Countdown to Launch

[Joel]

Has anyone done (or been involved with) a full-blown, strategic book launch? What did it consist of?

[Dylan]

I'm planning to do one for my next novel. I'm thinking I'll put it on pre-sale for 2 - 3 months. While I have some ideas as to what I want to do, I'm also very interested in hearing what others have to say.

[Brena]

Dylan wrote: "I'm planning to do one for my next novel. I'm thinking I'll put it on pre-sale for 2 - 3 months. While I have some ideas as to what I want to do, I'm also very interested in hearing what others hav..."

What is your strategy for this? This is all very confusing for me. Any ideas you have would be greatly appreciated. I really appreciate all the help you have given me and respect your expertise.

[Joel]

Anyone out there willing to form a committee to help other authors with their book launches? I know people tend to think more about selling their own books, but who knows? Maybe karma comes back around.

[Brenda]

Joel wrote: "Anyone out there willing to form a committee to help other authors with their book launches? I know people tend to think more about selling their own books, but who knows? Maybe karma comes back ar..."

It's an interesting idea. I suppose you'd need to try to collect up people who have similar levels of skills (or SOME skills) with respect to launches. I've never been good at them, so someone like me would be more of an anchor than a helper, unfortunately!

[Joel]

I'm just thinking of people doing anything they can to help other authors - reviews, blog spots, asking FB friends to like book pages, that sort of thing. Actual expertise would, of course, be fantastic. But everything in quantity helps.

[Timbo]

I could join your committee and tell people what not to do. For instance, what if we call it a cabal of authors instead of a committee? See what I mean? I'm full of terrible advice I could help people with.

[Joel]

Joel wrote: "Anyone out there willing to form a committee to help other authors with their book launches? I know people tend to think more about selling their own books, but who knows? Maybe karma comes back ar..."

I didn't think so.

[Brenda]

Joel wrote: "Joel wrote: "Anyone out there willing to form a committee to help other authors with their book launches? I know people tend to think more about selling their own books, but who knows? Maybe karma ..."

Yes, Joel - I think this would be a tough one. People have such different schedules, abilities, ideas...

If you tried to organize a committee of authors to coordinate a book launch, you'd probably end up feeling like you were herding cats.

[Jay]

Joel wrote: "Joel wrote: "Anyone out there willing to form a committee to help other authors with their book launches? I know people tend to think more about selling their own books, but who knows? Maybe karma ..."

While the idea is noble, the execution would be fraught with pitfalls. One man's Shakespeare is another man's trashcan liner. And who's responsible if the launch is an abysmal failure -- the author or the committee. Not to mention that writers, by nature, will endlessly argue the tense of a verb, and many, many other aspects of the language. How then is the "correct" book launch not endlessly arguable? Etc. Etc. Etc.

I just can't see this sailing smooth waters.

[Brenda]

Jay wrote: "One man's Shakespeare is another man's trashcan liner

I love that! (and so true :-)

[Joel]

The execution would be perfectly simple. You can volunteer to read other people's books and write reviews. Post mentions in blogs. Tell your friends. Like Facebook pages. Easy peasey. And if a book would make better fish-wrap than fine literature, give the author the option of having you not post anything. Or post it in Latin. Either/or.

[Rebecca]

Joel wrote: "The execution would be perfectly simple. You can volunteer to read other people's books and write reviews. Post mentions in blogs. Tell your friends. Like Facebook pages. Easy peasey. And if a book..."

This is the support all authors (and non-authors) can offer each other, and it doesn't really require a committee. Just some outreach by the authors, and some commitment by the rest.

As for launches...I keep trying, but I suck at it. For example, I should be scheduling a release right now for my next book, and planning a cover reveal and all that. Instead, I don't have a cover, am still waffling about the title, and have a long way to go on the edits.

Most of us could probably benefit from a professional promoter, but of course none of us can afford one.

[Will]

I can see the appeal of something like a group where authors help each other, but there are bear traps here.

Amazon takes a dim view about authors getting reviews by any means which might seem a little suspicious. For example, GR doesn't allow review swaps. Amazon will take down review farms when they find them.

If something as formal as a committee gets into mutual reviewing then it could be accused of review swaps. The argument goes that if the group reviews my book then I feel obliged to review everyone else's.

And even if the committee is squeaky clean it could be tarnished by implication. I've been asked a couple of times to join author review groups and I have always declined.

By all means help each other with the practicalities of editing, cover design, marketing, etc. But I would strongly advise against creating a review-swapping club or something that might look like one.

As an aside, I've just started Mark Dawson's course: "Self Publishing Formula 101." It's pricey and currently closed for new members, but seems to be a thorough training course in how to market books.

[Joel]

Will wrote: "I can see the appeal of something like a group where authors help each other, but there are bear traps here.

Amazon takes a dim view about authors getting reviews by any means which might seem a l..."

I entirely agree re: review swapping - I think it's a bad idea. Ditto, the automatic granting of five-star reviews. Reviews should be honest, always. And, in retrospect, my use of the word committee was not well chosen. Perhaps a set of members willing to commit to reading books by other member-authors, not necessarily organized, and willing also, if warranted, to give the book a mention elsewhere...Not a conspiracy of publicity as much as a ready reader source.

[Rebecca]

I agree about any formal review-swap being problematic. I was thinking more about all those other ways that we can help each other promote. And if you happen to actually read the book, and like it, posting a review is nice.

It's actually a little frustrating that I have to worry about posting reviews of books by my friends, though. I can always (and do) put them on my blog, but that doesn't help get those Amazon numbers.

[Joseph]

I've actually got quite good reviews-to-sales ratio, mainly because I hardly sell any books. :-/
Re the launch question, I suspect having at least a bit of a following is pretty much required.

[Guy]

That's for sure Joseph.

[Belinda]

A launch consists of going insane, staying up all hours of the night trying to get the word out and then realizing that it's a long hit and miss stretch.

[Joel]

Belinda wrote: "A launch consists of going insane, staying up all hours of the night trying to get the word out and then realizing that it's a long hit and miss stretch."

What did you do for your launch?