Practical book marketing for independent authors
Advertising, self-publishing, and writing advice from someone who does the work herself.
I’m Iva Embley—author, marketer, and former business consultant. Under the pen name I. C. Cosmos, I write thrillers and the No-Nonsense Girl’s Guides.
I’m gradually rebuilding this site around the practical side of writing, publishing, and promoting books: what I’ve learned, what I’m exploring, and what seems worth an author’s time and money.
What you'll find here
Book Marketing & Advertising
Practical thoughts on reaching readers, choosing where to spend your advertising money, and making sense of an increasingly complicated book market.
Self-Publishing
Lessons from publishing fiction and nonfiction independently—from positioning and launches to discoverability and the occasional platform mystery.
Writing
Ideas and tools for developing stories, solving problems, and getting the words moving again.
The No-Nonsense Girl’s Guides
Practical guides for writers and independent publishers who prefer useful answers to magic formulas:
Experience behind the advice
Before writing full-time, I worked in marketing, consulting, data analysis, and organizational strategy, advising organizations including AT&T, KPMG, Twynstra Gudde, and Heineken.
Today I bring that same curiosity to publishing: question assumptions, look closely at what happens, and keep learning. More about Iva →
More is coming
I’m gradually adding new material on book marketing, advertising, self-publishing, and writing as I rebuild this site.