Why You Might Need an Assistant — HOD Fiction Writers Monthly Meeting

You became an author to write. So why does it feel like you spend most of your time on everything but writing — reader emails, ad campaigns, newsletters, social posts, ARC teams, release-day logistics, and the hundred little fires that flare up before you even open your manuscript?

This month at HOD Fiction Writers, we’re tackling the question every working author eventually has to answer: when is it time to bring in help, and what can an assistant actually do for you?

A good author assistant can take on reader correspondence, newsletter management, social media, Amazon ad research, ARC and launch coordination, vendor wrangling, swag fulfillment, graphics, and the day-to-day project management that quietly eats your writing time. The right one doesn’t just lighten your load — they protect the only thing that grows your career: the next book.

We’re thrilled to welcome Toni Rapiñan from Author Anchor as our guest speaker. Author Anchor specializes in matching authors with trained virtual assistants who already understand the publishing world — so you’re not starting from scratch teaching someone what KDP is or why your reader magnet matters. Toni will walk us through what an author assistant actually does day-to-day, how the partnership works, what it costs, and how to know when you’re ready for one.

If you’ve ever wondered whether an assistant could change your business, this is the meeting you don’t want to miss.

Saturday, May 9, 2026 | 12:00 PM | Decatur Library