Thank you for this, Kate! I'm in the same boat (spring 2025 release) and this list has given me lots of ideas. So little of this process is in our control and it's nice to set our eyes on things we *can* actually do to help the book succeed little by little.
So awesome to get to hear the back-end of this! For making it clear and imitate-able. For taking the mystery out of how people get where I want to go in publishing their book. Deep gratitude.
I’m on this path also. My memoir publishes in September 2024. I’m working on a marketing plan now which includes some of your ideas. I’ll add some from your list. Have you thought of asking for advance readers to read the book then agree to post their reviews? Also providing a chapter or two as a free download to gather emails of those who are interested in your book? These are things I’m doing that will target my ideal reader. I went with a hybrid publisher so the marketing and any tours or events are on me. I hired a PR firm too. I had no idea how expensive getting a book into the hands of readers would be. Hopefully I can replicate the marketing plan for future books. Looking forward to hearing more about your book!📖
I went with a hybrid because I knew them. Also I wanted someone to handle all the back end stuff and the distribution. I keep my author rights also. I may self publish my next two books because the expense has been so high.
Yep! We'll get blurbs and ask for reviews down the line. And I don't need to collect emails, because I have all y'all! (Don't worry, I'm not spamming anyone). Good ideas though!
I am so impressed at the scope of your prep work pre launch. I wouldn't even know where to begin with most of the things you have on your list. You're in the business and I know you will be successful with attaining your goals. I need to take a nap just reading about it. Good Luck!
Congratulations, Kate! And a very impressive plan for going forward. I'll be looking forward to the pre-order. We first-time writers need all the help we can get.
Our books are on the same path! I just finished my author questionnaire and wrote a letter to my team about my book. I’m definitely thinking about marketing, even though my book won’t be out until May 2025. I don’t have a cover yet, though, and am dying a little. I can’t wait to see it.
Slow and emotional? And exciting! One minute I feel like I'm on top of the world and the next I wonder why the heck I'm doing this. Haha. I love my team, though, and am mostly just grateful I get to do this at all. How about you?
Same basically! haha. I'm trying to stay grounded in how lucky I am to do this and keep feeling the joy. I've found it a bit tough realizing how much of the process (and ultimately, the success of the book) is out of my control. The actual creative process (collaborating and editing the book with my team!) has been the best part.
How about talks or workshops at writing conferences? You'd be a hit at the Surrey International Writers' Conference, for example (come to Canadaaaaa!). The timing may not work to sell your actual book (it's in October), but you'd likely rack up many subscribers.
Interesting! My first book is coming out at the end of May and I’m experimenting with promotion in the run up to the release date. You’ve got some good suggestions here.
WOW, very thankful this landed in my inbox just as I'm in that production period between final draft filing and pre-order promo and press stuff, thinking "uhhhhh what am I supposed to be doing now...."
Thanks for sharing your plans. My debut picture book pubs in August and I’m still working on launch details.
Thanks for sharing ❤️
This is so helpful as I prepare for my own book launch! congrats to you!
Thank you for this, Kate! I'm in the same boat (spring 2025 release) and this list has given me lots of ideas. So little of this process is in our control and it's nice to set our eyes on things we *can* actually do to help the book succeed little by little.
So awesome to get to hear the back-end of this! For making it clear and imitate-able. For taking the mystery out of how people get where I want to go in publishing their book. Deep gratitude.
Let's make that Richmond event happen!
Congratulations, Kate!
I’m on this path also. My memoir publishes in September 2024. I’m working on a marketing plan now which includes some of your ideas. I’ll add some from your list. Have you thought of asking for advance readers to read the book then agree to post their reviews? Also providing a chapter or two as a free download to gather emails of those who are interested in your book? These are things I’m doing that will target my ideal reader. I went with a hybrid publisher so the marketing and any tours or events are on me. I hired a PR firm too. I had no idea how expensive getting a book into the hands of readers would be. Hopefully I can replicate the marketing plan for future books. Looking forward to hearing more about your book!📖
Sounds like you're doing a lot of the work? Why did you go with a hybrid publisher and not self publish instead?
I went with a hybrid because I knew them. Also I wanted someone to handle all the back end stuff and the distribution. I keep my author rights also. I may self publish my next two books because the expense has been so high.
Yep! We'll get blurbs and ask for reviews down the line. And I don't need to collect emails, because I have all y'all! (Don't worry, I'm not spamming anyone). Good ideas though!
Yes, you have a willing audience here!!
I am so impressed at the scope of your prep work pre launch. I wouldn't even know where to begin with most of the things you have on your list. You're in the business and I know you will be successful with attaining your goals. I need to take a nap just reading about it. Good Luck!
Thank you for letting us tag along on this journey with you!
Congratulations, Kate! And a very impressive plan for going forward. I'll be looking forward to the pre-order. We first-time writers need all the help we can get.
Our books are on the same path! I just finished my author questionnaire and wrote a letter to my team about my book. I’m definitely thinking about marketing, even though my book won’t be out until May 2025. I don’t have a cover yet, though, and am dying a little. I can’t wait to see it.
Same here!! My pub date is late April 2025 and no cover yet (also dying). How are you finding the author journey so far?
Slow and emotional? And exciting! One minute I feel like I'm on top of the world and the next I wonder why the heck I'm doing this. Haha. I love my team, though, and am mostly just grateful I get to do this at all. How about you?
Same basically! haha. I'm trying to stay grounded in how lucky I am to do this and keep feeling the joy. I've found it a bit tough realizing how much of the process (and ultimately, the success of the book) is out of my control. The actual creative process (collaborating and editing the book with my team!) has been the best part.
How about talks or workshops at writing conferences? You'd be a hit at the Surrey International Writers' Conference, for example (come to Canadaaaaa!). The timing may not work to sell your actual book (it's in October), but you'd likely rack up many subscribers.
For sure! I'd love to come to Surrey. If not for 2024, then 2025!!! If you know someone there, give them my name!
This is so helpful! Thank you!
Interesting! My first book is coming out at the end of May and I’m experimenting with promotion in the run up to the release date. You’ve got some good suggestions here.
WOW, very thankful this landed in my inbox just as I'm in that production period between final draft filing and pre-order promo and press stuff, thinking "uhhhhh what am I supposed to be doing now...."
Thank you!