your book and what did you learn from it?
Hmmm… the top three mistakes I made when publishing my first book include not starting my mailing list earlier, not running ongoing ads for my upcoming book launch and not connecting with more bloggers/influencers. These 3 things are so important because you have a better shot at having a successful launch. The cool thing about being self-published though is that you’re in control of everything and your book is not necessarily considered a major flop if your first week or first month of book sales are low in comparison to being traditionally published. But if you continue to build your platform through a mailing list, run ads and get featured on blogs and/or podcasts, your chances of having a successful launch and longevity in sales is so much higher.
When will you consider your book a success?
Now! I would totally consider Something New a success mainly because of those three mistakes I made during my first book launch, I didn’t make this time around. The amount of shares on social media from people who purchased my book as well as being listed as #11 on Amazon in the LGBT category on the first day of my launch was a clear indication I was doing something right. It’s nice to really plan, create a formula, and see it come into fruition. These things didn’t happen by accident, it was totally on purpose due to proper planning, consistency and timing.
“The three of us together were electrifying, but the two of us were spiritual.”
– Angie D. Lee
What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?
I work full-time as a school social worker, I have a family, and I have a consistent workout schedule so finding time to write is always a challenge, but I make it work because it’s important to me. In order to overcome that challenge, I try to ensure that I give my family quality time daily. I don’t focus too much on how long we spend time together but that I make it count each time. This allows for my family to feel appreciated, in turn, they support my work. I also make sure that when I’m working my full-time job, I do not let work spill over into my life after 4:30pm. As a social worker, I kind of learned that a long time ago. Social work is such a mentally taxing job so it’s imperative that I let work remain at work. Even though I’m providing services to students via zoom at home, I still set boundaries for myself and I do not allow my job to dictate my life. During the week, I write in the evenings typically after my kids are in the bed. I try to write anywhere from 2-3 pages and I leave it alone so that I also have time for my husband and I. On the weekends, I typically enjoy writing in the mornings when everyone in my house is still asleep.
What is the one thing you wish you knew before publishing your book?
I wish I knew more about the editing process and beta readers before I published my first book. I hired a copy editor thinking all I needed was someone to check for grammatical errors but in actuality, I could’ve benefitted from a full developmental edit. What’s crazy, is to the everyday reader, they absolutely loved my first book and I received no complaints but to the more advanced reader with experience in identifying mistakes and loopholes in the storyline, they respectfully provided their constructive criticism. I will forever be appreciative of that because when Something New launched, I was prepared in the sense that I researched and invested in a reputable editing company to ensure my novel was in tip-top shape. I also submitted advanced reader copies to trusted individuals because I needed confirmation that my book was ready for publication.
As soon as I start working on a novel, I tell people about it immediately to build anticipation. Plus, people need to see and hear about things often in order for it to be ingrained in their minds. I’m always telling people to sign up for my mailing list because that’s something If social media disappears tomorrow, the content goes right along with it and it cannot be retrieved so I make sure that I’m always telling people to sign up. I try not to flood my readers’ inbox. I focus on providing quality content, discounts, freebies, and always thanking my readers for being a part of my community. I don’t take their support lightly and I think it shows so they are typically inclined to spread the word.
When someone wants to feature me on a blog, YouTube channel, and/or podcast, I’m there because firstly, I’m thankful and appreciative and secondly, it builds SEO (Search Engine Optimization). I also run Facebook as well as Amazon ads and I post on my social media at least 3-4 times a week to maintain consistency. I’m also listed on major as well as indie book outlets online. I always keep a set amount of inventory on me just in case I get an opportunity to talk with someone about my books which typically leads to me selling a book onsite.
If you had the chance to start your career over again what would you do differently?
I can honestly say that I wouldn’t because I’ve learned so much from the mistakes and I think it has made me more competent and confident in my skills as a writer as well as entrepreneur.
All About Love by bell hooks (her name is purposely not capitalized as that’s how she writes her pen name), Women Who Run with the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype by Clarissa Pinkola Estes, and The State of Affairs: Rethinking Infidelity by Esther Perel.
I am not a big proponent of recommending books that supposedly teach you how to write. I recommend books that are well written, that’s how you really learn. Observe great authors in order to learn the basics, but then create your own style.
If you only had $1000 dollars to promote a new book, knowing everything you know now, how would you spend it?
Hands down, I’m always spending money on Facebook ads. Facebook is probably one of the best platforms for really putting your product/service in front of your target market due to how strategically you can tailor your audience. I don’t care how well-written a book is or how beautiful a cover may be. If the right people don’t know about it, it doesn’t matter.
Read and write daily. If you want to provide an enjoyable experience for your readers, you have to practice. You have to invest time and give them your best work. Don’t worry about agents, publishers, editors, book covers etc. until you are writing regularly.
What is your favorite quote?
“A wise man told me don’t argue with fools. Cause people from a distance can’t tell who is who.”
– Jay-Z
Who should we interview next and why?
Kisha Roberts-Tabb. She is not only an amazing author, but she is such an inspiration!
Everyone has a story, but she uses her experiences, passion, as well as a platform to bring awareness to topics such as human trafficking, LGBTQ issues, and the justice system. And might I add, she stays fly while doing it? 🙂
Random Bonus: With the game on the line and 5 seconds on the clock, who takes the last shot?
Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, or Lebron James? MJ with no hesitation. Can you say six championship rings? It’s not really up for discussion in my eyes 🏀
How can we get in touch with you?
You can follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. My handle is @leesureread on all platforms. My website is www.angiedlee.com and my email is angie@angiedlee.com. You can find my book on Amazon.
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