How to Launch a Dinosaur
A couple of posts ago, I relayed the long, long trail to sell a 181-word board book manuscript for publication. Here’s the launch!
Triassic
From dinosaurs in my brain to in the book is like waiting to see a firstborn child. Finally, the editor approves the illustrator, and How to Dress a Dinosaur has a cover reveal! Over the top cuteness, I put it on my website, Facebook, and found a launch group of other authors with 2022 releases.
But what about Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, and TikTok? I hire a virtual assistant. I beg family members for photos of any kids in dinosaur costumes or with dinos and unearth my nephew’s dinosaur-themed wedding! Plus, I ordered the cutest-ever dinosaur-themed dress.
Jurassic
Confidently, I contact local preschools, bookstores, and libraries for the Big Launch event. That’s when I’m informed that with a pandemic (I already had shots) going on, no kid programs are being scheduled in March. And everyone is tired of Zoom.
Copies of my book arrive. I get so excited to tear into the packaging, I forget to take the usual “box opening” video. I sneakily check all my area libraries to see if they have How to Dress a Dinosaur on order and, as a “local author,” request they purchase it. My launch group comes through with reviews on Goodreads. I start micro-watching the Amazon New Books page and get very excited when How to Dress a Dinosaur gets to number 11! This is going to be big!
Comet Strike
March 15! This is it! Launch Day!…crickets…
I read How to Dress a Dinosaur to one preschool class outdoors on a blustery day in a heavy coat, which covers my cute dinosaur dress. Sigh.
Cretaceous
At last, a local bookstore is willing to launch How to Dress a Dinosaur on International Dinosaurs Day at the end of May! I bribe my teenage grandchildren to dress in blow-up dinosaur costumes. My own International Dinosaur Day is a real-time event with people who want an autographed copy! Book launches. Post pictures.
Cenozoic
I wrote an adorable sequel to How to Dress a Dinosaur and am informed that the dinosaur market is glutted. Time to move on to mammals...
Award-winning author Robin Currie learned story sharing by sitting on the floor during library story times. She has sold 1.7 M copies of her 40 storybooks and writes stories to read and read again. Take a look at How to Dress a Dinosaur! Amazon.com: How to Dress a Dinosaur: 9781641706438: Currie, Robin, Pace, Alycia: Books