The Author’s Mic™: Ed Akay on From Darkness and Publishing His Mother’s Work
Ed Akay learned about publishing through his own book, From Darkness. Then he used that experience to help his mother publish a manuscript she had written in the 1970s. When Ed joined me on The Author’s Mic™, we talked about both journeys—and the phone calls he made to get his mother’s work noticed.
As an indie author, I was interested in how he moved from publishing his own story to helping someone else share hers. His mother had the writing. He helped her navigate the publishing and promotion.
Watch the full episode:
How From Darkness Became a Book
Ed’s book began with an opportunity that came through photography.
After completing a fitness challenge during lockdown, he returned to modeling in 2021. Photographer Jason Reading suggested they create a photographic book together. Then Jason proposed expanding the project to include Ed’s life story, with Ed contributing as co-author.
That story reaches back to childhood, when Ed experienced paralysis from Guillain-Barré syndrome, an illness that damaged his nerves. It follows his recovery and his eventual achievements as a natural bodybuilding champion.
The photographs and biography came together in From Darkness. Ed described it as an opportunity he was given—and one he decided to make the most of.
That willingness came up throughout our conversation. The book also opened doors to acting roles, and he discussed plans for an expanded hardback edition reflecting developments since the original publication.
A Manuscript Written Decades Earlier
After publishing his own book and learning how to promote it, Ed turned his attention to his mother’s writing.
KJ Akay had written Fruits of Victory in the 1970s. The book recounts her childhood in Barnsley during the 1940s and 1950s, including her experiences of postwar Britain.
For decades, the manuscript remained unpublished. Ed explained that his mother had written it during a time when getting a book into print generally meant securing a publishing deal.
Once he had experience with self-publishing, he offered to help. He designed the cover, published the book, and began contacting local media.
What I loved about this part of the conversation was that his mother got to see her work become a published book. Something she had written years earlier finally had a way to reach readers.
Picking Up the Phone to Promote a Book
Ed didn’t stop at making the book available. He called local newspapers and explained why his mother’s story might interest their readers.
She was 80, her book was out, and it told the story of growing up in Barnsley. A newspaper in her hometown picked it up.
He was direct about his approach: he was willing to cold-call media outlets. It might have felt old school, but it helped him get attention for the book.
That brought me right back to recruitment. When I started, you had a telephone, and you called people. You heard a lot of nos, but that one yes could be what you needed.
Ed and I agreed on that. You don’t need every person you contact to respond. You need people who are willing to consider the work, talk about it, and potentially pass it along.
His outreach also had a clear connection. He contacted local media about a local woman whose book documented life in their community. He had a specific story to bring them.
Using His Platform to Support His Mother
Ed’s mother continued writing after those first publishing experiences. At the time of our conversation, she had several books available, with more underway.
He also discussed promoting her writing about her teaching experiences in Manchester during the 1960s. Helping her reach readers had become an ongoing part of his work.
Ed had established a publishing and PR brand, Midas Touch, giving him a structure for publishing his mother’s books and developing other projects.
But when I asked where people should go to learn more, he brought the conversation back to his mother. He wanted people to discover her work and support her books.
I appreciated that. He had a platform and publishing knowledge, and he was putting both to use for someone whose writing mattered to him.
Finding Readers Who Appreciate the Work
We also talked about what authors want from the people who read their books.
For me, there is something meaningful about a reader appreciating the words on the page. You want the book to reach someone who understands what you were trying to do and finds something in it worth remembering.
Ed connected that to legacy. Writing can remain after its author is gone. His mother was getting to see that part of her life take shape while continuing to write.
Her experience also showed how publishing tools had changed what was possible for her. The manuscript hadn’t disappeared. The opportunity to publish it had changed, and Ed helped her use it.
Guest Links
Ed Akay’s website:
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/edakaymodel/
Key Takeaways
From Darkness grew from a photography project into a biography created with Jason Reading.
Ed used his self-publishing experience to help his mother publish a manuscript written decades earlier.
Local newspaper outreach helped bring attention to a book with a direct connection to the community.
Ed’s support continued beyond publication as his mother wrote and released additional work.
Our conversation connected publishing with finding appreciative readers and preserving an author’s legacy.
Publishing With Bright Headed Publishing
Ed’s experience with his mother’s manuscript shows how much happens between having the writing and getting a book into readers’ hands.
Bright Headed Publishing provides hands-on publishing support for selected authors with completed or nearly completed manuscripts. Depending on the project, that work can include interior formatting, print-ready file preparation, ISBN assignment under the BHP imprint, proof review, and distribution setup through KDP, IngramSpark, and Draft2Digital.
We also help authors prepare to introduce their work through professional media kits, launch materials, and targeted TrustBridge™ introductions. Each project receives attention to the book and the support it needs beyond publication day.
If you’re serious about publishing your manuscript, contact Bright Headed Publishing and tell us about your project.
https://brightheadedpublishing.com
Finley’s Journey Spotlight
Finley’s Journey by Jeff Hepner, published under the Bright Headed Publishing imprint, is another example of helping an author bring their work into the world.
The first book in The Classroom Creatures Chronicles™ follows a young trout from a classroom tank toward open water. Connected to authentic conservation experiences, the story introduces trout life cycles, watersheds, and river stewardship.
The project extends into educational resources, including the Finley’s Journey Student Workbook. Story-aligned observation activities and reflection prompts give families and educators ways to continue exploring the subject with young readers.
The book and companion resources reflect the publishing and resource-development work BHP provides: producing the story while considering how it can be used in classrooms and communities.
Explore Finley’s Journey and its companion resources:
https://brightheadedpublishing.com/new-releases
Bright Headed Publishing Resources
Explore the services, books, and communities across the Bright Headed Publishing ecosystem.
The Author’s Mic™ — Be a Guest
If you are an author, editor, publishing professional, or creative doing meaningful work in the literary space, apply to be a guest on The Author’s Mic™:
https://brightheadedpublishing.com/be-a-guest
TrustBridge™
TrustBridge™ connects indie authors with bookstores, book clubs, podcasts, and other literary platforms through curated introductions and real relationship-building. Every author package includes a professional media kit.
For authors — TrustBridge™ Author Services:
https://brightheadedpublishing.com/trustbridgetm-author-services
For bookstores, podcasts, book clubs, and other literary partners — TrustBridge™ Partner Network:
https://brightheadedpublishing.com/partner-with-us
The Indie Author Toolkit
Practical tools and strategy for making stronger decisions throughout the author journey:
https://brightheadedpublishing.com/products/digital-product-10197841
Books From Bright Headed Publishing
Discover and support books published by Bright Headed Publishing:
https://brightheadedpublishing.com/products
Indie Reader Society™
Join a reader community created to discover and discuss books by indie authors:
https://bookclubs.com/the-indie-reader-society/join/
Free Guide: So You Wanna Write a Book
If you have a book idea but need help understanding where to begin, download the free guide:
https://brightheadedpublishing.com
Watch, Comment, and Stay Connected
Watch my conversation with Ed, and tell me in the comments: have you ever contacted a local newspaper or community organization about your book? What happened?
Share this blog with an author considering direct outreach—or someone helping a family member publish their writing. Follow Bright Headed Publishing for more author conversations, publishing updates, and indie-book discoveries.
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