Harper’s Harpings: Launching a Novel

So, I have a new novel coming out in November (3^rd) and this time I am going to shout about it.

I haven’t done anything much for the previous three books (Geary Brothers Series) and short story Stranded at New Year. If I’m honest, I had no idea where to start.

A year or so on from my first publication and I been observing what other authors do, this list is not exhaustive, it’s the tip of the iceberg, I tell thee:

Blurb reveal; cover reveal; release date reveal (all come with blasts from blogs and Facebook parties); Twelve Day countdowns with or without teasers; Newsletter posts out with the first chapter(s); eBook giveaway; Facebook takeovers; their own event with other authors or a slot on another author’s page; Interviews; Spotlight Profile; Goodreads event; Goodreads Q&A; Goodreads giveaway; Individual social media giveaway, e.g. Instagram only giveaway, to gain more followers; Special swag if preorders are sold; Preorder discounted price on a book; Previous books at a discounted price.

The list goes on, but the question is what is the successful formula? I don’t think there is one, apart from good old fashioned hard work. When I think of other products that come on the market, they are on offer for a month or so and then they sit with other competitors on the shelf. Periodically there is a limited edition (I’m thinking chocolate bars now) and competitions to win prizes that involve you buying the product in the first place. There are strict laws about buying a product to win a prize so that can be a tricky area.

Other authors have shared their list of bloggers with me and that was priceless. What I really want to do is, do the cover reveal, synopsis and press publish on the same day and then scurry off to write my next book. It doesn’t work that way sadly, marketing for me takes as much time as writing. In terms of average hours per day. I can type fast so I get a lot of words in per hour.

It’s also difficult to not alienate the book, there have been authors that I have followed for years and then they decide to do a four-month marketing campaign for the book. By the time it’s released, I am sick of seeing it. I don’t want that for my books.

I want people to buy the book because they are interested in giving a new author a tryout or existing readers of mine to take the next journey with me. Leaving a review is helpful, good bad or indifferent. Saying that they hate a cliffhanger will entice another who loves the climactic journey to be denied at the last moment.

Ultimately I want people to read my stories, learn about the world that I have created. In the upcoming tetralogy I have written I have created a set of characters and places that have personal significance.

So, what have I done to launch this new book of mine? I have set up a sign up google docs form for any avid reader that can give me a shout out.  I’m going to take part in Teaser Tuesday and for four weeks will reveal an excerpt. The cover reveal will be on a take over on 6^th October and I’ll take it from there.

I’ve no idea what will work, but I’ll know by the end of this what won’t work.

If you’d like to help me shout out about my new book here is the google docs form:

http://goo.gl/forms/02kFtmLt2c

Thanks for reading

Grace

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Harper’s Motto: You will not be everybody’s favourite flavour, but that’s ok, because they will not always be your favourite flavour.   Be who you want to be and you will attract the people who will support you no matter what.

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