What it really means to be a hybrid author
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Xio has spent ten years building a career that blends self-publishing and traditional publishing. Her story offers a real look at what that balance requires. In this blog post, we’ll explore her experience.
An accidental start
Xio never planned to become a writer. She was a full-time touring musician when the habit began. Late nights after European shows left her wired and restless. She started posting fan fiction on Tumblr to pass the time. One project, inspired by a political thriller series, grew into 200,000 words. It went viral before she understood what genre she was even writing.
From the stage to self-publishing
Xio’s music background shaped her approach to books. As an indie rock musician, she handled her own branding and marketing. That DIY mindset carried directly into self-publishing. She spent a year studying the industry before releasing anything. Her first novella was a quiet test, published with no marketing push. Word spread through author networks anyway, and her name recognition grew from there.
Building toward a traditional deal
By 2018, editors and agents began approaching Xio at conferences. She had reached the limits of what she could do alone. Ads never suited her style, so she relied on community and word of mouth. When Sourcebooks approached her, she pitched an all-female rock band series. She landed both a book deal and a literary agent within the same stretch of time. As a hybrid author, she found that traditional interest often followed proven indie success.
Editorial growing pains
Traditional editing brought new challenges Xio hadn’t faced as an indie. Her original editor left Sourcebooks partway through the first round of edits. A new editor stepped in and asked her to rebuild the manuscript her way. The process took longer than expected and shook Xio’s confidence early on. She eventually pushed back on choices central to her voice. The publisher listened, and most of those elements stayed intact.
Letting go of the cover and title
Traditional publishing meant sharing control over packaging decisions. Xio had her own titles ready, but the team wanted something different. Sourcebooks tested roughly forty title options before settling on one. “The Girl With Stars in Her Eyes” was the final choice, and it stuck. She wasn’t as involved in that title as she expected to be. Still, she loved the result and the covers that followed. Small creative touches, like her character’s purple lipstick, made it into the final art.
The trouble with timelines
Timing is where hybrid authors feel the biggest shift. Indie authors can publish whenever they choose. Traditional houses lock in dates months or years ahead of release. Xio finished her final edits nine months before her book hit shelves. That gap can drain the energy an author once had for a story. She has had to reread her own books before book club events, just to remember key scenes.
Staying professional under pressure
Alessandra shared her own early misstep after a release date got pushed back. She vented online about the delay and quickly heard from her agent. The publisher had already called, unhappy with the public complaint. That moment taught her that publishing relationships work like any business partnership. Emotions matter, but a united front matters more. Xio echoed that lesson, noting how much trust a hybrid author has to build with both sides.
Why hybrid still works
Despite the friction, Xio has no plans to leave either path. She values the total creative control that self-publishing offers. She also values the collaborative resources a publishing house brings. Her next release will be her first fully indie book in years. For her, being a hybrid author means keeping both doors open. It lets her match each story to the path that fits it best.
A clearer definition
Xio also drew a line between two often-confused terms. A hybrid author publishes through both indie and traditional routes. Hybrid publishing is a different service entirely, handling production for a fee. Understanding that distinction matters for anyone exploring these paths. It helps set realistic expectations for control, cost, and timeline.
Final thoughts
Xio Axelrod’s path from touring musician to hybrid author wasn’t planned. Still, it offers a working model for writers weighing their options. Her experience shows that neither path has to be exclusive. Indie roots can lead to strong traditional partnerships, and vice versa. For any writer curious about becoming a hybrid author, her story is worth the full watch.
About Xio
Xio Axelrod is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary fiction and romance, known for her Lillys series, including “The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes” and “Girls with Bad Reputations.” A former music industry performer, she still writes songs and sings when she’s not writing books. Xio is also an outspoken advocate for human rights and mental health awareness, themes that often surface in her work. She lives in South Philadelphia.
This blog post was developed from a previous First Draft Friday conversation between Alessandra Torre and Xio Axelrod. Want to hear Xio and Alessandra discuss these techniques in their own words? Watch the full 30-minute First Draft Friday conversation, including questions from the live audience. Episode #71
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