How can embracing your main character energy and taking up space transform your journey?  In this episode, Lily sits down with Krishan Trotman, VP and Publisher of Legacy Lit at Hachette, to discuss the exciting journey of co-creating Lily’s new book ‘Thank You, More Please,’ which hits shelves next week on June 11th. ✨ Tune in to hear Krishan’s own main character energy story, behind-the-scenes details about Lily’s book, and a deep dive into the world of publishing diverse voices. 

Don’t forget to pre-order ‘Thank You, More Please,’ coming out June 11th. Your pre-orders mean the world and help ensure the book gets the recognition it deserves. Your support is immensely appreciated!

We get into:

• Krishan’s main character energy story and her role as VP and Publisher at Legacy Lit

• The co-creation of Thank You More Please

• Advice for aspiring authors on writing, getting published, and maintaining the motivation needed for long-term projects

Links:
Lily’s book, Thank You More Please, is available for preorder right now and you can grab it and the preorder bonuses with this link!
Krishan on Instagram
Legacy Lit Books

Show transcript:

[00:00:00] Lily: Hello, gorgeous friends. Welcome to another episode of the Date Brazen podcast. I am so excited for you to listen to this episode with my publisher, Krishan Trotman of Legacy Lit at Hachette. She is the most incredible human and you are going to leave so So inspired and full of your own main character energy from her story, and you’re also going to hear a behind the scenes, very vulnerable look at what it was like to co create my book, Thank You, More Please, which is coming out next week, y’all.

[00:00:34] Next week. June 11th, the book hits your doorstep if you pre ordered. And, uh, the thing about pre orders is they mean everything to authors like me. They mean how many books are in bookstores, how many books libraries order, how many books are even printed. So you pre ordering means so much. And if you’ve already pre ordered, I’m just so grateful for [00:01:00] you and your support.

[00:01:01] And I know you’re going to love this. If you’re listening to this podcast, so go get yourself a copy. It is sold everywhere. Books are sold and you can get some juicy pre order bonuses at datebrazen. com slash book. And I can’t wait for this book to hit your doorstep. I, I literally am just so excited and also honored that Krishan came on the podcast.

[00:01:25] She is a huge deal. Especially everywhere and especially in the publishing world. So enjoy this episode. So with that, let’s get into it.

[00:01:41] Hey, I’m Lily Wanville, former top matchmaker and founder of Date Brazen. After setting up hundreds, I realized that with coaching, women could match themselves better than anyone else ever could with my unconventional feminist approach. I’ve helped women around the world build courageous and self trust filled love lives.

[00:01:56] And now I’m here to support you get ready. Cause I’m about [00:02:00] to show the exact steps you need to attract a soul quenching partnership and feel amazing about yourself along the way. This is the This is the Date Brazen Podcast. Krishan Trotman is the co author of the Queens of the Resistance series and vice president publisher of Legacy Lit, an imprint at Hachette Book Group in New York.

[00:02:18] She was recently profiled in the New York Times and Essence Magazine as one of the few African American publishing executives. She has committed over 15 years to publishing books by and about multicultural voices and social justice. Throughout her career, she has proudly worked with leaders and trailblazers on this frontier, such as John Lewis, Stephanie Land, Malcolm Nance, Zelina Maxwell, Ibtihaj Muhammad, Al Roker, Ed Gordon, Lindy West, and other dynamic celebrity and best selling authors.

[00:02:51] She is the self described Beyonce of books and mom to her son, Baloo. I am so [00:03:00] excited to talk to you, Christian. So I’m so excited to have you on. We’re going to talk about the behind the scenes of the process of us meeting and you buying the book and the editing process. A lot of my audience have questions about like, what’s that like?

[00:03:14] And like, how do you get a book deal? And so if anyone has a dream of writing a book and getting a book deal, we will Dive into all of that. Also, we’ll talk about your main character energy because you’ve done some epic shit in your career. And I just want to get into your life. So let’s start with how are you doing today?

[00:03:33] Krishan: I’m doing great. I’m doing great. I’m just thinking already about what that means to me main character energy. I learned a lot from working on your book.

[00:03:40] Lily: So what does main character energy mean to you?

[00:03:44] Krishan: Main character energy means showing up as yourself, uh, understanding your value and your worth and feeling really happy about bringing that to the table for everyone to see and not holding back.

[00:03:57] Lily: I love that so much. How did you first get into [00:04:00] publishing and then how did you come to start your own imprint with Legacy Lit?

[00:04:04] Krishan: Well, that took a lot of main character energy. I was a senior editor here since 2016, and I moved up to executive editor after a couple of years and some success, but a lot of editors don’t put in proposals to start their own imprint.

[00:04:21] But as one of the only, um, black executive editors in the building and, uh, within our company, I just thought that it was time to step up to the plate and find and create a home for diverse voices and those committed to diversity for the long run and not just for the short term. Um, and so I decided that.

[00:04:46] It would take someone to build it, and I just decided one day I sat out on my little terrace and had a cup of tea and then wrote up this proposal that I initially thought everyone would say no to, but they said [00:05:00] yes, and here we are today, publishing your book.

[00:05:04] Lily: I love it. Well, just a few recent titles that you published.

[00:05:10] One was Madness, which was a New York Times bestseller, which tells a story that hadn’t been told before that is so, so important to our history. Can you share a little more about Madness? Also, I’m thinking of titles like Ride or Die that I love, Grief is Love, all of these. Uh, you are creating this landscape of conversation, um, and literally changing people’s awareness of our literal history with the titles you’re publishing in the United States.

[00:05:42] Um, so I’d love to hear about Madness and, and, uh, these titles that you’ve published. The

[00:05:46] Krishan: thing that’s important to me as a publisher is that all of our books don’t look the same. So we have Madness, which is a serious history. about a place in Maryland that was built in the early [00:06:00] 1900s and was taken, was sort of abandoned in 2004.

[00:06:06] And Madness was, uh, a solemn for, was one of the first Segregated asylums, and it shows the history of black patients in America. So, um, when we study psychology, we take our one psychology one on one courses. They’re always so interesting, um, but there’s really no black people. Like, you just don’t see them.

[00:06:25] You don’t talk about that. And when we discuss things like slavery or Jim Crow, we don’t, we don’t discuss the psychology involved. So, madness opens up those doors, and You know, with books like that and books like Made by Stephanie Land that a lot of people are familiar with that we published, that book is about a woman who worked as a maid for several years as a single mom, earning wages that were below the poverty line and how she survived.

[00:06:53] Um, and that was made into a Netflix special. I mean, Netflix series that people really like. Those books, they [00:07:00] really, you know, we published them because we really want them to change the world and we want them to change the way how people think. We publish books that. May seem lighter or may seem in a different category like grief is love, which is about living with loss, which is a beautifully written book by Marissa Renee Lee and ride or die by Shanita Hubbard, which is a black feminist look at hip hop.

[00:07:22] And also culture. All of these books, what they have in common is that they really are meant to change your life, but also to change sort of how we think as a as a culture and as a society. I’m inspired by every single one.

[00:07:37] Lily: I’m just so honored to be a legacy lit author. Um, when my incredible literary agent, uh, Johanna Castillo said, Chris Sean Trotman would love to meet with you.

[00:07:47] I was so Oh, what? Just honored and so excited to be in your presence, and I think you’re doing the most incredible work, and I, uh, don’t want to bumble about, but I, I just like, I could ramble on about how [00:08:00] amazing you are forever, but I, uh, I’m so, like, grateful to be on your list.

[00:08:05] Krishan: Well, the one thing our books have in common is that they’re all publishing with a mission so we can do dating books like yours and it sort of has a mission well it definitely has a mission to create a space for women who want to get out of the dating box and sort of channel that feminist energy into their relationships and so every single book we publish you Whether it’s self help or a memoir or history, it’s, it’s, it’s to empower community.

[00:08:35] And I wanted an imprint that truly embodied diversity. And a lot of people, I think, mentally think diversity only means black people or BIPOC. Um, but we’re unapologetic about uplifting BIPOC, but at the same time, diversity is inclusive of everyone. So we do have some like white men. I always tell people, we do have some really great, um, White male authors on our list and they love being on our list and part of our [00:09:00] imprint.

[00:09:00] So I wanted to build an imprint that reflects what the business should actually look like and other people and other companies. I hope that they use like a seedlet success as an example.

[00:09:11] Lily: Your list of authors and books is so beautiful and expansive and, uh, create such like awesome I’m curious about the through line for you.

[00:09:22] Um, when we met and when you Read my proposal and decided to buy. Thank you more, please. Like, what was the through line for you that, um, you know, what made you want to dive into this book with me?

[00:09:35] Krishan: Well, first of all, I just love your energy as well. I mean, Johanna said your agent, you are going to love Lily and I did.

[00:09:46] You just brought so much energy and charisma to the first meeting and you just bring sunshine into every email, every room you enter when I’m there. So I really appreciate that about you, but in terms of when I [00:10:00] didn’t have, before I met you, when I, when I got the proposal, I just think that, A lot of people really don’t look at relationships for what they really are and how much they really matter in our lives.

[00:10:11] And we had a very, we had, we published a book with Faith Jenkins, who gave a blurb for your book. She used to be the host of Divorce Court and her book, Cis Don’t Settle. It was a successful dating book on not settling. And the importance of giving women that message and it’s sold really well. It continues to backlist for us.

[00:10:30] And when I read your book, I saw your special take on dating, which is, you know, no, you’re not, it’s, it’s more than know your value, but it’s, it’s, it’s about having sort of that feminist attitude where you put yourself as you honor yourself as a woman. You don’t sort of bow down to the patriarchy and sort of, uh, lessen your, like who you are, dumb down who you are in order to win at love.

[00:10:55] And so I just love that message. And I just thought that a lot of women need [00:11:00] that. They need it, you know, when they’re entering the dating phase. Um, because it’s, there’s a lot of pressure to, oh, be this perfect woman so you can, so that you get selected and you get picked. I think most women who have the best relationships, they’re completely themselves and they bring all of themselves at the table and they value themselves.

[00:11:19] So therefore they’re able to find partners that value them. So I just, I think that relationship books are important to have on our list at Legacy Lit, like yours, that really are empowering women, um, in a feminist space, um, and so we do books like yours and Ride or Die, because we are Feminists, a lot of us here that work on the imprint.

[00:11:41] So we see the value and the importance though, of relationship. We publish tons of books on finance and in other areas of self development, but I don’t really think that there’s enough emphasis put on self development in the marketplace. And we’re seeing books like yours get all this attention because [00:12:00] this is what people really want.

[00:12:01] Like they know this, but we have to give them books and content that is valuable. And not just sort of like, Oh, this is how to, how to walk and talk correctly to attract a man. And one thing is you’re so vulnerable and just hilarious through the book. I just want to emphasize that. Being, reading a book is like being in a room with you and it’s so fun.

[00:12:25] It’s not sad. It’s not, some of these dating books, you just feel like, Whoa, is me. And it’s so hard. And like, my heart is going to. Burst and just like drool all over the floor or something and devastation. But your book just brings so much light and happiness and humor and relatability to the, to the table.

[00:12:46] And especially you’re such a good storyteller. One of the stories. There is like, there is a, in the beginning of the book, you open up with, you know, basically telling us your journey with your ex, which is long and you have to read the book, but it was [00:13:00] just, I mean, I felt bad the way I was laughing because I was like, this is Lily’s like life and her heartbreak, but it was everything about it was hilarious.

[00:13:11] I love, and I, and I just think it’s a great read. So I think we have to emphasize that this is not just like, yes, it is a very, uh, practical. You know, book that you can really apply to your life, but you’re actually just going to enjoy reading it and the experience of like hanging out with Lily and, and the next 200 plus pages.

[00:13:31] So, um, that’s how I felt reading it.

[00:13:33] Lily: Thank you, Krishan. That means so much. And I felt that writing it and that’s how I, I’m glad that, because when I first, we got, we, you know, I got the book deal with Legacy Lit. Celebrate, celebrate, celebrate. Then I was like, Oh shit, now I have to write a book. I don’t know how to write a book.

[00:13:48] Like I don’t know how to write. And I was so, I will say confident veering on cocky about how this is going to be easy.

[00:13:58] Krishan: Really? That’s awesome. [00:14:00]

[00:14:00] Lily: I love that because my ego was being, um, you know, like, I was just like, Oh, I’ve written so much. I’ve been in business for 6 years. Like, I know this stuff back and forth.

[00:14:11] And then I wrote the intro what I thought was chapter 1 and I sent it to you. You’re like, this is the best intro that I’ve ever read. I was like, oh, so I started writing the book yet.

[00:14:24] Krishan: What I always say, it takes an ego to even do a book proposal. Like all of my authors have egos. Like regular, like non, non ego driven people do not do these things.

[00:14:34] Like they just don’t, they want to do them. But it does, Like sometimes the ego is healthy, like it’s a good partner because you believed in yourself and you felt like it would be easy. Um, I think a lot of people get into hot water with that part because they’re not really prepared to write a 80, 000 words.

[00:14:53] Lily: No, no. On, you know, I did write the, so the intro was [00:15:00] written. I thought it was chapter one, but it was the intro, which is basically, I mean, sort of unchanged from November, 2022 when that was written. And it, it, you know, 1 of the stories in it with my ex was like, when we went to Paris together and there was no bathroom in the apartment that we rented and we had to pee in the shower.

[00:15:17] And I was like, this is so intimate. And like, this is real love because we’re peeing in the shower and then it all, but, um, and I remember like, walking down 2 flights of stairs to poop and like, just. This is the most romantic trip I’ve ever been, seriously. Um, and then I get into all of that in the book and like how it then imploded in Paris and what I did next and all these things that I’ve never shared anywhere, not even on the podcast.

[00:15:45] Krishan: There was a lot of poop in those early chapters, which I thought was like, you don’t see that in a dating book and I thought, I mean, everybody has to do it, you know,

[00:15:55] Lily: I just love as an editor that you were like, I’m liking the poop. Let’s talk more about [00:16:00] when I thought you had to be like, Lily, come on, you know, but you were so game.

[00:16:05] Krishan: I think we had like a poop analogy happening.

[00:16:08] Lily: no, there are literally several mentions of poop, you know, they’re like, it’s like hard feelings. You gotta like, it’s a bodily function, blah, blah, blah. So I remember writing what I thought were the best three chapters after writing the intro. I was like, I’ve written three chapters.

[00:16:24] I’ve worked. I worked so hard on these. I’m going to send it to Chris Shawn and it’s going to be brilliant and she’s going to think that I’m brilliant and this is a book so great. And I remember really struggling to write those three chapters and getting so in my head of like, I’m not smart enough. I had these thoughts all throughout writing the book.

[00:16:42] I’m not smart enough. I’m not feminist enough. I’m not well read enough. I’m not scholarly enough. I’m not, but, but, but, but, but, even though. All of this work has been proven in real life, you know?

[00:16:56] Krishan: Yeah.

[00:16:56] Lily: And so I sent you these chapters and I was on the way to [00:17:00] vacation and you were like, can you talk? And I was like a chill, right?

[00:17:04] Do you remember this? I was in the Uber going on a vacation. You were like, We need to discuss this Lily, because this, we gotta, you were very kind, but you know, like telling me like, this is not the vibe you, you are writing. Like, do you, what do you remember of that?

[00:17:23] Krishan: I get authors like you that I have to get out of the outline.

[00:17:28] Lily: Yeah. I’m

[00:17:29] Krishan: always like, I have to like pull you guys. Cause you’re so, you’re also type A and organized.

[00:17:34] Lily: Yeah.

[00:17:34] Krishan: So. Once you started getting into sort of the outline voice, you know, I had to pull you out of that and I’m like, can we go back to the living room and just like hang out with you and the poop and everything, like can we just like loosen this up again, cause it’s getting kind of like, getting tight, you know.

[00:17:52] Lily: Claustrophobic, yeah.

[00:17:54] Krishan: Yeah, I was feeling sort of claustrophobic in sort of the practicality of things, and [00:18:00] I just know that you really care and relate to your readers, and I wanted them to sort of experience that with you, so we needed to get you out of that mood. But you were so kind also, heading towards vacation.

[00:18:13] Lily: Well, for the last year and a half, you’ve been one of the primary relationships in my work life, you know, like it completely getting this book deal completely transformed the landscape of my day to day life. And so you and your, you know, guidance and leadership has become a pillar of like a compass kind of for me in the last year and a half with this book project, which is the most long term thing that I’ve ever done.

[00:18:39] I’m sure a lot of authors would say the same. It’s It’s not a, a launch of a program where I’m starting a couple months ahead of time and then it’s launching and then we evaluate and then we do another one. You know, it’s like, it’s not, you know, it’s not even starting a business. It was, I think in some ways like harder than that, because there was a shorter timeline for figuring it out.

[00:18:59] And there was [00:19:00] a pressure to deliver that I was learning how to deliver on. So you were, I just can’t, if anybody is, has a book proposal and has a book agent and is taking books out, you. Will be if you get a meeting with Chris Sean Trotman lucky and like even getting to be in the same space with you and hearing your thoughts.

[00:19:20] And like, you’re just, you are such an intentional person and publisher. And I don’t hear that from my, from others who’ve gone through this process about their publisher. So I know how lucky I am to have been able to be in your, um, Legacy lit world and you really helped me get back into the best friend voice when I was trying to be this like coachy coach.

[00:19:44] Krishan: Yes, exactly. I was like, can the coach leave the room for a little while?

[00:19:48] Lily: Well, it’s a testament and this guides me into, um, you know, one of the last questions, which is like, if somebody wants to write a book or get it published, like, what do you recommend? You have this incredible series on Instagram [00:20:00] right now.

[00:20:00] At Chris Sean Trotman, is that. That’s right, right?

[00:20:03] Krishan: Yeah.

[00:20:04] Lily: And we’ll put this in the show notes in the Lincoln bio as well, but are in the link in the description as well. If you want to write a book, there’s maybe a version of you in your head who is needing to be smarter than you are, or needing to be more, um, something like I hear so often in people that want to write a book, this idea of like, let me project who I think a publisher would want.

[00:20:30] Let me write what I think a publisher should want, which I fell prey to even after getting the book deal. Because fundamentally the fear is what if I’m not enough? I mean, Krishan, can I share something wild with you that I had a fear of? If I may lay bare. I was afraid that you were going to hate what I wrote so much that you were like, I don’t want to publish this book anymore.

[00:20:52] I had that fear throughout the experience. And now this book is beautiful because of the co creation that you [00:21:00] imprinted on it that Leah Lackins, my, um, you know, the editor that edited in the chapters that then Krishan did the final edit to, like, All of us co created together. I had this deep fear that it wasn’t enough when I was writing and that you’re like, so I just want to validate for anybody who’s nervous about putting themselves out there like me too.

[00:21:21] Krishan: What I love about you is that you’re when you were sending in, I don’t know if it was the final manuscript. But you had worked with Leah and then I think it was maybe you were sending it in after my notes. And you were just like, I’m so smart. I just think this is such a great book and I’m so smart. And I’m like, that is awesome.

[00:21:43] That is awesome. Because, you know, you have to be able to see that for yourself. And understand that about yourself. And I just wish I got more notes like that. Like sometimes I get authors send things in as just sort of, and I’m like, how do you like it? Cause you send it in. My motto as an editor [00:22:00] is always send it in when you love it.

[00:22:02] Send it to me when you guys love it. Okay. Because I think that is the best. You want to just get the only job you have is to get the best draft and the process, like we could still go back and add more stuff and do more and more and more writing never stops editing being edited. But when you’re at the point where you love it, that is like.

[00:22:22] a huge achievement to be able to say, you know what, I like this. And you are the first judge of your own work. So I really love that about you. You know, I think that you’re a star. And so as your publisher, my drive was to make sure that we are putting out Lily on the page. So anyone who reads, whoever reads it, Feels like that best friend energy that you give to me and to everyone That just you really believe you really care And I wanted that to come through so that way you can carry the book into all the other Work that you’re gonna do as a star anytime.

[00:22:58] I saw that you were [00:23:00] not being that on the page I had to like pull back and say You’re about like you’re like you can do you can say this better like you can Know that you can you can Lily brings more to this discussion than that. So like, you know, let’s give it another shot as a culture just value writing so much and hold it in such a high regard that we feel like only some people have the talent or They have this special skill that I wasn’t born with and there’s a lot of that But in reality the authors who actually sell a lot of copies Books and that your favorite writers a lot of them were not trained You You know, some of them were, some of them have pursued long careers and some of the best writers are trained, but even the trained writers would tell you a lot of times they don’t even know where it comes from.

[00:23:51] Like, they don’t know where the words came from. It just came. There’s something sort of spiritual about writing and something very mystical [00:24:00] about it. So even people like yourself, this is your first rodeo. You can still write in such a way that is so impactful and effective. Um, so I just, I just try to tell readers that, that, I mean, if you like to write, then just write.

[00:24:14] You don’t have to, like, you’re not worthy of being a writer. Just write. It makes you a writer, you know?

[00:24:19] Lily: Yeah. How would somebody listening who is, has that like call in their heart to write and, and potentially wants to get published, how would you suggest they start?

[00:24:31] Krishan: I start with just, I think writing is a discipline, so, you know, it’s different when you’re got your book deal already and you’re just like going for it, but even up to like whether you’re writing a proposal or whether you’re writing a full length novel or a memoir, just make sure like you’re dedicating time and the being persistent, writing every day or, you know, Making sure that you are putting in the [00:25:00] time is so important because it’s just going to strengthen your ideas and strengthen your writing itself.

[00:25:06] And so like, someone like you who’s on a deadline, which I’ve been in this situation myself, you’re like, Oh my God, I have this book deal. Now I have to deliver.

[00:25:14] Lily: I know.

[00:25:16] Krishan: And you did, and it’s so good.

[00:25:18] Lily: Thank you. More please. Thank God.

[00:25:20] Krishan: It’s hard to do it when you’re not in a, when you’re not in a, uh, under a contract, because now you need discipline.

[00:25:28] Now you need, you’re the one who has to completely believe that you can do this, even when you’re writing and you’re just like, Oh my God, this sucks so bad. I suck as a writer.

[00:25:39] Lily: Which happens most of the time for me. Yeah. And there’s still. Like 60, 000 words to complete, you know, when that happens, it’s a wild ride.

[00:25:51] You’re the author of the Queens of the Resistance series with four titles so far. It’s a celebration of the rebellion against the oppression of women. [00:26:00] And so, you were a writer. Like, what was it, as a, as a publisher, what was it like to be a writer? Of this series,

[00:26:08] Krishan: it was a nightmare, so much compassion for all of my authors because I have been on the other side.

[00:26:15] I continue to, and it was a nightmare for me to be on a deadline. And have committed to these four books. I was just like, what did I do? I have a full time job

[00:26:28] Lily: And a kid you’re a mom

[00:26:30] Krishan: I’m, like at the time I had I was an executive editor. So I was like, I have i’m an editor I have an in that time period then I started the imprint Like right after that so sometimes I don’t know I just turn into this other person who does things That I don’t think I have time for but it was hard and I was so tragic with my editor.

[00:26:51] I I love my editors. I had two editors at Penguin Random House. I was just like in tears all the time [00:27:00] Drinking too much wine so it was pretty messy and I and I just felt like you like and anytime I turned something in if she didn’t say like You need to redo this. I was I didn’t believe her. I was like, right

[00:27:12] Lily: Right.

[00:27:13] Krishan: Like, this is,

[00:27:14] Lily: this is trash, right? This is trash. I was

[00:27:16] Krishan: like, are you sure? Are you reading it?

[00:27:20] Lily: Are you sure? Turns out you’re talented, Krishan. Turns out you’re good at writing. Oh my god. Well, also a testament to messiness in this process is like, You know, the, the original title of the book, which I’m so glad we changed was get messy, find love, and you know, this idea of messiness and doing it messy.

[00:27:41] Um, it sounds like it’s how you’ve gotten epic things done in your career.

[00:27:46] Krishan: Even the way we came up with your title was messy. I was in a meeting that. Talking about your book with the audio department and someone said, why isn’t the, why isn’t the book title? Thank you more, please. [00:28:00] And it hit me. And at this point, audience, Lily’s audience, we were like done with the book.

[00:28:06] We were in the, the book was completely done in production. And this is a point where editors do not want to change the title. Like nobody wants to change the title at this point. We’re already selling the book in, but I just knew that this is the title. This is so, this is what Lily is saying. This is like, so effective.

[00:28:27] And I just went and called Lily. We had about five minutes to decide because there was no way I didn’t have any time. And you were so fantastic. I was like, Lily, I have something I want to tell you.

[00:28:39] Lily: I was scared shitless. You texted me. I was like, I need to talk to you. I was like, okay, okay. What do you want to say?

[00:28:45] You hate the book? We sent it to public. Yeah, it was vulnerable. And you were like, what if we changed the title? Thank you more. Please. I was like, Oh, I felt the same way. I was like, that’s it. You know, and and [00:29:00] so I’m so grateful. And you said it’s so rare for an audio book department to suggest something.

[00:29:07] Krishan: Yes,

[00:29:08] Lily: the books creative and that spoke to like people were catching the vision and like, um, that was so cool. And then I had to go rewrite passages of the book to integrate titles. So then I had to, you made more, like, I made more work for myself by, which is totally fine. What a gift, but it’s, it was a wonderful moment and I’m so grateful for your leadership and all of that and your willingness to pivot.

[00:29:31] It was a great

[00:29:31] Krishan: idea. And you were like, okay. And I was like, cool. Okay, now go fix the manuscript.

[00:29:39] Lily: I literally had three days. And so, um, I think, you know, I’ve learned in this process that it is okay to, it’s okay to feel. Overwhelmed and it’s not, it’s, it’s okay. It doesn’t mean something’s gone wrong. It is a long term project, writing a book, [00:30:00] editing a book, getting a book out there. Even this part of the process of, you know, promoting is another marathon.

[00:30:06] And I just have to say, like, You and your team truly, this is my just like verbal, verbally affirming the shit out of you. Hopefully you feel, feel the love I do, which is like your imprint and the work that the team at legacy lit is doing is unlike any other imprint, any other published, like any other house.

[00:30:28] Because of the care that I’ve experienced, and I know other authors in your imprint have experienced because of the intentionality that you put forth because of the expertise that you all bring to the table because of the like, it’s just so I’m so grateful and this couldn’t I couldn’t have I couldn’t have dreamed of a better time.

[00:30:49] You know, team to work with and then I get to work with you at all is such a gift. So I just want to say thank you.

[00:30:55] Krishan: Thank you. And you know, you’re our golden child. So we call Lily [00:31:00] in the office behind her back, but then we told you because you’ve just been such a great partner. I mean, the thing is, it’s hard, it’s overwhelming process, like you said, and sometimes the authors can feel like we don’t care.

[00:31:14] Because we’re asking you to do so much work. We’re just like change the title. Now go fix the manuscript to make sure the title is making sense. You know, that can feel like, Oh my God, does she care about me? Do they care about me? They’re just like throwing all this stuff at me. But the thing is that we really do care at Legacy Lit and I’m happy that you see that and I’m going to.

[00:31:34] Make sure the team listens to this podcast because we don’t get that every day verbalized. So it means so much. And for me as a person, I just can’t do anything I don’t care about. So I care about every single author and title on our list. And I think that comes through and how well the imprint is doing and how well the books do.

[00:31:55] Lily: Yeah, well, thank you, Krishan. Final, final question. Besides Thank You More Please, which [00:32:00] comes out literally next week, you can pre order now, and it comes out June 11th, and look at your doorstep, and it’s gonna change your life, you’re gonna love it, and pre orders also mean so much, you’ve heard me say this for the last several months.

[00:32:12] Besides Thank You More Please, what book do you want people to read this summer, and why?

[00:32:17] Krishan: Ooh, that is pressure because the authors are listening.

[00:32:23] Lily: You can do a poo poo platter. You can do several if you want.

[00:32:26] Krishan: There’s a book that Amina, our associate editor here, is the publisher of called Love Out Loud and it’s by Tyrell and Jarius Joseph.

[00:32:38] They are a fabulous book. couple Married couple with three kids and they’re writing a book that is just not available Like you’ve never seen this book. It’s a book a self help book about Raising unique different families so if you’re a queer family Or if you’re dating in a relationship and you want to learn more about that process or just hear [00:33:00] other people Like another story about how they actually surrogacy um the ups and downs of it and also just how to hold a loving relationship in a In a world that where people some people just don’t want to accept you and don’t love you.

[00:33:14] So Um, that is going to be a fantastic book that we’re publishing this summer There’s just so much more in the fall We’re publishing a book with al roker and courtney roker if you’re familiar with al of course you are from the today show A great cook, a family cookbook. And Courtney is Al’s daughter and she’s a trained chef and that’s Al Roker’s recipes to live by.

[00:33:37] So get that in your holiday cards this fall, pre order it for your dads that you love. So that’s a couple of them. I could go on and on, but visit our website. LegacyLitBooks. com or our social media LegacyLitBooks. com. You can follow me at Krishan Trotman. [00:34:00] Um, I constantly just talk about our books and immerse people in the world of Legacy Lits as much

[00:34:06] Lily: as I can.

[00:34:07] You are also peeling back the curtain of what it’s like to, you know, talk to a publisher or get your book published on your Instagram. So you’re so generous there, and we’re going to link all of this in the description and in the show notes. And Krishan, thank you for being, um, for taking a chance on Thank You More, Please.

[00:34:22] And thank you for coming on this podcast. I’m so grateful.

[00:34:25] Krishan: Thank you. Thanks, [00:35:00] Lily.