HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I usually post on my blog on Tuesdays. This week, I am going to be posting an update on what this self publishing journey has looked like so far, and what the road looks like ahead.
Up until now
For those of you wondering why I haven’t been texting, or hanging out, or wondering if I disappeared into a dark swirling vortex of social decay… this may answer some of your questions:
This summer I decided to self publish one of the books I started writing in college. I was desperately unhappy with my life and where I was and recent events I had reached a point of desperation and needed a goal. I needed to stay busy, and I REALLY needed something to look forward to. It has always been a dream of mine (and my first choice career) to be a published author. So, I thought, no better time than NOW!
I started rereading the story I had begun 8 years before. Parts of it were in need of a lot more thought, and detail. Parts of it were obviously rushed. But, parts of it were funny, charming, intriguing, and if I don’t say so myself, gripping. I had a pretty good starting point. So I started the rewriting, and editing process. I had the bones of a good story, but probably have rewritten at least 75% of the book, and 100% of the last third.
The rewriting and editing have been entirely consuming, and a stressful nightmare– painstakingly difficult and a bit like self amputation– time consuming; but they haven’t been the only things keeping me busy. I’ve been stalking researching other authors to see what their launch process looks like. What do they do leading up to release, and after? I’ve been obsessively looking at cover art every time I walk passed a book. I’ve been researching how marketing has changed since I studied it in college, and brainstorming my own game-plan. I’ve taken ideas from others, and molded them to fit my needs and my story.
I have created this blog, and the website that it is featured on, to have a central point for information to circulate through, a sort of home-base to link all my social media platforms. I also hired an artist to take on the multiple aesthetic projects from book cover design and the look of the interior of the book, to the promotional art used in my marketing campaign.
I started a fundraiser for the project on Go Fund Me to help me pay for things like the website, the artist, and some of the marketing, as well as book stock. I have learned a lot about formatting the inside of the book, writing it is seriously only half the battle.
I also found a location for the book launch party, as well as popped into a few local bookstores to see what the protocol was for each to have my book sold on their shelves! It’s been a crazy six months!
Nowadays
I still have some more rewriting and editing to do, and I am fighting burnout while guilt tripping myself for my lack of productivity trying to finish up by Jan 14th. I have also recently posted the plan for my pre-order packages that will be going on sale later this month.
Right now, I am preparing my pre-order campaign proposal to submit to publishizer. I am also getting ready to commission some fun marketing/promotional services through fiverr (book trailer anyone?). I am talking to another author about splitting some ad space/costs in a local publication this summer for the month the book comes out and a couple after. So, you can see, I’ve been pretty focused on marketing. That focus being so taken, has made it honestly difficult to do the writing and editing of the final parts of the book.
The holidays were not the respite from work, and free hours to work on the book, that I had hoped. I did get to spend time with family, which is of course awesome, but I have fallen a little behind my self-made-schedule. So, I will be bringing in the New Year with a writing binge session that would make Oscar Wilde jealous.
In the new year, you can also look forward to the pre-orders going on sale, the fun stuff like book trailers and promo art will be revealed, and I will also be sharing Character Introductions so you can get to know everybody! There may or may not be more sneak peeks in the future as well! So, stay tuned! I am staying very busy, and I promise you wont want to miss any of it!
Down the Road
The book comes out in May (hopefully!), so as we get closer, you will see a lot of fun things coming ’round like giveaways, contests, and lots of cool promo!
The book launch party is tentatively scheduled for May 6th, at a local coffee shop/bar here on the Outer Banks. I will give more details on this when I am certain of the date and time, once I make sure I am going to meet my deadline! I am planning to host a sort of online launch party on facebook, with pictures and facebook live videos of the event, as well as some other fun goodies (giveaways anyone?), so even if you live far away you can still “attend”.
All the pre-orders will be mailed out and delivered (local) that first week of May, again Lord willin’, and the creek don’t rise. If you live really far away (China, India or the Philippines) be patient, I have no clue how long the shipping will take.
Once that is all taken care of, I will be hitting the pavement. Many of the local bookstores will carry self published books on a consignment basis, so I’ll be following their protocols to have my books placed on their shelves!
Once the first book is out on it’s own, I will keep up steady marketing, and advertising for sales. But my main focus will then turn to book two of the series, Penance. I will begin the rewriting and editing process, and as of right now, I am planning to publish Penance on May 6th next year. If all goes according to plan, I will publish a book each year on my birthday for the next four years!
Transgression May 6, 2017
Penance May 6, 2018
Redemption May 6, 2019
And a surprise project that will be announced later– May 6, 2020
I have other series and projects that I am working on as well, so if anything starts to happen with any of those, I will keep you all up to date here.
brandyange.me 