Okay, they are actually “galleys,” as they are uncorrected proofs and haven’t been through the final formatting, BUT, people are more familiar with the term “advanced reader copy,” so I used that above.
Small press authors know they have to work their tail feathers off with marketing and promotion, since there are no or very small advertising budgets available. But, surprise: I do not have a marketing degree. I’m just a bumbler. But this bumbler has learned “ARCs good. Advanced reviews good.” So here I go!
Self-Made Monsters will be released in early October of this year–for you locals, we’ll hold a launch party at Downtown Brew in Fredonia on Oct. 5th, and I hope you will come!–and ramping up to that, I’m doing what I can to spread the word. One of those efforts is giving digital galleys of the book to people who are willing to read it and leave ratings and reviews on Goodreads (the page is up now) and eventually on Amazon (look for that in the fall). It would help a great deal if folks clicked the link at the beginning of this paragraph and marked it “Want to read.” If you have done/will do that, thank you!
I will also come up with a Google form, closer to publication, for preorders–that is when you can fill out the form, send money via PayPal or Venmo, and give me your mailing address. When I get my shipment of author copies, I will package up your copy along with some book swag and a special gift, and ship it out to you. (There will be an option for local folks–cost minus any shipping, and you can pick up your book and gift at the launch Oct. 5th at Downtown Brew.)
If you are intrigued about Self-Made Monsters and want to know more, here is a short review from Amelia Gorman, author of the book Field Guide to Invasive Species of Minnesota: Poems:
“‘A smashed marionette,’ ‘a queen of scale and bone,’ a ‘body sculptor’ and her assistant – Self-Made Monsters by Rebecca Cuthbert is a veritable encyclopedia of different ways women can be monsters, victims, heroes, and bystanders. This collection contains multitudes but never loses sight of its clear through-lines. Stories tend to be short and sit alongside several deliciously dark poems, meaning Cuthbert doesn’t waste time getting to the meat of what horror fans crave. Sometimes this comes in the form of violence, other times the pareidolia found in wild places or the temptation of the front door of that spooky house down the street. It’s easy to tell yourself ‘just one more,’ over and over until you realize you’ve devoured the whole book in one sitting.”
If you are interested in being an early reviewer, message me and let’s connect!
Rebecca Cuthbert 
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