When I signed the contract for Just Enough Room for Christmas, there was the usual offer of publisher support and promotions. I dutifully filled out the questionnaire. The publisher has been great at sending review copies to journals and magazines, to anyone who prefers a hard copy to a PDF.
I hired a publicist. I filled out her questionnaire and took all the advice on Instagram posts and building the following. She has been hugely helpful in organizing, arranging impactful reviews, and linking me to podcasts I would not even hope to attract.
But I learned from earlier launches that if I really want my book sold, it is my job.
What I did not do: launch team
Some authors organize launch teams and ask people to apply to be on it, share articles on certain days, and check off items on a tally sheet. Often, there is a free copy of the book or other perks in return for your help.
What I did: reciprocate
I use the “I get by with a little help from my friends” method, of inviting my critique groups, friends, contacts, and former launch group. This is entirely reciprocal! I have invested time and effort over the year to build up not a platform of followers, but a bunch of writing friends by “paying it forward.” It means we celebrate together.
What I did not do: national campaign
I chose not to spend money on a national advertising campaign. I also passed on the paid offer to put my book on a Times Square billboard. After all, when you’re in New York, paying attention to billboards can be risky with all the traffic!
What I did: stayed local
Every church where I have ministered received a press release ready for the bulletin.
Every area library was sent an email to the head of the children’s department by name, asking them to consider my book for their collection, with links to their usual library distributors.
Every area preschool director was offered an invitation by name to schedule a story time with me this fall, which will include a free copy of the book.
What I did not do: BLAST book tour
An agency will often focus on a tour of blogs each day for 1 or 2 weeks. All I see online is the same book – sometimes the same article. And then it is gone.
What I did: spread the word
Because I wrote a Christmas book, I contacted all my blogger buddies and requested a slot sometime between Sept 2 (book birthday!) and the second week in Dec, when only grandparents running through airports are still shopping. With that range of dates, 18 out of said yes!
What is making me crazy: I could do more!
Scheduled a storytelling at Barnes and Noble
Developed a book launch funnel
Joined BookTok or Bookstagram
Taken out ads on Facebook or Amazon
Created a pre-launch email list
Presented webinars with live Q&A on U stream
Participate in an AMA Subreddit on Reddit.com
(Ok, those last two are so cutting edge I don’t know what they are!)
There is no end to the launch ideas – just an end to my time and energy.
Robin Currie spent her library career in the children’s department, where she could baa, moo, and honk without getting shushed. Her writing engages children not only in noisemaking but jumping, waving, and face making. So do her sermons.
Despite her incessant need to wiggle, Robin earned a Master’s Degree in Library Science and worked in public libraries before answering the call to seminary. She holds a Master’s of Divinity and Doctorate of Preaching, and remains active in area churches.
She and her husband have 4 mature children and a crop of grown-up grandchildren who keep them from becoming Old Foggies. Because there is no fun noise for that.
Robin has traditionally published more than 45 picture books. She writes stories to read and read again!