LESSONS FROM THE LAUNCH OF PAINTED: A THRILLING NEW HORROR NOVEL
Yes, I can now shout it from the rooftops!
PAINTED has been published!
Available at all online retailers.
It is entirely true when I say that PAINTED wouldn't be the book it is without a barrow full of help from some amazing friends and family, and from strangers. From people who chose to join the Launch Team over on Facebook, and acted as Beta readers and ARC readers. They really are amazing people. Thank you.
I tried following all the launch plans littering the internet. Launch plans written by authors and experts with a lot more experience than I have. And here are my key learning points:
- You need a plan. You cannot wing a proper launch.
- You need to write that plan down. Do not rely on remembering everything. You will forget something. Trust me.
- You may have only just started your Man Booker Prize winning novel, but start prepping your launch now. Don't laugh, this bit is true. Start nurturing the bloggers, the media contacts, your launch team, now. Massage them, wine and dine them, tempt them with tantalising snippets from your work. You can't turn up begging on their doorstep three days before the launch and hope for some media. That's not the way it works.
- Pay for help. "Oh but I've got no money." Yes well, that may be true. But put some aside for all the things you're going to need - a great cover, an editor, formatting software, Amazon advertising, inclusion in catalogues, membership to various society groups - Alliance of Independent Authors, Society of Authors, Society of Horror Authors etc etc.
- Are you still following that plan? Step-by-step?
- Newsletter swaps - these need to be organised weeks in advance. Start working on those now. Yes, even if you don't have a firm date for your launch. Make contact. Write those contacts down in a master list somewhere. Same goes for blog sites, review sites. You cannot wing this part. Be like the Avon Lady, and know the best doors to knock on.
- If you are doing paperbacks, get them into your hands before the launch. It makes marketing so much easier if you can take photos of those bound beauties. It also makes it easier to tempt people to review your book by offering them copies. Media sites like to give away copies if they're going to put in the effort to interview you. This is a marketing cost. Be prepared to shoulder this cost.
- Don't try to do everything, all at once. You need to space out your energies, or you will burn yourself out. Trust me.
- Your launch team is your best asset. Don't ask them to do too much. Reward them. And be grateful for the effort they put in on your behalf. They didn't have to do it. Don't underestimate how important they are to your success.
- And as Rachel Hunter said, "it won't happen overnight, but it will happen".
You can buy PAINTED from all online retailers now
CLICK ON THE BOOK COVER BELOW
