Q and A with a Small Press Debut Author: Alexandria Faulkenbury (Plus Read Her Query Letter!)
Alexandria's Debut, Somewhere Past the End, Releases on May 20, 2025
Debut author Alexandria Faulkenbury’s first title, Somewhere Past the End, is being released in less than two weeks by Apprentice House Press, a small press based at Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore. Small presses have a special place in my heart as my publishing background is all small press, so I was eager to hear about Alex’s experiences. I’ve also noticed many aspiring authors don’t fully understand what a small press is and some even confuse it with hybrid presses or vanity presses so I wanted to share Alex’s take on her experiences working with a small press as a debut author.
But first, a bit about her book1…
“Alice Greene knows it's a hoax when the leader of the cult she's been raised in announces the end of the world. She also knows it's the perfect chance to escape before he finds out she's pregnant with the baby she's not supposed to have. But as she watches his prophecy come true and over 100 members of the group disappear into a plume of smoke and light, all her plans crumble.
Still reeling from the disappearance, Alice finds the other survivors and reconnects with her childhood best friend, Edwin. He's got a message from their vanished leader: He and Alice will shepherd the remaining members of the Collective. Certain she's the wrong person for the job, but terrified she'll lose the only family she has left, Alice struggles to find a way forward until she discovers the secrets and lies that built their community, including one that will change her friendship with Edwin forever.
Told in dual timelines, Somewhere Past the End offers a panoramic view of one family and how the repercussions of their choices muddy the lines between truth, belief, and delusion.”
I’m only a few chapters in so far, but it’s a lyrical, propulsive read that has all the makings of a thrilling upmarket novel: literary writing with a high-concept hook, character-driven, perfect for book club discussion, and blended genre with a touch of mystery that keeps you turning those pages. Here’s what Alexandria had to say about her publishing journey…
Heather Garbo: Your debut book, Somewhere Past the End, comes out on May 20. Can you share a bit about the story?
Alexandria Faulkenbury: Somewhere Past the End follows Alice Greene, as she tries to put her life back together following the mysterious disappearance of members of the cult she's both loved and longed to leave all her life. The story also follows Alice's mother, Teresa, as she finds her way into the Collective and raises Alice. Together, their dual POVs offer a panoramic view of one family and how their choices muddy the lines between truth, belief, and delusion.
What sparked your original story idea? How long did it take you to finish your first and subsequent drafts?
I've always been interested in cults and the psychology behind someone's decision to tie their life to such an organization. Additionally, I've had experiences in my own life and faith journey that gave me a glimpse into some cultic behaviour, so that was also a factor in exploring these ideas in story form. I started this novel as a short story sometime in 2020, but didn't start turning it into a novel draft until 2021. It probably took 3 months for me to finish the initial draft and then another 7 or 8 months of revisions before I felt ready to start querying it.
What was your querying process like? How long did it take you to get that “yes”?
I sent my first query in September '22 and got the 'yes' from my publisher in March '24, so it was a long process. I think my querying experience was similar to a lot of other writers in that it was stressful and a little maddening when all you hear is silence for a long time. I had a few close calls early on, which made it feel like an even longer wait, but also made the yes I finally got that much more exciting. Looking back, I realize that I queried a lot of agents I shouldn't have and that I probably started querying the novel a little too soon. There's all this advice out there to wait until you are absolutely ready to query, and I think there's truth to that. However, it's also true that you can't know what you don't know. In other words, I could have waited longer to query but I don't know that waiting or reading more advice or revising my query would have given me the same understanding and learning that I gained from jumping into the query trenches and getting a few rejections under my belt.
You published with a small press. What made you query and ultimately decide to go with a small press instead of a larger publisher?
Early on in the query process I had a close call that I ultimately turned down because of some changes they wanted me to make to the manuscript, which would have essentially changed the genre. There was nothing wrong with those suggestions and I could have done it and it still would have been an interesting and fun novel and maybe would have led to a bigger contract. But after really wrestling with the proposed changes, I realized that wasn't the story I wanted to tell with this novel and that realization helped me see that a small press might be a better fit for me this go round.
You did not work with an agent, but rather queried the publisher directly, correct? What can you share about your experience? What made you decide to go that route?
I would have loved to work with an agent, and I still hope to for future books, but I realized after querying agents and bigger publishers that a smaller press was a better fit for this particular project. The querying process is not much different than querying agents in that many of the same things are requested in the submissions package. It was a little daunting getting my contract and having to work through that, which made me see yet again the value of having an agent! I would recommend anyone going with a small press to have someone else look over their contract and to also talk to authors who have published with that press previously. I spoke to 5 or 6 previous Apprentice House authors and they were very generous with their time and information regarding the publishing process and their own contract negotiations. Those conversations really helped me navigate my own contract and feel comfortable singing with Apprentice House.
What have you enjoyed most about working with a small press?
Working with a small press has been great! Apprentice House is a teaching press, so students staff the entire press under the supervision of professionals and professors. Their energy and excitement over publishing really rubs off on you as an author. I've always been able to get in touch with the director of the press, my editor, cover designer, and anyone else who has been involved with the book. And the press has always been crystal clear about what they can/can't do as a small press, so that transparency has been really helpful. The personal interactions and requested input from me as the author are both things I've loved about working with a small press.
What would you tell other writers who are weighing the pros and cons of small presses versus larger publishers?
Not to sound like a broken record, but make sure you have someone to look over your contract and talk to previous authors to get their input. I would also say go into the process with clear eyes. Most small presses have very little marketing budget or staff power for publicity. Know that going into it and weigh that against what you want for your book. I would recommend making a list of the most important things to you as an author. If publicity, marketing, and big sales are at the top of your list, then a small press is probably not for you. However, if personal attention, control over your work, and being involved in every step of the process are your top three, then small press might be the way to go.
Many writers who are deciding between publishing paths worry about the amount of control they will have in the final book. When I worked at a small press, we retained the final decision for things like cover design but very much involved the author in the process. What was your experience of this like with your publisher?
I was very involved in every step of the process, which was exciting and sometimes overwhelming! I really enjoyed getting to offer input and ideas on my cover and was so pleased with where it ended up. Knowing the process and being able to email and ask questions every step of the way was definitely a perk of working with a small press.
Knowing what you know now, what would you tell yourself if you could go back? Would you do anything differently?
I would tell myself to spend less time stressing. That's easier looking back though, right? It's hard when you're in the thick of it with querying and pitching, but giving yourself a tension headache from refreshing QueryTracker ten times a day really doesn't do much to speed the process along, so I'd try to gently tell myself to step away from that 'refresh' button. :) There's lots I'd like to think I'd do differently, but to be totally honest, I'm sure I'll have plenty of repeat experiences the next time I'm querying because telling yourself something and actually putting it into practice are so different and shifting your mindset takes lots of practice.
What advice would you give to new or querying writers?
I would say to find a writing community. They are the only ones who will know exactly what you're going through. Sharing the ups and downs and celebrating each other's wins is such a help in this process. On that note, I'd also say to enjoy the small successes you find along the way. Everything is so hard when it comes to querying, so you've got to celebrate where you can. You sent a query? Celebrate! You got a like on a pitch event? Woohoo! You got a partial request? Time for a little treat! You got a full request? Order a cake! You had some other exciting thing happen that has nothing to do with writing? Throw the confetti! You get the picture.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
I'm holding a book launch at All Good Books in Columbia, SC on May 20 (6-8pm). We'll have some cupcakes, a Q&A, and I'll sign books for anyone who wants one. And there will be bookmarks and stickers for anyone who purchases a book. If you're in the area, I'd love to see you there!
The Query Letter
Alexandria has also generously shared the query letter that landed her this book deal! (Note the title change between the query letter and published book.)
Dear _____,
For your consideration, I’m offering EVENING TABLE, a literary novel. Complete at 75k words, EVENING TABLE features a dual timeline/multiple POV similar to Samantha Hunt’s Mr. Splitfoot, and the complex dynamics of closed communities and found family as seen in The Ash Family by Molly Dektar and Elsewhere by Alexis Shaitkin.
Alice Greene knows it’s a hoax when the leader of the cult she’s been raised in announces the end of the world. She also knows it’s the perfect chance to escape before he finds out she’s pregnant with the baby she’s not supposed to have. But as she watches his prophecy come true and over 100 members of the group disappear into a plume of smoke and light, all her plans crumble.
Still reeling from the disappearance, Alice finds the other survivors and reconnects with her childhood best friend, Edwin. He’s got a message from their vanished leader: He and Alice will shepherd the remaining members. Certain she’s the wrong person for the job, but terrified she’ll lose the only family she has left, Alice struggles to find a way forward until she discovers her mother’s hidden journal. In it, she learns the secrets and lies that built their community, including one that will change her friendship with Edwin forever. As the consequences of these revelations come to light and Edwin’s convictions grow feverish, she must confront the faith of her past or risk losing the future she longs for.
My writing has been published in The Maine Review and Mom Egg Review, among others. I hold an M.A. in multicultural and transnational literature, and I live in central New York with my family.
Thank you for your time and consideration. Per your submission guidelines, please find my first ten pages below.
Sincerely,
Alexandria Faulkenbury
As many of you know, pre-orders are so important in the book business! You can pre-order Alexandria’s book, Somewhere Past the End, anywhere books are sold, but it’s even better if you order from your favorite indie bookstore! You can also keep up with Alex by checking out her author website at www.alexandriafaulkenbury.com or following her on Instagram at @amfaulkenbury.
Are you curious to know more about small presses? Check out author Karin Gillespie’s recent and informative peek behind the scenes of what you can expect at a small press.
And this post a couple days ago resonated so much with me: Why It’s So Hard to Find Small Press Books. One thing the writers don’t mention is that landing a distributor is especially tricky for a start-up small press because the application process requires minimum sales numbers and published titles annually that can be tricky for a new press to achieve. And without that distribution driving sales and an evergreen backlist, those numbers are even harder to reach…it’s a chicken-and-egg situation that can be very frustrating for a new small press. Still, authors need to know what to expect, so always ask your small press about their distribution.
Finally Anne Trubeck, founder of Belt Publishing (a fantastic regional small press) writes Notes from a Small Press where you can explore the archives for a treasure trove of behind-the-scene gems on small press publishing.
Heather Garbo is a certified book coach, editor and writer with a background in communications, book publishing, and nonprofit work. Heather specializes in working with women’s fiction writers who are discovering (or rediscovering) their writing voice in midlife. Find her at www.garbobookcoaching.com.
Note: This post contains affiliate links, which means if you purchase a book by clicking on that link, I may earn a small commission.
https://apprenticehouse.com/venture-to-new-and-undiscovered-places-with-somewhere-past-the-end-by-alexandria-faulkenbury/
Wonderful interview! I love hearing the ins and outs of the publishing journey for other authors. I’m so excited for Alex’s book to debut and reach its readers!
This book sounds so fun! I've put it on my list. And thank you for the shout-out! :-)