Guest Blog by client Philippa Ballantine!
It’s the most exciting time in an author’s life; the birth of your book into the world! It can be overwhelming, exciting…and just a little bit terrifying. All the hours spent crafting this book are coming to fruition, but you must realize that you are also only one of many, many books that will be released on that date.
So how can you be ready for this momentous day, and make people take notice of your offering above all the others?
First of all, don’t wait for the last moment to get ready! The publishing industry gives you some time to prepare so do take advantage of it as best you can.
The month before a book’s release, and the couple directly after, are the most important time for you literary baby—the golden time when it is needs to get attention.
However, you should be preparing long in advance of that. I usually gear up three months in advance, just to give myself enough time to talk to the people I need to and gather the finances and resources I will need.
Gearing up also includes reaching out to book bloggers, sorting out any giveaways I’ve got planned (you’ll want to check with your publisher about what they are willing to do, and decide what you are prepared to fund yourself), and spending some money on Facebook advertising to get more Likes on my series pages.
I do this last one a little before hand so that I have a group of people that I can alert when the release happens. Naturally, if you don’t have a blog, a group page on Facebook, or a Twitter account, you should work on those two or three months leading up to the big day. Those kind of things you don’t want to launch into only a month out because they need time to grow. You certainly can’t force them in the last month.
So as you set out, remember everything has a price in either time or money—or both. You need to decide how much of these valuables you are willing to spend, keeping in mind the pull of day-job, and family. However, if you’re clever and careful with social media you can make the most of what you do have.
Here are some of my favorite outlets in that golden month:
- Book Bloggers. I have found these passionate folk to be powerful methods of getting the word out. People have always turned to their friends to recommend books, and in this bold new world of the internet, the definition of friends is not just the person who lives across the street. Signings and book tours are fun things to do, but I’ve found online ones even more effective. You can certainly reach more people that way. When I was living in New Zealand it was the only way I could reach beyond the shores of my homeland, and it did make an impression. If you don’t know where to start, there are people out there that can organize your tour for you. Think of it as hiring a personal assistant for just a short amount of time. I’ve organized my own, and hired others to help. The method I select depends on how much time I have on my hands with other business.
- Goodreads.com. Also join Goodreads.com, make sure your books and blog are linked to your profile, and do consider running a giveaway there in that first month before release day. People sign up to win free books, and for the cost of a few copies you get a lot of exposure.
- Your blog. You should already have one of these, and built up a following before your book release. So post about your book before it comes. Do a cover reveal. Talk about the journey you’re going through. Then a month out, run a competition for signed copies of the book. I use https://www.rafflecopter.com/ to handle mine.
- Your Facebook page. Having built up “Likes” on your page, and posted interesting things on there for the last month (our steampunk series the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences posts not just information on our books, but also spreads the love in the steampunk community), you are ready to go with publicizing your book. Don’t be afraid to spend a few dollars promoting a post. Some people rail against paying Facebook anything, but money spent here does make a difference. Make the post interesting and eye-catching though…not just ‘buy my book’.
- Twitter. Some people tweet as their characters (like our @BooksandBraun) and some people tweet about writing or their daily life. Whatever you do keep it interesting, and don’t just relentlessly tweet ‘buy my book’—that will certainly turn people off to your message. Be a person, not just a constant robot posting links.
- Instagram, tumblr, and a hundred other social media outlets. There are a lot more other choices out there, think creatively about what you are comfortable with, and what you can handle time wise. For example, I enjoy taking pictures of my books on Instagram, and I share them to my other social media outlets, but that is something quick and easy I can do. Don’t just rush at social media, think about what suits you, and what gives you the greatest impression.
I’ve only brushed the surface of what’s available, but above all, don’t be inundated or overwhelmed. Have a plan and a budget and stick to it. You don’t want to be so run off your feet that you don’t enjoy this awesome moment. You’ve earned it, but just be sure to share it with as many people as possible.
Bio
New Zealand born fantasy writer and podcaster Philippa (Pip) Ballantine is the author of the Books of the Order and the Shifted World series. She is also the co-author with her husband Tee Morris of the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences novels. Her awards include an Airship, a Parsec, the Steampunk Chronicle Reader’s Choice, and a Sir Julius Vogel. She currently resides in Manassas, Virginia with her husband, daughter, and a furry clowder of cats. She can be found online at pjballantine.com and ministryofpeculiaroccurrences.com.
