I am not surprised in the least that you chose what sounds like the perfect venue for your book launch, Alison. I am so bummed I couldn't be a part of it! Know that I'm rooting for BLUE HOURS from afar!
Very interesting, and useful. The adult education college where I teach Creative writing has a termly event where students read out a piece they've written. The guest speaker is usually a published author who took Creative writing classes at the college as a student! They then have the opportunity to sell copies of their book. I think it works very well.
I loved the run down on your book launch. It sounded like a great success. I know I would have enjoyed it...and by the way my reason for not being there had nothing to do with the location. In fact, I'm interested in seeing the place. Maybe we can meet there some time for a coffee...wink, wink!
Congratulations on BLUE HOURS, Alison! And thanks for sharing this helpful guidance on how to apply setting, characters, and plot to the book launch. As for the $1300 venue, didn’t you ask if they’d take a post dated check time-released to concur with the book’s inclusion on the New York Times bestseller list? Bravo to you and here’s to great good fortune!
Thanks for sharing this, I really enjoyed learning about all the decisions you were making. Don't have any particular desire to do since my main sales ebooks and my launches are all in my online venue, but I have a friend who hopefully be doing a launch of her non-fiction book someday, and all this should be very relevant for her.
Over the past 15 years I've done most of the suggested things, blog tours, launch party on FB, but works best for me is to keep my fans informed through my daily newsletter and my monthly promotions newsletter.I do this by doing over about 6 months, with reveal of title, keeping them up with progress, then title reveal, sometimes sneak peeks, and then when it goes live, post with all the buy links. Since I have around 3000 subscribers to the monthly newsletter and 800 for the daily...and most are fans of at least the historical mystery series, I usually get really good initial week of sales and bumped up ranking. Then I also get a new release email from Bookbub, that adds to the bounce. This is where the work I do in keeping fans engaged in the long periods between publishing has really helped. (and doing a series, which in itself helps, stand alones, particularly in different genres, must be really hard without some active trad publishing backing.
Would be delighted to be an example. I am one of those indie authors who was fortunate enough to be an early adopter, financially secure enough not to have to burn myself out trying to do everything and publish multiple books a year, and wise enough to know my limits...and yes, consistency, persistence, and patience have been key!
Congratulations, Alison! And thank you for all of this wonderful information! Will buy your book at an independent (and someday when we meet, you’ll sign it for me:) Brava, my friend!
So nice to see all of this laid out. I love how much you thought about setting! I recently did a bookstore launch in Vancouver (at Book Warehouse on Main) and it went really well. As you say, they had someone to do introductions and people could buy books easily. I was busy chatting, so it would have been hard to deal with credit card apps too. I had wanted to do the launch at a cool bar, because that is what a friend did, and it was so fun. But then someone started playing Pac Man in the background lol. Anyway, the bookstore setting was gorgeous, because we were surrounded by books! I later did one in Chilliwack at a brew pub and that was also amazing (and gloriously free to use their upstairs mezzanine... Sidekick Brewing). People could eat and drink and they had a microphone and a view of the river! Two things that I think worked for either event are to advertise doors open at x time and show starts at x time a half hour later. That way I could get some visiting in beforehand (and even book selling). Also it really helped to have someone ready with questions. I did a shared event where both authors asked each other questions and it got a really wonderful conversation going between us. It also gave the audience a moment to think of their own things to ask. Congratulations on your book Alison!
Both of your events sound so good, Heather! Glad you shared this. Love the idea of a two-author Q&A time! Also the thought to list doors-open and reading/presentation time--yes! Something I wish I'd done.
This is a fabulous description of a physical book launch. I enjoy doing them at bookstores, but some of my most successful have been at coffee shops. I've also done book launches at libraries. I find each book launch is unique.
I am not surprised in the least that you chose what sounds like the perfect venue for your book launch, Alison. I am so bummed I couldn't be a part of it! Know that I'm rooting for BLUE HOURS from afar!
Thank you, Mary Jo! I do appreciate.
Very interesting, and useful. The adult education college where I teach Creative writing has a termly event where students read out a piece they've written. The guest speaker is usually a published author who took Creative writing classes at the college as a student! They then have the opportunity to sell copies of their book. I think it works very well.
That's a great idea--and it creates community! You really need to see how others do this --
Great. I thought it might be a useful option for you at some point too, although you've probably thought of it already. 😀
Maybe someone at UBC will send an invite :)
I loved the run down on your book launch. It sounded like a great success. I know I would have enjoyed it...and by the way my reason for not being there had nothing to do with the location. In fact, I'm interested in seeing the place. Maybe we can meet there some time for a coffee...wink, wink!
That would be lovely!!
Was happy I made it in time to get a signed copy!
And I was so happy to see you--thank you, Rachel!
Congratulations on BLUE HOURS, Alison! And thanks for sharing this helpful guidance on how to apply setting, characters, and plot to the book launch. As for the $1300 venue, didn’t you ask if they’d take a post dated check time-released to concur with the book’s inclusion on the New York Times bestseller list? Bravo to you and here’s to great good fortune!
Ha! Love that... !
Thank you for all of your good wishes, and encouraging word, Andrew -
Thanks for sharing this, I really enjoyed learning about all the decisions you were making. Don't have any particular desire to do since my main sales ebooks and my launches are all in my online venue, but I have a friend who hopefully be doing a launch of her non-fiction book someday, and all this should be very relevant for her.
Do share with her--thank you! Have you ever thought about what you might do for an online launch?
Over the past 15 years I've done most of the suggested things, blog tours, launch party on FB, but works best for me is to keep my fans informed through my daily newsletter and my monthly promotions newsletter.I do this by doing over about 6 months, with reveal of title, keeping them up with progress, then title reveal, sometimes sneak peeks, and then when it goes live, post with all the buy links. Since I have around 3000 subscribers to the monthly newsletter and 800 for the daily...and most are fans of at least the historical mystery series, I usually get really good initial week of sales and bumped up ranking. Then I also get a new release email from Bookbub, that adds to the bounce. This is where the work I do in keeping fans engaged in the long periods between publishing has really helped. (and doing a series, which in itself helps, stand alones, particularly in different genres, must be really hard without some active trad publishing backing.
Connect, connect, connect....
Daily. Monthly.
And maintaining between books!
I so appreciate you sharing this! I'm giving a talk on the Canadian publishing scene, and I'd love to mention your work, your newsletter, and this MO.
Consistency!
Would be delighted to be an example. I am one of those indie authors who was fortunate enough to be an early adopter, financially secure enough not to have to burn myself out trying to do everything and publish multiple books a year, and wise enough to know my limits...and yes, consistency, persistence, and patience have been key!
Congratulations, Alison! And thank you for all of this wonderful information! Will buy your book at an independent (and someday when we meet, you’ll sign it for me:) Brava, my friend!
I like the sound of that--'when we meet'! Some day!
So nice to see all of this laid out. I love how much you thought about setting! I recently did a bookstore launch in Vancouver (at Book Warehouse on Main) and it went really well. As you say, they had someone to do introductions and people could buy books easily. I was busy chatting, so it would have been hard to deal with credit card apps too. I had wanted to do the launch at a cool bar, because that is what a friend did, and it was so fun. But then someone started playing Pac Man in the background lol. Anyway, the bookstore setting was gorgeous, because we were surrounded by books! I later did one in Chilliwack at a brew pub and that was also amazing (and gloriously free to use their upstairs mezzanine... Sidekick Brewing). People could eat and drink and they had a microphone and a view of the river! Two things that I think worked for either event are to advertise doors open at x time and show starts at x time a half hour later. That way I could get some visiting in beforehand (and even book selling). Also it really helped to have someone ready with questions. I did a shared event where both authors asked each other questions and it got a really wonderful conversation going between us. It also gave the audience a moment to think of their own things to ask. Congratulations on your book Alison!
Both of your events sound so good, Heather! Glad you shared this. Love the idea of a two-author Q&A time! Also the thought to list doors-open and reading/presentation time--yes! Something I wish I'd done.
Thank you for this! And congrats on your book!!
This is a fabulous description of a physical book launch. I enjoy doing them at bookstores, but some of my most successful have been at coffee shops. I've also done book launches at libraries. I find each book launch is unique.
Oh! Good to mention libraries! Yes.
Your words about coffee shops... I wonder about creating a reading series a coffee shops... with writers (or actors!) who read aloud really well??
Or would one end up with Heather's Pac Man experience :) !