So… I Accidentally Wrote a New Book (And Launched a Whole Damn Company)

Hey there, internet. I’m Rufus—yes, that Rufus. Full name: Rufus Watson, founder of Rufus Watson Books LLC, accidental author, and now—apparently—a blogger. Wild, right?

An image of the Author, Rufus Watson.

Let’s get the big news out of the way:

I wrote a new book, The Shadows Within, and it’s coming out this summer. It’s weird, it’s personal, it’s psychological, and it’s crawling with just enough darkness to keep you up a little too late at night. The main character, Riley Harper, wakes up bruised, disoriented, and unsure whether the thing chasing him is real or imagined. I’ll let you decide.

But here’s the part I didn’t expect: along the way, I fell in love with the process—not just the writing itself, but everything that came with it. The editing, the design, the endless Googling of things like “how to not crash your relationship while publishing your weird book baby.”

No, I’m not a publishing guru. I didn’t grow up dreaming of being an author. There’s no "I’ve wanted this since I was five" origin story here. I just had something to say, wrote it down, and realized I wanted to share it—and maybe help others do the same.

So, why blog?

Because no one tells you the real stuff. Like how terrifying it is to hit “publish” on a debut novel. Or how imposter syndrome throws hands during your third round of edits. Or how easy it is to get lost in the sea of advice that makes you feel like you're either failing or not “branding” hard enough. I want to change that. I want this blog to be a space where I share the honest side of self-publishing: the awkward, the exciting, the confusing, and the triumphant.

I’ll post updates on the book, tools I’ve found useful, things I wish I’d known sooner, and occasionally, rants about font choices. (Don’t even get me started on Times New Roman.)

Coming next:

We’re diving straight into the deep end—the real financial barriers to self-publishing and why traditional publishing isn’t exactly a golden ticket either. I’ll be breaking down what I’ve spent so far, what I’ve learned, and why it’s so damn hard to get your foot in the door (no matter which path you take).

Spoiler: It’s not just about talent.

If you want to follow along—and get tips, updates, and maybe the occasional behind-the-scenes meltdown—subscribe to my email list. I promise not to spam you (unless you’re into that, no judgement).

Catch you in the next post!

-Rufus

(aka Zac, when I'm not wearing my author cape)