What's to Gain Self-Publishing? : A Guest Interview with Self-Help Author Sarah Tyk
I’ll be the first to admit, I have had a lot of doubts about self-publishing. Not only is the process intimidating and full of room for errors; how can anyone be sure that what they hope is good will sell? A publishing house would at least mean a handful of trained professionals agreed with you.
Self-publishing has become one of the defining changes in the book industry in the past twenty years. According to a K-Lytics survey published in 2023, “Self-published authors make up over 50% of Kindle’s Top 400 Books.” More and more talented authors are bursting onto the scene, and achieving success, with self-published novels. Holding the creative license for your book allows all expressions of your talents. And while some authors opt for the more traditional formatting and presentation. Many are bending the rules with the help of Canva, Amazon Direct Publishing, Adobe, Scrivener, and other programs.
Despite all my trepidation, my path led to partnering with a private editorial firm and self-publishing a manuscript I’d been holding onto for far too long. This past winter, as I’ve navigated the twists and turns of this process, I have met many incredible authors who marched the road before me.
One of those rule-bending authors blazing the trail of self-publishing is Sarah Tyk. Her beautifully designed novel, Astronomy for the Soul, was published in December 2024. So, while I was working on learning the ins and outs of self-publishing my own novel, I took some time to connect with Sarah about her experience. If I had to pick one thing that makes Astronomy for the Soul stand out it would be how approachable Sarah makes the topics of astrophysics, stellar evolution, and phantom DNA to her audience. Even if astronomy feels way out of your natural orbit of interest, I encourage you to listen to how Sarah describes our universe and see if you don’t become the next interested reader.
Here is an excerpt from Sarah:
It's easy to feel both awed and humbled by the vast expanse of the cosmos. The twinkling stars, distant planets, and swirling galaxies serve as reminders of the profound mysteries that lie beyond our earthly existence. But what if the secrets of the Universe are not just out there, among the stars, but also within us? What if the beauty and complexity of the cosmos could offer us more than just scientific knowledge—what if it could also guide us on a journey of inner discovery?
This book, Astronomy for the Soul: Exploring the Universe Within & Beyond, seeks to explore the deep relationship between the outer Universe and our inner world. By blending the principles of astronomy with the wisdom of spirituality, we embark on a journey to understand not only the cosmos but also ourselves.
Through the lens of science, we will unravel the wonders of the Universe; through the lens of spirit, we will find meaning, purpose, and a deeper connection to all that is. Whether you're a seasoned astronomer, a spiritual seeker, or simply someone curious about the mysteries of existence, this book invites you to explore the stars and the soul alike, discovering the ways in which they are profoundly intertwined.
MK: Sarah, this book is stunning. I think I would have been a lot more interested in my physics class if you had designed my textbooks. How has your scientific background shaped your view of and appreciation for the world around you?
ST: Knowing a little about the physics of the world makes me appreciate the complexity of even the smallest system or process. Yet the natural world just does it all without thought or intervention. There is a stunning amount of physical and chemical processes in the sprouting and growing of a seed. But all you have to do is put it in the ground and water it a little. That seed knows to send roots downward and sprout upward through the soil to the sunlight. Then it grows and produces flowers all on its own. There are relationships between other organisms that pollinate the flowers and produce fruit, each fruit with multiple seeds to create more plants.
Once I learned about the mechanics of stars and how they evolve, star gazing took on a whole new perspective. These weren’t just pretty lights in the sky. They were fusion reactors of unimaginable size, producing light and heat, moving in complex orbits with other stars and planets. All the physics I’d learned, all the equations of orbital mechanics and stellar evolution, just happen on their own. There’s so much complexity in the heavens, yet we view it with such beautiful simplicity.
“There’s so much complexity in the heavens, yet we view it with such beautiful simplicity.”
MK: As I read Astronomy for the Soul, it struck me in your writing how your encounters with the natural world have enhanced your faith. What motivated you to share your personal experiences with other readers in your new book?
ST: I love talking about spirituality and my hope was that if I shared my experiences it would help someone else feel like they could be open and share their faith, too. Maybe by showing how science and spirit are connected, others would become interested and start exploring their own spirituality as well as the physical world.
MK: What was it like transitioning from creating an educational podcast, The Interested Reader, to publishing a self-help book enhanced with personal essays?
ST: I’ve always loved exploring anything spiritual and metaphysical, but it always seemed like something I wasn’t “supposed” to talk about. It was fine as long as it was viewed as fantasy or make-believe; like watching a movie—you get attached to characters and get pulled into the story, but you know it’s not real. But in my heart I believed that all the “woo woo” (I loathe that term, by the way) was real.
Writing a book combining spirituality with science felt like I was finally being true to myself and doing something that I truly wanted to do, not what I was supposed to do. I love teaching. And I love physics and astronomy. Teaching those sciences seemed like a natural pursuit, which is what The Interested Reader is about. However, by adding personal experiences to the book I was able to teach about my views on spirituality as well, which resonated in my soul.
MK: Tell us more about the term, “interested reader”. Why use this?
ST: In college, some physics textbooks, when it came to details of a lesson or derivation that were beyond the scope of the current discussion, it would be left to “the interested reader” to explore those details on their own. Those were the details I always wanted! That’s what I aim to do with The Interested Reader podcast—explore beyond the textbook.
MK: What encouragement do you have for readers and writers who are still on the path to discovering their own story?
ST: Keep exploring and questioning. There isn’t really an end point; you keep discovering and writing your story for your whole life. I often struggle with the internal voice that says, “Does anyone really want to hear my story?” First of all, yes, someone out there is interested. Second, so what if there isn’t? You write your story for yourself. Your journey isn’t about impressing anyone or accumulating a pile of things. Your journey is about discovering why you—as a human soul—came here to this physical existence.
There isn’t an easy path or a shortcut (not that I’ve found, anyway). Enjoy the entire process of discovery—the ups, the downs, the laughter, the tears. It’s all part of your story, and it all reveals a beautiful, complete soul.
One of my favorite quotations comes from Mark Twain:
“There was never yet an uninteresting life. Such a thing is an impossibility. Inside of the dullest exterior there is a drama, a comedy, and a tragedy.”
Your soul is already complete. You just forget a lot when inhabiting a physical body. Your story is just you remembering who you—the highest you; you as a soul—really are.
MK: Those are words we can all grow from! Thank you, Sarah, for sparking curiosity in all of us. My perspective has been shifted, and I hope to go forward now always an interested reader.
To learn more about Sarah, connect with her at the website Home | The Interested Reader. Sarah regularly releases content on her podcast, The Interested Reader, and loves connecting with readers on her socials.
Sarah Tyk has always loved science and spirituality. While she earned a BS in astronomy and MS degrees in astronomy and geoscience, she never pursued a traditional scientific profession. Sarah has always been more interested in fringe science and alternative theories. She started The Interested Reader podcast and website as a way to explore and educate about topics that aren’t taught in the classroom.
Currently, Sarah lives in Iowa with her husband, son and cat. Connect with Sarah at her website www.theinterestedreader.com . You can find her first book, Astronomy for the Soul, on Amazon, in her Etsy shop, or on her website.