Launching a book is scary! So scary in fact that I’ve been putting this one off for months, maybe even years. As is the usual with me, I tend to write a first draft in about 3 months and then go into subsequent drafts and rewrites and edits that last for years…I then procrastinate about how ready the book really is, worry endlessly about whether it’s had enough beta readers and generally do everything I can to put off actually releasing it.

Why? I think because in writing a book, you put your heart and soul into it. You immerse yourself in it, become obsessed by it, fall in love with it and in releasing it, you hope to have some kind of recognition of that, in sales and reviews, and as most indie authors will know, this is by no means easy. If you have money to spare, it helps. Money will buy you an editor, a decent front cover and an advertising campaign. High sales and plentiful reviews are still not guaranteed but you’ve got a better chance. For writers who don’t have a single spare penny? It’s a much harder and more frustrating process which at times barely seems worth it.

Anyway, I digress. There are many reasons I delay book releases and fear of failure is the biggest one. I don’t have massively high hopes but I do hope and dream of decent sales and positive reviews. And if I put off the release? Well, I delay the fear and can sleep better for longer.

But! The time has come. I am currently nearing the end of The Boy With The Thorn In His Side Part 6, and when that’s done, I will have five unpublished books waiting for release dates. Five!! That’s insane. I think that says a lot about my relationship with writing! Endless ideas, addictive/compulsive tendencies and then utter fear and denial. It also explains why I’ve written my whole life but only starting publishing in my mid-30’s.

So, with that in mind, one of those five books will be released in December! I decided on December as it’s a good time to release a book, when people are thinking about Christmas presents and it’s dark and miserable outside and people want a book to curl up with. That gives me almost three months to plan the launch. I’m already daunted, although I have done this before. I am tired just thinking about it.

Having already ruled out a physical launch (as an indie author I am too afraid no one will come and very good at self-sabotaging myself) I do need to make a plan and stick to it.

So, this post is my book launch plan for YA novel A Song For Bill Robinson, potential release date Friday 6th December. I will probably add to and revise this plan as time goes on and as always, please feel free to comment! If I have missed anything, let me know! Any good ideas? I’d love to hear them!

• Decide on release date
• speak to cover designer again to prompt first sketch of ideas
• go through book again for final typos etc
• decide on a good tag line for promo etc
• make a list of ARC reviewers and ask in Street Team and Facebook page
• contact possible ARC reviewers
• send book to agreed ARC reviewers
• organise a blog tour
• revisit Pinterest board and add to/revise/work on
• start making release day and release countdown graphics on Canva
• organise advertising, free or paid, decide!
• contact similar genre authors to organise giveaways and/or blog spots/interviews
• start making quote graphics on Canva and start sharing to Instagram etc
• contact YA booktubers!
• contact YA book reviewers!
• put print copy together to release on same day as ebook
• organise Amazon or Goodreads giveaway?
• create a Facebook launch day event and a separate Instagram one?
• invite other authors to event to share posts/books etc
• create graphics for online launch events
• create launch day competitions for Facebook and Instagram
• Put together a series of blog posts to release up to launch day about the book
• set ebook at 99p for one week only
• invite people to Facebook event and hope they come!
• submit the book to competitions/awards!
• drink lots of wine and remember that at least I tried!!!