Ranjani Rao's Blog: Book Launch Updates, page 10

It’s Launch Day!

  It’s finally here!  15th October 2021! The day my book becomes available to readers everywhere. Under my ribs is a feeling that is a curious mixture of happy butterflies and a quiet sense of accomplishment, with a pinch of anxiety about how my book baby will be received by the world. I have felt…

Book launch updates

#indieauthorlife2021 #booklaunchjourney #rewritingmyhappilyeverafter My book launch is ONE WEEK away!

😱OMG!! Counting down to the 15th of October 2021!!

There's something new happening every week. Had a few unexpected connections reaching out to me, and a few new ideas that struck me in the middle of the night as I lay awake in bed, nursing my sore back 😩

📘Is it only 6 days to the book launch of Rewriting My Happily Ever After - A Memoir of Divorce and Discovery?

🎯 Here's a list of 5 things that I have done this week.

1️⃣ With more things 'to do' and fewer days to do them, the pressure is real. But what I really love are the words of encouragment from friends, readers and others who are eager to offer help. Thank you so much 🙏

2️⃣ I did a small poll on Instagram to ask what people wanted to see for my book launch. I guess there is interest in something live (on Instagram or Facebook), interactions with readers and also book readings. The last is under my control, so stay tuned for sneak peeks into the book.

3️⃣ I finally began interviewing some of the amazing women who I came across in my writing and publishing journey, people who have created micro communities where the interactions and connections are genuine and not about going viral. You can listen to them at the "Conversations About Communities" tab on the link in bio. A new one every single day for the coming week.

4️⃣ I did my first Instagram live last week with with @itsmesubhashini 😃 and it was good fun. Makes me feel more confident about doing something live for the book launch. I have a few more interviews lined up for other publications, wish me luck.

5️⃣ As I have been sharing, my body has demanded rest. I have no choice but to surrender (and visit doctors). Keeping fingers crossed 🤞

📚 The book launch is beginning to feel really close now.

Don't forget to participate in the giveaways!

And do stop by to say hi.

#writinglife #publishingjourney #memoir #amwritingmemoir #divorceinindia #womenspeakup #talkaboutdivorce #divorcechronicles #ranjaniwriter #lifeafterdivorce

A New Series – Conversations About Community

  My book launch is exactly one week away! Can’t believe that the day is so close. The final lap of the race. The last few steps to the summit.  As I take a deep breath and look back the road thus far, I see a common theme. As far as my eye can see,…

Book Launch Updates

#indieauthorlife2021 #booklaunchjourney #rewritingmyhappilyeverafter Less than 2 weeks to book launch!

😱OMG!! It's October. And the launch date is the 15th!!

There's something new happeneing every week - new connections, new ideas and new reviews @goodreads. Can't really complain😇

📘As Rewriting My Happily Ever After - A Memoir of Divorce and Discovery gets closer to publication,the stress has got to my body. Have been lounging in bed since yesterday, thanks to my back which finally gave up on me 😩

If you have any tips to heal my back, please share 🙏

🎯 Here's a list of 5 things that I have done this week with LESS THAN 2 weeks to launch.

1️⃣ Finally getting the hang of giveaways - the first one is with @ashtalksbooks on Instagram. Check it out

2️⃣ As reviews keep coming in, it struck me that my book is doing exactly what I hoped it would do - it is opening up conversations about divorce and creating a community centered around understanding it. Which made me remember all the people who do what they do, in their own small way to generate micro-communities. Stay tuned for interviews with some amazing women.

3️⃣ OK - so here's where I am struggling. Haven't done a book launch during a pandemic before. I need ideas (and support). What would you like to see on 15 October 2021 - the official launch date for Rewriting My Happily Ever After. Please help me out 🙏

4️⃣ I'm doing my first Instagram live next week. Those of you who know how tentative I am about social media, this is a big one. It's with @itsmesubhashini on Instagram. Announcement coming soon

5️⃣ As I mentioned earlier, I was focused on taking mental health breaks in the last few weeks. But now my body has demanded rest. I have no choice but to surrender. Hoping that the weekend gives me enough of a break to resume activities next week. Keeping fingers crossed

📚 The book launch is beginning to feel really close now

Looking forward to your ideas for the book launch.

Have a great weekend.

#writinglife #publishingjourney #memoir #amwritingmemoir #bookreviews #divorceinindia #womenspeakup #talkaboutdivorce #divorcechronicles #bookreviews #ranjaniwriter #lifeafterdivorce

Book Launch Updates

#indieauthorlife2021 #booklaunchjourney #rewritingmyhappilyeverafter Less than 2 weeks to book launch!

😱OMG!! It's October. And the launch date is the 15th!!

There's something new happeneing every week - new connections, new ideas and new reviews @goodreads. Can't really complain😇

📘As Rewriting My Happily Ever After - A Memoir of Divorce and Discovery gets closer to publication,the stress has got to my body. Have been lounging in bed since yesterday, thanks to my back which finally gave up on me 😩

If you have any tips to heal my back, please share 🙏

🎯 Here's a list of 5 things that I have done this week with LESS THAN 2 weeks to launch.

1️⃣ Finally getting the hang of giveaways - the first one is with @ashtalksbooks on Instagram. Check it out

2️⃣ As reviews keep coming in, it struck me that my book is doing exactly what I hoped it would do - it is opening up conversations about divorce and creating a community centered around understanding it. Which made me remember all the people who do what they do, in their own small way to generate micro-communities. Stay tuned for interviews with some amazing women.

3️⃣ OK - so here's where I am struggling. Haven't done a book launch during a pandemic before. I need ideas (and support). What would you like to see on 15 October 2021 - the official launch date for Rewriting My Happily Ever After. Please help me out 🙏

4️⃣ I'm doing my first Instagram live next week. Those of you who know how tentative I am about social media, this is a big one. It's with @itsmesubhashini on Instagram. Announcement coming soon

5️⃣ As I mentioned earlier, I was focused on taking mental health breaks in the last few weeks. But now my body has demanded rest. I have no choice but to surrender. Hoping that the weekend gives me enough of a break to resume activities next week. Keeping fingers crossed

📚 The book launch is beginning to feel really close now

Looking forward to your ideas for the book launch.

Have a great weekend.

#writinglife #publishingjourney #memoir #amwritingmemoir #bookreviews #divorceinindia #womenspeakup #talkaboutdivorce #divorcechronicles #bookreviews #ranjaniwriter #lifeafterdivorce

A frangipani tree appears in my memoir - Why?

Photographs and props are often used by authors while writing memoirs. It helps jog their memory and evoke emotions.

In one of the chapters titled "Going with the flow", I mention a frangipani tree that used to be in the front yard of the house that I lived in.

Do you want to know how it relates to my memoir?

When I left my husband's house and moved into a new rented place, I faced many challenges.

1️⃣ The big empty house was scary

2️⃣ The neighborhood was new

3️⃣ I had to figure out everything from scratch

Over time and with help, I learned how to manage, although there were many surprises and setbacks along the way.

🌳One of my biggest lessons came from this frangipani tree in my front yard.

As a Mumbaikar with no gardening experience, I used to water the few plants and this one giant tree that I had inherited while signing the lease. Within a few weeks, I saw the tree shedding a large number of leaves.

😟 I was alarmed. Had I caused this majestic tree to wither thanks to my 'brown thumb' (not sure there is such a term)?

I asked our local freelance gardner for advise.

In his wise way, he told me that this is a sesonal occurence and the tree would once again revive when the weather became warmer.

I was skeptical. Naturally, I checked with Google.

And it confirmed what the gardner said. I was relieved but still impatient.

Just as I was imaptient for my life to go on. I did not like living in a limbo, not knowing how things would turn out - both for the tree and for my own life which seemed to be in the same season of loss.

My frangipani tree became an apt metaphor for my life.

When the tree began to awaken a few months later, with it's green shoots and then flowers making an appearance, I felt a palpable lifting of spirits and a small meaure of confidence that my life would sort itself out as well.

This frangipani tree features in my memoir ✍️

In my memoir, I describe the ebb and flow of my emotions during the those days when my future was extremely uncertain.

There's more in the book.

Perhaps you have felt this way too- afraid of the future while clinging to hope.

Preorder a copy of my memoir - mybook.to/happily-ever-after

Getting Close to Book Launch Day

  When I began writing the book, I was worried that I was shooting in the dark or rather climbing a mountain blindfolded. Although I have been writing for years, most of my writing takes the form of personal essays, short subjective takes on life, my life. Through writing, I seek to study the oft-ignored…

Less than 3 weeks to launch

#rewritingmyhappilyeverafter 3 weeks to book launch!

I can hardly believe it!!

The weeks seems to be passing in a blur but each day brings new connections, new possibilites and new reviews @goodreads . Can't really complain😇

📘As Rewriting My Happily Ever After - A Memoir of Divorce and Discovery gets closer to publication, I must share this - it is stressful. I generally try to not use the 's' word but l can feel it now. Have been blogging about recharging and trying to avoid burnout.😩

If you have any fool-proof tips, please let me know.

🎯 Here's a list of 5 things that I have done this week with LESS THAN 3 weeks to launch.

1️⃣ The best thing about this week was waking up to messages from known and unknown people expressing support and willingness to help get the word about my book out. What more could an #indieauthor like me ask for?

2️⃣ More than 15 reviews @goodreads and growing. And the best part - the book seems to have resonated with a much larger demographic than the one I envisioned!

3️⃣ From my newsletter subscribers to social media followers, from people who know me personally to those who feel that I'm a kindred spirit by simply reading my book, I can't help but feel grateful for all the good vibes that are coming my way 🙏

4️⃣ As I see a community forming around my book, I have been thinking about everyone else who does the same through different means. Planning to talk to a few such community builders. Would you be interested in listening to my conversation with inspiring people who quietly go about doing their thing - making the world a better place, without shouting from the rooftops?

5️⃣ I have been approached by people to have author interaction sessions to speak about my book. A little scared but also happy to be asked. Will keep you posted.

📚 The book launch is beginning to feel really close now 🤞

Let me know if you have any questions.

Looking forward to your ongoing interest and support.

Have a great weekend.

#writinglife #publishingjourney #memoir #amwritingmemoir #bookreviews #goodreads #divorcechronicles #bookreviews #ranjaniwriter #lifeafterdivorce

A little book and an unforgettable card

#throwbackthursday

Do you want to know the story behind the picture? And how it relates to my memoir?

When I began writing the first draft, I used a non-chronological approach. Instead of "once upon a time....", I wrote parts of the story in random order.

My writing time was the first waking hour of each weekday morning. I had to be organised and efficient in order to make the most of it before the demands of the day took over.

Sometimes I used photographs or props to jog my memory. While many of the things I owned, used, or handled during those years are no longer with me, some things continue to be by my side.

1️⃣ Like this hardbound green book. It's been with me for twenty years!!!

📅 Two decades during which so much has changed.

My location - From USA to India to Singapore.

My marital status - of course.

👩‍🦳 👩‍⚕️🥻My job, my age, my haircolor, my address and much more has changed.

Yet this book stays with me, within reach. When I scan the pages, the words transport me to another time - not because they are deep, they are mundane observations, lists and records. But they capture the essence of the years and what they taught me. I can see my handwriting has changed. So have I.

This green notebook features in my memoir ✍️
2️⃣ The card marks a birthday that I cannot forget. It was a time of great despair.

My life as I knew it had come crashing and my brithday had arrived.
- Should I celebrate?
- Should I cry?

I didn't know what to do.

But my 8-year old daughter drew this cheerful card and made me a promise - "Happy birthday, Amma. I will always be with you".

Her tiny hand, her cute drawing and the sincerity of her words gave me strength when I needed it most.

I knew that I had lost many things, but I had her with me - the most precious gift in my life.

Whether I could foresee the future or not, I would have to be brave for her sake.

In my memoir, I describe the raw emotions of those early days when I faced an uncertain future.

There's more in the book.

Perhaps you have felt this way too- lost, sad but also grateful.

#inspiration #divorcechroinlces #lifeafterdivorce #motherhood #ranjaniwriter
May be an image of flower

11

Less than 4 weeks to launch!!

#indieauthorlife2021 #booklaunchjourney #rewritingmyhappilyeverafter

More about my writing and publishing journey.....

📘As Rewriting My Happily Ever After - A Memoir of Divorce and Discovery gets closer to publication, there's more to do but this week was the first time I felt that my book is of value to readersl 😀

🎯 Here's a list of 5 things that I have done this week with LESS THAN 4 weeks to launch.

1️⃣ The best thing this week was getting overwhelmingly postive responses from readers who signed up for the ARC. From Australia to the US, from India and Singapore, people kept adding reviews to Goodreads. I am beyond grateful for all this support. But the best part was the fabulous review by @mallikasmusings that was featured @womensweb. DM me for link if you're curious.

2️⃣ Among my early supporters was @veenarao who kindly gave me a beautiful blurb and this week published my article @nripulse. DM for link to the article which has the back story and describes the motivation for writing this book.

3️⃣ I recorded a podcast and am trying to reach out to other podcasters who may be interested in featuring my book. If youhave any suggestions, please let me know. I am struggling with this 😩

4️⃣ The best part of all this outreach is the new people I am meeting everyday. It is so exciting to wake up and know that you will meet someone new and interesting and that my book is the catalyst for this connection.

5️⃣ Would you like a signed copy of my book? Stay tuned for giveaways.

✍ 📚 I am humbled and in awe of everyone who has helped me get to this place. Although I will try, I am not sure I will be able to acknowledge everyone individually. But I appreciate every little bit of input, advise, strategy and tip that I have received.

The book launch is beginning to feel real now 🤞

✍ I am now getting ready to send my biweekly newsletter tomorrow. It has exclusive freebies and offers leading up to the book launch. Do sign up at the link in bio.

Looking forward to your ongoing interest and support.

Have a great weekend.

#writinglife #publishingjourney #memoir #amwritingmemoir #bookreviews #goodreads #podcasts #goodreads #bookreviews #ranjaniwriter