Keeping My Eye on the Prize for Book Launch Day
As I look at my over-filled calendar that’s chock-full of obligations, fun events and outings, to even doctor appointments, I realize I’m just a little over ten weeks away from book launch day. Time surely flies.
The surprising thing is, I’m not very nervous. I think I’ve given myself plenty of lee-way in the off chance that something holds up the project. Publishing can be tricky when there are so many wheels in motion. So many people to rely on to do their part. I’ve been fairly lucky thus far that all of my team, that I’ve had to assemble in order to get this book out, has been on the ball and quick to address their role.
In case you missed what book I’m speaking of, I’ve written a new novel called, Wildflower. It is set to release on July 8th, and I feel that excitement of a new mother all over again, giving birth to a precious gem that’s been twenty-two months in gestation.
The cover design came out better than I could have dreamed! And with the interior being formatted now for both the print version as well as ebook, I’m just waiting for the final product so I can review it.
But I tend to get distracted and unsure of what to do next. With all the deadlines I have for each step to be completed, sometimes I can get overwhelmed with the checklist. The marketing is the most cumbersome. From social media posts, to making videos, creating cards, and bookmarks, to lining up interviews with influencers, book groups, bookstores, and podcasters…it seems endless. Do I hire a PR person? Do I continue to do it myself? For now, I’m doing ok, but self-publishing is a lot.
My most recent endeavor has been to pull together pictures to create a book trailer. Yes, that’s a thing. Like watching a movie trailer, seeing a book trailer can give people a better idea as to what the book is about. A visual aid to pique their interest. Something that eats up a lot of my time but will last forever, and I can use it again and again. Still, it gets exhausting, and once you are on the internet merry-go-round, looking for usable photos, time slips through your fingers faster than a slippery bar of soap. Time management hasn’t always been my greatest strength either.
So the good news is, I am on track, I’m feeling great, and spring is here! This is my favorite time of year and I am the most energized during spring. It’s glorious to get up early at sunrise, breathe deeply in that dewy grass outside with a steamy cup of coffee, and listen to the music of the birds showing off for one another.
I hope you are getting just as excited for my new book as I am. Wildflower is the story of Charlie Kane, a girl living in Sebastopol, California, and her evolution to becoming a woman, struggling to find her worth in a world of turmoil and chronic dissappointment. It’s about mothers and daughters, about addiction and redemption, and forbidden love and romance. It’s about stopping at nothing to build a life when it seems everything wants to tear you down. A heroes journey of sorts. Heroine, actually. And the book will take you from Northern California, to the busy cities around Los Angeles, New York, and other travel destinations as well. I’m thrilled to share it.
Wishing you all a lovely spring full of joy and adventure. Don’t forget to tell your friends about Wildflower, (and maybe this blog), so more people will be enticed to grab my book once it is available. I’m also working on getting it ready for pre-orders. More on that to come.
All the best ~ Patti