You're 9 Months from Publication! |
Now is the perfect time to create your event strategy!
You don't have to start reaching out to any venues or bookstores just yet; right now just focus on planning and logistics! Focus on quality over quantity. It's better to plan 3 incredible events rather than 15 okay ones.
Here are some things to keep in mind when creating your event strategy:
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- Finished books will not be ready until your publication date, so please plan any and all events for AFTER your pub date.
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Make sure you at least have a launch party planned. The week/weekend of your pub date is a great time to have it. Consider hosting it at your favorite local independent bookstore so they can help with book sales.
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If you decide to host your launch (or any event) at a non-bookstore venue, think about how you'd like to handle book sales. Most often, authors or friends of authors handle book sales by selling from your author copies and taking payments via cash, Venmo, or Zelle. You can also purchase a Square card reader and create a free Square account to take credit card payments.
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Focus on cities/venues where you have connections and can bring in an audience on your own.
- Consider any local authors with new books coming out to join you at your event. A straight reading is not appealing to bookstores anymore, so try to plan something fun, exciting, and different. Conversations/interviews are great, interactive elements even better.
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Reach out to the bookstores/event coordinators directly. If their contact information isn't visible on their websites, shoot me an email and I'll see if I can dig anything up for you!
- Consider not only bookstore events but also library events and/or university readings or speaking engagements.
- Try not to plan any competing events in the same city around the same time that might split your audience.
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Promote your book event on social media, on your website, in your newsletters, and even to local media. List events in local event listing sites. Create a free EventBrite account to help spread the word and take RSVPs.
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There are many more tips in the Publicity Primer linked below on Pages 7–10, plus linked tips in the Resources section!
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Work continues in Production and Editorial and you should be in constant contact with them at this point!
In Media and Marketing, we're preparing galleys (print and electronic), seasonal catalog copy, press kits, and pitches for the media.
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Your "homework" this month... |
Create a list of bookstores/venues and their contact information. Put together your event pitch (be sure to mention that your book will be published by Red Hen Press, distributed by Publishers Group West so bookstores will know how and where to order your book for the event). Reach out to authors you want to do events with to figure out their availability. You can continue this outreach over the next few months; next month's digest will be all about actually reaching out to bookstores and venues to set these events up!
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Have a specific question or need individualized guidance?
Reach out to me anytime to schedule a 1:1 meeting!
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