Choosing Indie Publishing as a Debut Author with Alyssa K. Burns

February 17, 2026

Featured Guest:
Alyssa K. Burns

Alyssa K. Burns is a journalist and author. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication from California State University, East Bay, and her Master of Business Administration from California State University, San Marcos. An elder emo, iced coffee enthusiast, and wife and mother, Alyssa enjoys dancing in the kitchen and creating messy fiction for young adults.

In this episode of Margs & Manuscripts, we’re joined by Alyssa K. Burns—journalist, author, MBA, elder emo, and one of the most supportive humans in the writing community. Alyssa’s debut novel releases April 1, and she’s sharing the real story behind how she got here… including the moment she decided she was done waiting for permission and went all-in on indie publishing.

We talk through the decisions debut authors actually face (trad vs indie, money vs time, ego vs autonomy), plus the behind-the-scenes logistics that nobody explains until you’re already stressed.

In This Episode

The mindset shift: “I’m done with people telling me no” and choosing indie publishing
Why indie publishing isn’t a “last resort” (and why readers often don’t care)
The indie publishing checklist Alyssa built (because of course she did—MBA behavior)
Beta readers vs developmental edits
ARC readers: how many she aimed for, why, and what reviews do for a debut
Hiring help: what Alyssa outsourced (and why it saved her sanity)
Cover design: what went wrong, what she learned, and how to advocate for what you want
Launch planning: making your book launch a real milestone (yes, like a mini wedding)

About the Book

The Last Special Thing

Amelia Cox has lived a charmed life of open credit cards, little parental oversight, and the perfect future mapped out for her. That is, until she gets unexpectedly dumped by her high school sweetheart right before they graduate. Now, with her plans in disarray, she's determined to have an unforgettable summer before she begins college at UCLA.  When Amelia meets Art Anderson, a charming chaos junkie whose bedroom has only a drumset and an air mattress, she believes she’s found the right person to give her an adventure. Being with Art is intoxicating, and with late nights, personalized playlists, and effortless connection, Amelia knows their relationship is something special. Art tests every boundary she has set for herself. As they embark on a summer of doing drugs and breaking laws, the line between adventure and destruction becomes razor thin. Amelia must choose between the privileged life she had planned and the guy who makes her heart race, for better or for worse.

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